buglinbilly Loc: Murray, Utah

I am one of those guys who shoot an Olympus E5. I have three of their expensive prime lenses. And I like the quality of images they produce. I think their good glass is hard to beat and is every bit as good as the best of the top two, Nikon and Canon.

But they are long past due on a good camera body and up dated and upgraded sensor, and with all the up to date stuff like Nikon and Canon have continued to release.

Now I hear they don't plan the E-7 but instead have just come out with a smaller, more compact upgrade that supposedly will handle the lenses I own.

Are any of you up to date on what this really means, and is that camera body a true upgrade to the E-5, and will it, in the end, render better images that it predecessors?

Thanks for any help or light you might shed on the subject!

Have a good one. BB

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Are you talking about the OMD E1?
http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/09/30/review-olympus-omd-em1-micro-four-thirds-slightly-nsfw/

buglinbilly Loc: Murray, Utah

Yes that is the camera to which I was referring. BB

EstherP

I too have an E-5 with several lenses. When the E-5 was released just about 3 years ago, I was very please the first time I picked it up: It fit my hands (which at times have been compared to coal shovels).
I am still finding new things on that camera, and for that and the fact that I can take good quality photos with it, I am not yet interested in "upgrading" to something else.
But since the realease of the O-MD and EPL cameras by Olympus, I have been reading the reviews, and I'm impressed with this new O-MD E-M1.
Just this morning I read (parts of) the review on dpreview.com and I liked what I saw in the sample images as well. According to dpreview, this is the successor to the E-5.
No, I am not going to rush out and buy it, but IF there comes a time that either my E-5 breaks down, or I outgrow it (yea, that's likely to happen... NOT), I am glad to know that there will be an Olympus camera that I can then purchase (I am sure there will be newer models by that time) a camera that is as good as, or better than what I have now and on which I can use my existing lenses, albeit with an adapter.
EstherP

Frapha Loc: Tulsa, Oklahoma

I, too , am a long time Olympus shooter (both film and digital) since 1979. However, I'm in the process of moving to Nikon, with my first Nikon purchase being a D7100 and a couple lenses. I've divested myself of my E-520 and a few lenses, but also have decided to hang on to my E-30 and some of the better lenses as my "security blanket" during the transition. Oly's introduction of the new OMD E1 which (as I understand it) will need adapters to use my E-series glass was less than I expected. I was hoping for an "E-7" or something that didn't require the adaptors. My biggest issue with Oly is that, as you indicated, they've been slow at keeping up with the competition and I came to the conclusion that I would be better served with a system that had better performance in the high-ISO and/or low-light situations. I agree with you about the quality of Olympus/Zuiko glass --- it's hard to beat for sure. If you're not already acquainted with the leading 4/3 forum, you can find it and a plethora of Oly information at http://forum.fourthirdsphoto.com/forum.php. Good luck with whatever direction you decide to take.

fawlty128 Loc: LI, NY now in Allentown, PA

I just upgraded from an E-520 to the E-M1. Just received the camera a week ago and still trying to get familiar with it. I've never shot with the E-5 so cannot compare image quality or comfort(what good is a camera if it's not comfortable in your hands). To me E-M1 feels very good in my hands, it's smaller than the E-520 but larger than the E-M5, and with a 4/3 lens attached, it has some weight to it. I would never shoot above 400 iso with E-520, just too noisy, even 400 was pushing it. Below is photo (straight out of camera) I took a few minutes ago using my 12-60mm 4/3 lens. Room is poorly lit (1 60W equivalent light), iso @ 2500, shutter @ 1/8 sec., Handheld. Not sure how the E-5 would fair but I doubt it could do as well. So far, loving this camera.

What is that weird looking canister?


Exif info

buglinbilly Loc: Murray, Utah

Thanks to everyone who took their time and made the effort to help this puzzled mind.

At my age, (soon to be 73) I think I am too old and its too expensive to start all over. I have so much invested in some good glass, that can't see abandoning the ship, although I really wish I could.

I hate to buy another camera if its not going to be an upgrade to the E-5. I also have the E-3 which I use with my 50-200 lens, but its old and have quite a few shutter clicks. I just want to up grade and one thing I want is to up grade the quality of the images I shoot at the higher ISO range.

I mostly shoot wildlife images, so there a lot of the time I don't have a still subject and Olympus has not been known for great images at the higher ISO settings.

So thanks for the input on that fawlty. Does anyone else have any thing to say about anything they know on this new camera?

And if I wanted to purchase this camera, will my present lenses work with auto focus? Will it still be as sharp and as fast? And what about the adapter? Is that an extra purchase or does that come with the camera. And is it a hassle to use. Do I need more that one of them?

Again thanks for the information by each of you who responded. BB

fawlty128 Loc: LI, NY now in Allentown, PA

The adapter is a separate purchase but right now Olympus has a deal that if you buy the E-M1 and the adapter, there's a 100% rebate on the adapter. I don't have the 50-200mm (wish I did as that is one great lens) so not sure how well it works with the E-M1. Auto focus will work but might be slightly slower than on the E-5. I have the 12-60mm & 70-300mm. For the 12-60mm the focusing seems just slightly slower on the E-M1 than on the E-520. The 70-300 is just a slow focusing lens and seems about the same on both cameras. But it's so nice to be able to shoot with a high iso and not have to worry about noise. It also shoots at 10fps, is weather sealed, has a touch screen LCD and many other features that I haven't tried yet.
The adapter is easy to use. It goes on the camera just like a lens.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I own an e5, and a WHOLE slew of 4/3 lenses, including the 7-14mm. If I had the money, I'd be upgrading to the omd em1 in a flash...but alas I don't, so ill continue using the e5 and the epm2.

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

I shoot with an "antique" E-3 as well as a newer Canon when I know lighting conditions will not serve the E-3 well. Why not just go with Canon? Because under most lighting conditions I much prefer the IQ of the Olympus body and lens combo. And it's a tank. If it were me, I'd get the EM-1 and keep the E-5 for those times I know the environment would make toast out of most cameras.

hb3 Loc: Texas

You will find an answer to all your questions and concerns in recent reviews below:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympus-om-d-e-m1

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2013/10/12/the-olympus-om-d-e-m1-full-review-the-most-versatile-mirrorless-camera-ever/

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

I was an OM shooter for over 20 years.
OM10's, OM2, OM4t.

I was *really* looking forward to the announcement of the Olympus digital bodies.

When they came out and said the OM lenses won't fit, I was devastated.

When the adapters finally came out, it was too late.

A friend who was a commercial photog GAVE me a Nikon D100 and a D70. I was drawn into the world of Nikon DSLRs. Never to go back.

Anyone interested in some OM's? Handful of lenses, Winders, Oly flashes................

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

Um..what lenses do you have?

RobertW Loc: Breezy Point, New York

Hey 73 year old---I'm 79!! and about three years ago, I realized I had to reduce the weight and bulk of my nikon gear (40 years or more with nikon all over the world), did some research, bought an OLY EP3 with a 12mm-f2 lens (equivelant of 24mm) loved the images!- Added an OMD-EM5 with more glass, absolutely going to the em1 which oly SAYS is an upgrade to the E5. (Kept my beloved LeicaM and can use3 all the glass...Go somewhere and feel the EM1 in action---You'll buy it, I guarantee it

buglinbilly Loc: Murray, Utah

Okay, I have been listening to what all have been saying and reading the links you all supplied. Again I want to say thanks.

But now you have my interest peaked, can someone tell me since its a mirror less camera, can you shut off the shutter click like on a point and shoot, or does it have the normal shutter noise?

Once again, thanks to all you great people out there. You are tops!

BB