Photography News issue 18

Camera test

FULL TEST

SPECS

Olympus OM-D E-M5Mark II

PRICE £899.99 body only, £1099.99 kit with M.Zuiko ED 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ CONTACT www.olympus.co.uk SENSOR 17.3x13mm Micro Four Thirds, 4608x3456 pixels ISORANGE 100-25,600 SHUTTER 60secs-1/8000sec (mechanical shutter), 1/16000sec (electronic shutter), Time, Bulb, flash sync at 1/250sec MAX FRAME RATE Up to 10fps continuous METERING SYSTEM Digital ESP with 324 areas, centre-weighted and spot EXPOSUREMODES PASM, scene modes EXPOSURE COMPENSATION +/-5EV AUTOFOCUSMODES High speed imager AF, SAF, CAF, manual, 81 AF areas IMAGE STABILISER 5-axis sensor shift – yaw/pitch/roll/vertical/ horizontal, 5EV benefit MONITOR 3in vari-angle STORAGEMEDIA 1xSD, SDHC, SDXC, UHS-I/II compatible DIMENSIONS (WXHXD) 123.7x85x44.5mm WEIGHT 469g (including battery and card)

PN had a first look at Olympus’s newMicro Four Thirds model last issue, after a specially organised launch event. Now it’s time for a more considered verdict

The exposure mode dial has gained a locking button identical to the E-M1’s in use. One push and the dial is locked in place; another push and the dial rotates normally, and you rely on the firm click-stops to keep the setting in place. The two command dials are excellent and much better than the original E-M5’s dials. They are bigger and taller, and the milling makes them positive to use. Their position has also been slightly altered, so there is no longer any need to adjust the thumb’s position from the rear curved grip to use them. That right-hand side of the top-plate is well populated with buttons. Expect to spend a little while getting used to their positions. With three function buttons (and another on the 2x2 control) and the customisable record button, it can take time to memorise what each does. Olympus is proud of the camera’s image stabilisation skills, claiming a +5EV gain. It is certainly impressive, and several modes are available too. I achieved razor-sharp handheld images at 1/4sec and 1/5sec that are identical to those from control shots taken using a tripod. Out of five attempts using the 12-40mm f/2.8, I was getting four sharp at these speeds, which is very good indeed. Generally, the exposure and focusing systems did their job very well indeed. I left the camera mostly in aperture-priority AE and 324-zone multi-pattern metering, which proved consistently reliable in a wide variety of situations.

Autofocusing was a little more inconsistent, particularly when lighting levels dropped, and in low‑contrast situations. In very dim interiors, the system occasionally searched and failed to lock on. Mostly, though, it was spot-on, and it wasn’t long before I started to recognise situations where the AF might struggle and was prepared for it. In summary, the E-M5 Mark II proved a lovely camera in use, with handling and performance that are easily a step or two ahead of the original E-M5.

Words by Will Cheung

Three years is an age in digital imaging, so you’d expect the OM-D E-M5 Mark II to have significant feature and performance benefits compared with the Mark I. But are those improvements enough to tempt existing Mark I owners to upgrade, and is the package good enough to attract would- be CSC buyers currently contemplating Fujifilm, Panasonic or Samsung? Having had several days of using the two cameras side by side, often shooting the same scene with the same lens, I think I can say without fear of contradiction that existing E-M5 buyers should definitely think about upgrading, and to all those prospective CSC buyers: you must give this camera a look. Physically, the Mark I and Mark II are very similar but there are some notable and worthwhile changes. The On/Off switch has moved to the left of the top‑plate, the two input dials have been revamped and the monitor is now fully articulated. For low‑level shooting, in upright or horizontal formats, it’s a delight to use, which will please selfie shooters as well as those seeking more interesting viewpoints for their images. For me, it’s a shame Olympus didn’t go the whole hog and put the On/Off switch around or close to the shutter button, to make turning the camera on a truly one-handed operation.

ABOVE The MkII’s articulated monitor is perfect for taking very low-angle shots like this without too much back pain. Exposure was 1/160sec at f/2.8 and ISO 200.

Photography News | Issue 18