BobT Loc: southern Minnesota

I've been wrestling with getting one of these for a short time now. Main reasons would be for the smaller size and the 2X crop lens that would help with wildlife. I would need to part with my DSLR gear in order to do so. So far, from my limited research, it sounds like a reasonable trade off for me. But I would like your opinions. I'm especially interested in any negative feedback about the E-M10. I have a good handle on it's advantages. So what don't/didn't you like about it? Please restrict comments to this particular camera. Thanks.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

[quote=BobT]I've been wrestling with getting one of these for a short time now. Main reasons would be for the smaller size and the 2X crop lens that would help with wildlife. I would need to part with my DSLR gear in order to do so. So far, from my limited research, it sounds like a reasonable trade off for me. But I would like your opinions. I'm especially interested in any negative feedback about the E-M10. I have a good handle on it's advantages. So what don't/didn't you like about it? Please restrict comments to this particular camera. Thanks.[/quote

I have used the EM10 for a couple of years now, before that I used an EPL-5, and still do. The main difference is the EM10 has a viewfinder and dials for aperture and exposure, there are quite a few other extras such as wifi and remote control via a smartphone.
The camera is a lot smaller and lighter than any DSLR and when I use the 20mm prime lens, which I do mostly, the camera will fit into my jacket pocket.
I also use a 25mm prime and a 14-45mm zoom lens, these lenses are larger so the camera will not go into an average pocket. My camera bag which I bough from Amazon is quite small but will hold both cameras all three lenses, and there are several pockets for spare batteries cards and neck straps, the whole package still only weighs just over a kilogram.
You obviously understand the crop factor as you need to know this when considering which lenses to use, but I don't think the crop factor has any affect when using he camera for wild life or any other subject. Personally I do not do much wild life work other than swans or ducks which you can get quite close so my 14-45 mm lens is good enough for this, for most distance work I would buy a 45-200 mm lens which are reasonable in price but are much bulkier of course.
Olympus cameras have built in OIS so it doesn't matter if the lenses have OIS or not. All my lenses are Pansonic and the lens OIS is switched off.
As far as any negatives are concerned there is a steep learning curve when using the menu system on any Olympus camera, but as I have used Olympus cameras for some years now I have become used to their menu system. The only other negative is that it's quite easy to press the video button in error so I have disabled it or you assign another function to it just like you can with the other buttons or dials, the problem here is remembering which function you have assinged to where.
I hope you find this reply of some use in you decision, but when you purchase anything new such as a camera or car etc you with have to learn processes all over again. I think the best method is not to teach yourself in one go, get to know the basics and go on from there.
Let me know if you need any more info.

Chadp Loc: Virginia Beach

I have owned this camera for about 6 months. My only negative is that you give up some low light performance due to less light entering the micro 4/3 sensor. I use this camera to photograph my kids so it becomes a bit of an issue capturing them in constant motion when indoors. But outside in good lighting it has been great. I also use it for landscapes. And of course it's small size is the greatest benefit. With a pancake lens on it I can carry it in the pocket of cargo pants.

I guess one other negative is the pricing of lenses. But there are some nice lenses for it.

BobT Loc: southern Minnesota

Did both of you responders experience a DSLR prior to your acquiring the Oly E-M10? How did/do you feel the IQ compared to the DSLR? I keep reading in reviews that the E-M10's IQ is one of the few "cons" of this camera. Do you agree or not?

Thanks
Bob

dpswbab

I bought an E-M10 about 2 1/2 years ago after playing around with one a friend had just bought. I planned on using it for hikes while sticking with my Nikon D7100 for everything else. Well, the short story is that in the following 12 months, I used the Nikon only 3 times and regretted it each time, due to its weight and size. That's when I sold all of my Nikon gear. If you pixel peep at 100%, the Nikon does have a slight resolution advantage because it is 24mp vs 16mp for the E-M10. However, I have made 24x32" prints from the E-M10 that look great. My only caution would be for taking pictures of moving subjects (sports, birds in flight, etc.): for this type of continuous AF, the E-M10 works poorly. You would be much better off getting a use E-M1. If you can afford to hang on to your DSLR while trying out the Olympus, I would advise doing so. I, like many others, have had no regrets about moving to mirrorless (quite the opposite, in fact), but there are some people who end up missing the DSLR for one reason or another.

Chadp Loc: Virginia Beach

I can't give you a comparison as my last DSLR was 8 mp. Lol. But the EM10 is 3 year old technology I think at this point. So I suspect it's not going to give you the same results as a new 20 or 24mp. My goal was to get a good reasonably priced camera that I could easily carry, and you can find the EM10 in the $300 to $350 range. I didn't think the latest version ( EM10 Mark II) offered enough upgrades for the additional money. It has the same 16 mp sensor.

But I am happy with the EM10. My thinking is that I will build my lens inventory around this camera and eventually upgrade once Olympus tempts me enough with better technology at a decent price.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

The IQ is the same between all of the E-M cameras except for the new Olympus E-M1mrII. There have been software upgrades for all the E-M cameras over time that allows Olympus to optimize the images coming from that sensor. I have owned both Canon and Hasselblad. If I am shooting a group of fifty or sixty people, I would be using my Hasselblad. Otherwise, single subject up to 15 or 20 people, fire away with any of the E-M cameras. How great the images are will be determined by how good you are at photography.

kelso007 Loc: Circle Pines Minnesota

Bob T. I have the E-M10 that I have been using along side my Nikon D750. In general I am pretty happy with the camera. The only negatives I have experienced are: 1. I struggle with the location of the various features and settings because I'm so used to Nikon. This of course would not be a problem once I stick with one system. 2. As I increase the ISO noise creeps in rapidly. Usually around 400 and higher. This is not a huge problem because I don't get into this situation very often. 3. The shutter lag, or the refresh rate with the electronic viewfinder, is painfully slow which really bothers me. This may be a game breaker for me.
Other than that the E-M10 lives up to it's hype although if I do make a system change I would consider the new OMG Em 1 which of course much more expensive.
Good luck with your decision.
Dave, a fellow Minnesotan.

BobT Loc: southern Minnesota

Dave,

I really appreciate your negatives, and find them all rather significant for my use of it. I was right on the fence when I posted this question, but now a bit more "negative" about it. And that's OK. That's the reason I asked.

Thanks much for your candid comments.

Bob

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Sorry, I didn't realize that this failed to post the first time.

Bob T, kelso007 is correct that if you are shooting above 1600 ISO on a regular basis, the E-M10mrII may not be for you. I had the E-M5 which was the sealed version of the E-M10 with only a few extra bells and whistles. Yes, noise will start by 400 ISO. For me, I found that ISO was very acceptable for my shooting up to 800 and acceptable up to 1600. When I read the manual on my way to Ireland I notice there seemed to be two refresh rates for the EVF. The slower refresh rate saves battery power. I chose the faster rate and did not notice any significant lag time or battery drain. I don't know if that is still true but I suspect it is. Personally, I liked the sealed E-M5 because I will shoot in adverse conditions. Now my grandson likes my former E-M5 for Alaska's adverse conditions. But shooting in adverse conditions is not necessarily how everyone shoots. And definitely not everyone has the "extra" money for the E-M5mrII or E-M1mrII. Hopefully some of what everyone has said will be of some use in your decision making.