Unfortunately brand identity exists, be it for rational or emotional reasons, and is something that I have come to GENUINELY dislike. Uniquely, Micro Four Thirds brings two very different brands and their users into the one place. Some people like one brand, some people like other, and some really don't don't care.

Irrespective of the brand, my personal view is that the best thing for anyone to do with a camera that is new to them is to approach it with an open mind. As I read it, the OP did not do this, or perhaps not yet given themselves time to. If you are trying to bring all your old ways of working to a substantially different camera, what was the purpose of buying it in the first place?

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

Frankly, I think this sort of thread is extremely useful. It highlights issues that others may have and it's well worthwhile, IMO, for people to NOT like something about a camera and express it. As noted, it helps others make a decision. Sites like this should provide good information about the camera/lens use, including stuff that an operator does NOT like. Otherwise, it just becomes a fan-boy site where everything about a specific camera, no matter how badly implemented, is praised and those that complain about it are considered somehow unwilling to learn "the OLY way"... even if the Oly way on several items is just silly and overly complicated.

And yes, Nikon, et al have their share of silly ways.

I didn't say it was overhyped or only relevant to Olympus users. What i said was...

I think that's a fair statement. if you look at at the press (and posts here) it was proclaimed "The King of M43" and talked about like it was the second coming. It is a terrific product and Olympus is to be commended but what it the OMD really excelled at was taking a lot of good ideas and package them with a nice updated sensor in a very appealing industrial design. It's an evolutionary design not a revolutionary one. What it proved to me more than anything is that Olympus is listening to their customers and is responsive to it. Kudos to Olympus.

But, as good as the E-M5 is it's not for everyone. If you buy one because everyone is saying it's the best thing since the combustion engine you might get it and find that you don't like it. It reminds me of the first time I drove a Prius. I like what it represents and think its great that they are so popular but I find it about the most boring car I have ever driven. That doesn't make it bad but its clearly not a product that appeals to me. What I want out of a car is very different than what it offers. We like what we like and the great thing about m43 is that there are a number of excellent options available.

If it wasn't for the E-M5's 5-axis IBIS, I'd probably be shooting with an NEX-7 or Fuji X Pro 1 right now.

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Jonathan
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www.jonathanfriolo.com

Ever since picking up my C3 I have very seriously considered switching 100% to the NEX. I think if they had comparable native glass I probably would have already.

Threads like this make me realize that I'm actually very very happy with my GH2 and I don't have a need to blow a grand on the E-M5. Thanks!

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The best shot you take is with the camera that you have with you.

I see what you're saying and I suppose I agree...sort of, but these are simply tools and it's not like there aren't suitable options. I do desktop support for a university and I get faculty coming in wanting to buy a Mac largely in part because of the huge popularity of the iPhone and the iPad. Now, I've been a Mac user for over 25 years (ran my design and development firm on Macs for nearly a decade) and training folks almost as long. I like Macs and really DO think they are better in many ways, but when I see a longtime Windows user come in the first thing I ask them is WHY they want a Mac. There are lot of good reasons why they might want one but its not for everyone and for some of them they would be just as happy staying on Windows. I can teach them to use a Mac and when I do I use the very same kind of language about "approaching it with an open mind", but it just a computer. It's a tool to get work done and if they decide the Mac isn't for them there is no reason to stop them from going with Windows. it's just not that important.

If the OP doesn't like the E-M5 for whatever reason that's fine. It's just a camera.

I know the hype was overwhelming and it is not the camera for everyone, but the OM-D was the first camera, that I know about anyway, that brought in such a big influx of new m4/3 users. That is, obviously, a good thing for the overall m4/3 ecosystem (drives new lenses and even new Panasonic bodies).

It's not like we have to pick one or the other, budget permitting. Different tools for different jobs. I like small, native/AF primes, so I don't see myself giving up m4/3 in the short or mid term. I will probably always have an APS-C (even had the itch for FF lately) body in addition to the m4/3 kit, but I see these as complementary, not as potential replacements.

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Kyle / E-M5 and E-PM2
Flickr Photostream

That's very true and that's how my NEX and GX1 work now. I use the NEX for legacy glass as I don't like using legacy glass with m43 and the GX1 has my P14, PL25 and PL45 set of primes. So far the system is working well.

Everyone can have an opinion and I have no issue if some doesn't want an E-M5. But for me it was revolutionary for m43 in that it's the first body I purchased and kept. I've owned the G1 & G3 & E-P1 at various times. All of them got sold pretty quickly for various reasons. But the E-M5 was the first that offered a combination of features and performance that made me want to keep it and in some cases prefer it to a DSLR. I see lots of comments in some threads saying they don't see much difference between the G3 pictures and the E-M5 but I do. To each their own, but to me the E-M5 was significant jump in what I wanted compared to every m43 body before.

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Olympus OM-D E-M5, Olympus 12-50mm, Olympus 45mm, Olympus FL-300R