Olympus OM-D E-M1

The new OM-D E-M1

Micro four thirds fans should be in heaven this past 6 months with multiple camera introductions from both Panasonic and Olympus including the Lumix GX7, Olympus E-P5 and now the E-M1.

This camera takes the E-M5 to a new level, super build, new 16mp sensor, improved weather sealing and ergonomics, large high res view finder, the ability to use auto focus with Four Thirds lenses (with adaptor).

This is a Pro level camera and the glass you can get for this camera is definitely to die for, all the M. Zuiko that has been announced and upcoming, like the 12-40 below and the announced 40-150 f2.8.

The nice thing about the Olympus gear is you can set up a system for 1/2 the price of Canon or Nikon. I would love to own the Panasonic 7-14 f/4 along with the 2 lenses announced above with the E-M1, pretty nice travel kit, add some of the excellent M. Zuiko primes like the 75 f1.8 and you are set.

This is definitely the way to go if you can't afford the equivalent Canon or Nikon setup or are tired of carrying around all that weight.

Recently released from Panasonic the GX7 will be the E-M1's competition.

The new M. Zuiko 12-40 f/2.8 (24-80 Equivalent)

Olympus road map

Some people that are not going to be happy are the legacy Olympus people, although this is an upgrade for Micro Four Thirds as well as Four Thirds owners, some people will never be happy without an optical view finder, even one as good as this and I can't blame them, I don't think I would, to qualify that, I use a 5D so I'm set for photography that I require an optical view finder for, so for me to use this camera for travel and hiking, I would be ok, because I can fall back on my Canon system.

see DPreviews preview here

Ming Thein review here

Robin Wong review here

Luminous Landscape here

Tech Radar here

Reviewed.com here

first impressions The Phoblographer here

Olympus web site here

pre order E-M1 body for $1399 here, body and M. Zuiko 12-40 f2.8 for $2199 here

Understanding Micro 4/3's White Paper

Ross

Images In Light

MFT or M4/3 = Micro Four Thirds Cameras

Top image: sensor sizes of various digital cameras
Bottom image: 2 recent examples of MFT cameras
The Micro four thirds standard, a derivative of the Four Thirds system, was set up by Panasonic (Lumix) and Olympus, its similar in size to the APS-C system used by most of the other camera makers (see above chart), lenses and most accessories will be interchangeable between the companies :) what is most unique about this system is its small size for a DSLR but they have no mirror, the LCD is used to view or an electronic view finder, beyond the size advantage of the system is image quality, compared to digital point and shoots, as you can see above, the sensor of the MFT is much larger than the typical point and shoot of 1/2.5 - 1/1.7 , this allows for much better image quality and at the same time allowing a much smaller form factor. (for details see white paper) This is a camera for those that want to travel light and still come back with good image quality, if used right these will give fantastic photos, if used wrong, like any camera, you will be disappointed. I think this system holds real promise and I would like to give it a try and see if its something I would hold on to and use. Currently there are 4 cameras to choose from in this size sensor. the EP-1, G1, GH1 and the new GF1, the later being what I would like to try, another interesting aspect is you can get adapters for almost any lens, so you could mount a Canon 300mm f4 IS L and have the field of view of a 600mm f4. You can also put some serious Leica glass on these cameras with the adapters or without.
See some upcoming lenses here at a Japanese site DC Watch.
Finally something new for us gear heads :)

Micro Four Thirds standard White Paper

Ross Murphy

Images In Light