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If OM System had simply put a USB-C port on the OM-5 it would have been much better received. I traded my EM5 III in for the OM-5, because I wanted the built-in webcam functionality, vertical video, and re-inforced tripod mount, and I love it. I built a full travel it around it with the 12-45 f4, 40-150 f4, 45mm 1.8, and 60mm macro, and I can cover almost any situation, with a full kit no bigger than a large book. Everything fits in one compartment in my laptop bag. Very under-rated camera.
Thanks for highlighting features which are important for your work - nice kit btw! I agree, the Micro USB drew the attention away from many of the camera's excellent features/capabilities. It really is an under-rated camera, as you've said!
The USB connection is weird, but is insignificant to me. I load bateries in a charger, and transfer pics with a card-reader. Lack of 3.5mm output for headset is a real problem. I also miss a way to connect proper microphones, or a line level input. I am really happy with my OM5
2015: my relatives donated me an Olympus E-M5 m2 and my old passion for photography blew up. Then, my passion went toward bird and macro photography, so OM-1 was a perfect evolution. But, the old E-M5 still works in the hands of my wife. 6,000 pictures in my archive and ten times of shots. It fell down a lot of times, but it is indestructible. Good to know that the new OM-5 has a good viewfinder with high eye point. As usual, your reviews pay high attention to the practical side of how to use the camera. Bravo. Sergio form Milano
Good evening Sergio! That is so interesting - for me, it was the OM-D M5. The 5 series was and still is a very important point of entry. Back then, my mentor, instantly recognized the OM-D M5 and had only good things to say about it, although he was working in the fashion and celebrity industry with very high end cameras. So yes, the 5 series attracts the attention of many people and is a great "entry point" but also a valuable tool for experienced photographers. Thanks for sharing - really nice to read that. And thanks for your much appreciated positive feedback - I'll try my best to keep it up! Best, Thomas
I love the OM-5; it was the camera that got me out of the house and into the streets. I take it everywhere I go in all kinds of weather. I shoot all day on full frame cameras at work, and those big cameras go up on the shelf when work is over and I start taking pictures I'm actually interested in taking, which are outside, around the city. I'm old now, and I'd have to say that the two best cameras I've ever owned -- for the kind of life I live--- are the OM-5 and the original OM-2 from back in the day.
Thank you very much for sharing that. The OM-5 is really an excellent tool and often underestimated. I also find myself using the OM-5 for all my non-work stuff, but it would be a serious option for commercial photo documentaries as well. For that, I have two OM-1 s at the moment. Anyway, I'm getting side-tracked. Thanks again for sharing, Paul. Best, Thomas 📸
Thank you for sharing! I have an OM2-SP and I love it! I’m looking into my first digital camera and couldn’t help but fall in love with the OM-5. Very excited to get and learn with it.
I love my OM-5. Paired with the 20mm f/1.4, it's terrific. Same the 12-45mm f/4.0, the 40-150mm f/4 or any of the f/1.8 lenses. It's great for walkabouts, whether good weather or bad, in the wilderness or in a dense city.
Highly incisive, thoughtful, comprehensive and useful overview. Some extremely relevant observations from a personal perspective. I use an EM1 Mk ii. Whilst a fabulous instrument it can be quite cumbersome on longer trips. Wanting a 'back-up' body your video has convinced me to look much more closely at the OM5. I also have a long-standing eye condition requiring me to wear both lenses and glasses, and your viewfinder observations are tremendously helpful in this respect. And finally the precision, depth of knowledge, fair balance and comprehensiveness you communicate alongside your excellent script delivery are SO refreshing to see. A real pleasure not to have to listen to any fluff or 'BS'. Many thanks indeed for a superb review.
The original E-M5 was my second Micro Four Thirds camera as I transitioned away from the Olympus Four Thirds system. I just loved that camera for it's ergonomics, small size, capabilities, and beautiful styling. It was eventually sold, so when the E-M5 Mk IIIs were steeply discounted after the introduction of the OM5 I got a Mk III. I already had an E-M1 Mk III and an OM-1 at the time so didn't feel the need for the additional features of the OM-5. I love my E-M5 Mk III, but havening said that, I completely agree with you about the well-rounded capabilities of the OM-5, and it is my #1 recommendation to anyone getting into digital photography or moving up from a smart phone or bridge camera. Forget the USB port controversy - it's just not an issue with all the USB-C to micoUSB adapter cables on the market.
Yep. What a load of nonsense others are flapping about usb ports. Most of us carry spare batteries and don’t care much about usb format or charge time differences between the two. The computer features, grip and handling make this a fine travel and backpacking body. It’s not a poor man’s OM1 any more than an OM1 is a great street camera. Get both - money permitting
Dear Thomas your technical report is the ideal compact reportage (analysis) companion! You focus on the heart of shooting camera experience. I thank you very much.
I'm just coming back to this clip, after watching it, and then watching your other clip "New Camera Model Disappointments: Separating Reality from Expectations". I think the combination of the two clips tell a very good reality about the OM-5 and other cameras. I bought the OM-5, 3 months ago, primarily as a travel camera, despite many negative comments about the camera not being 'enough of an upgrade' as well as functions missing that are incorporated into the OM-1. I understand the USB C arguments as well as the menu and maybe the plastic body. However, I did want a light outfit and was prepared to accept the compromise. I think I had less expectations coming from a FF D850, and APSC D500. However, for me, the camera has exceeded my expectations, especially with the quality of the stills and video and the functionalities, which are still taking me a time to understand and to find time to experiment and use them in real time. For my most common use, I don't need a tripod or a flash and I am blown away by the quality, hand held, indoors, in the evening, video and stills with perfect results and less post-processing. I could write a full page of A4 about my delights. I own and have owned quite a few cameras, but the OM-5 is proving to be the best and most sensible purchase for me. Thank you so much for your insights and wise words on both these clips (others as well no doubt) - I think this perspective needed to be said.
Thank you very much for a very balanced, insightful and valuable contribution. I appreciate the time you spent watching my videos and writing this comment. As you might know, I also came from F Mount 35mm and DMF (both of which I still use), and in my opinion, only then you can fully appreciate how good MFT actually is. The interplay between the lenses and the finely tuned sensor(s) is very impressive. So thanks again for contributing.
Thank you for this educational analysis 👏👏👏. The OM5 is one of my micro four thirds system cameras, I also have an Olympus EP1, an EPL7, an EM5 MarkII and my latest acquisition a beautiful PEN F (in the past I had an Olympus E-300 and an E-510); If they tell me that I can only keep one (although I like them all, especially the PEN F) I would, without hesitation, stay with the OM5 for quality and performance, because it offers superior image quality to the rest of the models I own, and It is the most versatile. Having Live ND and high resolution shooting at that size is a luxury. Something I love is its size and lightness, so much so that combined with the f1.8 M.Zuiko lenses (12mm, 17mm, 25mm and 45mm) it can go in my jacket pocket (it is not a hassle to carry it everywhere).
Thank you very much for an extensive, very relevant and interesting contribution. Even when compared to other camera systems, the OM-5 holds its own. As you've said - the size and capabilities are a luxury. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Thomas. I wrote a little review on the Em5iii for a M43 forum and made similar points - for sheer compactness, weathersealing, usb charging, EVF and depth of lens options, there is nothing else that matches up to these requirements. The OM-5 is even more capable. My sole gripe with this line is that i preferred the metallic build of the EM-5ii. But for travel , i don't think you can beat the OM-5. Take the 12-40mm and a couple of fast , small primes and you're good to go. On that, though, OM should weatherseal a couple of the 1.8 primes to pair with this camera.
Thanks for sharing that - I completely agree. The 20mm f/1.4 was a step in the right direction. Also, I love the 25 1.4 Leica - the new version is weather sealed and just an excellent lens. Maybe this one is something for you. Best, Thomas
Indeed, a fresh perspective on the OM-5, a camera that hasn't received the kudos that its (much) bigger cousin has. It seems that its target market is a little more sharply-defined than that of the OM-1, and this came through clearly. I'm also seeing other professional photographers - the landscape photographer Henry Turner, for example - getting this camera and delightedly using it. I'd like to thank you for your terrific efforts this year, Thomas. Always interesting and thought-provoking, your fresh perspective on photography has a niche of its own. (I also particularly enjoyed your previous clip on new cameras though forgot to comment🙄.) Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful, safe Christmas, and all the best for the coming year.
The viewfinder thing was very interesting to me. I haven’t looked through enough different ones to be able to notice a difference, or see the need for different types. I remember reading about the F3HP a while back. But at that point, being new to learning about photography in a serious way, it went over my head. I find it strange that they didn’t update the menu system to match the OM-1, or switch to USB-C, as another commenter mentioned. It would have really helped the perception of the camera had they done those things. I really love the OM-1 menus, and it seemingly wouldn’t have been the hardest change for the development team to make. It also would have helped them to reinforce their brand change.
Thank you for your thoughtful contribution! The viewfinder is really a USP, and in my opinion this makes the camera worth considering in and of itself. I also prefer the OM-1's menu structure, but as I've used Olympus cameras back then, I felt right at home.
Thank you, thank you for noting the high eye point! I do not know why such a critical spec is so roundly ignored in both reviews and manufacturers’ materials.
Thank you Thomas! An excellent introduction to an excellent camera. Despite its shortcomings it is an outstanding tool. I recently bought your highly appreciated OM-5 Expertise article which leverage my use of the camera.
Thank you very much - I completely agree, the OM-5 is excellent which is why I purchased a second one recently. I'm very thankful for your support and that you find the expert guide useful! Best, Thomas 📸
Very interesting, Thomas. And very convincing as well. I almost regret I purchased the OM-1 🙂. I have to add that an OM-1 Expert Guide would be a nice addition to your shop.
Thanks for the feedback - the OM-5 is really a capable camera. I like it quite a bit. Thanks for the suggestion regarding the expert guide for the OM-1 - I should probably really do that!
After 11 years with the e-m5 mark I, I just upgraded to the OM-5. What a revolution! It's not the perfect camera but I love it: light with its mft lenses and customizable with its Custom menus, liveND, focus stacking... I would have preferred it to be made of plastic, than it does not have USB-C and its menus are not simpler. It is great for leisure photography.
It is unfortunate OMDS missed the opportunity to make a game changer camera by not redesigning the body more like the EM5mkii was with USB--C and OM-1 like menu system. It is a great little camera that sent the wrong message IMO. OMDS wants to target high end photo enthusiasts, but the EM5mkiii body, aka OM-5 body was viewed as a downgrade to general consumer construction standard, not high end. Whether this is the case or not is irrelevant, the perception is still there and the catastrophic failure of the plastic body subjected to stress (tripod socket) re-inforced that perception and reason why I would never buy an OM-5 like many others, unfortunately because otherwise it is an outstanding little camera.
Very valid statements regarding consumer perception and the problems that most likely shaped the perception of this very capable camera. Just a side note: I would not worry about the tripod thing at all. I'm almost convinced that it is user error. Even the full metal D800 had that "issue" because people where just overtightened the thing or leaving it on all the time (very bad idea). Best, Thomas
Finally! Someone smart enough to adress the high eye point numbers which is so much more important to people who wear glasses than anything else! I have been an amateur photographer for more than 25 years and I still haven’t owned a camera where I can see the four corners of the viewfinder at one glance. Maybe OM systems have solved my problem? Thank you very much for addressing the problem!
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. I'm sometimes wearing glasses, and I'm pretty sure that this camera is the one you've been looking for, especially if you choose viewfinder mode 2. I can recommend it. Best, Thomas
Thanks to your information about the high eyepoint I bought the Olympus Om-D E-M 5 iii and a couple of lenses. I love the camera and lenses. Now I can see all four corners of the picture in the viewfinder at a glance. What a relief. Thank you!
excellent review, there are so few reviews on the OM-5, and frankly a lot of unfair bashing ...i donated my older OM camera to a budding young photographer and upgraded to the OM-5...besides the OM-1 being twice the price, i am a travel/street photographer and the OM-1 is simply way more camera than i need...the lack of usb-c and smaller battery, i am happy with my OM-5, on the street or in the mountains this camera punches above its weight! anyone who has the opportunity to use the OM-5 will not be disappointed, critics be damned 😎
Thanks for sharing that - we are completely on the same page here! The 5 is an excellent camera for a very compelling price. Definitely punches above its weight in more than one way.
well, the only huge disadvantage of OM5 is that it is very addictive, my wife tried it and stopped to use her fujifilm and now I need to get one for my own :)
It's light and compact, looks good, weather sealed, a glasses friendly viewfinder, if it had a tilting LCD instead of full articulated this would be my dream camera. I really want one. Thank you for the straightforward and concise overview, thoroughly enjoyed the whole video.
Thank you very much. I too preferred tilting screens for a while, but if you want to film video with it as well, the fold out screen is really handy. Guess both have their advantages. Best, Thomas 📸
I love my OM-5. Weather sealing was a primary reason for buying it and the features packed into a small package make it ideal for travel and other photography. My only complaint is the fiddly USB port that is not compatible with the other cables that I use. A USB-C port would have been a vast improvement
The em5 mkii was my intro to m43 so for me the om5 included a range of improvements in sensor size, focussing points and processor performance that made sense. I have used the camera and like that they didn’t radically change the menu as I was already reasonably familiar with the menu. I also like that they didn’t change the styling as the camera already works beautifully, changing it to make it look new really would be dumb. For me it produces images that never disappoint, is portable and weather sealed, which is very handy living in the NW of England. I also bought the 20mm f1.4 and already had the older f2.8 standard pro zoom and now have a 60mm macro, so a complete all weathers kit, that is compact, lovely to use, produces great images. I love your well reasoned reviews and have just downloaded your guide to the camera as well. Merry Christmas. Pete
Thank you very much for sharing, Pete! I hope you had nice holidays as well. You have an excellent selection of lenses and your choice of gear makes a lot of sense. The OM-5 is just the perfect camera for the job you need it. In fact, it is very versatile. Thanks again for sharing, and hope to hear from you again this year! Best, Thomas 📸
Fascinating presentation, thank you Thomas. I got the OM5 and it's excellent. Yes compact, light and agile. It's incredible the amount of features stored in this little powerhouse. Combined with 12-45 f4 Pro and 40- 150 f4 it produces high quality images without carrying lots of weight. I like Starry Sky AF and took successful shots of Polaris star trails, 1 hour Live Comp, even with just an f4 lens it was surprisingly good! (By the way, we love Austria. My daughter and I hiked near Innsbruck - next time will take the OM5). Thanks again for your video.
Thank you very much - that is great to hear. Your assessment is very similar to mine. It is a surprisingly good camera indeed. I just have the 12-45, but I was also surprised by how good this lens is. I generally prefer the fast primes, but in terms of weight/versatility-ratio, it is just unbeatable. Best, Thomas
Thanks for this fine review. I own a mark iii and a Panasonic G9. On paper the G9 out specs the EM5, but I have never enjoyed shooting with it because of the gigantic viewfinder. For the same reason I sold my Leica M3. As an eyeglasses wearer I could never see the entire field of view on either of those cameras. Now I understand why the EM5’s viewfinder is so comfortable to use (for me, anyway). I recently took my Mark iii traveling, and it (with the 12-45 pro zoom and a prime) did all I needed for photography and video recording. It’s a brilliant little setup for travel.
Many thanks for sharing that! Having the "right" viewfinder is just essential. And I agree, the M5 series is just excellent for travelling. The OM-5 is a worthy successor. Best, Thomas
Thank you very much! The OM-5 is really a very capable (and stylish) tool - if you decide to get one and you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Best, Thomas
Great video! I bought it as a perfect travel camera after having had pretty much all micro 4/3 cameras, put after getting it I put it aside and kept using my Pen F, G9, Gx85... then the G9II...then I re-discovered and I found out that it had everything I needed from the get go. Perfect travel camera!
The OM-5 paired with the 60mm macro is great. I use the combo a lot for rainy day macros. The Live ND combined with great IBIS is wonderful for capturing water movement. Easily 2 second shots handheld. It's also wonderful for isolating a stationary person in a moving crowd. I've tried the art modes for creative fun. Sometimes I use bracketing to capture a photo using all art modes and then build a collage. I've used the hand held high res to take tripod free pictures of the moon. Yes, I wish the OM-5 had come with USB-C. Well, when OM-5 mkII comes out, perhaps then. Until then, a firmware update to add a night time Live View option with only red colors would be awesome for night time star captures.
Thanks for sharing that - a very valuable contribution. I appreciate that you've highlighted some of the creative options you are using in your process. A tip for nighttime photography: Definitely try live Live View Boost or S-OVF. Those are the best options for nighttime photography in my experience. Best, Thomas
Thank you Thomas, great video. However, I that you forgot to mention 1 thing - the OM-5 is a really fun camera to use. I really enjoy taking this camera out with me. Many thanks for your video. 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Another excellent take on this great system Thomas, I'm lucky enough to own both the OM-5 and OM-1 and couldn't agree more with you, I love them both for different reasons, thank you very much for your reviews and information on this system, true expert stuff for sure.
Thank you very much, that is great to read. I got the OM-5 relatively late, but I "bonded" instantly. An excellent addition to the OM lineup. Thanks again for the comment. Best, Thomas 📸
I can see how the OM-5's lackluster updates would be disappointing to people already invested in the M43 system. But for someone starting out like me, it sure is a heck of a camera. I rented the E-M1 III a few years ago and thought it was great but since it was the same size as my other gear, not worth changing to. The OM-5 gives me the Live ND, handheld high res modes, starry AF, and better AF tracking that the E-M5 III lacks and I'm happy with it. It's one of the best small landscape + travel cameras on the market.
I do appreciate the quality of the technical information passed on by this photographer. Having seen this review, the first thing I did was to check the eye-point of the EVF on my own non-Olympus camera. Oh dear, oh dear! 😁
Thanks for an excellent review Thomas. I still love my EM5 iii for travel, but as I’m restricted to electronic shutter at the moment due to the mechanical one sticking, I’ll be interested to see if rumours of an OM10 come true.
Thanks for sharing - I'd go with the OM-5. It definitely is the successor to your current camera that unfortunately is no longer fully functional. An OM-10 might feel like a step down, given that you already have a 5-series camera. Best wishes, Thomas 📸
I have the em1 mk3, OM-5 and OM-1 and i have to agree with ehat you have said. Im wheelchair bound and my condition restricts me in using heavy lens, cameras for a long period of time and i have filmed my last 10 youtube videos with the OM-5 paired with the 9-18mm F/4-5.6 and its such a loghtweight set up. My only pronlem is the grip. Ive got really bigbhands and struggle to grip proper like the em1mk3 and OM-1 but have the grip on order. But really enjoyed your video and now going to watch more you have done. Very informative
A little off topic. But to my OM 5 and 1. I have just fitted the olympus 4/3rds 11-22mm lens with adapter. It shocked me with its sharpness. Well worth you trying out.
I really like the concept of the OM-5, compact, lightweight and very capable, for me it is almost perfect...except I still ended up getting a E-M1 mkIII instead mainly one reason. The durability of the bottom plate. I do a fair number of back country hikes and generally like to have my camera on a quick release clip that attaches to the bottom plate. (this method of carrying can be controversial) Unfortunately in this area the OM-5 does not stack up. I like your take on this camera, I still would like to pick one up one day primarily for city and more casual shooting.
Thank you very much for a very interesting contribution. I would definitely not carry the OM-5 with a quick release like that - so I fully understand your decision and reasoning behind that. The bottom plate is solid enough for regular tripod use, but I would not do the carry-around thing. For city and casual shooting, the 5 is as good as it gets. Also, the menus will be quite familiar - going back and forth between the E-M1 Mark III and this one is a breeze. Best, Thomas
The main issue I had with the original EM-5 Mk III was the choice of materials, it seemed a downgrade compared to the magnesium Mk II. That said, I think the body design of the later model, which looks the same as the OM5, has aged extremely well, it is a nicely proportioned camera compared to the excellent but rather awkward looking offerings of other manufacturers. Fujifilm also produce some nice looking small cameras but the OM5 wins on features such as live comp and handheld high-res. The choice I have is between the OM-5 and the X-S20 for my next camera, a lot to consider.
Thanks for sharing, you've brought up a very interesting perspective. I personally would get the OM-5, but hey! Both the Fuji and the om are great. Let me know what you ended up getting! Best, Thomas
A great video as always I have six MFT cameras now 2x OM-D E-M1X,1xOM-D E-M10 Mark IIIs.1 x OM-D E-M1.1x PEN E-PL1.1x Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GX7C use them all for different things and are very pleased
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Thank you very much for your kind comment I find your videos very informative in my development in the MFTs camera use I used to have the Nikon D800 but I look back on the photos I have taken with that camera at the time and find the photos taken with the Olympus cameras more pleasing to the eye regardsHoward rollinson
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Also had the Sony A7 which had the same sensor as the Nikon D600 found this out from a Sony Engineer who came in to jessops in Manchester town centre one day it is just different software in the camera and processing by the chip inside there again the sensors in my Olympus cameras there made by Sony also PS have a very happy Christmas and a Happy New Year
I have an EM5ii with which I am really happy. It's a joy to use and I am happy with the images that I get from it (JPEG). The OM5 sounds tempting but thus far I have been concentrating on buying lenses to "fill the gaps" in terms of handling the situations in which I take photos and the subjects. I do not use the camera for videos as I have other cameras for that. The EM5ii is my travel. hiking, street, and casual photography friend. I am open to buying an OM camera but I am holding out for a PEN F ii. BTW - I agree. Vienna is a beautiful city !!! :-)
Frohe Weihnachten schon mal. Thanks for this point of view on the OM-5. I‘m still my EM1, EM1 II and EM5 II next to my OM-1. BTW I love the shutter sound of the EM1 Mark 1. 😊
Thomas, you mention the EVF as a key advantage and I do think it's good you mention the view point and why, but on the other hand the OM-5 I believe got sort of correctly panned for- 1) Being the same EVF of the EM5.3. All you said about the EVF applies to the EM5.3. This applies more to people with an EM5.3 wondering if they should upgrade than a total newcomer to m43rds. 2) The EVF on both the EM5.3/OM-5 while it went OLED (great), it got capped at a 60fps refresh cadence. Even the PenF has a 100Hz (120Hz)? option and the very EM5.2 had a 120Hz option (though LCD). To me this can be an issue for a camera for "reportage"- but now OM Systems is promoting its entire system for nature/outdoor/wildlife anyway. 3) Weak tripod mount design defect, like the EM5.3. Though it actually got *slightly improved* as someone's broke and it was compared vs the EM5.3- turns out OM Systems did try to do *something* by extending with some metal where the tripod connects to the body, it's still connected to the polycarbonate body and as such can still break more easier than it should. The OM-5 should really have had the JPEG AI noise reduction of the OM-1 plus a couple of AI focus modes like people/pets. Ideally it would have been the same CPU but not sure if at the moment the OM-1 came out the CPU would be a match power wise for the battery of the OM-5. In the end the OM-5 is based on the EM1 MarkIII from back then, and back then the EM1 Mark III already started to look a bit dated.
Vielen Dank für die hilfreiche Bewertung. Persönlich habe ich eine M5 Mk 3 und eine M1 Mk 2. Letztere habe ich mir gebraucht gekauft, weil der größere Body und die Robustheit für die Pro-Linsen besser passt. Meine M5 hat meistens das 12-45/4 drauf, das perfekt zu dem Gehäuse passt und die kleinen Festbrennweiten dazu. Die Kleine ist optimal als Begleiterin überall hin.
Vielen Dank für Ihr Feedback und den Kommentar. Ein sehr gutes Setup, nachvollziehbare Entscheidung. Aus ähnlichen Überlegungen arbeite ich gerne mit der OM-5.
Im currently the owner of a Nikon Z50 and I did considered moving to om-system and particularly on om-5. I find really attractive its small size (body and lens) and weather resistance.But Im hesitant of doing it since om-5 has an old sensor. A sensor with BSI would be great for improved low light photography when you have moving subjects and cant compensate otherwise. Of course a lot of improvements could be made. An om-5 with bsi sensor technology, animal/insects autofocus even inferior to om-1 and usb-c would be perfect regardless of price. Since im not in a hurry changing body I decided to wait either for a new version of om-5 or small fujifilm camera like fujifilm x e4 with weather protection.
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Because of size. I need a small and weather sealed camera that I can bring with me either for street or travel photography. An om-5 with 20mm f1.4 pro or 17mm f1.8 (shame its not weather sealed) would be enough for me for street photography. When Im traveling with a bike I would add the 40-150 f2.8 (and maybe with a TC) for the occasional wildlife photo. I try to keep my gear as light and small as possible. An added benefit is that small size make you discreet and in some countries makes it for a safer option. Somehow a lot of people see a big lens and camera as a sign of an expensive camera. You stand out and I always assume its more likely to get mugged that way. Bird photography or insect photography is not the main use of my camera. Yes I occasionally like to shoot birds or insects and detection for birds of insects would be nice but I mainly use it for street photography etc. I will probably wait until my next long trip (probably mid 2025) to buy new camera. I do hope om-5 gets an upgraded sensor until then.
@gp6367 Ah ok. So just to add that, the sensor is really excellent. I would not worry about it being "old". If you check sensor test data, you will see that it performs almost as good as the current high end models, in practice almost indistinguishable. Why? Because it uses a slower readout speed to keep image noise very low.
So funny, I started my photo hobby with this camera as you mentioned at the end of your video and this camera made watch hundrends of videos and learn all about photography. I used to shoot only in auto mode with my previous Nikon camera (had no idea and interest) and now I shoot only manually, experimenting things. The other thing which troubles me currently is also acquiring the OM-1 model but am not sure if the difference is so big. I must say after hearing your last statements in this video I will mostly do it as I tend to like more and more shooting wildlife. Dankeschön
Thank you very much for sharing - you've chosen the perfect camera for your photographic journey. Overall, the OM-1 is definitely worth getting in the long run. Especially for wildlife, as you said. Best, Thomas
Thank you for the informative video Thomas, I did not know of the eypoint of the viewfinder. The OM-5 is my hiking camera with the Oly 12-100mm zoom or the Panasonic 12-60mm zoom when I want a lighter kit. I like the handheld hi-res option for landscape images.
Thanks for sharing that - both the Panasonic and the Oly are great lenses. I've had them both in the past. Excellent choice. I also really like the Live ND for landscape - the improvement in IQ is just drastic. Noise is eliminated almost completely. Quite impressive IMHO. Best, Thomas
I agree with your points about the view finder. I find the lower res ones also better for when I do not want to wear my glasses. Lower res view finders seem to be clearer without the prescription glasses than high res finders at least for my eyes. From memory I think the OM5's view finder is better when using polaroid sun glasses ? Just hope the next model comes out in a better like the EM5.2 and with a tilt and articulation rear screen like Panasonic and Sony have done.
Insightful video Thomas. As an e-m5 iii (and om-1) user, I am wondering if upgrading to an om-5 is worthwhile. If the om-5 were fitted with the om-1 menu system, an upgrade to om-5 would be more attractive, with both cameras sharing a common menu system. This could presumably be done with an om-5 firmware upgrade? A shared USB-C cable would also be a benefit, but is less important. Another concern is the single SD-card slot. I always like the comfort of a second SD-card slot as a backup for a day's shoot.
Thanks for adding your thoughts on this one! As an OM-1 used I can relate to the common menu aspect. It would be nice, but in practice it was ok for me so far. Same with the Micro USB - I use the port for fw updates only, and for occasional charging during trips. The small extra cable is not really a big deal for me. The camera might not be all that different from your M5III, except the processor - which is a significant improvement, however. Tough call!
I bought an OM-5 two weeks ago, with a 12-45. I asked for black, but only silver was available. Two days later. I was buying a coffee and a random woman fell in love with it. For me, it's just a good camera I can carry in a pocket. I don't know what you mean by outgrow. there are photos I want to make that cannot be made by this camera, I need specialist lenses not made for MFT.
There’s much more to a camera than physical components. This camera (and other Olympus/OMDS cameras) are difficult to operate beyond the customary PASM dial settings. I hope that your long-term review will highlight challenges with the menu operations. It’s well and good to enjoy the tactile response, but totally another sensation to activate advanced shooting features. It’s not just a learning curve, but a problem that the menu system is so obtuse, that it requires referring to the manual or other resources. Including a menu shortcut to recall a cluster of settings is not a band-aid for making the menus quickly and logically operable in the first place.
For me the OM-5 has become indispensable and for reasons you illustrate here. It is a very complete camera given its minimal form factor and really does 'get the shot'. I wasn't actually aware of the viewfinder eyepoint distance, but that does explain why in spite of the viewfinder's somewhat modest specification in terms of magnification and resolution, it never seems to be a limitation. What I would say is that it does have some niggles in terms of being a bit proprietary, which is to say it doesn't support third party products or adapted manual glass as well as other marques I've experienced, so its best to stick with their (OM System) programme and run native lenses and accessories in general.
Thank you very much for the comment. You've brought up very valid points. Regarding the proprietary-ness: yes, OM System lenses work best - but also the Panasonic Leica lenses are a very good in my experience. I've got a video about adapting lenses to MFT cameras, btw: ruclips.net/video/ggH5bMrWOw0/видео.htmlsi=9iGzOM_rV7E30kBH Best, Thomas 📸
I have a couple of the Pana-Leicas and they are great, but from my own experience I have a better overall experience running non-native glass on Panasonic bodies than on the Olympus / OM System bodies. For example, OM bodies don't enable the aperture ring on the 15mm 1.7. Even sometimes older Olympus lenses work better on Panasonic than on the OM-5. The 17mm 2.8 Zuiko pancake focusing barrel doesn't retract when the camera is turned off on OM-5, but works perfectly on Panasonic bodies. Hopefully a firmware update will fix it. Another annoyance with the OM-5 is I have to push a button to activate focus peaking if using manual lenses, whereas on the Panasonic G9 it fires up all by itself when a non-chipped lens is attached. It also throws up the focal length reset feature when it detects manual glass, whereas on OM-5 I have to dive into the menus. Maybe I've missed a trick somewhere, but that has been my experience. I can't help but wonder if OM System are shooting themselves in the foot with such practices.@@ThomasEisl.Photography
I always preferred the Nikon F, F2, and F3, because the viewfinder was smaller. and more "distant." That is, because you could see the entire image at one glance. Larger viewfinder images are supposed to be better, but in fact they force you to move your eye around to see the entire image.
My first Olympus was the EM5 MK1. I absolutely loved everything about it, but the autofocus wasn't to my liking. I later had funds to buy a used EM1 MK2. I love it, but I miss the compactness I enjoyed. The OM5 has been on my mind for a while now, getting back to my roots of why I loved Olympus haha.
Yes, most people do not understand that the current 0.78x Sony EVFs are terrible for photography ( they were made for video, because of the crop from top and bottom at 16:9 ) which is the reason why I am slowly changing to Panasonic S1 ( where the colors are better too ). Because that camera offers an EVF that has a total of 3 changeable viewfinder magnifications ( which is not even correctly described in the US camera manual nor do the #diots at Panasonic / New Jersey know about it , because they were unable to tell me after a total of 6 emails what these magnifications are !?! ) P.S. I also think the mechanical shutter of the S1 is quieter than the one of your OM-5 ?
Thanks for sharing - very interesting contribution! I'd say the OM-5 is very quiet, it just sounds a bit loud because I deliberately turned up the volume to make the shutter click easier to hear.
I got the em10 to get back into photography. Im hoping the om5 mkii arrives on a year or two and i might upgrade for the weather sealing, hi res etc. Love the size.
Thanks! One of the reasons why the bottom plates of the M5III failed was overtightening, and leaving the plate on (which you should never do as this can break any camera). If you remember, people broke the Nikon D800 (full metal) by doing just the same. I'm not convinced that there is any issue with the engineering grade polymers they used. Btw, it is a metal-plastic frame. Thanks for the comment, best Thomas
Thomas, I’m really enjoying your videos! I’m a total photography beginner, so the terminology is hard for me but it’s sinking in gradually. I’m looking to get a camera for my job as an ecologist taking pictures of fungi. So macro and low-light conditions mostly. I’m debating between the OM-5 and the TG-7. How would you steer me? (Budget isn’t a concern.)
Thank you very much for the positive feedback! Both cameras are excellent choices for what you want to do. If money and size is of no concern, I would get an OM-5 with a suitable macro lens first. It offers more direct controls and is a camera that allows you more room for growth as a photographer, also in terms of equipment like flashes. I'm pretty sure that you are like me and want to get a TG-7 at some point as well, as it is just amazing to have pocketable, rugged performance. In any case, if you do not have a camera at all and want to take a leap into nature photography, the OM-5 is my recommendation as a first purchase. A perfect companion for everything, really. Best, Thomas 📸
I’ve just stumbled across this video. Great work! I have a EM 5 mk2 but gave up using it because of the terrible (to me) menus and controls. I don’t photograph every day, or even every week and I could never remember how I’d set the camera up to work. I changed to a camera that has shutter speed dial and aperture ring on the lenses. I do still wonder whether to dig it out though, especially as I have the 12-40 pro lens and the 17mm f1.8. Have the menu and controls improved?
I stay with my old E-M5 Mark II. Great metal body, good bigger battery. There is so little advancement since then in so many years. They didn't change the interface (like OM1), they didn't switch even to USB-C. They are just spitting in your face with an inferior camera. They just took the E-M5 Mark III (which was already then lagging behind the competition) and putting another name on it. I doubt if many people buy it. Did I miss something?
Yes, you missed a lot! The processor is a MAJOR improvement and the body was refined. The OM-5 is an excellent camera and it is quite popular. Best, Thomas 📸 The M5II is cool as well hehe
I'd take Used Olympus EM1 - mk 2 , 3 over OM-5 all day - I used to take em10 mk2 on trip & carry many battery. I don't like the idea of charge many battery over night at all. yes, you save weight of camera ,but you need to carry extra charger for extra battery with you. - I don't feel like EM1 (2 , 3 ) much heavy compare to OM-5.It's all about your lens choice. - OM System use New Menu style on OM1 which many people like it but switch back to Olympus Old Menu on OM System OM-5 ? why is that ?
This with the OM 20mm 1.4 or the Sigma FP with the 45mm kit lens are my two I've narrowed down to re enter photography with. I know from using a film slr I got in high school (I'm old) and high end, multi lens phones that I like 35-60mm FOV for personal art and documentation photography. I'll get more lens eventually for either system, but a somewhat fast prime is where I want to start. Really the OM-5 is more appealing, but 90%+ of my photos are taken with available light in the dark. I work overnights, and live overnight for the most part. Do you think the significant IBIS on the OM-5 can get enough stops of benefit to match full frame cameras and computational phone modes?
If the subject is still enough, you can definitely use very low ISO settings. But in practice, don't be afraid of using higher ISO settings with the OM-5. Also, thanks to more DOF at the given settings, the lenses can always be used wide open in low light. Here is a video on that: ruclips.net/video/jJQgJMCQJc8/видео.html
Great video Thomas. I am considering the OM5. Is there a way one can directly map the minimum shutter speed to one of the custom buttons? A deep dive into the menu is a bit of a chore when you are out and about. I mostly shoot aperture priority and use the Exp Comp! Thanks.
Thanks! If you mean the Low S.S. setting for auto iso, you cannot map that to a button, but you can map a custom mode which includes a certain low s.s. setting to a button. Best, Thomas 📸
Thank you! It does not have picture in picture, but it uses a whole screen magnification and/or adjustable focus peaking. In this video, I go into greater detail - the function is very similar for all recent OM cameras: ruclips.net/video/NIUyAFpYVrE/видео.html
Does it do 80mp Hi res vis tripod? Many reviewers say so, and even information from Olympus, however in the camera menus it doesn't doesnt say just 50mp hand held and tripod.
Hi Thomas, how does this camera hold up with all the others you use regarding people, family and everyday scenery style of shooting. I am not a huge fan of the living outside and document all the birds theme OM System is trying to sell me. But I am still considering this camera anyway.
Thanks for the question! I'd say it is the perfect camera for that. It definitely is better in this genre than for the birds-thing (which is also not something I do). You can definitely ignore marketing around the camera in this regard. Whoever was the lead designer of the OM-5 definitely had the reportage photographer (exactly the genres you mentioned) in mind. If you've got a more specific question, feel free to ask! Best, Thomas
I have to say I’m really struggling with the OM5 camera. Having come from a completely manual background of a Canon F1 many years ago I have finally stepped into the 21st century and bought this marvel of technology. I don’t doubt it’s quality nor cleverness but for me, even working out the focus modes is a complete nightmare. It doesn’t help that the instruction book is close to 500 pages long. Is there anywhere you can direct me for a good, simple video on the focus modes of this camera, using the 45 to 90 F4 lens? I am using it for travel and Repportage and need speed, not confusion!
I can understand that, it is a very complex tool, but I'm sure I can help you out. Just send me an email to contact@thomaseisl.photography and we can discuss the details. Best, Thomas 📸
Hallo, geht jetzt etwas am Thema vorbei, betrifft aber auch neue Kameratechnik: Ich glaube, dass du über etwas Insiderwissen verfügst, darum hätte ich gerne deine Einschätzung, ob es in naher Zukunft eine neue highend Kamera von OM System gegen wird. P.S.: Die Om5 ist mir tatsächlich zu klein.
Hallo Richard, dazu kann ich leider gar nichts sagen. Die OM-5 ist tatsächlich klein, aber der Griff ist wie gesagt erstaunlich gut. Ich war selbst sehr überrascht. Mit kleineren Objektiven ist die OM-5 wirklich fast perfekt. Hast du derzeit eine OM-1?
So unfortunately OM-5 just does not show enough innovation and progress to win the market. There should be no challenge putting trupic 9 into OM-5. As technology advances the chips are more efficient. So it's actually the same or less power hungry compared to Trupic 8. Every other manufacturer is capable of doing that, e.g Canon puts Digic X into all of its latest RF mount cameras except R100. As for the viewfinder, the longer eye point equals less magnification. And it's practically the same EVF as the EM 5 III which has the same eye point distance. And unlike the film days, there is the LCD screen as well, so it's less important for situational awareness, maybe just for glasses. Still this does not conflict with a higher res or faster refresh rate EVF. If OM System at least put USB-C and new menu, people would not complain as much. The USB-C exists in EM 1 II in 2016, so there is no excuse for not using it. Even the TG 7 has USB C now. On the other hand, if someone happens to have OM-1 as primary and OM-5 as secondary camera, the old menu would be very confusing. Then it comes the tripod mount issue. A little search over posts on Dpreview, the OM-5 tripod mount already fails for someone, and there is no metal frame inside -- where has OM System reinforced the body? Even at OM-5, OM System refuses to unlesh the full potential of that 6 year old sensor (at time of OM-5 release). The sensor is capable of 18 fps continuous shooting with AF, yet it's capped at 10 for OM-5. Let's face it, 10 fps is not considered a "fast" speed by any means in the year 2022. And for video, the addition of OM Log is limited by the fact that it only shoots 8-bit only. All in all, OM System really does not want the OM-5 to match the capability of the yesterday flagship EM 1 MK III. Understandably it's the same strategy as Olympus, but it doesn't work out or it won't be sold to JIP, right? So is OM-5 a good enough camera? Yes, even the EM5 III is good enough. But in today's world, good enough is not enough for camera manufacturers to survive. Continuous innovation would be the key to keep the company afloat.
Very interesting points. Regarding camera development, I invite you to watch this one next: ruclips.net/video/_mcvKxaKl2s/видео.htmlsi=RblbyVpPF74Y324S
In a nutshell, I'd say yes. The M1 III has a bigger buffer, according to my knowledge, and the battery will last longer. But the OM-5 is a much more elegant camera, it is almost a fashion statement. The M1 looks more like a tool for work, in my opinion.
If you use Auto mode, be aware that the automatic autofocus isnt accurate at all. You have to switch to Single AF to get really sharp shots. It's the same as in the EM5 III. Also the body feels plasticky. Apart from that it's a real great lightweight camera with pro features like Pro Capture, Starry AF und Live ND.
The OM-5 does not offer any subject recognition modes except face detection (which works fine). Can you get shots of birds? Yes. But the performance won't hold up to the OM-1. The latter is industry leading in this genre.
I think they missed an opportunity not equipping the OM5 with some wildlife image recognition capability. i have just ordered one, but reluctantly because of this omission. Had Panasonic offered a proper GX 10 with some of the capabilities of the g9 ii, perhaps OMS would have had to be more ambitious. As a kayaker and mountaineer big camera bodies are not much use to me but I see recording wildlife as one of the joys of my adventuring., Olympus built their reputation by recognising the attraction of a first rate small bodied camera 40 odd years ago when they produced the OM1 and then OM2 which became the automatic camera of choice for many mountaineers and other adventurers.
I'd love a new camera in this style, but the OM-5 just feels like a lackluster upgrade of the already underwhelming E-M5.3. Plastic body, micro-USB and a weirdly high price make it an unappealing choice now, especially seeing as you can get a used E-M1.2 for less than half the cost. He're hoping the Mk. II will deliver.
Thanks for the comment. I'd say this video might be spot on for you: ruclips.net/video/_mcvKxaKl2s/видео.htmlsi=b7WKimcrTYIbTf9v I tackle quite a few things you just brought up. Maybe you've already watched it. And I completely agree - a second hand E-M1 II is excellent. No manufacturer can compete with the used market. They always have to convince you that their current product is the next best thing. Maybe you also remember my video on sensor dynamic range. It also relates to this topic. Best, Thomas
Hi Thomas good morning. I need your precious help yesterday the om5 arrived. I have a problem that I can't understand. When I photograph the blue sky, in the viewfinder and in the EVF all the blue appears to me with a strong banding, which makes it appear haloed in stripes. What could it be due to? Let me start by saying that I am using jpeg large super fine with srgb. Hi Thomas
I can see the banding both in the viewfinder, (with strong vignetting), and on the final photo, again in the viewfinder, or on the LCD screen. Honestly, this is the first time something like this has happened to me. The shopkeeper asks me to send him example photos. It's a shame because the camera body is light and fabulous.
@fabioinserra9981 hm, very strange. Could you send me an email with an example photo as well? Also, try a different lens. Maybe the lens you are using is misaligned / defective.
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Thanks Thomas, you are very kind. I contacted the seller, he will exchange my camera for me. I left the memory card inside for him so he can view the blue sky banding himself. When I get the cam back I'll send them to you, because I don't have a PC with an internet connection with me. It's really a shame because as soon as I picked it up I fell in love with it. This effect on the colors is really strange. I'll keep you updated. Hi Thomas, a hug
@fabioinserra9981 please do! The new OM-5 that you'll receive will make you happy, I'm sure. I am in love with my OM-5, it is an excellent tool to create with. Best, Thomas 📸
@@ThomasEisl.Photography , I carry it on mountainbike tours. For action shots I find it a bit too slow. Also the shutter blackout is a problem. The AF speed is very good, tho. That's a plus. And the super small lenses. It is a good camera, but framerate is on my wishlist for Mark II.
I would have also preferred the new menu, because I thought it would be more convenient in practice going back and forth between the OM-1 and OM-5, but in practice, I never really noticed. Maybe it is the same for you. Thanks for contributing, Alexander!
Don't worry about the first aspect. Fun fact: Even cameras "without an AA" filter usually have one, albeit a weak one. But what one manufacturer considers weak might not be weak for the next one. I'd say the system resolving power is the best metric for the sake of comparison. Best, Th ,📸
The OM-5 concept and basic idea are perfect. (OM-D E-M5 Mark I and II ) Plastic body, NO! Never! Ancient sensor - miserable. Paired with an old processor - even worse. A slap to all users is the old menu! If the OM-1 is a camera for wildlife, the OM-5 should have been a camera for everything else. It should have had everything it has now, plus perfect focusing and tracking of people, faces and eyes, a BSI sensor and an OM-1 processor! OM-5 is an attempt by OMDS to make money without any investment. I own an OM-1 and nothing about it is wow. It's very good, but far from wow. Autofocus and tracking of the human body, face and eye is good with good lighting and when it occupies most of the frame. That deficiency was to be filled by OM-5! It was supposed to attract new users from fullframe and APS-C. Where are the more significant firmware upgrades. I watch every one of your videos and appreciate you a lot, but the OM-5 is a total failure! And the sales will show that.
Thanks for the extensive comment and for sharing your opinion. I very much appreciate that you brought up some controversial points - even though I might have a different perspective on the camera. I was also not convinced when the camera was introduced, that is why it took me a while to get one. But ... I think the OM-5 is really the camera that you are describing when stating "everything else-camera". Just a quick remark - the processor is really excellent and the sensor is as well. I've tested that quite extensively - and there is really nothing to complain about regarding sensor and processor. Other things like the menu - well, that might be an issue for users who have the OM-1 and want the OM-5 as a casual backup camera. I'm also not a huge fan of plastic bodies, just because I prefer the feeling of metal. However, it is very common in the industry for quite some time (even some Nikon FF DSLRs) but yes, it is not for everyone. Again, thanks for the interesting comment!
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Great job! I have just gotten a new OM5 and looking for something like this :)
I appreciated your perspective on the OM5- Disappointed with my purchase of the "Expert Guide"
The OM5 expert guide is a rip off. Everything can be found on the Olympus/OM system website or magazine. €20 for nothing.
If OM System had simply put a USB-C port on the OM-5 it would have been much better received. I traded my EM5 III in for the OM-5, because I wanted the built-in webcam functionality, vertical video, and re-inforced tripod mount, and I love it. I built a full travel it around it with the 12-45 f4, 40-150 f4, 45mm 1.8, and 60mm macro, and I can cover almost any situation, with a full kit no bigger than a large book. Everything fits in one compartment in my laptop bag. Very under-rated camera.
Thanks for highlighting features which are important for your work - nice kit btw!
I agree, the Micro USB drew the attention away from many of the camera's excellent features/capabilities.
It really is an under-rated camera, as you've said!
The USB connection is weird, but is insignificant to me. I load bateries in a charger, and transfer pics with a card-reader.
Lack of 3.5mm output for headset is a real problem. I also miss a way to connect proper microphones, or a line level input.
I am really happy with my OM5
@@singstadmusic4027 for me too. While I would have preferred USB-C, it's not a deal breaker.
@singstadmusic4027 thanks for sharing that!
Interessant, dass ich das erste Mal von den unglaublichen 27 mm höre. Das hätte ich nicht erwartet. 👍
2015: my relatives donated me an Olympus E-M5 m2 and my old passion for photography blew up. Then, my passion went toward bird and macro photography, so OM-1 was a perfect evolution. But, the old E-M5 still works in the hands of my wife. 6,000 pictures in my archive and ten times of shots. It fell down a lot of times, but it is indestructible. Good to know that the new OM-5 has a good viewfinder with high eye point. As usual, your reviews pay high attention to the practical side of how to use the camera. Bravo. Sergio form Milano
Good evening Sergio!
That is so interesting - for me, it was the OM-D M5. The 5 series was and still is a very important point of entry. Back then, my mentor, instantly recognized the OM-D M5 and had only good things to say about it, although he was working in the fashion and celebrity industry with very high end cameras. So yes, the 5 series attracts the attention of many people and is a great "entry point" but also a valuable tool for experienced photographers.
Thanks for sharing - really nice to read that. And thanks for your much appreciated positive feedback - I'll try my best to keep it up!
Best, Thomas
I love the OM-5; it was the camera that got me out of the house and into the streets. I take it everywhere I go in all kinds of weather. I shoot all day on full frame cameras at work, and those big cameras go up on the shelf when work is over and I start taking pictures I'm actually interested in taking, which are outside, around the city. I'm old now, and I'd have to say that the two best cameras I've ever owned -- for the kind of life I live--- are the OM-5 and the original OM-2 from back in the day.
Thank you very much for sharing that. The OM-5 is really an excellent tool and often underestimated.
I also find myself using the OM-5 for all my non-work stuff, but it would be a serious option for commercial photo documentaries as well. For that, I have two OM-1 s at the moment.
Anyway, I'm getting side-tracked. Thanks again for sharing, Paul. Best, Thomas 📸
Thank you for sharing! I have an OM2-SP and I love it! I’m looking into my first digital camera and couldn’t help but fall in love with the OM-5. Very excited to get and learn with it.
I love my OM-5. Paired with the 20mm f/1.4, it's terrific. Same the 12-45mm f/4.0, the 40-150mm f/4 or any of the f/1.8 lenses. It's great for walkabouts, whether good weather or bad, in the wilderness or in a dense city.
So nice - cool setup.
Highly incisive, thoughtful, comprehensive and useful overview. Some extremely relevant observations from a personal perspective.
I use an EM1 Mk ii. Whilst a fabulous instrument it can be quite cumbersome on longer trips. Wanting a 'back-up' body your video has convinced me to look much more closely at the OM5.
I also have a long-standing eye condition requiring me to wear both lenses and glasses, and your viewfinder observations are tremendously helpful in this respect.
And finally the precision, depth of knowledge, fair balance and comprehensiveness you communicate alongside your excellent script delivery are SO refreshing to see. A real pleasure not to have to listen to any fluff or 'BS'.
Many thanks indeed for a superb review.
As a glasses wearer I love the long eye point of the EVF. Probably the number one reason the e-m5 iii and now om-5 is my most used camera
Thanks for sharing that - the eye point is really a very important specification, your account underlines that!
The original E-M5 was my second Micro Four Thirds camera as I transitioned away from the Olympus Four Thirds system. I just loved that camera for it's ergonomics, small size, capabilities, and beautiful styling. It was eventually sold, so when the E-M5 Mk IIIs were steeply discounted after the introduction of the OM5 I got a Mk III. I already had an E-M1 Mk III and an OM-1 at the time so didn't feel the need for the additional features of the OM-5. I love my E-M5 Mk III, but havening said that, I completely agree with you about the well-rounded capabilities of the OM-5, and it is my #1 recommendation to anyone getting into digital photography or moving up from a smart phone or bridge camera. Forget the USB port controversy - it's just not an issue with all the USB-C to micoUSB adapter cables on the market.
I totally agree.
Thank you very much for your comment - we both have a similar history regarding cameras, and we both came to the same conclusions. Best, Thomas
Yep. What a load of nonsense others are flapping about usb ports. Most of us carry spare batteries and don’t care much about usb format or charge time differences between the two. The computer features, grip and handling make this a fine travel and backpacking body. It’s not a poor man’s OM1 any more than an OM1 is a great street camera. Get both - money permitting
@@michaelknibbs Well said. I did as you suggested and got both. Excellent advice.
Dear Thomas your technical report is the ideal compact reportage (analysis) companion! You focus on the heart of shooting camera experience. I thank you very much.
Thank you very much - I agree, it is indeed an excellent reportage companion. Best, Thomas
I'm just coming back to this clip, after watching it, and then watching your other clip "New Camera Model Disappointments: Separating Reality from Expectations". I think the combination of the two clips tell a very good reality about the OM-5 and other cameras. I bought the OM-5, 3 months ago, primarily as a travel camera, despite many negative comments about the camera not being 'enough of an upgrade' as well as functions missing that are incorporated into the OM-1. I understand the USB C arguments as well as the menu and maybe the plastic body. However, I did want a light outfit and was prepared to accept the compromise. I think I had less expectations coming from a FF D850, and APSC D500. However, for me, the camera has exceeded my expectations, especially with the quality of the stills and video and the functionalities, which are still taking me a time to understand and to find time to experiment and use them in real time. For my most common use, I don't need a tripod or a flash and I am blown away by the quality, hand held, indoors, in the evening, video and stills with perfect results and less post-processing. I could write a full page of A4 about my delights. I own and have owned quite a few cameras, but the OM-5 is proving to be the best and most sensible purchase for me. Thank you so much for your insights and wise words on both these clips (others as well no doubt) - I think this perspective needed to be said.
Thank you very much for a very balanced, insightful and valuable contribution. I appreciate the time you spent watching my videos and writing this comment.
As you might know, I also came from F Mount 35mm and DMF (both of which I still use), and in my opinion, only then you can fully appreciate how good MFT actually is. The interplay between the lenses and the finely tuned sensor(s) is very impressive. So thanks again for contributing.
Thank you for this educational analysis 👏👏👏. The OM5 is one of my micro four thirds system cameras, I also have an Olympus EP1, an EPL7, an EM5 MarkII and my latest acquisition a beautiful PEN F (in the past I had an Olympus E-300 and an E-510); If they tell me that I can only keep one (although I like them all, especially the PEN F) I would, without hesitation, stay with the OM5 for quality and performance, because it offers superior image quality to the rest of the models I own, and It is the most versatile. Having Live ND and high resolution shooting at that size is a luxury. Something I love is its size and lightness, so much so that combined with the f1.8 M.Zuiko lenses (12mm, 17mm, 25mm and 45mm) it can go in my jacket pocket (it is not a hassle to carry it everywhere).
Thank you very much for an extensive, very relevant and interesting contribution. Even when compared to other camera systems, the OM-5 holds its own. As you've said - the size and capabilities are a luxury. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Thomas. I wrote a little review on the Em5iii for a M43 forum and made similar points - for sheer compactness, weathersealing, usb charging, EVF and depth of lens options, there is nothing else that matches up to these requirements. The OM-5 is even more capable. My sole gripe with this line is that i preferred the metallic build of the EM-5ii. But for travel , i don't think you can beat the OM-5. Take the 12-40mm and a couple of fast , small primes and you're good to go. On that, though, OM should weatherseal a couple of the 1.8 primes to pair with this camera.
Thanks for sharing that - I completely agree.
The 20mm f/1.4 was a step in the right direction. Also, I love the 25 1.4 Leica - the new version is weather sealed and just an excellent lens. Maybe this one is something for you.
Best, Thomas
I have to say out of all the reviewers out there you make the most sense. Keep up the good work.
Thank you very much!
Indeed, a fresh perspective on the OM-5, a camera that hasn't received the kudos that its (much) bigger cousin has. It seems that its target market is a little more sharply-defined than that of the OM-1, and this came through clearly. I'm also seeing other professional photographers - the landscape photographer Henry Turner, for example - getting this camera and delightedly using it. I'd like to thank you for your terrific efforts this year, Thomas. Always interesting and thought-provoking, your fresh perspective on photography has a niche of its own. (I also particularly enjoyed your previous clip on new cameras though forgot to comment🙄.) Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful, safe Christmas, and all the best for the coming year.
Thank you very much for your comment and your feedback - I'll try my best to make 2024 even more interesting! Best, Thomas
The viewfinder thing was very interesting to me. I haven’t looked through enough different ones to be able to notice a difference, or see the need for different types. I remember reading about the F3HP a while back. But at that point, being new to learning about photography in a serious way, it went over my head.
I find it strange that they didn’t update the menu system to match the OM-1, or switch to USB-C, as another commenter mentioned. It would have really helped the perception of the camera had they done those things. I really love the OM-1 menus, and it seemingly wouldn’t have been the hardest change for the development team to make. It also would have helped them to reinforce their brand change.
Thank you for your thoughtful contribution!
The viewfinder is really a USP, and in my opinion this makes the camera worth considering in and of itself. I also prefer the OM-1's menu structure, but as I've used Olympus cameras back then, I felt right at home.
Thank you, thank you for noting the high eye point! I do not know why such a critical spec is so roundly ignored in both reviews and manufacturers’ materials.
Thanks
Thank you Thomas! An excellent introduction to an excellent camera. Despite its shortcomings it is an outstanding tool. I recently bought your highly appreciated OM-5 Expertise article which leverage my use of the camera.
Thank you very much - I completely agree, the OM-5 is excellent which is why I purchased a second one recently. I'm very thankful for your support and that you find the expert guide useful! Best, Thomas 📸
Very interesting, Thomas. And very convincing as well. I almost regret I purchased the OM-1 🙂. I have to add that an OM-1 Expert Guide would be a nice addition to your shop.
Thanks for the feedback - the OM-5 is really a capable camera. I like it quite a bit. Thanks for the suggestion regarding the expert guide for the OM-1 - I should probably really do that!
Yes Thomas - you really should 😎
@Schunkelbruder1963 Gentlemen, I received the message haha
After 11 years with the e-m5 mark I, I just upgraded to the OM-5. What a revolution! It's not the perfect camera but I love it: light with its mft lenses and customizable with its Custom menus, liveND, focus stacking... I would have preferred it to be made of plastic, than it does not have USB-C and its menus are not simpler. It is great for leisure photography.
Thank you very much for sharing - very balanced and reasonable contribution.
@@ThomasEisl.Photography I also learned over time that you have to invest in good lenses. The 12-45 and 40-150 f/4 PRO are excellent.
I've got the 12-45 as well, I completely agree!
It is unfortunate OMDS missed the opportunity to make a game changer camera by not redesigning the body more like the EM5mkii was with USB--C and OM-1 like menu system. It is a great little camera that sent the wrong message IMO. OMDS wants to target high end photo enthusiasts, but the EM5mkiii body, aka OM-5 body was viewed as a downgrade to general consumer construction standard, not high end. Whether this is the case or not is irrelevant, the perception is still there and the catastrophic failure of the plastic body subjected to stress (tripod socket) re-inforced that perception and reason why I would never buy an OM-5 like many others, unfortunately because otherwise it is an outstanding little camera.
Very valid statements regarding consumer perception and the problems that most likely shaped the perception of this very capable camera.
Just a side note: I would not worry about the tripod thing at all. I'm almost convinced that it is user error. Even the full metal D800 had that "issue" because people where just overtightened the thing or leaving it on all the time (very bad idea). Best, Thomas
I love your "Austrian" approach to this. Clear, concise and to the point.
Thank you kindly!
Finally! Someone smart enough to adress the high eye point numbers which is so much more important to people who wear glasses than anything else! I have been an amateur photographer for more than 25 years and I still haven’t owned a camera where I can see the four corners of the viewfinder at one glance. Maybe OM systems have solved my problem? Thank you very much for addressing the problem!
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. I'm sometimes wearing glasses, and I'm pretty sure that this camera is the one you've been looking for, especially if you choose viewfinder mode 2. I can recommend it. Best, Thomas
Thanks to your information about the high eyepoint I bought the Olympus Om-D E-M 5 iii and a couple of lenses. I love the camera and lenses. Now I can see all four corners of the picture in the viewfinder at a glance. What a relief. Thank you!
Excellent video 😮!
Thank you very much!
excellent review, there are so few reviews on the OM-5, and frankly a lot of unfair bashing ...i donated my older OM camera to a budding young photographer and upgraded to the OM-5...besides the OM-1 being twice the price, i am a travel/street photographer and the OM-1 is simply way more camera than i need...the lack of usb-c and smaller battery, i am happy with my OM-5, on the street or in the mountains this camera punches above its weight! anyone who has the opportunity to use the OM-5 will not be disappointed, critics be damned 😎
Thanks for sharing that - we are completely on the same page here! The 5 is an excellent camera for a very compelling price. Definitely punches above its weight in more than one way.
well, the only huge disadvantage of OM5 is that it is very addictive, my wife tried it and stopped to use her fujifilm and now I need to get one for my own :)
Haha yep, I hear you my friend haha 😂
Good thing is, you can now share lenses and OM System has an excellent promotion running at the moment 😀
It's light and compact, looks good, weather sealed, a glasses friendly viewfinder, if it had a tilting LCD instead of full articulated this would be my dream camera. I really want one.
Thank you for the straightforward and concise overview, thoroughly enjoyed the whole video.
Thank you very much. I too preferred tilting screens for a while, but if you want to film video with it as well, the fold out screen is really handy. Guess both have their advantages. Best, Thomas 📸
I love my OM-5. Weather sealing was a primary reason for buying it and the features packed into a small package make it ideal for travel and other photography. My only complaint is the fiddly USB port that is not compatible with the other cables that I use. A USB-C port would have been a vast improvement
Thanks for sharing!
The em5 mkii was my intro to m43 so for me the om5 included a range of improvements in sensor size, focussing points and processor performance that made sense. I have used the camera and like that they didn’t radically change the menu as I was already reasonably familiar with the menu. I also like that they didn’t change the styling as the camera already works beautifully, changing it to make it look new really would be dumb. For me it produces images that never disappoint, is portable and weather sealed, which is very handy living in the NW of England. I also bought the 20mm f1.4 and already had the older f2.8 standard pro zoom and now have a 60mm macro, so a complete all weathers kit, that is compact, lovely to use, produces great images. I love your well reasoned reviews and have just downloaded your guide to the camera as well. Merry Christmas. Pete
Thank you very much for sharing, Pete! I hope you had nice holidays as well. You have an excellent selection of lenses and your choice of gear makes a lot of sense. The OM-5 is just the perfect camera for the job you need it. In fact, it is very versatile.
Thanks again for sharing, and hope to hear from you again this year! Best, Thomas 📸
Splendid review. Many thanks. Good to hear someone beating the drum for decent viewfinders!
Thank you very much!
Fascinating presentation, thank you Thomas. I got the OM5 and it's excellent. Yes compact, light and agile. It's incredible the amount of features stored in this little powerhouse. Combined with 12-45 f4 Pro and 40- 150 f4 it produces high quality images without carrying lots of weight. I like Starry Sky AF and took successful shots of Polaris star trails, 1 hour Live Comp, even with just an f4 lens it was surprisingly good! (By the way, we love Austria. My daughter and I hiked near Innsbruck - next time will take the OM5). Thanks again for your video.
Thank you very much - that is great to hear. Your assessment is very similar to mine. It is a surprisingly good camera indeed. I just have the 12-45, but I was also surprised by how good this lens is. I generally prefer the fast primes, but in terms of weight/versatility-ratio, it is just unbeatable.
Best, Thomas
Thanks for this fine review. I own a mark iii and a Panasonic G9. On paper the G9 out specs the EM5, but I have never enjoyed shooting with it because of the gigantic viewfinder. For the same reason I sold my Leica M3. As an eyeglasses wearer I could never see the entire field of view on either of those cameras. Now I understand why the EM5’s viewfinder is so comfortable to use (for me, anyway). I recently took my Mark iii traveling, and it (with the 12-45 pro zoom and a prime) did all I needed for photography and video recording. It’s a brilliant little setup for travel.
Many thanks for sharing that! Having the "right" viewfinder is just essential.
And I agree, the M5 series is just excellent for travelling. The OM-5 is a worthy successor.
Best, Thomas
Was just looking at the OM-5 and my next camera to go with my TG-7. Thomas's expert guide now makes this a easy sell.
Thank you very much!
The OM-5 is really a very capable (and stylish) tool - if you decide to get one and you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch.
Best, Thomas
Great video! I bought it as a perfect travel camera after having had pretty much all micro 4/3 cameras, put after getting it I put it aside and kept using my Pen F, G9, Gx85... then the G9II...then I re-discovered and I found out that it had everything I needed from the get go. Perfect travel camera!
Thanks! Could not agree more, it s really the perfect travel camera. Best, Thomas
The OM-5 paired with the 60mm macro is great. I use the combo a lot for rainy day macros.
The Live ND combined with great IBIS is wonderful for capturing water movement. Easily 2 second shots handheld. It's also wonderful for isolating a stationary person in a moving crowd.
I've tried the art modes for creative fun. Sometimes I use bracketing to capture a photo using all art modes and then build a collage.
I've used the hand held high res to take tripod free pictures of the moon.
Yes, I wish the OM-5 had come with USB-C. Well, when OM-5 mkII comes out, perhaps then. Until then, a firmware update to add a night time Live View option with only red colors would be awesome for night time star captures.
Thanks for sharing that - a very valuable contribution. I appreciate that you've highlighted some of the creative options you are using in your process.
A tip for nighttime photography: Definitely try live Live View Boost or S-OVF. Those are the best options for nighttime photography in my experience. Best, Thomas
Wow. Truly excellent review, Thomas. The aspects and details that you chose to focus on are my concerns exactly. Thank you again.
Oh wow, that is great to read. Thank you very much!
Thank you Thomas, great video. However, I that you forgot to mention 1 thing - the OM-5 is a really fun camera to use. I really enjoy taking this camera out with me. Many thanks for your video. 🎉🎉🎉🎉
I missed the most important aspect of it indeed! Thanks Peter 😀
Another excellent take on this great system Thomas, I'm lucky enough to own both the OM-5 and OM-1 and couldn't agree more with you, I love them both for different reasons, thank you very much for your reviews and information on this system, true expert stuff for sure.
Thank you very much, that is great to read.
I got the OM-5 relatively late, but I "bonded" instantly. An excellent addition to the OM lineup.
Thanks again for the comment.
Best, Thomas 📸
I can see how the OM-5's lackluster updates would be disappointing to people already invested in the M43 system. But for someone starting out like me, it sure is a heck of a camera. I rented the E-M1 III a few years ago and thought it was great but since it was the same size as my other gear, not worth changing to. The OM-5 gives me the Live ND, handheld high res modes, starry AF, and better AF tracking that the E-M5 III lacks and I'm happy with it. It's one of the best small landscape + travel cameras on the market.
The OM-5 is really excellent, and you've outlined exactly why that is the case. Best, Thomas 📸
I do appreciate the quality of the technical information passed on by this photographer. Having seen this review, the first thing I did was to check the eye-point of the EVF on my own non-Olympus camera. Oh dear, oh dear! 😁
Thank you very much! That is really nice to read.
Best, Thomas 📷
Thanks for an excellent review Thomas. I still love my EM5 iii for travel, but as I’m restricted to electronic shutter at the moment due to the mechanical one sticking, I’ll be interested to see if rumours of an OM10 come true.
Thanks for sharing - I'd go with the OM-5. It definitely is the successor to your current camera that unfortunately is no longer fully functional. An OM-10 might feel like a step down, given that you already have a 5-series camera.
Best wishes, Thomas 📸
I have the em1 mk3, OM-5 and OM-1 and i have to agree with ehat you have said. Im wheelchair bound and my condition restricts me in using heavy lens, cameras for a long period of time and i have filmed my last 10 youtube videos with the OM-5 paired with the 9-18mm F/4-5.6 and its such a loghtweight set up. My only pronlem is the grip. Ive got really bigbhands and struggle to grip proper like the em1mk3 and OM-1 but have the grip on order. But really enjoyed your video and now going to watch more you have done. Very informative
A little off topic. But to my OM 5 and 1. I have just fitted the olympus 4/3rds 11-22mm lens with adapter. It shocked me with its sharpness. Well worth you trying out.
Yes, definitely! Four Thirds lenses are excellent and they are well worth using. I'm planning a segment on those. Best, Thomas
I really like the concept of the OM-5, compact, lightweight and very capable, for me it is almost perfect...except I still ended up getting a E-M1 mkIII instead mainly one reason. The durability of the bottom plate. I do a fair number of back country hikes and generally like to have my camera on a quick release clip that attaches to the bottom plate. (this method of carrying can be controversial) Unfortunately in this area the OM-5 does not stack up. I like your take on this camera, I still would like to pick one up one day primarily for city and more casual shooting.
Thank you very much for a very interesting contribution.
I would definitely not carry the OM-5 with a quick release like that - so I fully understand your decision and reasoning behind that. The bottom plate is solid enough for regular tripod use, but I would not do the carry-around thing.
For city and casual shooting, the 5 is as good as it gets. Also, the menus will be quite familiar - going back and forth between the E-M1 Mark III and this one is a breeze.
Best, Thomas
The main issue I had with the original EM-5 Mk III was the choice of materials, it seemed a downgrade compared to the magnesium Mk II. That said, I think the body design of the later model, which looks the same as the OM5, has aged extremely well, it is a nicely proportioned camera compared to the excellent but rather awkward looking offerings of other manufacturers. Fujifilm also produce some nice looking small cameras but the OM5 wins on features such as live comp and handheld high-res. The choice I have is between the OM-5 and the X-S20 for my next camera, a lot to consider.
Thanks for sharing, you've brought up a very interesting perspective.
I personally would get the OM-5, but hey! Both the Fuji and the om are great. Let me know what you ended up getting! Best, Thomas
Hopefully they come out with an upgraded version that offers most of what the OM-1 II has. Thanks for your amazing reviews!
Thank you very much! Yes, that would be cool - for now, the OM-5 is a capable option I personally love using. Best, Thomas 📸
A great video as always I have six MFT cameras now 2x OM-D E-M1X,1xOM-D E-M10 Mark IIIs.1 x OM-D E-M1.1x PEN E-PL1.1x Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GX7C use them all for different things and are very pleased
Thank you very much for the feedback!
Oh, that's a nice collection!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Thank you very much for your kind comment I find your videos very informative in my development in the MFTs camera use I used to have the Nikon D800 but I look back on the photos I have taken with that camera at the time and find the photos taken with the Olympus cameras more pleasing to the eye regardsHoward rollinson
@howardrollinson3819 Different cameras different looks! That is definitely the case. Thanks for sharing, did not know that you had a D800!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Also had the Sony A7 which had the same sensor as the Nikon D600 found this out from a Sony Engineer who came in to jessops in Manchester town centre one day it is just different software in the camera and processing by the chip inside there again the sensors in my Olympus cameras there made by Sony also PS have a very happy Christmas and a Happy New Year
I have an EM5ii with which I am really happy. It's a joy to use and I am happy with the images that I get from it (JPEG). The OM5 sounds tempting but thus far I have been concentrating on buying lenses to "fill the gaps" in terms of handling the situations in which I take photos and the subjects. I do not use the camera for videos as I have other cameras for that. The EM5ii is my travel. hiking, street, and casual photography friend. I am open to buying an OM camera but I am holding out for a PEN F ii. BTW - I agree. Vienna is a beautiful city !!! :-)
Thank you very much for sharing your perspective! I very much appreciate your extensive contribution. Best, Thomas 📸
Frohe Weihnachten schon mal. Thanks for this point of view on the OM-5. I‘m still my EM1, EM1 II and EM5 II next to my OM-1. BTW I love the shutter sound of the EM1 Mark 1. 😊
Ebenfalls!
Thanks for sharing - nice collection. And yes, the M1 I has a nice shutter sound 👌
Thomas, you mention the EVF as a key advantage and I do think it's good you mention the view point and why, but on the other hand the OM-5 I believe got sort of correctly panned for-
1) Being the same EVF of the EM5.3. All you said about the EVF applies to the EM5.3. This applies more to people with an EM5.3 wondering if they should upgrade than a total newcomer to m43rds.
2) The EVF on both the EM5.3/OM-5 while it went OLED (great), it got capped at a 60fps refresh cadence. Even the PenF has a 100Hz (120Hz)? option and the very EM5.2 had a 120Hz option (though LCD).
To me this can be an issue for a camera for "reportage"- but now OM Systems is promoting its entire system for nature/outdoor/wildlife anyway.
3) Weak tripod mount design defect, like the EM5.3. Though it actually got *slightly improved* as someone's broke and it was compared vs the EM5.3- turns out OM Systems did try to do *something* by extending with some metal where the tripod connects to the body, it's still connected to the polycarbonate body and as such can still break more easier than it should.
The OM-5 should really have had the JPEG AI noise reduction of the OM-1 plus a couple of AI focus modes like people/pets. Ideally it would have been the same CPU but not sure if at the moment the OM-1 came out the CPU would be a match power wise for the battery of the OM-5.
In the end the OM-5 is based on the EM1 MarkIII from back then, and back then the EM1 Mark III already started to look a bit dated.
Thank you for sharing your perspective.
Vielen Dank für die hilfreiche Bewertung. Persönlich habe ich eine M5 Mk 3 und eine M1 Mk 2. Letztere habe ich mir gebraucht gekauft, weil der größere Body und die Robustheit für die Pro-Linsen besser passt. Meine M5 hat meistens das 12-45/4 drauf, das perfekt zu dem Gehäuse passt und die kleinen Festbrennweiten dazu. Die Kleine ist optimal als Begleiterin überall hin.
Vielen Dank für Ihr Feedback und den Kommentar. Ein sehr gutes Setup, nachvollziehbare Entscheidung. Aus ähnlichen Überlegungen arbeite ich gerne mit der OM-5.
Im currently the owner of a Nikon Z50 and I did considered moving to om-system and particularly on om-5. I find really attractive its small size (body and lens) and weather resistance.But Im hesitant of doing it since om-5 has an old sensor. A sensor with BSI would be great for improved low light photography when you have moving subjects and cant compensate otherwise.
Of course a lot of improvements could be made.
An om-5 with bsi sensor technology, animal/insects autofocus even inferior to om-1 and usb-c would be perfect regardless of price.
Since im not in a hurry changing body I decided to wait either for a new version of om-5 or small fujifilm camera like fujifilm x e4 with weather protection.
Interesting!
Why not get an OM-1? It sounds more like the camera you are looking for.
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Because of size. I need a small and weather sealed camera that I can bring with me either for street or travel photography.
An om-5 with 20mm f1.4 pro or 17mm f1.8 (shame its not weather sealed) would be enough for me for street photography. When Im traveling with a bike I would add the 40-150 f2.8 (and maybe with a TC) for the occasional wildlife photo.
I try to keep my gear as light and small as possible. An added benefit is that small size make you discreet and in some countries makes it for a safer option. Somehow a lot of people see a big lens and camera as a sign of an expensive camera. You stand out and I always assume its more likely to get mugged that way.
Bird photography or insect photography is not the main use of my camera. Yes I occasionally like to shoot birds or insects and detection for birds of insects would be nice but I mainly use it for street photography etc.
I will probably wait until my next long trip (probably mid 2025) to buy new camera. I do hope om-5 gets an upgraded sensor until then.
@gp6367 Ah ok. So just to add that, the sensor is really excellent. I would not worry about it being "old". If you check sensor test data, you will see that it performs almost as good as the current high end models, in practice almost indistinguishable. Why? Because it uses a slower readout speed to keep image noise very low.
So funny, I started my photo hobby with this camera as you mentioned at the end of your video and this camera made watch hundrends of videos and learn all about photography. I used to shoot only in auto mode with my previous Nikon camera (had no idea and interest) and now I shoot only manually, experimenting things. The other thing which troubles me currently is also acquiring the OM-1 model but am not sure if the difference is so big. I must say after hearing your last statements in this video I will mostly do it as I tend to like more and more shooting wildlife. Dankeschön
Thank you very much for sharing - you've chosen the perfect camera for your photographic journey.
Overall, the OM-1 is definitely worth getting in the long run. Especially for wildlife, as you said. Best, Thomas
Thank you for the informative video Thomas, I did not know of the eypoint of the viewfinder. The OM-5 is my hiking camera with the Oly 12-100mm zoom or the Panasonic 12-60mm zoom when I want a lighter kit. I like the handheld hi-res option for landscape images.
Thanks for sharing that - both the Panasonic and the Oly are great lenses. I've had them both in the past. Excellent choice.
I also really like the Live ND for landscape - the improvement in IQ is just drastic. Noise is eliminated almost completely. Quite impressive IMHO.
Best, Thomas
I agree with your points about the view finder. I find the lower res ones also better for when I do not want to wear my glasses. Lower res view finders seem to be clearer without the prescription glasses than high res finders at least for my eyes. From memory I think the OM5's view finder is better when using polaroid sun glasses ?
Just hope the next model comes out in a better like the EM5.2 and with a tilt and articulation rear screen like Panasonic and Sony have done.
Thanks.
The finder works perfectly with polarized sunglasses, that is correct.
Best, Thomas
Insightful video Thomas.
As an e-m5 iii (and om-1) user, I am wondering if upgrading to an om-5 is worthwhile. If the om-5 were fitted with the om-1 menu system, an upgrade to om-5 would be more attractive, with both cameras sharing a common menu system. This could presumably be done with an om-5 firmware upgrade? A shared USB-C cable would also be a benefit, but is less important.
Another concern is the single SD-card slot. I always like the comfort of a second SD-card slot as a backup for a day's shoot.
Thanks for adding your thoughts on this one! As an OM-1 used I can relate to the common menu aspect. It would be nice, but in practice it was ok for me so far. Same with the Micro USB - I use the port for fw updates only, and for occasional charging during trips. The small extra cable is not really a big deal for me.
The camera might not be all that different from your M5III, except the processor - which is a significant improvement, however. Tough call!
I bought an OM-5 two weeks ago, with a 12-45. I asked for black, but only silver was available. Two days later. I was buying a coffee and a random woman fell in love with it.
For me, it's just a good camera I can carry in a pocket.
I don't know what you mean by outgrow. there are photos I want to make that cannot be made by this camera, I need specialist lenses not made for MFT.
There’s much more to a camera than physical components. This camera (and other Olympus/OMDS cameras) are difficult to operate beyond the customary PASM dial settings. I hope that your long-term review will highlight challenges with the menu operations. It’s well and good to enjoy the tactile response, but totally another sensation to activate advanced shooting features. It’s not just a learning curve, but a problem that the menu system is so obtuse, that it requires referring to the manual or other resources. Including a menu shortcut to recall a cluster of settings is not a band-aid for making the menus quickly and logically operable in the first place.
For me the OM-5 has become indispensable and for reasons you illustrate here. It is a very complete camera given its minimal form factor and really does 'get the shot'. I wasn't actually aware of the viewfinder eyepoint distance, but that does explain why in spite of the viewfinder's somewhat modest specification in terms of magnification and resolution, it never seems to be a limitation. What I would say is that it does have some niggles in terms of being a bit proprietary, which is to say it doesn't support third party products or adapted manual glass as well as other marques I've experienced, so its best to stick with their (OM System) programme and run native lenses and accessories in general.
Thank you very much for the comment. You've brought up very valid points. Regarding the proprietary-ness: yes, OM System lenses work best - but also the Panasonic Leica lenses are a very good in my experience. I've got a video about adapting lenses to MFT cameras, btw: ruclips.net/video/ggH5bMrWOw0/видео.htmlsi=9iGzOM_rV7E30kBH
Best, Thomas 📸
I have a couple of the Pana-Leicas and they are great, but from my own experience I have a better overall experience running non-native glass on Panasonic bodies than on the Olympus / OM System bodies. For example, OM bodies don't enable the aperture ring on the 15mm 1.7. Even sometimes older Olympus lenses work better on Panasonic than on the OM-5. The 17mm 2.8 Zuiko pancake focusing barrel doesn't retract when the camera is turned off on OM-5, but works perfectly on Panasonic bodies. Hopefully a firmware update will fix it. Another annoyance with the OM-5 is I have to push a button to activate focus peaking if using manual lenses, whereas on the Panasonic G9 it fires up all by itself when a non-chipped lens is attached. It also throws up the focal length reset feature when it detects manual glass, whereas on OM-5 I have to dive into the menus. Maybe I've missed a trick somewhere, but that has been my experience. I can't help but wonder if OM System are shooting themselves in the foot with such practices.@@ThomasEisl.Photography
Great video, I just ordered an OM5, wondering where you said I could find your settings guide?
Thank you! Just click here: www.thomaseisl.photography/shop
Great as usual
Thank you! Cheers!
I’m agree, I like so much this little marvelous!
Thanks for sharing!
I always preferred the Nikon F, F2, and F3, because the viewfinder was smaller. and more "distant." That is, because you could see the entire image at one glance.
Larger viewfinder images are supposed to be better, but in fact they force you to move your eye around to see the entire image.
Completely agree! I'm pretty sure that at some point someone said "bigger is better" and no one really questioned that. Thanks for the contribution!
My first Olympus was the EM5 MK1. I absolutely loved everything about it, but the autofocus wasn't to my liking. I later had funds to buy a used EM1 MK2. I love it, but I miss the compactness I enjoyed. The OM5 has been on my mind for a while now, getting back to my roots of why I loved Olympus haha.
Haha well, then the OM-5 is the right camera for you, definitely 😁
Yes, most people do not understand that the current 0.78x Sony EVFs are terrible for photography ( they were made for video, because of the crop from top and bottom at 16:9 ) which is the reason why I am slowly changing to Panasonic S1 ( where the colors are better too ). Because that camera offers an EVF that has a total of 3 changeable viewfinder magnifications ( which is not even correctly described in the US camera manual nor do the #diots at Panasonic / New Jersey know about it , because they were unable to tell me after a total of 6 emails what these magnifications are !?! ) P.S. I also think the mechanical shutter of the S1 is quieter than the one of your OM-5 ?
Thanks for sharing - very interesting contribution!
I'd say the OM-5 is very quiet, it just sounds a bit loud because I deliberately turned up the volume to make the shutter click easier to hear.
A used OM-5 is in my future. We will see what OMDS releases in 2024 (Pen-F ii?).
Definitely worth the purchase.
Yes, I'm also curious what they will come up with. Although I'm very happy with their current lineup, tbh
The OM 5 with olympus grip is a fantastic camera.
True!
Thanks for another very comprehensive review.
Out of interest, which lens would you recommend for the OM-5 for reportage/street photography?
Thank you!
This video includes a few guidelines regarding focal lengths for reportage photography: ruclips.net/video/uggTA64ACbA/видео.html
Excellent
Thank you! Cheers!
I got the em10 to get back into photography. Im hoping the om5 mkii arrives on a year or two and i might upgrade for the weather sealing, hi res etc. Love the size.
Nice, thanks for sharing!
Nice job. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
danke
Like many I think this camera is underrated for photography, but do wish it was a bit more video friendly like many LUMIX models. Still quite nice!
Thanks for the contribution, very valid assessment in my opinion.
Love the Nikon F3 you have.
Thanks!
Good work, Hitman! Sadly this camera made me sell all my mft stuff.😂 many om5 plastic bottomplates have failed so it is for bag or shelf only.
Thanks!
One of the reasons why the bottom plates of the M5III failed was overtightening, and leaving the plate on (which you should never do as this can break any camera). If you remember, people broke the Nikon D800 (full metal) by doing just the same. I'm not convinced that there is any issue with the engineering grade polymers they used. Btw, it is a metal-plastic frame.
Thanks for the comment, best Thomas
Thomas, I’m really enjoying your videos! I’m a total photography beginner, so the terminology is hard for me but it’s sinking in gradually. I’m looking to get a camera for my job as an ecologist taking pictures of fungi. So macro and low-light conditions mostly. I’m debating between the OM-5 and the TG-7. How would you steer me? (Budget isn’t a concern.)
Thank you very much for the positive feedback!
Both cameras are excellent choices for what you want to do. If money and size is of no concern, I would get an OM-5 with a suitable macro lens first. It offers more direct controls and is a camera that allows you more room for growth as a photographer, also in terms of equipment like flashes. I'm pretty sure that you are like me and want to get a TG-7 at some point as well, as it is just amazing to have pocketable, rugged performance.
In any case, if you do not have a camera at all and want to take a leap into nature photography, the OM-5 is my recommendation as a first purchase. A perfect companion for everything, really.
Best, Thomas 📸
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Thank you so much for your input :)!
OM-5 bonus: the camera package includes the tiny, very practical miniflashunit Olympus FL-LM3.
Yes, true! A very useful piece of equipment indeed!
I’ve just stumbled across this video. Great work! I have a EM 5 mk2 but gave up using it because of the terrible (to me) menus and controls. I don’t photograph every day, or even every week and I could never remember how I’d set the camera up to work. I changed to a camera that has shutter speed dial and aperture ring on the lenses. I do still wonder whether to dig it out though, especially as I have the 12-40 pro lens and the 17mm f1.8. Have the menu and controls improved?
Thank you very much! It is a bit different, but not drastically different like the OM-1 Mark II is. Best, Thomas 📸
Thanks!
Thank you very much for your support!
This is gonna be my next camera, unless Panasonic comes up with a retro style mini G9II, which is very unlikely.
Nice!
I also think a mini G9II is a bit unlikely - albeit it would definitely be cool.
I stay with my old E-M5 Mark II.
Great metal body, good bigger battery. There is so little advancement since then in so many years. They didn't change the interface (like OM1), they didn't switch even to USB-C. They are just spitting in your face with an inferior camera. They just took the E-M5 Mark III (which was already then lagging behind the competition) and putting another name on it. I doubt if many people buy it.
Did I miss something?
Yes, you missed a lot!
The processor is a MAJOR improvement and the body was refined. The OM-5 is an excellent camera and it is quite popular.
Best, Thomas 📸
The M5II is cool as well hehe
I'd take Used Olympus EM1 - mk 2 , 3 over OM-5 all day
- I used to take em10 mk2 on trip & carry many battery. I don't like the idea of charge many battery over night at all.
yes, you save weight of camera ,but you need to carry extra charger for extra battery with you.
- I don't feel like EM1 (2 , 3 ) much heavy compare to OM-5.It's all about your lens choice.
- OM System use New Menu style on OM1 which many people like it but switch back to Olympus Old Menu on OM System OM-5 ? why is that ?
Thanks for contributing.
The OM-5 uses a modified E-M1III operating system and therefore the menus are the same. Not a big deal in practice.
This with the OM 20mm 1.4 or the Sigma FP with the 45mm kit lens are my two I've narrowed down to re enter photography with.
I know from using a film slr I got in high school (I'm old) and high end, multi lens phones that I like 35-60mm FOV for personal art and documentation photography. I'll get more lens eventually for either system, but a somewhat fast prime is where I want to start.
Really the OM-5 is more appealing, but 90%+ of my photos are taken with available light in the dark. I work overnights, and live overnight for the most part. Do you think the significant IBIS on the OM-5 can get enough stops of benefit to match full frame cameras and computational phone modes?
If the subject is still enough, you can definitely use very low ISO settings. But in practice, don't be afraid of using higher ISO settings with the OM-5. Also, thanks to more DOF at the given settings, the lenses can always be used wide open in low light. Here is a video on that: ruclips.net/video/jJQgJMCQJc8/видео.html
Great video Thomas. I am considering the OM5. Is there a way one can directly map the minimum shutter speed to one of the custom buttons?
A deep dive into the menu is a bit of a chore when you are out and about. I mostly shoot aperture priority and use the Exp Comp!
Thanks.
Thanks!
If you mean the Low S.S. setting for auto iso, you cannot map that to a button, but you can map a custom mode which includes a certain low s.s. setting to a button. Best, Thomas 📸
Thanks Thomas. Great video. I rewatched it as I am about to make a decision between the X100V and the OM-5.
Cool!
Nice video thank you. Does the OM-5 have picture in picture for manual focus lenses? I don't use focus peaking. Cheers
Thank you!
It does not have picture in picture, but it uses a whole screen magnification and/or adjustable focus peaking. In this video, I go into greater detail - the function is very similar for all recent OM cameras:
ruclips.net/video/NIUyAFpYVrE/видео.html
Does it do 80mp Hi res vis tripod? Many reviewers say so, and even information from Olympus, however in the camera menus it doesn't doesnt say just 50mp hand held and tripod.
Yes, it does have the 80MP tripod mode.
Great that you make the effort to dress professionally in your video. So many RUclipsrs look like they just got out of bed
Thank you very much, I appreciate that!
Hi Thomas, how does this camera hold up with all the others you use regarding people, family and everyday scenery style of shooting. I am not a huge fan of the living outside and document all the birds theme OM System is trying to sell me. But I am still considering this camera anyway.
Thanks for the question!
I'd say it is the perfect camera for that. It definitely is better in this genre than for the birds-thing (which is also not something I do). You can definitely ignore marketing around the camera in this regard. Whoever was the lead designer of the OM-5 definitely had the reportage photographer (exactly the genres you mentioned) in mind.
If you've got a more specific question, feel free to ask! Best, Thomas
I have to say I’m really struggling with the OM5 camera. Having come from a completely manual background of a Canon F1 many years ago I have finally stepped into the 21st century and bought this marvel of technology. I don’t doubt it’s quality nor cleverness but for me, even working out the focus modes is a complete nightmare. It doesn’t help that the instruction book is close to 500 pages long. Is there anywhere you can direct me for a good, simple video on the focus modes of this camera, using the 45 to 90 F4 lens? I am using it for travel and Repportage and need speed, not confusion!
I can understand that, it is a very complex tool, but I'm sure I can help you out. Just send me an email to contact@thomaseisl.photography and we can discuss the details.
Best, Thomas 📸
Hallo, geht jetzt etwas am Thema vorbei, betrifft aber auch neue Kameratechnik: Ich glaube, dass du über etwas Insiderwissen verfügst, darum hätte ich gerne deine Einschätzung, ob es in naher Zukunft eine neue highend Kamera von OM System gegen wird. P.S.: Die Om5 ist mir tatsächlich zu klein.
Hallo Richard, dazu kann ich leider gar nichts sagen.
Die OM-5 ist tatsächlich klein, aber der Griff ist wie gesagt erstaunlich gut. Ich war selbst sehr überrascht. Mit kleineren Objektiven ist die OM-5 wirklich fast perfekt.
Hast du derzeit eine OM-1?
So unfortunately OM-5 just does not show enough innovation and progress to win the market.
There should be no challenge putting trupic 9 into OM-5. As technology advances the chips are more efficient. So it's actually the same or less power hungry compared to Trupic 8. Every other manufacturer is capable of doing that, e.g Canon puts Digic X into all of its latest RF mount cameras except R100.
As for the viewfinder, the longer eye point equals less magnification. And it's practically the same EVF as the EM 5 III which has the same eye point distance. And unlike the film days, there is the LCD screen as well, so it's less important for situational awareness, maybe just for glasses. Still this does not conflict with a higher res or faster refresh rate EVF.
If OM System at least put USB-C and new menu, people would not complain as much. The USB-C exists in EM 1 II in 2016, so there is no excuse for not using it. Even the TG 7 has USB C now. On the other hand, if someone happens to have OM-1 as primary and OM-5 as secondary camera, the old menu would be very confusing.
Then it comes the tripod mount issue. A little search over posts on Dpreview, the OM-5 tripod mount already fails for someone, and there is no metal frame inside -- where has OM System reinforced the body?
Even at OM-5, OM System refuses to unlesh the full potential of that 6 year old sensor (at time of OM-5 release). The sensor is capable of 18 fps continuous shooting with AF, yet it's capped at 10 for OM-5. Let's face it, 10 fps is not considered a "fast" speed by any means in the year 2022.
And for video, the addition of OM Log is limited by the fact that it only shoots 8-bit only.
All in all, OM System really does not want the OM-5 to match the capability of the yesterday flagship EM 1 MK III. Understandably it's the same strategy as Olympus, but it doesn't work out or it won't be sold to JIP, right?
So is OM-5 a good enough camera? Yes, even the EM5 III is good enough. But in today's world, good enough is not enough for camera manufacturers to survive. Continuous innovation would be the key to keep the company afloat.
Very interesting points. Regarding camera development, I invite you to watch this one next:
ruclips.net/video/_mcvKxaKl2s/видео.htmlsi=RblbyVpPF74Y324S
The om5 just dropped under 900 new euros. Very tempting! There's a 300 euro rebate offering.
900 new? That's quite the deal.
Yes Calumet has it for 887.
Is the om5 a smaller, compact version of the Olympus M1 mark III?
In a nutshell, I'd say yes. The M1 III has a bigger buffer, according to my knowledge, and the battery will last longer. But the OM-5 is a much more elegant camera, it is almost a fashion statement. The M1 looks more like a tool for work, in my opinion.
If you use Auto mode, be aware that the automatic autofocus isnt accurate at all. You have to switch to Single AF to get really sharp shots. It's the same as in the EM5 III. Also the body feels plasticky. Apart from that it's a real great lightweight camera with pro features like Pro Capture, Starry AF und Live ND.
Thanks for the contribution and for sharing your experiences. Completely agree.
How Does the OM-5 compare with the OM-1 for bird photography / recognition?
The OM-5 does not offer any subject recognition modes except face detection (which works fine).
Can you get shots of birds? Yes. But the performance won't hold up to the OM-1.
The latter is industry leading in this genre.
I think they missed an opportunity not equipping the OM5 with some wildlife image recognition capability. i have just ordered one, but reluctantly because of this omission. Had Panasonic offered a proper GX 10 with some of the capabilities of the g9 ii, perhaps OMS would have had to be more ambitious. As a kayaker and mountaineer big camera bodies are not much use to me but I see recording wildlife as one of the joys of my adventuring., Olympus built their reputation by recognising the attraction of a first rate small bodied camera 40 odd years ago when they produced the OM1 and then OM2 which became the automatic camera of choice for many mountaineers and other adventurers.
I'd love a new camera in this style, but the OM-5 just feels like a lackluster upgrade of the already underwhelming E-M5.3. Plastic body, micro-USB and a weirdly high price make it an unappealing choice now, especially seeing as you can get a used E-M1.2 for less than half the cost. He're hoping the Mk. II will deliver.
Thanks for the comment.
I'd say this video might be spot on for you: ruclips.net/video/_mcvKxaKl2s/видео.htmlsi=b7WKimcrTYIbTf9v
I tackle quite a few things you just brought up. Maybe you've already watched it.
And I completely agree - a second hand E-M1 II is excellent. No manufacturer can compete with the used market. They always have to convince you that their current product is the next best thing. Maybe you also remember my video on sensor dynamic range. It also relates to this topic.
Best, Thomas
Hi Thomas good morning. I need your precious help yesterday the om5 arrived. I have a problem that I can't understand. When I photograph the blue sky, in the viewfinder and in the EVF all the blue appears to me with a strong banding, which makes it appear haloed in stripes. What could it be due to? Let me start by saying that I am using jpeg large super fine with srgb. Hi Thomas
Hi and good morning, is the issue only present on the screens or also in the final images?
I can see the banding both in the viewfinder, (with strong vignetting), and on the final photo, again in the viewfinder, or on the LCD screen. Honestly, this is the first time something like this has happened to me. The shopkeeper asks me to send him example photos. It's a shame because the camera body is light and fabulous.
@fabioinserra9981 hm, very strange. Could you send me an email with an example photo as well? Also, try a different lens. Maybe the lens you are using is misaligned / defective.
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Thanks Thomas, you are very kind. I contacted the seller, he will exchange my camera for me. I left the memory card inside for him so he can view the blue sky banding himself. When I get the cam back I'll send them to you, because I don't have a PC with an internet connection with me. It's really a shame because as soon as I picked it up I fell in love with it. This effect on the colors is really strange. I'll keep you updated. Hi Thomas, a hug
@fabioinserra9981 please do! The new OM-5 that you'll receive will make you happy, I'm sure. I am in love with my OM-5, it is an excellent tool to create with. Best, Thomas 📸
The framerate should be higher. For me, the camera is too slow. 15 fps with AF whould be good.
That is why the OM-1 exists.
What do you photograph that you need this FPS and desire an OM-5?
@@ThomasEisl.Photography , I carry it on mountainbike tours. For action shots I find it a bit too slow. Also the shutter blackout is a problem. The AF speed is very good, tho. That's a plus. And the super small lenses. It is a good camera, but framerate is on my wishlist for Mark II.
@weizenobstmusli8232 Ah ok! I'd really consider the OM-1 then. It is not much bigger but basically ticks all the boxes. Best, Thomas 📸
With the new menue I would bought it…
I would have also preferred the new menu, because I thought it would be more convenient in practice going back and forth between the OM-1 and OM-5, but in practice, I never really noticed. Maybe it is the same for you.
Thanks for contributing, Alexander!
Pity it has an AA filter & no mic jack.
Don't worry about the first aspect. Fun fact: Even cameras "without an AA" filter usually have one, albeit a weak one. But what one manufacturer considers weak might not be weak for the next one. I'd say the system resolving power is the best metric for the sake of comparison.
Best, Th ,📸
The OM-5 concept and basic idea are perfect. (OM-D E-M5 Mark I and II ) Plastic body, NO! Never! Ancient sensor - miserable. Paired with an old processor - even worse. A slap to all users is the old menu! If the OM-1 is a camera for wildlife, the OM-5 should have been a camera for everything else. It should have had everything it has now, plus perfect focusing and tracking of people, faces and eyes, a BSI sensor and an OM-1 processor! OM-5 is an attempt by OMDS to make money without any investment. I own an OM-1 and nothing about it is wow. It's very good, but far from wow. Autofocus and tracking of the human body, face and eye is good with good lighting and when it occupies most of the frame. That deficiency was to be filled by OM-5! It was supposed to attract new users from fullframe and APS-C. Where are the more significant firmware upgrades. I watch every one of your videos and appreciate you a lot, but the OM-5 is a total failure! And the sales will show that.
Thanks for the extensive comment and for sharing your opinion. I very much appreciate that you brought up some controversial points - even though I might have a different perspective on the camera. I was also not convinced when the camera was introduced, that is why it took me a while to get one.
But ... I think the OM-5 is really the camera that you are describing when stating "everything else-camera". Just a quick remark - the processor is really excellent and the sensor is as well. I've tested that quite extensively - and there is really nothing to complain about regarding sensor and processor. Other things like the menu - well, that might be an issue for users who have the OM-1 and want the OM-5 as a casual backup camera. I'm also not a huge fan of plastic bodies, just because I prefer the feeling of metal. However, it is very common in the industry for quite some time (even some Nikon FF DSLRs) but yes, it is not for everyone.
Again, thanks for the interesting comment!