How did I come to e-M1 and why I forgive full 5 stars? Well, I'm going to stuff cameras currently double track, the one I still use a Nikon D600 DSLR with full-frame sensor whose image quality and especially potential for image development / postprocessing is simply terrific. Better it is probably only with the D810. The D600 has for me a catch, though, it is large and heavy, with good lenses to get very quickly to 1.5 to 2.5 kg in weight, which I just do not want to constantly carry around with me. And what does a the best image quality when you have not the camera at the right moment it? Just.
So I looked around for a more compact and lighter, especially a second camera, which should still provide a good picture quality. The Micro Four Thirds System (hereinafter referred to as MFT abbreviated) seemed a good choice, the image sensor is greater than the 1 "sensors which are used in the Nikon 1 system cameras and example. Also the Sony RX100 series, but smaller than the APS-C sensors of the Nikon DX DSLRs or the mirrorless cameras from Sony. This allows not only the camera itself very compact but also the lenses. In addition, the MFT system is equally supported by two large companies, Panasonic and Olympus. The customer receives by an wide range of very different cameras and the largest array of lenses of all mirror-less system camera systems.
The first OM-D from Olympus, the E-M5, I had looked at me from time to time in the business and the concept appealed to me immediately. I liked the retro design in the style of old analog SLRs, the touch screen, fast AF, the brilliant 5-axis image stabilization and natural compactness. As Olympus has then brought the OM-D E-M10 on the market, I was blown away, the camera was able to just about anything, the E-M5 can, but a good deal was there cheaper and it has also several features that the first OM D such as missing. WiFi, Focus Peaking and Live Composite (ingenious feature!), also the key of E-M10 have a significantly more precise pressure point (in the E-M5 are they due to the sealing against water and dust a bit spongy).
The E-M10 is a great camera with good lenses provides an excellent image quality. I've used next to my Nikon for example. At a friend's wedding. When shooting while the pair M.Zuiko 25mm f1.8 and the 75mm f1.8 M.Zuiko were used. I had the camera emerged at this time is not particularly long, and was absolutely delighted with the image quality in the development of RAWs in Lightroom, the results were the images the 85mm with the D600 and also very good Nikkor AF-S F1.8 G are second to none. In particular, the unfortunately lent only for the wedding 75mm f1.8 is a fantastic lens with incredibly high sharpness at maximum aperture!
But we come finally to the E-M1, for this it's all here :)
Why did I switch from the E-M10 for E-M1? Now that once were the obvious benefits in terms of features and equipment, the E-M1 has the E-M10, the following points ahead:
- 5-axis image stabilization (3-axes in the E-M10)
- Ergonomic handle
- Possibility to set a battery grip
- Phase AF points on the image sensor, it can also be the elderly and visually majority excellent Four Thirds lenses to good use
- Robust housing made of a magnesium alloy, sealed against dust and water spray and cold-resistant down to -10 ° C
- Higher continuous shooting speed and a significantly larger frame buffer (of particular interest since firmware 3.0!)
Of course, besides the benefits listed above and from a top of the range expected and the GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) had a share of the purchase decision, tech-savvy readers will know what I mean. In addition, Olympus had the time of purchase is an attractive action, the purchase it was not only the HLD-7 battery grip free, but also a voucher of 200, - Euro you could redeem when buying a M.Zuiko lens. So a fall the buying decision a little easier: D
What are for me the strengths of E-M1:
Almost all DSLRs have a limited number of AF fields which are usually also built very centered. Thus, in order to focus objects that are now on the edge of the picture you have to pivot very often. Not so with the MFT system cameras, the AF fields extend almost to the edge, also can be set quickly and easily the focal point by fingertip on the touch screen, on request is also dispatched same. The autofocus is extremely fast and reliable, it is extremely rare that the AF is not true now, especially with really bad lighting conditions. Under such conditions, but is also my Nikon no better. Very useful, I also feel really well-functioning eye detection for portraits, the camera automatically sets the focus point on the eye that is closest to the camera, with the DSLR, it is often a bit fiddly to have the focus exactly on the eye.
The C-AF was of works from not bad, with the Firmware Update 3.0 in February 2015 Olympus C-AF but once again greatly improved. At high continuous shooting speed the phase AF fields now are getting used to the distance and movement of the object which you anfokussiert measure, the result is a very reliable AF which provides very reliable sharp even at 9 fps. Action Photography was until relatively recently still an absolute bastion of DSLRs, but with cameras like the E-M1 is also available there real alternatives.
One thing I would not have missed more at no camera in the future is the 5-axis image stabilization. The image sensor floats in a magnetic field and, depending on the camera shake of the sensor is moved slightly to compensate for the movement. This type of stabilization works not only more effective than it (stuck with most other manufacturers in the lenses), the conventional image stabilizers, it is all fixed focal lengths and stabilizes all lenses adapted from other manufacturers so much! In combination with the Focus Peaking thereby making it really fun old lenses from the era of analogue SLRs use.
I use the camera with the most compact and very good fixed focal lengths, when using the MFT system relatively large optics as the 12-40mm f2.8 40-150mm f2.8 PRO or PRO is the well-formed handle the E-M1 but very useful, these lenses would be worn on the E-M10 itself not very good with the optional ECG-1 handle on duration. The older Four Thirds lenses of the previous E-system are still significantly larger, here then worth using the HLD-7 battery grip by the camera well is sensational in his hand. Even today, have the high-quality Four Thirds lenses an excellent reputation, with the Olympus E-M1 has created a good bridge solution for users of older DSLRs to use on a modern camera next to the lens. The Four Thirds lenses are also of interest to newcomers, but they form a relatively inexpensive alternative to the MFT PRO optics.
I want on the very good viewfinder and the many other features here not capitalize, these points were here already mentioned in most other reviews.
A few negative points I would still appeal, on the one hand I find the position of the on / off switch on the left housing top just impractical, it always requires two hands to turn the camera on, this works with the Nikon better (there of switch directly at the trigger). The video mode of E-M1 is the absence of good codecs and frame rates not unfortunately missing on the level who would like to and often make videos should rather look at the also excellent GH4 Panasonic. The new E-M5 Mark II has a greatly improved video mode. Who but clearly focuses on photographing receives the E-M1 was a successful, professional camera.
The battery life is not exactly satisfactory, here you simply noted that both the screen and the image stabilizer eat a lot of energy.
Tip 1: Buy direct one or two spare batteries so. Money for the originals, you can save yourself, with the replicas of Patona I've always had a good experience with various cameras.
Tip 2: Do not be fooled by the 08/15 imaging performance of the cheaper Kitsch heirs, the 14-42mm and 12-50mm variants show not begin to the potential of the camera you! With good lenses as the fixed focal length or quality zooms (12-40mm f2.8 Olympus, Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8) gives very different results!
Tip 3: The E-M1 (and also the other OM-Ds) provides an incredible number of features and customization options, this can overwhelm beginners quickly. Therefore, you should activate the so-called Super Control Panel immediately after purchase, how to do this can be found by looking at the major search engines or in the manual.
Tip # 4 (all DSLR users to): Think about then probably get dusty buying a OM-D well because the DSLR is in the closet. My Nikon comes anyway only rarely used)
