Olympus OMD EM-5

[Jay Gould]

I am considering this system to replace my Canon 5D3 system:

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Digital Camera Body, 16 Megapixel, Image Stabilization, 3" Tilting OLED Display, Full 1080 HD Video, Black (http://www.adorama.com/IOMEM5B.html)
(SKU IOMEM5B) $999.00


Panasonic Lumix G Vario 100-300mm f/4.0-5.6 MEGA O.I.S. Zoom Lens for Micro Four Thirds Lens Mount Systems (http://www.adorama.com/IPCV100300G.html)
(SKU IPCV100300G) $499.00


Panasonic LUMIX G Vario 35-100mm f/2.8 ASPH Lens for G Series Cameras (http://www.adorama.com/IPC3510028.html) Micro Four Thirds Mount
(SKU IPC3510028) $1,399.00


Panasonic 12-35mm F/2.8 Lumix G X Vario Aspherical Power OIS Lens for Micro Four Thirds Lens Mount Systems (http://www.adorama.com/IPC1235.html)
(SKU IPC1235) $1,139.00


Olympus RM-UC1 Remote Cable Release for Select Digital Cameras (http://www.adorama.com/IOMRMUC1.html)
(SKU IOMRMUC1) $37.95


Olympus MMF-3 Weathersealed Dust-proof and Splash-Proof Four Thirds Mount Adapter - Four Thirds Lens to Micro Four Thirds Lens Mount Adapter (http://www.adorama.com/IOMMMF3.html)
(SKU IOMMMF3) $160.08

All comments appreciated!!

Cheers, Jay

[Richard Stern]

Hi,

I bought an E-M5, with kit 12-50 and Panasonic 100-300 lenses several months ago, as a backup and possible replacement for my Nikon D7000 and 300 f/AF-S with 1.7 TC and 18-200VR. There is a considerable learning curve, as it's very customizable, and of course much smaller and lighter. If you have medium to large hands like mine, you'll need to get the optional grip. I subsequently got a decent flash unit for it too.

For bird photography, here are some feelings about the pros and cons compared to the dSLR gear. --

Pros --- Smaller and lighter, more portable, live histograms and blinkies, 9fps with bigger buffer, tilting LED screen, video is better and much easier to do. Lots of in-camera processing possible (but irrelevant if you're shooting Raw)
Cons --- Buttons and dials are small and awkward to use if you have fat fingertips, eye level viewfinder is good but not as good as dSLR, hopeless for birds in flight (because of phase vs. contrast detection auto-focus). Smaller sensor means less isolation of subject from background, and bokeh not as nice.

I have found that for "normal" photography, including my son's recent wedding, the experience of using the EM-5 and the iq of the final images is excellent, and for birds - if the bird is relatively close and doesn't need much cropping, the iq is at least as good as the dSLR and possibly better - but for BIF, or images that need a lot of cropping, it's not as good. Now that I have a decent strap for my Nikon gear , that is till my go-to camera for bird photography, although I have had some equally good results with the OM-D when I take it. I am tending to take the OM-D when I'm on a long hike, or traveling (much better for hand luggage). I recently went to Louisiana and then the Virgin Islands, and took the OM-D as my only camera, and I got some excellent static and a few acceptable flight shots. Take a look at some images in my Smugmug gallery - http://richard-s.smugmug.com/Birds/Current-Birds/ and look at the exifs or info, and compare the OM-D pics with the Nikon ones.

Hope this helps,

Richard

[Jay Gould]

Hi Richard, thanks for taking the time to respond.

i am only doing a test at this time. I am advised that Olympus is coming out with a significantly better sensor; I will wait for that sensor.

I also bought, everything is being returned, the RRS L-plate with the grip. The grip makes all the difference!

It was a pleasure to hold. Even with the 100-300 the package weighs the same as my 70-300.

i am primarily a land/seascape photographer so BIF are not a concern.

The reason for the 100-300 is we spend a lot of time in nat'l pks and there are lots of standing animals.

I am tempted, if the test shots I am going to make in The Palouse, WA in a couple of weeks turn out to have a really good IQ, to keep the system and simply upgrade the body if the next sensor is significantly superior.

It would be great to have the 100-300 when we drive this summer to Yellowknife, NT.

Cheers,