Contents
Conclusion
Pros
- Extremely solidly built body with robust weather sealing
- Good control layout and haptics
- Interface is very customizable
- Excellent and large electronic viewfinder that is near the top of class
- Beautiful fully articulated rear touch screen
- Excellent in-body image stabilization for all lenses
- Excellent single shot autofocus and very good continuous autofocus
- Quick and responsive body
- Good dynamic range and detail
- Excellent color response
- Very good JPEG quality
- High Resolution mode, while limited, adds another dimension to shooting, with very detailed 40 Megapixel JPEGs and 64 Megapixel RAW files, when used with sharp lenses
- Fully Featured Wi-Fi capabilities
- Excellent shooting features such as in-camera keystone correction, or live developing long exposures
- Improved video capabilities
- Excellent included clip-on flash that tilts and swivels
Cons
- Grip is a bit cramped and moderately uncomfortable to hold
- Articulated screen can be fiddly to bring away from the body while hand-holding
- 2×2 Switch can be hard to access, especially with gloves
- Menu system is still overly complex
- Hi Res mode requires very specific subject matter and rock-solid support to be effective
- Sensor is nothing new
- Continuous autofocus only available during continuous Low burst rate of 5 fps
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is a very worthy successor to the original ground-breaking E-M5. Olympus has improved a great many things on the camera, including the direct controls, the viewfinder, the rear screen, the autofocus, the image stabilizer and more, while adding very interesting and useful new features such as Wi-Fi or the most-talked about feature, the High Resolution mode. This mode really does break new ground, allowing for 40 (JPEG) or 64 (RAW) Megapixel images for static scenes. It’s most definitely not a gimmick feature, and with a static scene and a solid tripod, will yield truly high-resolution images with good glass.
The camera does re-use the three year old E-M5 sensor, which is a bit of a disappointment. It’s about time for Olympus to raise the bar in this department. It’s not that the sensor is bad: it’s very good, but I feel there has to be further improvement in the three years since the original E-M5 came out. The camera is priced at $1099, which feels about right given the pro-grade construction and the extensive feature set. I was disappointed originally that the E-M5 Mark II didn’t bring the PDAF focusing points from the E-M1, but after using the camera, I’m not entirely sure it needed it, as Olympus has done a remarkable job with focusing accuracy. The excellent viewfinder, touchscreen and class-leading image stabilization help support the price as well.
In all, it’s an extremely compelling camera, and one with few problems. The OM-D E-M5 Mark II is a solid camera that fits in well among the other top-tier mirrorless cameras, and sits as one of the most complete cameras around today.
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Quality review as always Jordan.
When you say C-AF is very close to the E-M1, are you meaning the E-M1 with the new v3.0 firmware, or with earlier versions?
I’m comparing to the E-M1 when I tested it, which was shortly after release.
translated to swedish it says you tested it after you whas released from jaile 🙂
The HR mode is limited, of course. But is it as limited as some say? Here’s a landscape scenario: a lake, a speedboat, lovely green hills in the background. A light breeze is making the lake heave and the boat is moving. You take the picture in HR mode. The lake has that weird, greasy look and the boat is a smeared disaster. What will you do? In post, take the ORI file, and enlarge is to the same pixel dimensions as your HR file. Select the ORI lake, copy it, lay it on top of the HR file and there it is. A nice lake with a good-looking speedboat. The hills have nice DR and crispness and the big file may be good enough to print large. You could use the same technique to paste over a wind-smeared bush. You won’t be able to use this when shooting a forest in a wind storm but my point is that the usefulness of HR may be broader than some think. Having never used this camera, I’d appreciate critique on my speculation, especially as I probably will buy the camera.
If buying now would you buy the Em1 or the EM5ii?
Many thanks for the very informative review. I wonder if you were able to use the WiFi to make High Res exposures? It seemed to me that this would be a great way to minimize camera vibration, but I could not get it to work using the Olympus app on my iPhone. Do you any way this can be done?
I also was unable to get the camera to shoot a Hi-Res photo using remote control.
“… compose while looking to the side of the camera, which feels awkward to me”
Absolutely. That is why I returned the Panasonic G1 way back when. I stopped using the fully articulated screen altogether as it was so odd to look beside the camera, jikes.
Excellent review. I think the mail reason for offering PD auto focus on the EM5II would be to enable the use of the older Four Thirds system lenses on the EM5II. See Robin Wong’s review where he tries out Four Thirds lenses on the EM1. Adding a bigger sensor would have been ideal. I suspect that Olympus will continue to incrementally improve the camera, much like Apple and others do with their products, to get users to upgrade at regular intervals.
Hi there, good work.
Also, how can I have your original RAW file or JPEG in HiRes mode? It would be create if you can send the files.
Thanks! I’m sorry, but while I occasionally share full size images for my reviews most of the images here are my personal work…I just use the gear I’m reviewing as I would for regular personal shooting to see how it works for me, and I don’t give full size of those away.
As always, I appreciate your reviews.
For my two cents, on the handling, I’ve had an interesting experience with the EM5 MkII. The front dial is positioned on the flat top plate, and I have to shift my grip uncomfortably with the pro lenses. Overall, the MkII feels out of balance with the pro lenses (12-40 and 40-150), but perfect with the smaller primes (20mm, 75mm). This is the reverse of the EM1 – pro lenses feel great, but the small primes feel a little lost on the larger body. The add on grip helps, but it’s an awkward solution. I’m actually trading in my MkII for a used EM1 after “upgrading.”
Cheers.
Well you know what? I have the original E-M5, it feels good with 75mm with or without the grip, 15/25mm is a bit too small with the add-on grip, 12-40 and 40-150 PRO certainly need the grip for extra handhold position, as well as the shutter button being placed on the right spot, place where your last 3 fingers hold the body and a place where your pointing finger place nicely on the shutter button.
Totally agree with you when E-M1 with PRO Zoom, the deep grip is fantastic, but not so on the other small primes. To me, E-M1 overal has better ergonomic than the E-M5 with lens over 300g, that is where balance found just right.
Just bought omd em5
mkii. Brilliant camera I just upgraded to 2.2. Great review
After installing firmware update 2.2 yesterday, the EFV eye sensor only works to shut the display off.
When I turn the camera on with eye sensor enabled the display works, when i put my eye or a finger in front of the eye sensor the camera switches to the EVF but in no way will it switch back to the displayau5g when i take the eye or the finger away.
Did anyone else notice this misbehaviour?
Cheers
Please, excuse me for the typos, I have been too hectic in writing my post.
The correct message is the following:
OM-D E-M5 Mark II firmware update 2.2 eye sensor problems.
After installing firmware update 2.2 yesterday on my Olympus OM-D E-M5, coming from 2.0, the EFV eye sensor only works to shut the display off.
When I turn the camera on with eye sensor enabled, the display works, when i put my eye or a finger in front of the eye sensor the camera turns the display off and switches to the EVF as expected, but in no way will it switch back to the display view when i take the eye or the finger away.
Did anyone else notice this misbehaviour?
Many thanks in advance
Cheers
Hello, it’s possible to see a comparison between e-m5 II and a6000 image quality? (like a6000 vs a7 II)
or just your impressions thanks!
Thank you for a great review. I will hold onto the original OMD EM5 …. Until the iteration with a newer sensor.
Thanks Jordan for creating very good content.
If you have to choose between EM5 ii or EM1 (old model) in 2017, which one will go with?
I am planning to buy either of those 2. I checked, both feel good in hands, EM1 feels like pro body and received updates via firmware upgrade.