Olympus E-PM2 Image Thread

John King · Feb 13, 2021

I have not been able to find a thread specifically for images from the (now) ancient E-PM2, so I will start one.

I'm sure that I am not the only person here who has one, and appreciates the strengths of this tiny gem. Please post shots from yours

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Mine arrived (second hand) a couple of days ago, and I have been fiddling with the settings, and taking a variety of test shots. The main lens for this body will be my 14-42 EZ with a JJC auto-opening lens cap. Jazzy little lens, and mine seems quite sharp enough in both the centre and corners. I have posted a few images from the lens elsewhere over my time here.

I have taken a number of test shots, using the above lens, and also my mFTs 40-150R and 12-100.

The IBIS of the E-PM2 leaves something to be desired. Perhaps describing it as "lousy" would be more accurate! A combination of the minute inertia of this tiny body, and the fact that it is the old three axis design, not the five axis IBIS that was used in the E-M5 MkI. Others have already remarked on that here. Suffice it to say, the IBIS is the same system as my E-510, and nowhere near as good. It is worse than the IBIS in my E-1, and the E-1 doesn't have IBIS ...

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It is interesting that the lens IS of the 12-100 gave me at least 4 stops of IS.

It requires changing one's holding technique, with thumb pressed solidly into the rear thumb rest, and fingers folded down the front grip, holding the camera with their sides, rather than 'pinching'. This seems to work pretty well for me.

Having said all that, the camera is like a gem. The ergonomics are far better than I was expecting, once I got out of the habit of trying to do things the same way as I do with my other five Olympi ...

It is very fast. The shutter goes THUNK (no electronic first curtain - doesn't help the IBIS ... ). Still, I bought it as a take everywhere, outdoor camera, and for that, none of these criticisms matter a fig.

On to imaging. Having the same sensor as the renowned E-M5 MkI gives it some serious credibility, and I have found this to be the case. Very decent IQ at ISO 1600, and quite respectable at ISO 3200 in poor light. Just noticeably better for both noise and DR than my E-M1 MkI at ISO 3200.

I will have to get an OTG (On The Go) dongle for my tablet, as I seem to have misplaced the one I already have. Just after buying another one, I will find the existing one ...

Anyway, here are some test images to kick the thread off.

The cats, on their wheat bags, and 'bluey' for any accidents.

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A friend.

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Friend's garden.

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Seed bell for small parrots. They don't come anywhere near it ...

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Indoors with 40-150R, using IBIS (what a joke!).

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Indoors with 12-100, using lens IS.

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And another at 1/13th s @ 100mm using lens IS.

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I'm certain that I will have more observations to make about this camera as I become more familiar with it.

Mountain_Man_79 · Feb 13, 2021

Probably one of my favorite pics taken with my old e-pm2...and the kit 14-42 as well if I recall.

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I never had any major complaints with the ibis, but at the time I didn’t know much better. Taking a step back now I’d probably find it lacking in comparison to 5-axis.

John King · Feb 15, 2021

piggsy · Feb 15, 2021

My first "proper" camera, bought dirt cheap at like $300 open box at The Good Guys. Despite suffering a little from shutter shock, a fine camera, and really only limited by the ability to either have a flash or an EVF (through the since discontinued AP2 interface under the hotshoe). Which was why I bought an EP-5 for a couple hundred more months later. Still have the PM2, probably always will, just because it's handier to have it around and it's not worth the bother of selling it.

Looking back at some old shots from it I'm astounded the amount of time I put into doing photos, but not properly labelling them or post processing them because ... I dunno, that would mean I was properly into taking photos? LOL.

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yellow butterfly by PIG, on Flickr

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mantis eating by PIG, on Flickr

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dragonfly by PIG, on Flickr

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honeybee on wattle by PIG, on Flickr

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honeybee on lavender by PIG, on Flickr

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fly by PIG, on Flickr

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mantis by PIG, on Flickr

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bottlebrush flowers by PIG, on Flickr

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Rainbow Lorikeet feeding on grevillea by PIG, on Flickr

John King · Mar 3, 2021

Banksia flower spike.

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Bloody forum s/w ...

Headache precludes editing and re-uploading ...

[Edit] Finally got this the right way up ... [end edit]

SilverShutter · Mar 4, 2021

piggsy said:
My first "proper" camera, bought dirt cheap at like $300 open box at The Good Guys. Despite suffering a little from shutter shock, a fine camera, and really only limited by the ability to either have a flash or an EVF (through the since discontinued AP2 interface under the hotshoe). Which was why I bought an EP-5 for a couple hundred more months later. Still have the PM2, probably always will, just because it's handier to have it around and it's not worth the bother of selling it.

Looking back at some old shots from it I'm astounded the amount of time I put into doing photos, but not properly labelling them or post processing them because ... I dunno, that would mean I was properly into taking photos? LOL.

View attachment 873862 yellow butterfly by PIG, on Flickr

View attachment 873863 mantis eating by PIG, on Flickr

View attachment 873864 dragonfly by PIG, on Flickr

View attachment 873865 honeybee on wattle by PIG, on Flickr

View attachment 873866 honeybee on lavender by PIG, on Flickr

View attachment 873867 fly by PIG, on Flickr

View attachment 873868 mantis by PIG, on Flickr

View attachment 873869 bottlebrush flowers by PIG, on Flickr

View attachment 873870 Rainbow Lorikeet feeding on grevillea by PIG, on Flickr

Those are really beautiful shots!
I think the form factor of ultra small IL cameras like the Pen Minis and the Lumix GM series didn't sell too well, which is a shame because it basically killed them entirely. Only the Gx800 survives and it's a gimped entry level model in comparison to these.

coffeecat · Mar 4, 2021

I took my E-PM2 out last weekend on a bike ride. Hanging off my wrist on a wrist strap, and fitted with a P14-42ii, which is a really good (but cheap) kit lens that I hardly ever use due to also having O12-40/2.8 ("super IQ" lens), P12-32 (tiny), and P12-60 (bigger FL range, plus daughter uses it mostly on a G3). It was banging on the handlebars now and then, but I don't really mind as the E-PM2 is probably not realistically saleable.

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coffeecat · Mar 4, 2021

I also tend to take it on beaches etc, for the same reason - great camera (was my "main" body for years), but not disastrous if lost/broken.
Here with a range of 4 different lenses.

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coffeecat · Mar 4, 2021

An old street shot, E-PM2 fitted with my all-time favourite lens.

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John King · Mar 4, 2021

Some very lovely shots there, @coffeecat .

You are wrong about one thing though - the E-PM2 is all but irreplaceable. The nearest modern equivalent is considerably bigger and heavier, and s/h ones are as common as rocking horse droppings ...

I'm really enjoying mine. Just ordered some after-market BLS-5 batteries and car charger for it from a company here. The owner really, really knows batteries etc, so they won't be the all too common eBay junk.

Getting a car charger and after-market BLH-1 for my E-M1 MkII as well. Any battery is better than no battery when you are on the move ...

coffeecat · Mar 4, 2021

John King said:
You are wrong about one thing though - the E-PM2 is all but irreplaceable. The nearest modern equivalent is considerably bigger and heavier, and s/h ones are as common as rocking horse droppings ...

Thanks John. I hadn’t thought of that!

Panolyman · Mar 5, 2021

John's got me intrigued (I guess that's the polite term for full of GAS) about the E-PM2 and I've been surfing the sites for one.
As he says, they appear to be very rare and weirdly, the best one I saw was from OZ land.

I know I don't need another camera but I've seen a remarkably good E-PM1 with only 170 actuations for a great price.
So now I've got to research the difference between the 1 and 2. :doh:

John King · Mar 5, 2021

@Panolyman , Brian, the E-PM1 has the older 12 MPx sensor, and no function buttons.

The E-PM2 basically has the Sony 16 MPx sensor of the E-M5 MkI and similar guts. It has fairly useless 3 axis IBIS. Full touch screen.

Brilliant little camera with the 14-42 EZ and JJC auto-opening lens cap.

John King · Mar 5, 2021

@Panolyman , Brian, see the DPR comparison of the E-PM1 and E-PM2 here:

https://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=oly_epm1&products=oly_epm2

Hope this is useful.

Mountain_Man_79 · Mar 5, 2021

Good grief @John King , you’re making me regret that I sold mine last year. Enough already!

John King · Mar 5, 2021

Mountain_Man_79 said:
Good grief @John King , you’re making me regret that I sold mine last year. Enough already!

Ya shoulda known better, Chris ...

You could always try to find a lightly used one s/h. Mine had 2777 clicks on it. Rear wheel is pretty touchy, but I can live with that.

I will have to take a photo of my current 'family' and upload here.

Mountain_Man_79 · Mar 5, 2021

John King said:
Ya shoulda known better, Chris ...

Apparently I should’ve. I got a fair price a year ago, but it seems to be up a fair bit from where it was then. I had the white one, and quite liked the look. But I sold it because I just wasn’t using it, and I don’t see that changing really. Oh well.

John King · Mar 5, 2021

I use all three of my toys, but each for different purposes.

Had I known that the grand nieces and nephews were going to be there yesterday, I would have taken the E-M1 MkII + 12-100 and FL-LM3. However, the E-PM2 acquitted itself well enough. Just don't pixel peep the ISO 6400 shots ... They printed fine at 6x4"

Mountain_Man_79 · Mar 5, 2021

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John King · Mar 5, 2021

@Mountain_Man_79 Chris, there's something very strange in that image. Weird blurring. You didn't use an art filter, by any chance?

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