Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Review

Olympus has released a new firmware update for the OM-D E-M5 II, and you can learn how to download and install it by visiting this page on the Olympus website dedicated to the firmware. At first sight, the OM-D E-M5 II firmware version 1.1 appears somewhat unimportant, as it only contains three modifications; nevertheless, two of these improvements are rather significant.

Most importantly, Olympus has solved the noise problem in some photographs captured with the High Res Shot mode. This was something that we did detect if there was any movement in the subject from one frame to the next.

See: Best Lenses for Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II | Best Memory Cards for Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II

When you initially turn on the camera, the information presented now happens much more quickly, thanks to Olympus’s improvements. In addition, the audio added to video files generated using the My Clips editing function may fade in and out. This brings us to the third improvement that has been made.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Video Quality

Olympus has upgraded the potential of the E-M5 to capture video, and the E-M5 Mark II comes equipped with several new capabilities that are sure to pique the interest of filmmakers.

The compression options enable video to be recorded in either the MOV (MPEG-4AVC/H.264) or AVI (Motion JPEG) format, with bitrates reaching up to 77 Mbps. This provides more leeway for the post-production processing that may be required.

You can capture 1080p film at 60 frames per second and then convert it in post-production to 24 frames per second to play it back in high-definition slow motion. This is in addition to the frame rate options of 50, 30, 25, and 24 frames per second. Another excellent news is that the image stabilization mechanism works. At the same time, the movie is being recorded, which ought to result in a less jerky video shot hand-held.

There is also a 3.5mm microphone connector and the option to regulate the input volume manually. Because of these features, it can capture usable audio using a microphone attached to the hot shoe.

However, the camera body itself does not include a port for headphones. Therefore, you must purchase the extra HLD-G8 grip to monitor audio on headphones.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Exposure

The 324 zones Multi-pattern metering system is responsible for the measurement of exposure. In addition, this system provides the all-purpose ESP light metering mode and the more common Center-weighted and Spot metering choices.

The one-of-a-kind Highlight and Shadow spot metering capabilities that Olympus offers are also accessible, allowing you to take readings from the brightest or darkest sections of the picture and ensure that those readings are captured accurately rather than being displayed as a mid-tone.

In addition, the sensitivity may be adjusted anywhere from the original range of ISO 200 to 25,600, with extension settings allowing it to be adjusted anywhere from 100 to 25,600.

When using the standard mechanical shutter, the maximum shutter speed that can be adjusted is 1/8000 of a second, ideal for shooting with big apertures (to restrict depth of focus) in a powerful light, and the maximum exposure time is sixty seconds.

When using the bulb mode, exposure can last up to 30 minutes. However, when the electronic shutter is utilized for shooting in silence, the range of potential shutter speeds changes to between 1/16,000 and 60 seconds.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Build Quality

The OM-D E-M5 Mark II may be small, but despite its size, it has a very high-quality build, and the magnesium body has a satisfyingly substantial feel when held. Additionally, it is impervious to dirt, water, and freezing temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius.

Although the front finger grip gives an excellent grasp, as is typically the case, there is only enough area for two fingers to fit inside of it comfortably. Therefore, when your index finger presses the shutter release button, your little finger may be curled under the camera.

On the other hand, if you find that you need the camera to be a little bit longer, there are a few extra grips that you can purchase. In addition, the HLD-8G modifies the camera such that the front grip is more apparent, the shutter release and control dial are more easily accessible, and a microphone connection is included.

The HLF-6P, on the other hand, is an accessory that connects to the HLD-8G and produces a second grip that can be used in portrait mode. It adds a second shutter release button, dials, and a handful of extra custom buttons. Additionally, a battery may be stored within this grip to allow for longer shooting durations.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Controls

The controls are all within accessible reach, although some may find that the little buttons need more talent than they are comfortable with. When they were holding the camera up to their eye, a couple of the photographers I showed the camera to accidentally touched the button on the front of the camera near the lens mount.

This would typically activate the depth-of-field view, but because I had set it to reach “One-touch white balance” (to establish a custom white balance setting), this choice was displayed in the viewfinder, which caused some confusion for them.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Image Quality

Throughout the evaluation, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II generated photographs of an exceptionally high standard. The Natural image option produces vivid colors without being gaudy or too saturated, and the dynamic range is excellent in this setting.

Noise is nearly unnoticeable from ISO 200 to ISO 1600. It doesn’t become a concern until ISO 3200, a fantastic performance for a camera with a Micro Four Thirds sensor. After that, only the two fastest settings, ISO 12800 and 25600, suffer from noise. However, ISO 3200 and 6400 may still be used. This is because, at lower ISOs, the raw files that correspond to them will invariably contain more excellent noise.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Specs

Body type	SLR-style mirrorless
Body material	Magnesium alloy
Sensor
Max resolution	4608 x 3456
Image ratio w h	1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels	16 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors	17 megapixels
Sensor size	Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm)
Sensor size notes	High-resolution mode produces Raw images at 9216 x 6912 or JPEGs at 7296 x 5472.
Sensor type	CMOS
Processor	TruePic VII
Color space	sRGB, AdobeRGB
Color filter array	Primary color filter
Image
ISO	Auto, 200-25600, expands to 100-25600
Boosted ISO (minimum)	100
White balance presets	7
Custom white balance	Yes (4 slots)
Image stabilization	Sensor-shift
Image stabilization notes	5-axis
Uncompressed format	RAW
JPEG quality levels	Superfine, fine, normal, basic
File format	JPEG (Exif v2.3)Raw (Olympus ORF format)MPO (3D)
Optics & Focus
Autofocus	Contrast Detect (sensor)Multi-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View
Autofocus assist lamp	Yes
Manual focus	Yes
Number of focus points	81
Lens mount	Micro Four Thirds
Focal length multiplier	2×
Screen/viewfinder
Articulated LCD	Fully articulated
Screen size	3″
Screen dots	1,037,000
Touch screen	Yes
Screen type	TFT-LCD
Live view	Yes
Viewfinder type	Electronic
Viewfinder coverage	100%
Viewfinder magnification	1.48× (0.74× 35mm equiv.)
Viewfinder resolution	2,360,000
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed	60 sec
Maximum shutter speed	1/8000 sec
Maximum shutter speed (electronic)	1/16000 sec
Exposure modes	iAutoProgramAperture priorityShutter priorityManualBulbTime
Scene modes	Portraite-PortraitLandscapeLandscape + PortraitSportHand-held StarlightNight sceneNight + PortraitChildrenHigh KeyLow KeyDIS modeMacroNature MacroCandleSunsetDocumentsPanoramaFireworksBeach & SnowFisheye Conv.Wide Conv.Macro Conv.Panning3D
Built-in flash	No (Compact external flash included)
External flash	Yes (via hot shoe)
Flash modes	Auto, redeye, fill, off, slow redeye sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual.
Flash X sync speed	1/250 sec
Drive modes	SingleSequential (hi/lo)Self-timer
Continuous drive	10.0 fps
Self-timer	Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Metering modes	MultiCenter-weighted spot
Exposure compensation	±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 1 EV steps)
AE Bracketing	±5 (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)
WB Bracketing	Yes (+/- 7 stops in each A-B/G-M axis)
Videography features
Resolutions	1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Format	MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Videography notes	Supports ALL-I and IBP recording modes
Microphone	Stereo
Speaker	Mono
Storage
Storage types	SD/SDHC/SDXC
Connectivity
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI	Yes (micro-HDMI)
Microphone port	Yes
Headphone port	No
Wireless	Built-In
Wireless notes	802.11b/g/n
Remote control	Yes (wired and via smartphone)
Physical
Environmentally sealed	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack
Battery description	BLN-1 lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	310
Weight (inc. batteries)	469 g (1.03 lb / 16.54 oz)
Dimensions	124 x 85 x 45 mm (4.88 x 3.35 x 1.77″)
Other features
Orientation sensor	Yes
Timelapse recording	Yes
GPS	None

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Verdict

The OM-D line of cameras from Olympus is becoming increasingly popular among amateur and professional photographers mainly due to its compact size, sturdy construction, and advanced feature set.

The process of keeping feature-packed cameras up to date presents one of the problems faced by camera makers. However, Olympus has successfully developed a camera that appeals to those who already own an E-M5 and people new to the OM-D series.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II FAQs