Friday, September 13, 2013

Olympus OM-D E-M1 WTF?

WTF - What The Fuss?  Did you think I mean something else? DUH!

So finally Olympus announced their most talk about, argued about; leaked before launch MFT camera, the OM-D E-M1.

Google "Olympus OM-D E-M1 and you get...

About 6,740,000 results (0.27 seconds) !!

But what was all the fuss? 

Is the EM-1 a revolutionary NEW camera?

NO!



Come on boys (I mean fanboys), look at the "new" camera with a cool head; did Olympus not just shift the dials and buttons of the revolutionary E-M5 around, put in a fake "rewind crank" to remind you of the fabled OM-1; an after thought "grip" and claimed this will be their FLAGSHIP, PRO offering.

And I thought a PRO camera will not have "ART" and "SCN" on the main dial? And where are the double card slots?

Don't get me wrong, the E-M1 is a rugged, business like machine... I actually like most of the new lay out to get the work done :) Come to think of it, my E-M5 do her job well too... now that IS A REVOLUTIONARY camera!

The REVOLUTIONARY E-M5, does it remind you of the new EVOLUTIONARY E-M1?

By now, all the Olympus fanboys are after my blood, but lets keep cool and look at the E-M1 new features and see if I actually need them...

Olympus claimed their new 16MP image sensor has no Anti-Aliasing filter, promising even greater level of sharpness.

But according to pekkapotka journal, a much respected test site and I quote...

"Although I would say that even the sensor in E-M5 and E-P5 had no low pass filter. This is not verified by Olympus, though."

As for "even greater level of sharpness", I did lots of comparisons of shots taken by Robin Wong; using E-M5 and E-M1, they all look pin sharp. His shots did not give me the impression that the E-M1 is sharper; after all; both are using the same type of sensors!

As you probably know, Robin Wong is Malaysia's most famous Olympus user; his blog entries are mainly about using Olympus and recently he joined and work for Olympus Malaysia :)

As for sharpness, so what the new E-M1 is "slightly" sharper than the E-M5; who cares? Well, at least I don't... my E-M5 is plenty sharp!

Tip toe through the tulips was shot with my OM-D E-M5 and a Panasonic zoom.

Anyway, Robin Wong's review on the incredible sharpness of the new E-M1; using ultra close-up insects shots, to me; DO NOT give a real world indication of the actual sharpness of the "new" sensor. How many of you shoot insects? I don't ;)

The most controversial claim from Olympus on their E-M1 is this:

Its ability to perform DUAL FAST AUTO FOCUS, the normal contrast-detection autofocus (E-M5) and phase-detection autofocus which allow the older 4/3 lens to perform as fast or faster than mounted on the old E5 camera.

Since I do not use 4/3 lenses, who care!

Obviously, there are thousands of 4/3 owners care, but how true was that speed claim?

According to DPReview who tested this function and I quote...

"Focus is usually acceptably fast, though anyone coming from an E-3 or E-5 is likely to find themselves disappointed, in comparison."

Their statement must have caused a HUGE UPROAR, because the next day they quickly amend what they say!

"However, side-by-side use suggests that, while the E-M1 focuses at a similar speed to the E-5 in good light, it is more prone to occasionally slowing down and juddering the lens into focus than the E-5. This behavior is particularly apparent when switching focus from distant to near objects or when shooting in moderate-to-good lighting levels (inside a well-lit office with large windows)."

To me, that is just as bad ;)

Anyway, I have no 4/3 lens... it is the next claim that really interest me!

Every E-M5 owners knew how crappy the continuous AF is, right? 

Seems E-M1 has got that fixed :)

To quote from Robin Wong...

"While shooting in Continuous AF mode, the Phase Detect AF will work hand in hand together with Contrast Detect AF to optimize subject tracking while in motion, and we will see how well this performs in real life shooting conditions."

Robin then went on and show us three tests that supposedly demonstrate how reliable the new set up in E-M1 is. 


Photos © Robin Wong / Olympus Malaysia
Looking at those photos Robin took, it is obvious that when he locked his focus on the first frame and even when he pan, the camera will still steadfastly lock onto the same subject; I am sure the E-M5 can do that too.

I think a better test of this claimed AF function was done by Pekka Potka.

From the test I can see that the AF of the E-M1 is indeed faster than the E-M5.

Pekka concluded, "I think E-M1 is now in a good DSLR class regarding C-AF. It is not in the top class. Where more exactly and comparable to which DSLR? I really don´t know."

If you think the C-AF of OM-D E-M1 is as fast as a Canon 1D-X or Nikon D-4, you are dreaming!

Olympus also claimed that the high ISO performance of the E-M1 is at least one stop BETTER than the E-M5.

This still life test shot was taken in early May last year, while I was testing my newly acquired dream camera. It was shot at ISO 25,600!

Even at that never heard of (a couple of years ago), ultra high ISO for a HALF FRAME sensor, the result was ACCEPTABLE!

So if E-M1 can do a stop better, who care!  How often you shoot ISO 25,600? DUH!!

What about the incredible 5-Axis Image Stabilization?  Better than ever?

According to Robin Wong...

"During the product briefing with Olympus Malaysia staff I was told that the 5-Axis Image Stabilization has been improved further. My spontaneous reaction was, come on, what else do you expect us to do with the Image Stabilization? In my OM-D E-M5 review previously I have stated that I can shoot confidently with shutter speed as slow as 1/2 second hand-held, and I believe that is already more than sufficient for most shooting needs. In case where we need to shoot slower than half a second shutter speed or for long exposure shooting, logically we would use a tripod. The existing 5 Axis Image Stabilization was already effective and sufficiently capable for handheld shooting. 
I was going to be proven so WRONG, and honestly, I was still quite shocked at this discovery."
Photo © Robin Wong / Olympus Malaysia
Robin was shocked after discovering the above picture shot with E-M1 at 1.6 second is sharp!

Thus he seems to conclude that the 5-Axis Image Stabilization in the E-M1 is BETTER than the one in E-M5!

Lets look at this objectively...

The said shot was taken with the amazing Zuiko Digital 7-14mm F4 lens at 7mm (14 mm ultra wide in FF term).

From what I know, an ultra-wide lens can be successfully hand held for really slow speed exposure than, said a normal lens or a zoom lens. If you are able to get a sharp shot at 14mm, 1.6 sec, you will NOT be able to achieve the same with a 35mm or even a 28mm lens.

And how many poor photographer own a 7-14 zoom?  Especially THAT Zuiko which cost a whopping NZD 3,000.00  ;)

The loophole in that test was, Robin; did you shoot the same picture with the same lens; same exposure; using an E-M5?
 
If not, how can you concluded that the E-M1 have better stabilization?
 
Even the stabilization in my E-P2 allowed me to hand held a 0.3 second exposure with my Lumix 7-14 ultra-wide zoom.

So, after reading all those reviews; do I still yearn to have a new E-M1?
 
Funny enough, YES!
 
Why?
 
I like the new "grip", the lockable mode dial; the new bigger, sharper EVF...
 
May be if I start saving my lunch money from today, I will be able to get one on 201x  ;)


23 comments:

Simon Gotlieb said...

The marketers will always try and make you think the new camera makes the old one look like a dog. But as I always say CY, you like the camera, you have the money... and it works for you - go shoot some photos!

steven said...

It is called 'planned obsolescence'. And my hard-learned remedy - buy the best lenses I can afford. My Ai-s Nikkors 35/2, 85/2, 105/2.5 & 80-200/4 (which I rushed to buy used after reading your blog on Dr M), while used now on my FM2N, can also be used on my EOS30, 33 & 300 bodies via adaptors. And when I can afford the Nikon D4 or its successor ... well! Steven. (same chap who asked you about Focus Penang).

Tech Kulture said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
BrainHarry said...

7StarHD, a piracy website having a huge collection of pirated movies, now can be easily downloaded and viewed by netizens without paying for it. It, thus, is coming absolutely free. It, however, is illegal. One can unlawfully make use of 7StarHD to view HD versions of movies produced by Bollywood, Hollywood, Tollywood, and more Indian regional language films by downloading them for free.
7Starhd

Chris Albert said...

security breach meaning
How to Protect A Business From a Data Breach
Almost all cyberattacks can be prevented, and all it takes is a few simple strategies. These include:

Jamie Starr said...

Nice article I was really impressed seeing this article, it was very interesting and it is very useful for me. You might want to check out is apex groups legit

kinglalisah said...

Hi admin, I am Kinga from USA and I read your website A to Z blogs! When i read your posts i was realize your each post is very helpful to anyone. You are a great person you shared a incredible information with your content readers. peoples seek more things from there. Thank you so much dear and best oc luck for your new posts. cpm homework help geometry - essay writing help - help with math homework - help with assignment

Masonethan said...

Do you require online international relations assignment assistance? We've got you covered; we're a renowned and trustworthy academic writing service supplier. Our professional staff delivers high-quality, error-free international relations assignment help.

Essien said...

It is a wonderful effort and as well a motivating blog article; I loved the post, keep posting such an interesting updates. Thank you for sharing. visit tasce part time form closing date

pagal ho tum said...

amazing exactly what i was searching for great content keep up the good work.
vlone
Vlone shirt
Vlone hoodie

Anonymous said...

Hi, I really enjoyed reading your post, and hope to read more.
palm angels clothing

pagal ho tum said...

Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read something such as this before.
Treatment for neurogenic bowel dysfunction

Essien said...

This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I truly enjoy reading your blog posts. Thank you for sharing. Also visit university school fees schedule for mountain top students

Enjin said...

learn real estate investing There are two sides to a transaction. In real estate, a grantee is the recipient of the property, and the grantor is a person that transfers ownership rights of a property to another person. However, the specifics of their transaction may vary depending on the situation. The official documents they use, such as a deed, detail their obligations. grantor vs grantee

My Assignment Experts said...

One of the primary factors that separate a great piece from a bad one is the content. Study your subject carefully and create a list of relevant keywords. Explore the results then begin to collect and go through the relevant study materials that pop up. Note down your notes and bullet points of the information to refer to later. When you are able to incorporate the material into your essay and think about whether you've assessed the arguments or propositions to determine if they're relevant to your assertion. If you encounter any difficulties in this process, you should contact an internet-based essayist to get professional advice.

My Assignment help

unknown said...

kid cudi merch
kid Cudi hoodie
kid Cudi shirts
kid Cudi shop
This is a very nice blog and learned more knowledge to read
this post thanks for sharing this informative post.

pastquestionpdf said...

Your content is informative and useful. I appreciate the detailed explanations and insights you provide. Your writing is easy to follow and I find it helpful to know what to look for when researching a particular topic. .It really helps me understand it much better way. Also read on BUK Resumption Date

enough info said...

economist job responsibilities The challenge project's clear educational intent is wonderful. I appreciate your participation.

Anonymous said...

Billionaire Boys Club Clothing Official Shop for BBC ICECREAM Fans. Get Amazing BBC Hoodies & ‎BBC T-Shirts at Official EU Store.

Essentials Hoodie said...

Thanks a lot for the helpful information you shared in this excellent blog article.

jhon carry said...

Thank you for sharing this informative blog with us. Your blog is very useful for us. Are you a student pursuing a management degree in Australia and finding it challenging to complete your assignments? Management Assignment Help" is a specialized academic service that offers support and assistance to students pursuing management-related courses and programs. This service is designed to help students tackle the challenges and complexities of their management assignments effectively. Whether it's in the field of business management, project management, human resource management, or any other area within the broader spectrum of management studies, this service aims to provide students with the tools and resources they need to excel in their coursework.

CDG Hoodie said...

Official Comme Des Garcons Clothing Store For PLAY CDG Hoodie &Shirt Fans. UPTO 50% OFF On New Arrival and Fast Shipping Worldwide.

breekelly said...

Any web browser can be used to access the stories and posts that have been submitted to public Instagram accounts with the help of the web tool Dumpor.