Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: dwnelson on January 14, 2013, 12:35:29 am

Title: Should I upgrade from Olympus EPL1 to OM-D EM-5?
Post by: dwnelson on January 14, 2013, 12:35:29 am
I am happy with the image quality of the EPL1, but the ergonomics are annoying (especially changing the aperture) and part of me misses having a viewfinder. I intend on getting the 45mm f1.8 and the 12mm f2.0 lenses. Is it worth it to buy the OM-D EM-5 and take advantage of an additional $300 in rebates from the lenses?

Edit: Another annoying thing about the EPL1 is selecting a focus point and zooming in to verify tack-sharp focus, and easily comparing magnified images to check sharpness (I often shoot in low light without flash, and take 10 images and select the one with the least image blur).
Title: Re: Should I upgrade from Olympus EPL1 to OM-D EM-5?
Post by: stevesanacore on January 14, 2013, 08:16:08 am

One of my best friends has a whole blog dedicated to 4/3'rds cameras and I've been lusting for an OM-D for a while now. I have the E-PL1 and love it, but the OMD is a whole different animal. Better in every way. You may also want to look at the new Pen E-PL5 which I think has the same sensor as the OMD without the digital finder (which I love). If I haven't been investing in Nikon gear right now, (along side my Canon too), I'd have a complete OMD system by now.

Too many great cameras, so little time :-)


Title: Re: Should I upgrade from Olympus EPL1 to OM-D EM-5?
Post by: dwnelson on January 15, 2013, 02:34:22 am
Anyone else have any thoughts?
Title: Re: Should I upgrade from Olympus EPL1 to OM-D EM-5?
Post by: NikoJorj on January 15, 2013, 04:08:54 am
Better sensor dynamic if you need it, better low-light performance (those can be found in cheaper E-PL5), better ergonomics (2 dials) and a viewfinder (I got the VF2 on my EPL1 but it really makes an unpractical bulge on the camera)...
The only con is the price, a tad too expensive for what it is (if we judge by the price MFT camera sell at the end of their life).

You may also wait for the rumored E-P5 which should appear quite soon (in less than a month). It may also bring the price of E-M5 down.
Title: Re: Should I upgrade from Olympus EPL1 to OM-D EM-5?
Post by: Ken Bennett on January 15, 2013, 07:32:43 am
More thoughts? Sure.

I like to upgrade after a couple of cycles, so there is a significant improvement that's worth paying for. (I also tend to do this near the end of the product cycle, when prices are down, explaining why I bought a new 5D2 and a new GH2 last year...) In this case, the improvements in the sensor are enough that I would want to upgrade, if it were me.

You are already noticing the user interface problems, so that's another reason to upgrade.

Given the product cycle, I wouldn't expect an OM-D Mark II in the near future, and even if one were announced, it would likely be a year until it was widely available. You could be shooting with your OM-D for that year.

The 45/1.8 is a wonderful lens. The 12/2 is very nice, though I ended up with the Panny 14/2.5 to start (good quality, 1/3 the price), then bought the 12-35/2.8 zoom which I quite like. Given the rebates on lenses that you want to buy anyway, look it them as a $300 discount on the OM-D, making it $650 -such a bargain!

I'm tempted just for the $150 discount on the 75mm lens...
Title: Re: Should I upgrade from Olympus EPL1 to OM-D EM-5?
Post by: MrIconoclast on February 07, 2013, 12:06:55 pm
One of my best friends has a whole blog dedicated to 4/3'rds cameras and I've been lusting for an OM-D for a while now.


Would you mind pointing us that blog.  I am currently researching m4/3 cameras as they seem to have come of age.  And I have also come to an age where I no longer wish to lug around a heavy DSLR and lenses. I also want better image quality than I get with consumer zooms.
m4/3 seems to be a way that I can use more high quality primes and still not carry a lot of weight. At least I hope so.
Title: Re: Should I upgrade from Olympus EPL1 to OM-D EM-5?
Post by: OldRoy on February 08, 2013, 05:46:31 am
http://www.sansmirror.com/cameras/a-note-about-camera-reviews/olympus-camera-reviews/olympus-om-d-e-m5-review.html
Thom Hogan's somewhat belated review of the OMD is, from the perspective of someone who has been using the OMD since just after it became available in UK, absolutely spot-on accurate.
Roy
Title: Re: Should I upgrade from Olympus EPL1 to OM-D EM-5?
Post by: BobDavid on February 08, 2013, 07:45:22 am
I love my little EPL-1. It's a great little walkaround camera, especially with the EVF. I shoot raw, so there is always a little wiggle room in the shadow areas. It does clip bright areas rather abruptly. Despite its faults, it's light, not too precious, the external mic is fantastic, and the kit lens ain't so bad. The color is good and it renders great 8" X 10" prints. I use a D800 for studio work--having migrated from a big bad digital Blad.
Title: Re: Should I upgrade from Olympus EPL1 to OM-D EM-5?
Post by: MrIconoclast on February 12, 2013, 09:50:47 am
One of my best friends has a whole blog dedicated to 4/3'rds cameras and I've been lusting for an OM-D for a while now.


Thank you for referring me to that blog.  It is a great source of information.
Title: Re: Should I upgrade from Olympus EPL1 to OM-D EM-5?
Post by: PhotoEcosse on February 12, 2013, 02:38:12 pm
I upgraded from a E-PL3 to an OM-D and have to say that I am very pleased with the upgrade.

Basically I use the M4/3 camera as an alternative to my usual Nikon D800 when I want to travel light and, for a dSLR user, I find the OM-D much more intuitive to use than the E-PL3 was. I particularly like the automatic switch from LCD to EVF when you raise the camera to your eye.
Title: Re: Should I upgrade from Olympus EPL1 to OM-D EM-5?
Post by: DaveL on February 16, 2013, 01:11:36 pm
http://www.sansmirror.com/cameras/a-note-about-camera-reviews/olympus-camera-reviews/olympus-om-d-e-m5-review.html
Thom Hogan's somewhat belated review of the OMD is, from the perspective of someone who has been using the OMD since just after it became available in UK, absolutely spot-on accurate.
Roy

Thank you my thought too.
Impressed in the store.
Bought one.
Took it home.
Not at all the same.
Manual? I don't speak Olympus...
Aid?
Lots at dpreview. However, learning tookme time.
Results?
Buyer's remorse for quite some time.

It is all about images. I am happier now

DaveL
Title: Re: Should I upgrade from Olympus EPL1 to OM-D EM-5?
Post by: marcsitkin on February 20, 2013, 01:58:14 pm
The Oly manual sucks. I found this on Amazon, and it was an immense help http://www.amazon.com/David-Buschs-Olympus-Digital-Photography/dp/1285429966/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361386664&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=david+bush+olympus+5d (http://www.amazon.com/David-Buschs-Olympus-Digital-Photography/dp/1285429966/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361386664&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=david+bush+olympus+5d)