Olympus OM-D E-M5 1-Month User Review

This is a user review of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 written by Denny (Straycat): A month with the Olympus OM-D E-M5.



I’ve had the camera and the 14-42mm kit lens for about a month now, and I’ve taken more photos in that than in the previous 4 years combined. I haven’t used the 14-42 much, but what I have done I liked, for example; shots of the grandchildren inside and out, and I really am impressed with the movies I’ve made of them.


However, what I have enjoyed most is the combination of the camera with the Panasonic Lumix 100-300mm f/4.0-5.6 lens that I got about a week after getting the camera. My hobby is really wildlife photography, not just photography, and every time I download a days shots to the PC I am more and more impressed with the quality I’m getting. The camera is so easy to use after a few days getting used to the menus, and when you consider the fact that it gives me the focal range of 200-600mm on the Micro 4/3 body, it’s a true bargain. The camera was $1000.00, and the lens was $500.00.



With the ability to use high ISO settings and still get great IQ, it’s amazing. The auto-focus is very fast and you don’t notice any hunting in reasonable light. In very dim lighting, it is understandable that the lens struggles to auto-focus on small birds and the like using spot metering. I don’t use higher than ISO 800 for my shooting because in some cases I like to crop in very close on the subject when editing on the PC. A tiny bit of noise reduction works fine, and I’m sure I could use higher ISO and get pretty much the same results, but as I’m not shooting fast action, I haven’t needed it so far.



At first I was reluctant to rely on in-camera stabilisation, based upon past experience with other systems, but I have recently been using the 5-axis IS system built into the camera, and I am gaining confidence in its superior qualities. I’m more than impressed, considering the vast majority of my shots are done at the equivalent of 600mm. Handholding at that focal length, and getting sharp images is a huge bonus, as in most cases if I try to set up the tripod, the subject is long gone. The left window in the car, in this case the driver’s side, can’t be selected down, something I have to get fixed, so any grab shots have had to be from the left seat through the right side window, handheld. You wouldn’t believe the high keeper rate I’ve been getting. All of my backyard shots are done with the camera on a solid tripod.


I have made good quality videos of kayakers going over waterfalls, small wildlife going about their business, and the video is of a high quality shown on a 40 inch HD TV.



I find I like the default settings of “0” on sharpness, contrast, etc., and in post processing all that’s required is a touch of contrast adjustment and the tiniest increase in sharpness.



This is the best camera I’ve ever used, and the Panasonic Lumix 100-300mm lens is comparable to the Nikon VR 80-400mm optics, but with an almost instantaneous auto-focus lock on the subject in reasonable conditions.



I am back at my hobby full-time with many photography trips planned for the summer, thanks to the Olympus OM-D E-M5. Denny.

Read our full Olympus OM-D E-M5 review for full sample photos and ratings.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Pros:

Lightweight
Relatively small
Very fast accurate auto-focus
Reasonably good low light capability
Nice bokeh

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Cons:

For the price, quality, and focal range achieved with this combination, none

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Specifications

View Full Product Details