The Olympus OM-D E-M5 is crammed full of impressive features: the fastest autofocus among interchangeable lens cameras (or so says Olympus). The E-M5 pushes a ridiculous 9 frames per second of 16-megapixel RAW photos. It’s the first mirrorless camera with a magnesium alloy body—weatherproof and dustproof, yo!—and packs the world’s first 5-axis image stabilization. That’s up from 2-axis in the PEN E-P3 and the E5 DSLR. But what does any of that mean to a regular person?
The promise of mirrorless cameras has always been DSLR-level performance, miniaturized. That hasn’t panned out. The E-M5 might fall short of the threshold too, but it’s a statement of intent: The future of Olympus is mirrorless, and the graybeard Japanese camera co wants you to ditch your DSLR and get on board. The future-pushing features of the E-M5 should hammer this point home; these are specs you’re used to seeing in pro-level rigs.
Beyond future implications, the camera itself is a hell of a thing. The guts consist of the 16.1MP sensor designed to deliver image quality without sucking your battery dry (LiveMOS), and the latest generation of Olympus’ TruePic VI image processor. There’s a very cool tilting 3-inch OLED touchscreen that slides out to give you a live view of your subject; and you can focus and control the shutter just by pressing on the screen. The shutter’s quiet, noticeably more so than near-competitors like Sony’s NEX line, even while machine-gunning continuous shots at 9fps. Low light capability looks pretty good too: ISO runs from 200 to 25,600, and has a new technology called Intelligent High Sensitivity (IHS) that Olympus claims will let you shoot clean(ish) at 12,800 ISO.
If you’re going to make a run at folks waffling about moving down from their DSLRs, you’ve got to get the viewfinder right. Olympus gets this, and the E-M5′s peep show feels as close to an SLR’s as you’re like to see any time soon. It’s built in, so it doesn’t take up your hot-shoe slot either, so there’s room for attachment flashes or audio-in. It boasts 1.44 million dots and 1.5x magnification (same as Olympus’ E5 SLR), and retains 100 percent field of view by not lopping off the top and bottom. It also rests in the center of the camera—just where it would be if it were on an SLR and uses a proximity sensor to switch between live view and the viewfinder automatically. It feels very pro.
And while outward aesthetics usually take a back seat, it’s hard to look at the E-M5 and not immediately think “X100! X100!” Because that’s what Olympus wants you to think. Ostensibly, the E-M5 is built to evoke Olympus’s retro OM line, but what it really wants is a piece of the crazy demand for Fujifilm’s beautiful shooters. If that plan means everything coming out of Olympus is going to be as gorgeous as the E-M5, giddy up.
For a while now, mirrorless cameras have been sold as DSLR alternatives. They haven’t been true alternatives, not really. We haven’t gotten a chance to really put this beaut through its paces, but here’s to hoping it delivers on its very loud visual trash talk.
It’ll be available in April for $1000 body-only, $1300 kitted with a black M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50 mm f3.5-6.3 EZ lens, and $1100 kitted with a black M.Zuiko digital 14-42 mm f3.5-5.6 II R lens. [Gizmodo]
3,427 comments
Supplements says:
February 17, 2013 at 2:40 pm (UTC -4)
Awesome website…
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]……
Cheap deals says:
February 17, 2013 at 4:44 pm (UTC -4)
Blogs ou should be reading…
[...]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[...]……
Helsingörspiller says:
February 17, 2013 at 5:43 pm (UTC -4)
Title…
Buy viagra online casino make money online underage porn torrent teen zip…
profits says:
February 17, 2013 at 5:45 pm (UTC -4)
profits…
[...]here are some links to web pages that we link to because we think they may be really worth visiting[...]…
Spingbridge topsoil supplier says:
February 17, 2013 at 5:58 pm (UTC -4)
Sites we Like……
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
makeups trends says:
February 17, 2013 at 7:55 pm (UTC -4)
makeups trends…
[...]check beneath, are some entirely unrelated web-sites to ours, even so, they’re most trustworthy sources that we use[...]…
zaakceptuj says:
February 17, 2013 at 8:23 pm (UTC -4)
Blogs ou should be reading…
[...]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[...]……
Rocket Spanish Course says:
February 17, 2013 at 10:12 pm (UTC -4)
Rocket Spanish Course…
[...]Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a couple of unrelated information, nevertheless definitely really worth taking a look, whoa did 1 learn about Mid East has got extra problerms at the same time [...]…
beauty-test says:
February 17, 2013 at 10:17 pm (UTC -4)
beauty-test…
Thanks for another informative site. Where else could I get that kind of info written in such a perfect way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such info….
deal though says:
February 17, 2013 at 10:51 pm (UTC -4)
Cool sites…
[...]we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[...]……
zyzz says:
February 18, 2013 at 12:46 am (UTC -4)
zyzz…
Its really a cool and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing….
Cheap Airsoft says:
February 18, 2013 at 5:01 am (UTC -4)
Cheap Airsoft…
[...]Every the moment in a while we pick out blogs that we study. Listed beneath would be the most recent web pages that we opt for [...]…
Minneapolis Roofing says:
February 18, 2013 at 7:57 am (UTC -4)
Minneapolis Roofing…
Good day! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this website? I’m getting fed up of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be gr…
Boston Web Design says:
February 18, 2013 at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
Recommeneded websites…
[...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]……
Pitt Meadows used trucks says:
February 18, 2013 at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
Tarsha Atterson says:
February 18, 2013 at 7:03 pm (UTC -4)
Sites we Like……
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
koh samui villa says:
February 18, 2013 at 8:59 pm (UTC -4)
You should check this out…
[...] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well [...]……
Crescents Neighbourhood says:
February 18, 2013 at 9:21 pm (UTC -4)
Recommeneded websites…
[...]Here are few of the websites we recommend for our visitors[...]……
TSX Today says:
February 18, 2013 at 9:32 pm (UTC -4)
TSX Today…
[...]The facts talked about inside the article are some of the most beneficial offered [...]…
koh samui villa says:
February 18, 2013 at 9:35 pm (UTC -4)
Sites we Like……
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
koh samui villas says:
February 18, 2013 at 10:00 pm (UTC -4)
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
car alarms in nashville says:
February 19, 2013 at 12:44 am (UTC -4)
Great information…
This can be magnificent. A good watch this gesture comfort when we are astonished. We are attracted to one of these problems. We appreciate one s own counsel, and value doing inside this. Please keep editing. These are seriously trustworthy understandi…
keyword search software says:
February 19, 2013 at 3:50 am (UTC -4)
Blogs ou should be reading…
[...]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[...]……
Pelican Bay condominiums for sale says:
February 19, 2013 at 4:39 am (UTC -4)
Read was interesting, stay in touch……
[...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……
dean graziosi wikipedia says:
February 19, 2013 at 6:28 am (UTC -4)
dean graziosi wikipedia…
I’ve been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thank you, Ill try and check back more often. How frequently you update your site?…
greencoffeeextractway.com/ says:
February 19, 2013 at 6:39 am (UTC -4)
Great website…
[...]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[...]……
koh samui villa says:
February 19, 2013 at 8:05 am (UTC -4)
Looking around…
While I was browsing today I noticed a great post about…
cx-9 mx-5 says:
February 19, 2013 at 10:35 am (UTC -4)
Great website…
[...]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[...]……
Fine Treatment says:
February 19, 2013 at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
eco web hosting says:
February 19, 2013 at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
Blogs ou should be reading…
[...]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[...]……
Web Hosting says:
February 19, 2013 at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
Web Hosting…
One more thing to say is that an online business administration study course is designed for college students to be able to smoothly proceed to bachelor degree courses. The 90 credit college degree meets the lower bachelor education requirements when y…
dresses says:
February 19, 2013 at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
dresses…
[...]very couple of web-sites that happen to become in depth below, from our point of view are undoubtedly effectively worth checking out[...]…
how do you get laid says:
February 19, 2013 at 3:32 pm (UTC -4)
how do you get laid…
[...]The details mentioned inside the report are some of the most beneficial obtainable [...]…
free job post says:
February 19, 2013 at 3:45 pm (UTC -4)
free job post…
[...]The information talked about within the write-up are some of the top offered [...]…
apartamente noi says:
February 19, 2013 at 4:57 pm (UTC -4)
apartamente noi…
[...]here are some links to web sites that we link to since we believe they may be worth visiting[...]…
Oscars says:
February 19, 2013 at 11:31 pm (UTC -4)
Oscars…
Thanks for your information on this blog. One thing I wish to say is purchasing electronic products items from the Internet is certainly not new. In truth, in the past several years alone, the market for online consumer electronics has grown noticeably…
Speak Chic says:
February 20, 2013 at 12:45 am (UTC -4)
Speak Chic…
Hey there this is somewhat of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding expertise so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any…
pet sitting miami fl says:
February 20, 2013 at 2:15 am (UTC -4)
Yahoo results…
While searching Yahoo I discovered this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
SAITO FA-30SH says:
February 20, 2013 at 3:58 am (UTC -4)
SAITO FA-30SH…
[...]the time to study or visit the material or websites we’ve linked to beneath the[...]…
Customs And Excise Business Directory says:
February 20, 2013 at 5:28 am (UTC -4)
Customs And Excise Business Directory…
[...]Every once in a whilst we select blogs that we study. Listed beneath are the newest websites that we pick [...]…
Ultimate Pet Websites says:
February 20, 2013 at 5:58 am (UTC -4)
Its hard to find good help…
I am regularly saying that its difficult to find quality help, but here is…
get rid of nail fungus says:
February 20, 2013 at 7:38 am (UTC -4)
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Click this says:
February 20, 2013 at 7:44 am (UTC -4)
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
Upright Piano says:
February 20, 2013 at 8:18 am (UTC -4)
Superb website…
[...]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[...]……
Read more says:
February 20, 2013 at 8:43 am (UTC -4)
Awesome website…
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]……
credit card debt says:
February 20, 2013 at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
Read was interesting, stay in touch……
[...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……
debt consolidation australia says:
February 20, 2013 at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Computer Repair Montreal says:
February 20, 2013 at 2:16 pm (UTC -4)
Computer Repair Montreal…
[...]Here are several of the web-sites we recommend for our visitors[...]…
http://www.slideshare.net/ says:
February 20, 2013 at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
http://www.slideshare.net/...
[...]that is the end of this article. Here you will uncover some web-sites that we believe you will appreciate, just click the hyperlinks over[...]…
portland bed bugs says:
February 20, 2013 at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
Check this out…
[...] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[...]……
« Previous 1 ... 48 49 50 51 52 ... 69 Next »