Have you pre-ordered your OM-D E-M5? - Page 9

CPWarner · #81 February 13th, 2012, 05:08 AM

Nostalgia has me intrigued enough to consider getting an OMD, as I started into photography with an OM10 and then an OM4. The 5 axis IBIS, weather sealing and some other features are nice improvements. What stopped me was the nice prints that I made from my GH2, I can not see that changing dramatically, so until it does, I am saving my pennies for some of the really nice lenses Olympus and Panasonic are teasing us with! The 75mm, 60mm macro, and the fast Panasonic zooms look really interesting.

Cliff

ccunningham · #82 February 13th, 2012, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Tait

As I said we each have different needs. And Pictor seems to be on a similar wavelength to me. I used Canon G9 and G10 to do as Pictor does. Walking around, shooting whatever. These cameras were darn good, and they consigned my 30D to semi retirement. BUT! The Canon compacts were not much good for sports, so the 30D was used for this. The compacts also produced more noise than the 30D, but portability and being inconspicuous by comparison won over.

Enter the Pens! I bought an EP-2. The looks and apparent performance improvements won me over here. But, although the E-P2 pushed the Canon compacts into semi retirement, shadow noise was still a persistent problem. Now, noise can be treated PP. But, it often leads to a loss of sharpness. Consider also, a situation where I was using PP to cure noise problems in hundreds of images. It was too time consuming, and IQ was suffering.

So, like many, I awaited the E-P3 arrival, and followed the rumours of what this new camera might offer. However, whilst many of us hoped of a bigger, improved 16mp sensor, ( which in my case I hoped would finally solve noise issues ) the newbie E-P3 was still using the smaller sensor, albeit, said to be tweaked.

So, I baulked at buying the E-P3, and bought a Canon 60D instead. Which because of it's much improved performance over my other cameras, pushed the E-P2 into semi retirement. Now I get great images from my 60D. Noise issues are minimal.But, the question of portability and being very intimidating when street shooting, takes me back to m/43 needs.

The Oly looks and appeals to me more than a Panny or Sony. The Fuji X100 ticks a lot of boxes. But, the fixed lens kills it for me here. And so, to the new OM-D. It excites me. So much here to like, the faster AF might not be needed in my case since the main lenses I would use would be the CV 25mm 0.95. The Canon 70-200L, and a third, the soon to be bought Canon 17-40L. These would be used in manual. Indeed I have about 10 lenses I could use on this camera via Canon EF adapters.

So, now "as I said" I'll await revues etc, and news from those of you who can tell me, if the OM-D E-M5 is really that good. If it is, put me down for a silver. I'll forget my Canon 7D aspirations and buy small again. Like Pictor, I've worked out my priorities and will buy accordingly.

We really do require different things from our cameras, and reading through the forums here this is borne out time and again. I'll just leave with a parting shot. Can you imagine how cool the OM-D is going to look with the vast array of adapted lenses out there? Sheesh! I can't wait to see these photos appear in the "adapted lens" pages on this site.

Agree+

Saved me the time of typing pretty much what I would have except for makes and models. If the e-m5 can perform as well as my d90 in poorer light up to about iso 3200, and is significantly smaller, I will buy. But I won't pre-order unless I see I'm thoroughly convinced of that prior to the ship date, and I haven't seen anything convincing either way.

pictor · #83 February 13th, 2012, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPWarner

Nostalgia has me intrigued enough to consider getting an OMD, as I started into photography with an OM10 and then an OM4.

I started photographing with compact cameras when I was a child about 30 years ago. The Canon T70 was my first serious camera, the Canon T90 my second. I was fascinated by cameras like the Canon F1, Olympus OM4, Leica R5/6 and Nikon F3, but never had any camera like that. So the OM-D presses some buttons indeed, but I don't feel as much nostalgia as I would feel, if I ever had a camera like that. At least Olympus did not as much nostalgia as Fuji, but built a modern camera with an interface which seems to work fine with digital cameras. That's why I might eventually end up buying an OM-D, but at the moment updating my small camera is my major concern.

I can understand, however, that nostalgia can be a strong force which moves one to buying specific cameras. Look at Fuji, whose X cameras produce technically excellent pictures, but the design is mainly based on awakening nostalgia. There are many people having glorified feelings about the past and buy these cameras because of nostalgia alone. There is another group of people who just have romantic feelings towards rangefinder cameras because of photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson and want to buy such a camera because of that. These people are pre-ordering the new Fuji like crazy! Pressing the nostalgia button works excellently!

David Tait · #84 February 13th, 2012, 08:03 AM

Check this out guys.

Digital Camera News, Reviews, Tips and Techniques | Digital Camera World

bilzmale · #85 February 13th, 2012, 08:31 AM

Bought and sold an EP1, EP2 and EPL2 - never took to them. I think the latest version will be what I'm searching for so pre-ordered an E-M5.

robknight · #86 February 13th, 2012, 08:40 AM

I preordered one for a couple of reasons... I waited until the current generation of PEN cameras to pull the trigger on the m4/3 system. I had intended to wait for the rumored "pro PEN", but the Olympus rep told me that it would be "quite a while" before something like that would be available. That was in October. I have enjoyed the E-P3 a lot. I even left my Nikon D3s at home on a recent trip to Costa Rica and shot exclusively with the Oly. I got a pretty good idea about the strengths and weaknesses of the E-P3 when it comes to the images that I make.

I'm looking forward to the E-M5 for...
Built in EVF. I use the VF2 almost 100% of the time on my E-P3, and if that thing falls off one more time...

Higher resolution. I shoot mainly landscape and travel photography, and more detail would be nice. I'm upgrading my pro Nikons soon for the same reason.

Better dynamic range. I have my fingers crossed for this one

Weather sealed body and lens. Beach, rain forest, etc, NICE

A lot of people are complaining about the 12-50 lens, but it is perfect for what I need it for. For me a weather sealed 24-100mm effective zoom is a great walk around lens. It is relatively slow, but I'm usually hanging out around f/8 in the daytime anyway. I have the 12mm f/2 and the 45 f/1.8 if I need the speed. A faster zoom would be great, and bigger, and heavier, and more expensive, etc... If I were planning to shoot the Oly exclusively I would probably forego the kit lens and use the Oly 12-60 f/2.8-4 with an adapter.

I also thinks the "live bulb" mode and tilting screen will be interesting on the new model. I don't want one because of how it looks, but I definitely think its a cool looking machine. I ordered the silver :)

nueces snapper · #87 February 13th, 2012, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Tait

Check this out guys.

Digital Camera News, Reviews, Tips and Techniques | Digital Camera World

If you are reffering to the free grip offer all I can say is, "You limeys make me ill."

ean10775 · #88 February 13th, 2012, 09:58 AM

I've actually now backtracked on my previous post stating that I was putting up my 5DII and EF lenses up for sale in anticipation of the E-M5. I still have my preorder in at Amazon though. I shot some headshots for a local theater production and as a result was asked to shoot some senior portrait sessions, and even though I don't use the 5DII as much as my E-PL1, nor do I enjoy using it as much, I'm always blown away by the files it produces.

I really like the idea of dropping it and moving to a smaller system that I'm more likely to carry with me on a regular basis, especially since my wife and I have our first baby on the way, but I just can't get past the worry that if I do sell the full-frame camera, I'll really end up regretting it down the line.

I can't justify acquiring an E-M5 to use alongside the 5DII, when it also, in my opinion, would require the 20mm f1.7 and the 45mm f1.8 to be able to accomplish a portrait session with acceptable results based on what I'm used to - neither of which I currently own.

Has anyone else moved from a full-frame DSLR that they use primarily for portrait photography with off camera lighting to using exclusively a m43 camera? Based on your experience would you have any recommendations regarding a camera specced like the E-M5 in comparison for this type of shooting with the 20/1.7 and 45/1.8 lenses?

Ned · #89 February 13th, 2012, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ean10775

I've actually now backtracked on my previous post stating that I was putting up my 5DII and EF lenses up for sale in anticipation of the E-M5. I still have my preorder in at Amazon though. I shot some headshots for a local theater production and as a result was asked to shoot some senior portrait sessions, and even though I don't use the 5DII as much as my E-PL1, nor do I enjoy using it as much, I'm always blown away by the files it produces.

I really like the idea of dropping it and moving to a smaller system that I'm more likely to carry with me on a regular basis, especially since my wife and I have our first baby on the way, but I just can't get past the worry that if I do sell the full-frame camera, I'll really end up regretting it down the line.

I can't justify acquiring an E-M5 to use alongside the 5DII, when it also, in my opinion, would require the 20mm f1.7 and the 45mm f1.8 to be able to accomplish a portrait session with acceptable results based on what I'm used to - neither of which I currently own.

Has anyone else moved from a full-frame DSLR that they use primarily for portrait photography with off camera lighting to using exclusively a m43 camera? Based on your experience would you have any recommendations regarding a camera specced like the E-M5 in comparison for this type of shooting with the 20/1.7 and 45/1.8 lenses?

You should read this article from Scott Bourne, who lists the E-P3 as his "new favorite portrait camera":
My New Favorite Portrait Camera « Photofocus

He made the same move you're thinking of, from comparable equipment (he put away his Canon 1DIV, Nikon D3s, and Leica M9, all Full Frame cameras, in favor of the E-P3), for the same kind of photography you're interested in (portraits).

I've also completely left my DSLR bodies (not lenses) for Micro Four-Thirds bodies for my photography work in the product, portrait, fashion, and entertainment fields. However, I had already made the switch to Four-Thirds DSLRs before moving to Micro Four-Thirds mirrorless bodies, so that's why I direct you to Scott Bourne's article as he is moving directly from Full Frame.

All in all, there's really nothing to fear but fear itself. My livelihood depends on my photography, and without that I would not have a job.
Of course, I made my switch gradually as it filled my needs. In fact I had never intended to make any kind of "switch", it just happened as my DSLR usage phased away and I started putting my money into Micro Four-Thirds instead. I still used my last pro-grade DSLR until the shutter wore out, so it's not like you could say I "gave up" anything. I just saw DSLRs as unnecessary and moved on without them.

brianvickers · #90 February 13th, 2012, 11:04 AM

Ned,
thanks for your post, I've read the article via your link, what a fantastic testimonial!
brings me closer to selling my 50D and L glass to buy an OM-D.