EM-1 MARK II review

[crimbo]

Now my 12-60 has died the 12-100 looks a good idea but the Mk II is too much for such average improvements I guess the ORF files are still 12-bit ?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[pdk42]

Originally Posted by crimbo

Now my 12-60 has died the 12-100 looks a good idea but the Mk II is too much for such average improvements I guess the ORF files are still 12-bit ?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Yes, still 12-bit image pipeline. I dont think it matters though. Unless noise and DR are notably improved then more bits are pointless. All you'd be doing is encoding more noise.

[pdk42]

Looking around the internet, it seems it hasn't been a great day for Olympus. The near universal reaction has been "how much? - they can't serious". Add to that a certain lowering of expectations compared to the launch hype (still concerns about CAF, IQ no better than Pen-F) and you have a spiralling negativity around the camera.

I feel for Olympus really. The R&D and production costs of the E-M1ii can't be any different from a D500, D750 or such like and yet because the sensor is smaller, the expectation is that it should be cheaper. It's as if the Olympus should be VW Golf pricing, not Mercedes pricing and no matter how close the Golf might come to a C class in performance, no-one will ever accept that you should pay as much for one.

I guess it's a problem for Olympus since there is still massive prejudice based on sensor size. Personally, I'm relaxed about that - but I must admit that I was hoping for improved sensor performance on the E-M1ii but unless something comes out on more detailed reviews later it seems it's not there.

For landscape shooters, it looks like we're essentially in the same position today as we were when the E-M5 was launched 4 years ago.

[Bengeo]

Originally Posted by pdk42

For landscape shooters, it looks like we're essentially in the same position today as we were when the E-M5 was launched 4 years ago.

Well I guess your MkII is nicer to use (except for the screen!) but I can see your point.

The EM1 has always felt "slow" to me compared with the Sony models I had before. Take a burst and then try and review and there is a wait, even with a fast card. Press a button when the camera is "busy" and the action isn't queued but ignored and you have to press again. I've got used to it, but the new model does seem to promise much better performance.

C-AF is important to me and I've got the EM1 to work, but it's not easy. I'm waiting for a proper review of this mode as most reviewers seem to only play with it or ignore it.

[drmarkf]

Originally Posted by Bengeo

The EM1 has always felt "slow" to me compared with the Sony models I had before. Take a burst and then try and review and there is a wait, even with a fast card.

Interesting: what Sonys did you have before?

My experience with the A7S isn't that at all - both writing and reviewing images feel about the same, while the E-M1 (and 5ii) is enormously faster at switching on and being able to take the first shot, and also noticeably quicker at showing a correctly-exposed image in the eVF.

I have missed street shots with the A7S while waiting for it to wake up! Firmware updates improved it a bit, but it's still glacial in comparison.

I know also that it was an oft-repeated criticism of the A7Rii on launch that reviewing images took an age, but maybe they've solved that now with firmware updates. How does it seem to you, Paul?

[Bengeo]

Originally Posted by drmarkf

Interesting: what Sonys did you have before?

SLR / SLT models. Never tried the A7 range.

[brian1208]

I'm breaking from the trend and have placed my order already

Reasons?

- I had the money put aside from sale of my remaining canon kit and profit from our annual exhibition sales
- the spec and actual changes such as the new sensor with 121 cross pdaf and higher frame rates are needed for my type of shooting
- I like shiny new toys
- I don't drink, smoke or go out with expensive young women and have minimal other financial commitments
- I'm losing a lot of my contemporaries and friends to stokes, cancer and the like and there is no guarantee that if I wait I will be here to buy at the "proper market price"

So, what the heck - I buying myself my new toy and if you promise not to be to critical of my efforts I may even tell you how I get on with it

I'm now waiting like a kid for his promised Christmas Present

[Ross the fiddler]

Originally Posted by crimbo

Now my 12-60 has died the 12-100 looks a good idea but the Mk II is too much for such average improvements I guess the ORF files are still 12-bit ?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

I wouldn't have minded my 12-60 dying since it was a bargain (I don't really mean that), but the 50-200 SWD lens died today (stuck aperture blades) which cost me more (used) last year. Anyhow, I went ahead & got the 40-150 Pro+MC14 at a good price, so that will mean I will have to wait longer for other gear purchases. (1st world problem! )

[Ross the fiddler]

Originally Posted by brian1208

I'm breaking from the trend and have placed my order already

Reasons?

- I had the money put aside from sale of my remaining canon kit and profit from our annual exhibition sales
- the spec and actual changes such as the new sensor with 121 cross pdaf and higher frame rates are needed for my type of shooting
- I like shiny new toys
- I don't drink, smoke or go out with expensive young women and have minimal other financial commitments
- I'm losing a lot of my contemporaries and friends to stokes, cancer and the like and there is no guarantee that if I wait I will be here to buy at the "proper market price"

So, what the heck - I buying myself my new toy and if you promise not to be to critical of my efforts I may even tell you how I get on with it

I'm now waiting like a kid for his promised Christmas Present

That's what I like to hear. My dentist wants to put crowns in my mouth, but I'm not prepared to sink all that money into my mouth when a filling will be sufficient & the cash can go to exciting toys that someone else can enjoy if I, for any reason, am not able to. Any excuse to add to my toys.

[brian1208]

Originally Posted by Ross the fiddler

That's what I like to hear. My dentist wants to put crowns in my mouth, but I'm not prepared to sink all that money into my mouth when a filling will be sufficient & the cash can go to exciting toys that someone else can enjoy if I, for any reason, am not able to. Any excuse to add to my toys.

My dentist was making a fortune treating chronic abscesses in my jaws caused my NHS poor practise. When I worked out how many £ks I had spent to get to that state I had the remaining few removed and am now toothless!

[Walti]

Originally Posted by brian1208

I'm breaking from the trend and have placed my order already

Reasons?

- I had the money put aside from sale of my remaining canon kit and profit from our annual exhibition sales
- the spec and actual changes such as the new sensor with 121 cross pdaf and higher frame rates are needed for my type of shooting
- I like shiny new toys
- I don't drink, smoke or go out with expensive young women and have minimal other financial commitments
- I'm losing a lot of my contemporaries and friends to stokes, cancer and the like and there is no guarantee that if I wait I will be here to buy at the "proper market price"

So, what the heck - I buying myself my new toy and if you promise not to be to critical of my efforts I may even tell you how I get on with it

I'm now waiting like a kid for his promised Christmas Present

Brian, cannot fault you at all for that attitude. If you have the money and the desire for the new toy then go for it.

I'm going to wait until I've had the chance to try one before I decide, as with everything, it's what you think of it that's important, not what the internet says!

I'm very interested in it as it addresses the issues I find difficult with the mk1, but am happy to await the opportunity to get hands on with it first.

[sdb123]

Originally Posted by Walti

I'm very interested in it as it addresses the issues I find difficult with the mk1, but am happy to await the opportunity to get hands on with it first.

Are you going to the E-M1 MKII preview day in Cambridge?

[Bikie John]

Originally Posted by brian1208

I'm breaking from the trend and have placed my order already

<Snip as repeated by others already>

I'm now waiting like a kid for his promised Christmas Present

Well said Brian. I will be very interested to hear your thoughts once you have used it in anger. And bad light.

As a sports/live music shooter about the only things I would hope for are cleaner performance at the high ISOs we already have, more DR would be nice and more dependable focus. Secondary things are a proper battery charge indicator (at last!) and the ability to shoot in the dark without the back screen glowing (a small-to-medium annoyance with the Mark I). The high-res mode, silly frame rates and video stuff don't interest me at all.

John

[drmarkf]

Originally Posted by sdb123

Are you going to the E-M1 MKII preview day in Cambridge?

Is that the one at Jessups on the 8th or Campkins on the 17th? I could actually make either at more or less any time, so if anyone wanted to meet up before/after for a coffee/beer/photowalk let me know.

I've ruled out a mkII for now, but I am interested to try out the 12-100.

[Wee man]

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

Wee Man