I'd like to supplement or correct the first impression of the E-M5 II:
Sure, the E-M5 II is in some areas better equipped than the E-M1, especially with regard to video. Also, the stability is slightly better.
But the AF is not as good and if it is wrong, then uses the best stability even nothing.
On my first trip, just a few hours after the mailman brought the package, I was full of enthusiasm, but the E-M5 II is definitely not the camera for sports or fast moving objects. Although it is fast enough, but the focus is too often behind the subject, sometimes in front of it.
I know of no camera, which always focused exactly, but for my taste is the E-M5 II miss too often when time is of essence and not waste time because is to verify manually with focus peaking or adjust.
There are restrictions also with regard to the super-resolution with 40 MP. The often limited in LANDSCAPES-, architectural or still life photography in the interiors and of course with tripod and min. 2 seconds Verögerung. Outside, when wind moves the vegetation or any object (such as bird, car, pedestrian, etc.) in the field of view is the inclusion sometimes blurred. The non-plus-ultra in the direction will probably currently the sinfully expensive Nikon D810 with its 36 MP.
In MFT and systemic than 16 MP is probably the Lumix GH4 faster camera, which also focused on the fastest and safest.
The image quality I judge continued as properly. For landscape or architectural photography, the resolution is a little short.
While I can stand without the individual slates of the roof from Ploen Castle is 2.5 km away on the image to see but, strictly speaking, I can do that in good light with the Sony HX400V or Lumix FZ1000.
The E-M5 is a beautiful, robust, very compact all-rounder. The operation makes for the feel, precision wheels and buttons a lot of fun, even though the menus are completely overloaded because because everything is what you need directly via hardware accessible. One needs therefore around to investigate and rarely wrong in the software.
The 1,049 euros for the naked body I was spending from today's perspective at any time.
If I could but have only one camera, the distance of only 300 Euro for housing the GH4 is so tempting that I would prefer the larger Lumix. Please zoom back in trip but I would opt for the Olympus.
With the weather and frost resistant E-M5 II these types of cameras are no longer the exception. I think I will soon separate me from the non-weather festivals and retain only cameras like the E-M1, E-M5 or Pentax K. I guess that will soon develop the bridge and compact in the direction.
Incidentally, the auxiliary handle HLD 7 for E-M1 provides super grip and more autonomy by 2 batteries. But does not fit on the E-M5 II, unlike the battery.
It makes less sense because the E-M5 II is delicate and still fits into his coat pocket with pancake lens. But frankly, if I need a MFT camera for your pocket, then I put rather a Lumix GM5.
In addition, the HL 8 is quite expensive for the E-M5 II with 230 euro!
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REVIEW
I want to first explain why I have decided for the MFT system (in addition to others such as Fuji X, Sony E, Pentax K and Nikon), and only then deal with the EM5 II.
Those who do not need as much information, can skip ..
Boarded I'm at Olympus with the EM10, the EM1 happened. When I read of the EM5 II, with the improved 5-axis stabilization, weather protection, the updated video and 40M High Res Shot function, I knew that she would have sooner or later.
So I gave my EM10 in payment and ordered it.
The EM5 II harmonizes better with the EM1 as the EM10 not only because it is on a par in terms of weather protection and stabilization, it also has the same battery and the same charger. So I do not need 2 battery rows paralell to manage and always dispose over spare batteries. The special battery system of EM10 has already bothered me.
The EM5 II is thus the ideal second case, because I practice in use no objective change. This is inconvenient, time-consuming, risky and the sensors always get something from. So I have the 12-40 mm f / 2.8 PRO at the one and the 40-150 mm f / 2.8 PRO with converter to the other and have an existing high-performance complete solution of the equivalent of 24-420 mm with high light intensity, very powerful stabilizer and also faster and more reliable AF. The only thing that can be disturbing is when the front ring is inadvertently corrupted the 40-150 and the camera does not focus, because the objective of AF is switched to MF thereby. But after the second time you know that and can respond quickly. In short, this is a very fast, reliable, relatively lightweight system that offers an excellent image quality.
In principle, I am not fixed on Olympus. I even came quite late to was previously at Nikon, Pentax and Fujinon, Canon has even had a chance with me and I still keep a Canon.
Similarly good or even a bit better, the Fuji X system whereby I use the X-T1 ond the X-Pro 1 as housing. The sensors are slightly larger and the BQ is also excellent. But this system is significantly more expensive by the Zeiss lenses, offering not currently the flexibility of the two Zuiko PRO. I keep it because I have the hope that someday bright XF lenses will come, which also cover 24-420 mm with only 2 parts.
However, when AF Olympus has the edge, as the compatible Lumix GH3 and GH4 that are uniquely good and fast, not to mention the video properties.
Similarly good position I am with Sony E-Mount with full-A7, the Zeiss Vario Sonnar 24-70mm f / 2.8 and the Sony G 70-200 mm f / 4.0.
These fairly good, with f / 1.8 rather fast prime lenses from Zeiss with 32 and 55 mm, which gives a round thing, unfortunately, much more expensive than MFT.
Aside from the price, but I use this system rarely, it is bulky, heavy, requires a tripod because where Olympus by the stabilizer without manages and ultimately brings the BQ only marginally in individual cases a little more. However, I do not want to part with it myself.
Remains Nikon, but since I am doing quite difficult, in the truest sense of the word, because there is still more expensive than Sony and the equipment is still heavy and bulky. The 3 Holy lenses would be almost 3 times more expensive than the two Zuiko PRO and DSLR has some disadvantages in terms of video feature. Therefore, I hesitate continue to build my Nikon system and for a D750 spend 2,300 euros when I consider that the EM5 II is future-proof and only approx. 1,000 Euro costs. This can be true in the properties do not compare, but as for the results in practice, to a certain degree already. Who Wedding Photography intensively operates with an assistant in tow, of course, is better equipped to take 2 different Nikon-housing and make out good pictures both in the Church as in the sunshine. The one is not different from those of Olympus EM or Lumix GH with premium lenses.
So I am using the MFT system, consisting of the two Olympus EM1 and EM5 II, the two Lumix GH3 and 4 and some compact as the immortal GX7 and tiny GM5 currently totally satisfied. Said addition to the two Zuiko PRO Allound lenses, circular lenses with fixed focal lengths quick 12-75 mm Zuiko from, Leica and Sigma from the system and honestly, so an extent as low I find nowhere else. For example, costs the good Sigma 170 Euro.
There are a lot of good housing in MFT system (At Sony, Fuji, Nikon, Canon and Pentax of course).
What I mean by that?
- Robustness should withstand a lot
- Weatherproof
Schlieren very good EWF / viewfinder with resolution> 2 MP without -
- Swiveling display, of course, super sharp, so> 1MP
- Super fast and more accurate AF
- Electronic shutter from 1/8000 s plus extremely quiet
- Fast continuous shooting, fast data transfer to the card
- Reliable exposure under all conditions
- Effective 5-axis stabilization
- Battery not too expensive with long term and as a substitute
- Total Control of the most important parameters (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation)
- Good JPEG from the camera, RAW
- HDR
- Spirit level in the viewfinder
- Clear menus
- Wheels and buttons easily accessible, engaging and rich good feedback (ie, not spongy)
- TTL flash control
- Touch screen (need not be, but is quite nice)
- Good HD video properties, preferably with slow motion, with continuous AF and high data rate
- Microphone Connection
- Headphone connection would also be quite nice
- Map compartment side
- 4K video is not necessary, but also quite nice
That's a lot and because the air is thin. In fact, not even my 2 thousand euros expensive Sony A7R meets these criteria.
I do not like when you. All noticed in a museum, church or castle in a radius of 20 m that I photograph grade and also on the road you should be discreet Although the manufacturer is promising otherwise, most cameras do not allow that to eg the dog or the children playing sharply defined.
These criteria meet best as MFT housing the Lumix GH4, GH3, Olympus EM1 and EM5 II, partly GX7, GM5 and EM10.
The EM5 II is even more compact than the EM1, where the battery has not shrunk.
Perhaps there are a few others, but I do not have it and can not tell.
The EM5 II I find absolutely fully equipped and I have the impression that Olympus has paid attention to customer requests and reviews. An auxiliary handle is also available. As far as I've heard from my local dealer, it is either used only as a small handle as well in a larger version with additional battery. Ineressant is that at Olympus, in Gegensat to Sony or Lumix, the auxiliary handle not used the battery compartment of the camera so that the battery in the camera continue doing service.
Also interesting: The Mini flash that comes is not only schwenbar (to the vertical) but also rotatable. Actually, this should be self-evident, but so far all the cameras were supplied with fixed Speedlights. The only exception: The Sony RX100 III to give the Lightning a finger constantly upward to press, which of course is not easy, but better than nothing.
It can be concluded that Olympus is one of the few blacksmiths who really thinks what the photographer really needs and it realized ..
A touchscreen is a nice thing, but need not be, we adjusted slightly by mistake the focus point or dissolves with no intention of shooting. For me very important: the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation should be accessible via swivel wheels immediately. Offering 2 or more of these settings using the menu cameras, I will prefer at home, because I'm just accustomed to since my analogue Nikon time these parameters to directly control and play with it to depth of field, brightness or Farbsaturation changing quite instinctively ,
Is exactly what the EM5 II, with a Mege wheels and buttons, but that may sound paradoxical, I think this is a camera for beginners!
The algorithms of EM5 II are so perfect equilibrium to and sophisticated that, no matter what position the mode button is, the camera simply Leifert best results. I tried watching the sunset with tens of manual settings and Automatic.
The pictures with the car are simply better, the colors more vivid. So it's not simply a matter of aperture and shutter speed, on-board computer also accesses color temperature and color curve and other parameters, conjures up a perfect picture.
Yesterday I the EM5 II bolted to a Black Rapid RS Sport, equipped with the 40-150 mm 2.8 and'm 3 hours wandering around the Lake Plön. And I've only been looking after the motives, only make sure that the water level in the green area and the exposure between -0.3 and +0.3 and was not at all what program or what parameters were set.
And what can I say ... Almost all images are easily managed! I got the impression that you simply can do no bad pictures with this camera. However, I had approx. 25% of images with moving subjects (puppy) is not entirely focused, sometimes the focus point was 1-2 meters behind. In silent motives (eg old house) were also some out of focus. This may be on the lens and also the fact that I would be better with closed aperture to snap, so Aperture 8-11 instead of 4 or 5. But still, perfect is not the AF 40-150 mm f / 2.8. For sports photography seems to me a good Nikon or Canon DSLR safe alternative, at least for now until I EM5 II have better grip.
A Propos handle, which is not as pronounced as in the EM1, but even with massive lens she is safe in your hand.
The EM5 II is therefore just covered with wheels and buttons, yet foolproof to use. This is remarkable.
In other words, those who want to dedicate this hobby does not have 3 x change the camera in the course of its development, and lose money. He can ascend with the EM5 II beginners and even to the professionalism gradually so. I think that's unique.
The instructions for use must not read it. I've never done, and instead prefer to buy at each camera a book, but when EM5 II can really get going each equal, with or without preloading.
There are a lot of videos on YouTube demonstrating (3/4 of them unfortunately in English), the stabilization, AF, low-light, video properties.
