Introduction
The launch of the OM-D E-M5 doesn't really come as a surprise with hints coming directly from Olympus through their recent less than subtle advertising campaign.
The first of the OM-D range of cameras is now here and brings with it a new product range for Olympus, sitting between the PEN and E series DSLR cameras.
First in a new range, the E-M5 is part of the new OM-D line-up which takes its design directly from the traditional OM camera. The design is a reflection of Olympus cameras past, and unlike the retro-esque styling of the PEN (such as the most recent Olympus PEN E-P3) and many other compact system cameras, mixing traditional with modern, the E-M5 is a straightforward kickback to the 70s.
At its heart is the new 16 million pixel Live MOS Sensor and TruePic VI image processor, which Olympus claims will give better low light performance and a higher dynamic range.
With the camera being a step-up from the PEN range you'd expect to see features that will appeal to more serious photographers, and in this respect Olympus does seem to have crammed a good amount of impressive specs into the compact frame.
A number of features have been reworked for the E-M5, including the image stabilization system, which now has a 5 axis system that combats body shake for vertical, horizontal, pitch, rolling and yaw.
This new system is said to help keep the image sharp across the frame rather than just in the centre as many IS systems are capable of at the moment. We'll have to wait for the review samples to test this new system fully.
A feature that will appeal to serious photographer is the new dust and splash proof magnesium alloy body that Olympus has built to have the same all weather proofing as its top of the range E-5. This dust and splash proofing is also carried over to the detachable flash that is bundled with the camera as well as the new 12-50mm (announced in 2011), 75mm and 60mm lenses and the new battery grip.
At launch there will also be a few additional accessories. First up, the power battery holder HLD-6 that fits to the bottom of the camera creates a larger grip and includes a shutter button and dials. Next, a clip on Flash FL-600R with a guide number of 50@ISO 200 and includes a wireless control function, and finally a Four Thirds adapter called the MMF-3.
Build quality and handling
As with the old OM-4 film camera, the E-M5 features a small compact body, and is actually marginally smaller at 121 x 84 x 50mm and weighing in at just 373g. Despite its small size and weight its build quality is solid, with Olympus really paying attention to detail and the long lasting quality of the build.
Handling the camera it does feel small, but its angular body makes it easy to hold and manoeuvre. The dial and button layout is also well thought out and switching between modes and settings is quick and easy, and as with other Olympus cameras there are a good selection of function buttons that can be set to give you quick access to common features.
Despite its 70s design and feel, the addition of a tilting LCD touch screen on the back is a welcome addition, managing to merge new technology with old design well.
In use it does actually feel like a good old traditional film camera, but with all the convenience of digital. Even the viewfinder despite being electronic does little to destroy this nostalgic feeling, and is actually a pretty decent effort by the company to produce something that will actually be commonly used.
During our time with the camera, we also got to see the new range of M.Zuiko Digital ED lenses, which feature metallic casings to really finish off the look and feel of the new OM-D.
Reinforcing the retro styling is the Viewfinder, which for the E-M5 is all new. Being a micro four thirds release it has an EVF rather than optical viewfinder, with a high resolution LCD of 1.44 million dots. Our time with the camera showed this to be clear and bright, with an impressive 100% field of view and a good -4 to +2 dioptre adjustment.
The EVF also has a creative control feature that takes a bit of getting used to but in principle works exceptionally well. This enables you to make adjustments with the main and sub dials mounted on top of the camera. Adjustments can be made to exposure compensation, shadow and highlight control, and white balance, along with applying Olympus's extensive set of Art filters.
On the back of the camera, combining the touchscreen of the E-P3 with the tilting action of the E-PL3, is a 3-inch OLED screen, which again shows a clear bright image.
Performance
Obviously it is difficult to completely evaluate the performance of a camera without being able to take real world pictures with it, but the performance indicated by the specifications of the E-M5, along with our time with it are very promising.
As already stated, images are captured on the new 16 million pixel Live CMOS sensor and processed through the TruePic VI image processor. This combination, alongside the new M.Zuiko Digital Lenses is said to give better low light performance than its predecessors in the PEN series, with a maximum sensitivity of ISO 25600, improved dynamic range, rich graduation and better colour reproduction.
The image stabilization system has also been reworked with a 5 axis system that combats body shake for vertical, horizontal, pitch, rolling and yaw. This new system is designed to help keep the image sharp across the frame rather than just in the centre as many IS systems do at the moment. We'll have to wait for the review samples to test this new system fully, but it sounds like an intriguing prospect.
The AF system from the PEN E-P3 has been redeveloped for E-M5 and improves on the already impressive speed and accuracy, increasing from 120fps to 240fps. Using continuous AF this means that you can shoot at 4.2fps burst to capture fast moving subjects in focus and this increases to 9fps with sequential shooting.
Olympus has also announced two new lenses along with the OM-D, to sit alongside the new 12-50mm standard zoom that was introduced at the end of 2011.
The M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 which is still in development, features a large aperture and has been designed for studio, portrait and indoor sports photography. This lens also features a round bokeh with less vignette, and metallic exterior.
Also announced is an M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro with inner focusing, designed primarily for Macro work, it should be equally useful for landscapes and portraits and it will be interesting to see how well these lenses work in conjunction with the OM-D.
Verdict
On the surface the new E-M5 is a nice looking camera and the salute to the old OM cameras will appeal to the retro photographers amongst us.
The features of the camera do make it an interesting proposition, but for us it was the build quality that really stood out. Despite being built in the digital era, it feels robust enough to stand up to a good amount of abuse.
It's one of the most expensive compact system cameras currently on the market, competing against recent launches which include the Fujifilm X Pro1 and the Panasonic GX1.
Time will tell if an expensive camera such as this will be able to find a place in the marketplace, especially when you consider that Olympus already has another highly specced camera in the shape of the PEN E-P3.
2012 looks set to be the year of the retro compact system camera, so it will be interesting to see who wins the battle between the major manufacturers who are all keen to get a slice of the pie.
Stay tuned for a full Olympus OM-D E-M5 review in due course.
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