Olympus OMD EM5, Aesthetics.

Lurch · 12-30-2012, 11:42 PM

So I was in JB Hifi the other day and they had this Olympus OMD EM5 on display.
I'm not going to make any comment on it'd ability *as* a camera (although they seem to be making a big deal about this 'worlds fastest auto focus' business) but is it a stunning looking little thing.
I have a big thing for aesthetics, especially retro modern tech (the same reason I love the the Fuji X100). But this thing looks like its right out of the 70s/80s. It harks back to my Mothers old Praktica that is on display in my lounge room (of which I now use its glorious 50mm

)

Last edited by Ash; 12-31-2012 at 07:18 AM.

sb in ak · 12-31-2012, 11:03 PM

I haven't had the chance to hold one but I agree...it's a stunning piece of equipment!

VisualDarkness · 01-01-2013, 02:36 AM

It looks good on display and feels decent in the hands but the rubber buttons (playback etc) just feel awful. Also I seriously dislike their implementation of the EVF, it as over contrasty, over saturated and simply looks harsh at best. Its a shame because it feels good besides that.l

Laurentiu Cristofor · 01-01-2013, 10:33 PM

I reviewed the E-M5 here. The buttons are interesting because they protrude from the camera body and have angled tips that make them easy to recognize by touch. I like the EVF too - my main use for it is to help me manually focus and judge the exposure and it works perfectly for that. I didn't particularly like the small size at first, but after carrying it around, I started appreciating its compactness and how people didn't seem to notice it that much. It's a well built camera - I even managed to drop it on concrete and it just got a few scratches.

It's a very different camera from a DSLR though and if you never used a MILC, it might take you some time to "get it". But it's well worth looking into it. I used to think that tilting LCDs and touchscreens are a gimmick, but check how you can select focus points by touch or simply trigger the shutter by touch rather than using a remote and you'll figure out that these are very useful features. The LCD tilting mechanism is also very solid, unlike any other I have used in the past.

Overall, after three months of regular use, I cannot find any faults that I would look for to be corrected in a future model.

LeDave · 01-01-2013, 11:26 PM

The E-M5 really looks great, wish Pentax makes the K-02 to be similar in styling, as in looking more like a film SLR body.

reeftool · 01-02-2013, 09:21 AM

I noticed this morning the DP Review named it their camera of the year. I have yet to see one other than pictures.

VisualDarkness · 01-02-2013, 09:29 AM

Originally posted by Laurentiu Cristofor

I reviewed the E-M5 here. The buttons are interesting because they protrude from the camera body and have angled tips that make them easy to recognize by touch. I like the EVF too - my main use for it is to help me manually focus and judge the exposure and it works perfectly for that. I didn't particularly like the small size at first, but after carrying it around, I started appreciating its compactness and how people didn't seem to notice it that much. It's a well built camera - I even managed to drop it on concrete and it just got a few scratches.

The problem with the rubber buttons is that they got nearly zero tactile feedback so even if you feel them you don't get enough physical feedback when using them. The EVF makes both me and my brother's eyes hurt and I almost get seasick, like I'm wearing some kind of bad virtual reality gear. I really want to see past these things but every time i try that camera I reminded of why I don't want it.

mrNewt · 01-02-2013, 09:34 AM

I love the way it looks as well ... hope Pentax will bring something similar (looks) in the future

sb in ak · 01-02-2013, 09:59 AM

Originally posted by mrNewt

I love the way it looks as well ... hope Pentax will bring something similar (looks) in the future

Digital K1000?

mrNewt · 01-02-2013, 10:00 AM

Originally posted by sb in ak

Digital K1000?

I'd buy that if done properly ... and designed by a true camera designer

.

Kunzite · 01-03-2013, 03:06 AM

Originally posted by VisualDarkness

The problem with the rubber buttons is that they got nearly zero tactile feedback so even if you feel them you don't get enough physical feedback when using them. The EVF makes both me and my brother's eyes hurt and I almost get seasick, like I'm wearing some kind of bad virtual reality gear. I really want to see past these things but every time i try that camera I reminded of why I don't want it.

Indeed, the EVF's image, while usable, is quite poor. Epson demonstrated a new EVF at Photokina, and one could compare it directly with the OM-D's - the difference was substantial, while I would still prefer a high quality OVF the "bad VR gear" feeling was corrected.
Maybe in OM-D MkII?

Aegon · 01-03-2013, 10:27 AM

The OMD uses Epson's best EVF. Maybe Epson demonstrated something different, but I wouldn't think so.
Olympus OM-D Boasts Epson Viewfinder | PhotographyBLOG

The OMD also has various EVF options in the super control panel, including options to improve appearance and options to improve framerate. I generally preferred the high framerate option, which may be how the Epson demo was configured.

Kunzite · 01-03-2013, 11:55 AM

The OM-D used the best Epson EVF available, at the time it was launched. The next Epson EVF is much better IMHO - I saw it with my own eyes, at Photokina; a Japanese gentleman was happy and proud to show their last work to me (actually invited me to see, as I was passing by).

magkelly · 01-03-2013, 02:05 PM

Doesn't do a thing for me, way too plastic looking for retro in a good way, shug. I really like my little Olympus Pen E-PL1 but honestly I don't like a lot of the designs on their stuff otherwise. Even the later versions of my Pens are not really to my taste. I would not actually get a descendant of my camera. The E-PL1 is pretty cute, but the later models IMHO are just not as...

nickthetasmaniac · 01-04-2013, 12:03 AM

Originally posted by reeftool

I noticed this morning the DP Review named it their camera of the year. I have yet to see one other than pictures.

No they didn't. The DP Review users voted it their favourite release of 2012. Subtle but significant difference.

12-30-2012, 11:42 PM	#1
Lurch Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canberra, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 582	Olympus OMD EM5, Aesthetics. So I was in JB Hifi the other day and they had this Olympus OMD EM5 on display. I'm not going to make any comment on it'd ability as a camera (although they seem to be making a big deal about this 'worlds fastest auto focus' business) but is it a stunning looking little thing. I have a big thing for aesthetics, especially retro modern tech (the same reason I love the the Fuji X100). But this thing looks like its right out of the 70s/80s. It harks back to my Mothers old Praktica that is on display in my lounge room (of which I now use its glorious 50mm ) Last edited by Ash; 12-31-2012 at 07:18 AM.

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12-31-2012, 11:03 PM	#2
sb in ak Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 612	I haven't had the chance to hold one but I agree...it's a stunning piece of equipment!

01-01-2013, 02:36 AM	#3
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	It looks good on display and feels decent in the hands but the rubber buttons (playback etc) just feel awful. Also I seriously dislike their implementation of the EVF, it as over contrasty, over saturated and simply looks harsh at best. Its a shame because it feels good besides that.l

01-01-2013, 10:33 PM	#4
Laurentiu Cristofor Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,055	I reviewed the E-M5 here. The buttons are interesting because they protrude from the camera body and have angled tips that make them easy to recognize by touch. I like the EVF too - my main use for it is to help me manually focus and judge the exposure and it works perfectly for that. I didn't particularly like the small size at first, but after carrying it around, I started appreciating its compactness and how people didn't seem to notice it that much. It's a well built camera - I even managed to drop it on concrete and it just got a few scratches. It's a very different camera from a DSLR though and if you never used a MILC, it might take you some time to "get it". But it's well worth looking into it. I used to think that tilting LCDs and touchscreens are a gimmick, but check how you can select focus points by touch or simply trigger the shutter by touch rather than using a remote and you'll figure out that these are very useful features. The LCD tilting mechanism is also very solid, unlike any other I have used in the past. Overall, after three months of regular use, I cannot find any faults that I would look for to be corrected in a future model.

01-01-2013, 11:26 PM	#5
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	The E-M5 really looks great, wish Pentax makes the K-02 to be similar in styling, as in looking more like a film SLR body.

01-02-2013, 09:21 AM	#6
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,555	I noticed this morning the DP Review named it their camera of the year. I have yet to see one other than pictures.

01-02-2013, 09:29 AM	#7
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	Originally posted by Laurentiu Cristofor I reviewed the E-M5 here. The buttons are interesting because they protrude from the camera body and have angled tips that make them easy to recognize by touch. I like the EVF too - my main use for it is to help me manually focus and judge the exposure and it works perfectly for that. I didn't particularly like the small size at first, but after carrying it around, I started appreciating its compactness and how people didn't seem to notice it that much. It's a well built camera - I even managed to drop it on concrete and it just got a few scratches. The problem with the rubber buttons is that they got nearly zero tactile feedback so even if you feel them you don't get enough physical feedback when using them. The EVF makes both me and my brother's eyes hurt and I almost get seasick, like I'm wearing some kind of bad virtual reality gear. I really want to see past these things but every time i try that camera I reminded of why I don't want it.

01-02-2013, 09:34 AM	#8
mrNewt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ON, RH Posts: 2,181	I love the way it looks as well ... hope Pentax will bring something similar (looks) in the future

01-02-2013, 09:59 AM	#9
sb in ak Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 612	Originally posted by mrNewt I love the way it looks as well ... hope Pentax will bring something similar (looks) in the future Digital K1000?

01-02-2013, 10:00 AM	#10
mrNewt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ON, RH Posts: 2,181	Originally posted by sb in ak Digital K1000? I'd buy that if done properly ... and designed by a true camera designer .

01-03-2013, 03:06 AM	#11
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Originally posted by VisualDarkness The problem with the rubber buttons is that they got nearly zero tactile feedback so even if you feel them you don't get enough physical feedback when using them. The EVF makes both me and my brother's eyes hurt and I almost get seasick, like I'm wearing some kind of bad virtual reality gear. I really want to see past these things but every time i try that camera I reminded of why I don't want it. Indeed, the EVF's image, while usable, is quite poor. Epson demonstrated a new EVF at Photokina, and one could compare it directly with the OM-D's - the difference was substantial, while I would still prefer a high quality OVF the "bad VR gear" feeling was corrected. Maybe in OM-D MkII?

01-03-2013, 10:27 AM	#12
Aegon Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,416	The OMD uses Epson's best EVF. Maybe Epson demonstrated something different, but I wouldn't think so. Olympus OM-D Boasts Epson Viewfinder \| PhotographyBLOG The OMD also has various EVF options in the super control panel, including options to improve appearance and options to improve framerate. I generally preferred the high framerate option, which may be how the Epson demo was configured.

01-03-2013, 11:55 AM	#13
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	The OM-D used the best Epson EVF available, at the time it was launched. The next Epson EVF is much better IMHO - I saw it with my own eyes, at Photokina; a Japanese gentleman was happy and proud to show their last work to me (actually invited me to see, as I was passing by).

01-03-2013, 02:05 PM	#14
magkelly Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,901	Doesn't do a thing for me, way too plastic looking for retro in a good way, shug. I really like my little Olympus Pen E-PL1 but honestly I don't like a lot of the designs on their stuff otherwise. Even the later versions of my Pens are not really to my taste. I would not actually get a descendant of my camera. The E-PL1 is pretty cute, but the later models IMHO are just not as...

01-04-2013, 12:03 AM	#15
nickthetasmaniac Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,361	Originally posted by reeftool I noticed this morning the DP Review named it their camera of the year. I have yet to see one other than pictures. No they didn't. The DP Review users voted it their favourite release of 2012. Subtle but significant difference.