The Panasonic OIS lenses also hum constantly, just not as distinctly as the IBIS unit in the E-M5. The sound probably is similar to a Nikon VR unit, the difference being that the Nikon (and Canon) lenses can "park" their stabilised elements and not need to keep the VR/IS unit powered to hold them in place.

__________________
Nic
E-M5, GH1
Flickr Photostream
>> Insert quote here <<

I guess my point, though, was that we already accept a lot of automated, outside of our control activity with our digital cameras. Many seem to apply NR even in raw, for example, and you seem to accept the (very minimal) vibration and noise that goes with optical image stabilization. Where do we draw the line?

If the means used to hold the sensor in place doesn't affect the IQ, I guess I'm not terribly concerned with whether it's glue, screws, or electromagnets.

I'm just trying to get a feel for what it is like. The nearest camera store is well over an hour away. People I respect now have the camera and I'm just asking what it is like now to have lived with the "purr". That's all. Really, don't make this more than it needs to be, I understand what "P" means, even "iAUTO", I just wanted some real world experience (by owners of the camera only) on the feel of the camera in terms of the vibration no one expected until it shipped.

__________________
Nikon D600, 24-85VR, 70-300VR, P7700, SB-700.

I don't feel any vibration when using my E-M5. There is a sound, but I can't feel anything.

Edit: Actually, I just tried the camera again, and I can feel something. I never consciously realized it, but it's there. Yes, it reminds me of how Canon IS and Nikon VR feel/sound. I actually like that feeling - I associate it with reassurance that the photo won't handshake blur .

__________________
Amin
Mu-43.com Webmaster (Site FAQ | Help Forum | My Disclosures | My Flickriver | My G+ Profile)

Note: Links in this post may be to our affiliates. We get a small referral fee when you buy after clicking our link. Your price is unaffected.

It's a complete non-issue. I can't believe it ever became one ... I do hear it once in a great while, but unless you are looking for issues or noise or other problems, it isn't noticeable.

__________________
A few of my photos can be found here: http://jeffryscott.com/

I can hear the hum when my room is absolutely quiet, but it is a complete non-issue when I put the camera in use... There is no vibration, or if there is, I cannot feel it at all...

So this is what I've learned... it is a ONLY noise, not a vibration. If I took the camera out of my bag and started shooting in any place but a library, I'd never know it was there. But if someone said, "Hey, did you know that camera hums?" and I put it to my ear, I'd hear it.

Probably LESS annoying than the VR in a Nikon lens because it is consistent. It occurs consistently whenever the camera is on and not asleep, right?

__________________
Nikon D600, 24-85VR, 70-300VR, P7700, SB-700.

I revised my comment above - there is a subtle vibration.

__________________
Amin
Mu-43.com Webmaster (Site FAQ | Help Forum | My Disclosures | My Flickriver | My G+ Profile)

Note: Links in this post may be to our affiliates. We get a small referral fee when you buy after clicking our link. Your price is unaffected.

The IBIS shuts down as soon as the camera goes into sleep mode, but anytime that the camera is on the IBIS unit becomes powered, even if you are just looking through the menus or reviewing images.

__________________
Nic
E-M5, GH1
Flickr Photostream
>> Insert quote here <<

The nearest equivalent noise I can relate it to is the sound of the hard drive on my Macbook.

The Sensor on the OMD is not rigidly mounted, it is actually suspended, leviated in a magnetic field. I suspect the field oscillates, inducing some noise in the magnets doing the levitating.

You can actually turn the noise off by turning the mode dial to video, which seems to engage a different levitation protocol that is nearly dead silent.

When you turn the camera off, or when it goes to sleep, it makes a quite loud ker-clunk as the IBIS shuts down and parks the sensor.

I can hear my IBIS 'whirring' even outside with ambient noise, but then my hearing is pretty good. It doesn't bother me in the slightest.