OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5 Mark Ⅱ / SHOOTING REPORT

The OM-D E-M5 Mark II is an update to the generation E-M5 released at the CP+ in 2012. Because I tested the E-M5, I was looking forward to testing this second generation. Although the updates seemed minor before I tested, I found the improvements quite impressive. First, it features the same EVF as the one of the OM-D E-M1. This means that it's clear and has higher magnification ratio. Second, the 5-axis VCM image stabilizer has become even more powerful. The image above was shot at 1/25 around the wide-end of the zoom lens, and I don't notice any signs of camera shake. And, it's powerful enough to freeze scenes for almost 1 second, as I will show you later. I used to think in-body image stabilization is weaker than in-lens type, but the OM-D E-M5 Mark II proved I was wrong. Of course, this must be also because of the smaller sensor size, which is one of the advantages brought by the unique Four Thirds system. The image stabilizer is also used to generate "high-res shot": it shifts the sensor by 0.5 pixel steps between 8 shots to generate 40-megapixel outputs. The mechanism is similar to so-called image stitching which is often used in commercial photography to get large outputs. It's by all means a very analogue method, but the E-M5 Mark II does it automatically just in 2 seconds and the high definition image quality meets professional requirements. As long as the camera is set on a tripod, this is a practical feature because we always want larger original images to get better cropped final outputs. The list of updates continues and I will talk about them showing samples.

( Photography & Text : K )

As a street photographer, I prefer smaller equipment. So, I use a rangefinder camera with a 50mm lens. Meanwhile, I often wish if I had wider or longer lenses because human eyes are sort of an extremely excellent zoom lens covering between 12mm and 500mm (my personal opinion). But, to cover such wide range, my choice is narrowed to a big, heavy, powerful workforce camera. Of course, I can use a high-zoom compact camera, but then I have to give up the full frame image quality. However, the compact combination between the OM-D E-M5 Mark II and the M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-150 F4.0-5.6II solved my dilemma. Even though the telephoto-end is F5.6, this lens is so compact. And, the image quality is great for the zoom range. The AF is so quick and it realized stress-free telephoto snapshooting. The image above is the outdoor advertising display. The focus seems loose because it's on a big enlargement print.

I feel the E-M5 Mark II reproduces moisture feeling better than the 1st generation whose images looked like the high-vision TV screen. And, I guess this is due to the image processor. It has better tonal gradation, too. Can you feel the texture of the wet umbrella?

Shooting in the rain is a pain, but every time it rains, I feel the approach of spring. While almost all modern cameras do an excellent job when there's enough light. But, it's the flat low-light condition that reveals a camera's potential. The E-M5 Mark II does a great job in the adverse condition, and I can also feel their philosophy in imaging. And, it's the philosophy can explain why the camera on a particular smartphone takes sweet pictures. :)

Does anyone know the share for transparent umbrellas? I see them everywhere! The soft vinyl and raindrops are captured very realistically. The drawing line is minute and sharp. And, it must be due to the omission of the lowpass filter and the good lens performance. And, thanks to the dust/drop proof body and lens, I could keep shooting wearing the hood instead of using my umbrella. The other snowy day, I used other camera without weatherproof feature. The power often went down and I kept worrying if the camera could get wet. And, I couldn't focus on shooting. The E-M5 Mark II taught me a lesson: a camera's primary job is to shoot regardless of conditions.

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Finally, the sky cleared up one day before the deadline. Shot almost at the wide-end. It has a low level of distortion at the both end just like other lenses of this category, but it's corrected well. The sharpness must be credited to the body and the lens. The highlight looks softer than the 1st generation, which required shooting either under or way over. The exposure meter indicated 1 step brighter, which is pretty accurate, but I shot under by 1 step because I wanted to emphasize the shadow of the scaffolding.

The sunshine makes me feel happier and I can feel spring even in February. The higher magnification ratio facilitates focusing. But, because of the accurate AF and deeper field, I almost never needed to focus manually and I didn't need to peak focus.

The man was using a good old digital camera. Each hair is depicted minutely.

It captured the warm early spring sunshine faithfully.

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The color reproduction has improved and it's faithful, too.

The depth of field is shallower than compact digital cameras, and the background is defocused. The utility pole was about 30 meters away and I'm amazed by the realistic depiction.

What a minute resolution of the fishing net. It's sharp but looks natural, too. The net looked like being fixed by someone, but can they do it when it's so damaged?

The light spotted in there, so I shot under to get the dark background. The rendering is clear and it must be due to the sharpness of the body and the lens.

The last image was shot over by 2.7 steps. What a smooth tonal gradation! Because of the rich tonal depth, I could shoot under like a slide film and over like a negative film.

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The updates raise the degree of the system's perfection and it's a manifestation of Olympus philosophy

Since the film OM period, Olympus has been trying to make a camera as compact as possible. And, in the digital age, they have been stepped away from the wars for sensor size or pixels. Instead, they drew out the best size for image circle as well as sensor to realize the best balance between the image quality and the handling. And, they employed the Micro Four Thirds system. And, the no corner cutting lens quality (over quality), the Pen series, and the art filters have enabled everyone to take high quality photography.

In the small body, the E-M5 Mark II has the 5-axis image stabilizer that even deals with rolling shake (which is difficult for in-lens type), the high magnification EVF, and the flagship image processor. Plus, it works in any weather conditions including low temperature. And, you can always take advantage of the entire Four Thirds System. The OM-D E-M5 Mark II is another manifestation of Olympus philosophy: the best balance between the image quality and handling. In other words, the update has made the model even more dependable and usable, and you want to keep it around you anytime.

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  This is the standard shot. *Click to enlarge.
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  And, this one is the high-res shot. The long side of a 40-megapixel image measure over 7000 pixels. The outdoor units of air conditioners look just natural as if it were shot with a 40-megapixel sensor. Amazing! All you have to do is mout a camera on a tripod, press the shutter, and wait for 2 seconds. And, voila! You have a 40-megapixel output! *Click to enlarge.
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  The texture depiction is very detailed. And, the tonal quality of the background is excellent.
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  Shot at ISO400. Almost at the minimum focus distance.
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  Shot at 1 second. Normally, this is impossible...

( 20.02.2015 )