Julian de'Courcy
Well-Known Member
I have had the Olympus OM-D EM-5 for just over two weeks.

IMG_8039 by JuliandeCourcy, on Flickr
I have a large full frame camera that gives superb image quality, is easy to use. The problem is, I don’t wish to carry it with me all of the time because it is large and heavy. Not to mention it can be intrusive and intimidating to others.

IMG_8048 by JuliandeCourcy, on Flickr
The Olympus has been a revelation over other small cameras I have purchased. Reasons that pushed me to get this camera over the many small format cameras on offer were, fast focus, no shutter lag, image quality and available good quality lenses. It was the lenses that in the end swayed me to the Olympus with all the other boxes ticked. I found out for myself a long time ago as many already knew the camera lens is the most creative part of a camera system, at least to my eyes.
My initial experience with the Olympus has me in many ways dumbfounded, amazed and exited in what a small camera can do (to the point where I think it is too good, something must go wrong.. Sad as it is only a camera) Not all is rosy though. There are two disappointments to date. Base ISO at 200 and a shutter speed of 1/4000, especially as there are many very good fast lenses available. The camera can be a bit fiddly with small buttons but this is the nature of anything that is small. The camera redeems itself, of its fiddley-ness, in a big way by having two wheels that can be designated to certain operations as can two function buttons. For anyone who wants the basic set up in M/A/TV to quickly access, iso, aperture, shutter speed and exposure compensation, all of these functions and more can be at your finger tips, being easily adjusted in no time at all to suit. The camera is weather proof and this does seem to mean rain proof with the correct lenses on, as demonstrated online in many videos with the Olympus reps throwing buckets of water over the camera while in use. I have been in the rain and all was ok. I have the 12-50/f 3.5-6.3 lens which is worth getting as the kit. For the price, it is a useful and adequate carry around, do all---ishh lens. The 45/f1.8 lens I have for this camera is a gorgeous close up portrait lens; it is sensational and can be purchased at a very reasonable price. The shutter sound from this camera is very quiet, hardly noticeable and add this together with the touch screen that can be set to focus and trigger the shutter simultaneously with a touch, it is useful where you don’t wish to be the centre of attention whilst taking pictures. All in all, over a few other small format cameras I have purchased, as a second light, carry always and everywhere camera, this is the one camera to date which I don’t imagine will be left to gather dust as all the others have. At least I hope not. I will find a home for the G12 and Nex 5n.
Sample Portraits.
.

OM-D EM-5 by JuliandeCourcy, on Flickr

OM-D EM-5 by JuliandeCourcy, on Flickr

IMG_8039 by JuliandeCourcy, on Flickr
I have a large full frame camera that gives superb image quality, is easy to use. The problem is, I don’t wish to carry it with me all of the time because it is large and heavy. Not to mention it can be intrusive and intimidating to others.

IMG_8048 by JuliandeCourcy, on Flickr
The Olympus has been a revelation over other small cameras I have purchased. Reasons that pushed me to get this camera over the many small format cameras on offer were, fast focus, no shutter lag, image quality and available good quality lenses. It was the lenses that in the end swayed me to the Olympus with all the other boxes ticked. I found out for myself a long time ago as many already knew the camera lens is the most creative part of a camera system, at least to my eyes.
My initial experience with the Olympus has me in many ways dumbfounded, amazed and exited in what a small camera can do (to the point where I think it is too good, something must go wrong.. Sad as it is only a camera) Not all is rosy though. There are two disappointments to date. Base ISO at 200 and a shutter speed of 1/4000, especially as there are many very good fast lenses available. The camera can be a bit fiddly with small buttons but this is the nature of anything that is small. The camera redeems itself, of its fiddley-ness, in a big way by having two wheels that can be designated to certain operations as can two function buttons. For anyone who wants the basic set up in M/A/TV to quickly access, iso, aperture, shutter speed and exposure compensation, all of these functions and more can be at your finger tips, being easily adjusted in no time at all to suit. The camera is weather proof and this does seem to mean rain proof with the correct lenses on, as demonstrated online in many videos with the Olympus reps throwing buckets of water over the camera while in use. I have been in the rain and all was ok. I have the 12-50/f 3.5-6.3 lens which is worth getting as the kit. For the price, it is a useful and adequate carry around, do all---ishh lens. The 45/f1.8 lens I have for this camera is a gorgeous close up portrait lens; it is sensational and can be purchased at a very reasonable price. The shutter sound from this camera is very quiet, hardly noticeable and add this together with the touch screen that can be set to focus and trigger the shutter simultaneously with a touch, it is useful where you don’t wish to be the centre of attention whilst taking pictures. All in all, over a few other small format cameras I have purchased, as a second light, carry always and everywhere camera, this is the one camera to date which I don’t imagine will be left to gather dust as all the others have. At least I hope not. I will find a home for the G12 and Nex 5n.
Sample Portraits.
.

OM-D EM-5 by JuliandeCourcy, on Flickr

OM-D EM-5 by JuliandeCourcy, on Flickr