Olyfilmmpus E-M5ll: Dear Hedgers, With all your help & generous advice I am narrowing my focus & upping my price range search for a camera that I will be satisfied shooting. What do...

Zario Loc: sacramento, CA

Dear Hedgers,
With all your help & generous advice I am narrowing my focus & upping my price range search for a camera that I will be satisfied shooting. What do you think about the Olympus E-M5ll??
Comments ? Anyone had experience with this Olympus or it's comparable products?? Comments??
Thank you.

pixelmaven Loc: Reno, NV

Zario wrote:

Dear Hedgers,
With all your help & generous advice I am narrowing my focus & upping my price range search for a camera that I will be satisfied shooting. What do you think about the Olympus E-M5ll??
Comments ? Anyone had experience with this Olympus or it's comparable products?? Comments??
Thank you.

I have been extremely happy with the OMD-E10-MKII since purchasing the camera in 2018. Excellent imagery, quick media loads, and light weight. You will find the menu daunting though so if you can get a class, take it!

Zario Loc: sacramento, CA

Thank you pixelmaven - good to hear from experience of a Olympus user

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

Zario wrote:

Dear Hedgers,
With all your help & generous advice I am narrowing my focus & upping my price range search for a camera that I will be satisfied shooting. What do you think about the Olympus E-M5ll??
Comments ? Anyone had experience with this Olympus or it's comparable products?? Comments??
Thank you.

I do not own the exact same body, I have a PenF I use for travel. The sensors are different between the two. I will tell you the Pen records wonderful images although it’s not a low light beast. I believe you would find the in body image stabilization remarkable, I certainly do. As was previously noted the menu system is complex, although versatile and ok once you learn how it functions. As said, a good book or class would be worth the investment. I can also tell you the Pro lenses are top tier. I have one standard lens that is not near as nice. Auto and manual focus on the Pros is fantastic. I suspect you would be pleased if you you purchase it. Good luck deciding.

Zario Loc: sacramento, CA

Thank you pesfls. Appreciate the comments. The stabilization is attractive to me . Also the interchangeable lens ability. Does it matter if it is only 16 megapixel? Thanks

pixelmaven Loc: Reno, NV

Zario wrote:

Thank you pesfls. Appreciate the comments. The stabilization is attractive to me . Also the interchangeable lens ability. Does it matter if it is only 16 megapixel? Thanks

No problem with the 16 megapixel that I've detected. I print up to 13 x 19 with good results.

Zario Loc: sacramento, CA

Thanks again & classes are offered for it and some are free.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

Zario wrote:

Thank you pesfls. Appreciate the comments. The stabilization is attractive to me . Also the interchangeable lens ability. Does it matter if it is only 16 megapixel? Thanks

I do not believe you would be displeased with image quality. You would save considerable $ with the 16mp body over the next one up the lineup too. Olympus makes great products for photography, science and research. They know their business. I’ve had a few of their cameras in the last 50 years that were all fine and used Olympus microscopes in college. They’ve been making microscopes for a century. I would not be fearful in the least of getting one of their cameras and admit I primarily use Nikon gear. Again, good luck deciding.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Zario wrote:

Dear Hedgers,
With all your help & generous advice I am narrowing my focus & upping my price range search for a camera that I will be satisfied shooting. What do you think about the Olympus E-M5ll??
Comments ? Anyone had experience with this Olympus or it's comparable products?? Comments??
Thank you.

It's a good camera, depending on what you are shooting. I own two of them and for general purphose photography they are great..

Linda SJ

I have the OMD E-M5 MK II paired with the 12-40 mm Pro lens. Fantastic for travel and landscape photography! Used for two years for travel and family photos.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I also use the Olympus Em-10 Mk II. It is a great little camera. I am sure you will be very happy with the EM-5 Mk II.
Olympus lenses are among the sharpest lenses I have used.

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

What “other brands” have you considered? Pentax? FUJI” ?Panasonic?. It would almost be difficult to buy a bad camera these days, & for that reason, you would just have to pic the specs you find essential, or most desirable . My opinion, .. maybe of little value, but “My opinion” BOB

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I have that camera and adore it! I sold off all my Nikon gear and never looked back. What do I like about it? 5-axis in camera stabilization that has mostly freed me from my tripod. I can hand hold way below what I could with my Nikon. Weather sealing that lets me use my naked camera on the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls. Image quality that is vastly helped by being able to see exactly what my image will look like before I shoot. All live view, all the time. Fully articulating screen. Live touch screen that lets me easily change settings on the fly without having to dig through menus. You can even read it in bright sunlight. Lots of lenses to choose from. I even get compliments on the looks of the camera!

Tips: the first lens I bought was the 14-150mm II lens which is also weather sealed (make sure it’s the II version). Buy an extra battery... I bought 2 extras. Absolute must — “Mastering the Olympus OMD e-m5 Mark II” by Darrel Young published by Rocky Nook press. The on-line users manual isn’t helpful. Do spend some time with the book as there is a learning curve.

debk

I bought the OMD-EM10 Mark III in November and love it. The menus are easier than the Mark II. The night hand holding mode on the camera is pretty incredible as well as it's many other features. From what I've read, the EM10 Mark III has a better processor than the EM5 Mark II, but the EM5 has weather sealing, the fully articulated screen and in camera focus stacking. (The EM10 has a focus stacking feature, but you have to use software to create the final image.) I have an Instagram account where most of the images have been taken on the EM10, so let me know if you want the link to look.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

You might be able to find a nice used one on the mu-43.com buy sell section. That's usually where I buy my used gear.

If you're planning on using some of the larger/pro lenses you may want to consider the original EM1. Just make sure it has the latest firmware update on it. In either case EM1 or EM5ii, you'll be shooting in S-AF mode. If you need C-AF, your only real option is the EM1ii or EM1x (which is likely out of your price range).

No matter which one you go with I'm going to suggest the RRS camera plate. Not only will it convert the sole of the camera into an arca-swiss mount, but it also gives your pinky finger a nice place to rest.

I used to own an em1, until I upgraded to the em1ii. 16mpx is nice, but 20mpx (on the em1ii) is a big difference, especially if you like to crop in on your images. The PDAF and CDAF of the em1 and the em1ii make it possible to have reliable AF of the old 4/3 glass (which a lot of that glass is inexpensive, but very high quality–especially the HG and SHG lineup).