Olympus OM-D E-M1
In one swift stroke, Olympus has merged its long standing
professional grade four thirds line with its innovative OM-D line and the
result is really the pinnacle of what is possible with non-DSLR interchangeable
lens cameras.
This is the first
mirrorless camera serious enough that a DSLR-less future is conceivable
Features
The OM-D E-Ml looks and feels professional-grade. The level
of build quality is unsurpassed for a camera in this class and a secure
handgrip gives it great support. In addition to full magnesium alloy body
construction, an intuitive control layout, an interactive electronic
viewfinder, dual fast auto-focus (combining on-chip phase detection and
contrast), the OM-D E-Ml offers sequential shooting at 10 frames per second.
Best of all, it can easily shift between traditional Olympus
lenses and the new batch of Micro Four Thirds lenses while maximizing the
qualities each of these systems bring.
I’ve been using the OM-D E-Ml for more than a month and have
been amazed at the amazing results, especially when paired with the new batch
of lenses. The auto-focus is super-fast, and the l/8000s shutter is on a class
of its own for an ILC. The 5-axis image stabilization, a feature debuted on the
OM-D E-M5, is something I look for on any new camera I try. And it makes a
difference when working without a tripod.
5-Axis Image
Stabilization by Olympus
The on-board electronic viewfinder is a superb feature that
makes it possible to really focus on the subject. The articulating screen is
equally solid and versatile for users who need to shoot high and low angles.
The built-in Wi-Fi is a feature that
enables quick sharing with smartphones and tablets, something that many
professional users and photojournalists will love from the get go. The ability
to quickly share or export shots from a location and upload them to a server or
website has never been easier.
Olympus has outfitted the OM-D E-Ml with
easy-to-use controls, although the full manual access is also easy to learn.
The intuitive placement of the dials as well as the buttons, some of which are
programmable, make using this camera ideal for seasoned professionals.
The freeze-, dust-, and splash-proof
ratings of this camera don’t get in the way of its great handling and
lightweight frame.
Lenses
Shooters can choose from 32 Olympus Lenses
and 57 lenses from all of the Four Thirds consortium members for a wide array
of photography tools. There’s also a variety of adaptors that will allow the
use of Nikon, Canon, Leica, and other types of lenses in manual focus mode for
an even wider range of options.
Olympus
Lens
Olympus has put all its eggs in one basket
with the OM-D E-Ml ($1,399 - body only) and really baked in all the best
features that many had expected. While compact and lightweight in size, the
range and features of the pro-level OM-D E-Ml have really elevated the Micro
Four Thirds format and secured Olympus’ place as the standard bearer of the
prosumers and professional line of cameras and lenses.
The Verdict
Olympus has cross-bred its legendary
professional line E-System with its flagship OM Micro-Four Thirds line and the
result is the best of what those two systems have to offer. It can use any of
the lenses from both systems in an optimized way (with adaptors) and hundreds
of more specialized lenses from third parties, including some stunning Zeiss
and Leica lenses via adaptors.
Olympus has achieved greatness in putting
together a camera body and lens system that can replace existing DSLR systems
in terms of range and performance. In fact, if you don’t need a full-frame
camera and multiple lenses, there’s little reason to consider a heavy DSLR body
and honking big lenses over an Olympus OM-D E-Ml or even a smaller OM-D E-M5.
