Review: Olympus OM-D E-M5 camera

Olympus OM-D E-M5 camera. Photo by NICHOLAS YEO

This Micro Four Thirds camera packages modern features with old world charm

 SINGAPORE - The Olympus OM-D E-M5 is the latest Micro Four Thirds camera from Olympus. The retro-designed camera will fit into any locally curated museum, but does it live up to the rich OM legacy?

The advent of the single-lens reflex system saw cameras increase in size as well as weight and Olympus' OM series was born out of an aspiration to create a product that was capable of photographing everything, yet housed in a compact and light body.

The E-M5 pays homage to the series that was first launched in 1971.

The design of the camera follows the OM series very closely, which places dedicated control dials and direct access buttons within reach of fingertips.

The E-M5 arrives at no better time as street photography and retro imaging through apps such as Instagram gains massive popularity. That the camera offers 11 filters and five art effects will endear it to retro fans.

The beauty of the E-M5 lies in the combination of modern features in a vintage 35mm-film shell.

First on its lengthy list of modern features is the 16-megapixel Live MOS Sensor and the TruPic VI image processing engine. The sensor might be smaller than those found in DSLRs but it delivers superb dynamic range. Compared to the Olympus E-P3, the E-M5 has considerably less noise.

Even when I shot at a sensitivity as high as ISO 6400, images were impressive for a camera of its size.

The E-M5 features a 3-inch, 610,000 dot capacitive touch OLED monitor that swivels to facilitate shooting at high and low angles. The intuitive screen displays crisp, high resolution images even in bright light.

A common complaint of compact system cameras is their slow focusing speed. The E-M5 addresses this issue with its "Fast AF" system - the fastest in the world among interchangeable lens cameras, according to its press release.

Another advanced feature of the E-M5 is the "5-axis" image stabilisation system that compensates for camera shake of any kind. This came in very useful, especially during video operation in Full HD mode.

During night-time shooting, the image stabiliser allowed me to shoot pin sharp images at slow shutter speeds.

From a professional standpoint, the electronic viewfinder (EVF) may be the only major trade-off on the E-M5. Make no mistake, the EVF is of high resolution and contrast, and most cameras of such size do not even come with a viewfinder. However, a limited refresh rate means it cannot replace the optical viewfinder or the hybrid viewfinder like those found on other mirrorless cameras.

The E-M5 is one of the most customisable compact cameras currently available in the market. A range of professional accessories make it truly a compelling choice for travellers and street photographers.

It is also natively compatible with Panasonic-branded Micro Four Thirds lenses, which means Micro Four Thirds lens owners do not have to spend money on a new lens system.

The body of the camera is constructed with a durable, dust and splash resistant magnesium alloy that can withstand the harshest environmental operating conditions - as demonstrated by an Olympus executive at a press conference held earlier this year.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 comes in black and silver, and is currently available at retailers from S$1,488 without lens. NICHOLAS YEO

 Source: todayonline.com