Panasonic claims the GM series sold very poorly compared to their other cameras. Which I can see being true because lots of other great cameras were out at the time like the GX85 with IBIS. But clearly since Panasonic started going bigger with their bodies and lenses, people really want a tiny camera again. So they definitely are crazy not to take advantage of a GM1 with modern G9ii sensor and phase detect. Even without IBIS it would be amazing.
Robin, this once again confirms that you are an excellent photographer! I am always stunned by the inspiring photos you take with the camera you happen to have at hand.
Thanks for the video. I love my GM1. I bought it shortly after it came out. After I realized how great it was for travel photography, I bought a second one as a backup. I wish Panasonic would introduce a new camera with a similar form factor but with IBIS and a 20MP or 25MP sensor.
Great comparison. I have an old E-PM1 lying around (as well as 4 other Pen cameras of varying ages.....) So now I use it as my daily carry. BTW - no other photographer on RUclips takes as good food shots as you! I love them, but they always make me hungry! LOL.
You covered all points about the E-PM1. I had one, with functional IBIS. Also an E-PM2 (16 MP), which I did prefer (both with the external EVs), and also with working IBIS. Gave both away to friends, and at least the E-PM2 is still working fine (I've asked ;-)). If I want to take a smaller camera with me, I pick the E-M10II - not as compact as the E-PM models, but still the right size for me. Edit: Switched cameras with my friend - he now has the E-M10II, I have the E-PM2 back. Very compact and rather light-weight, exactly what I need as a companion for my large format camera …
@@snappy8k Yes, IBIS works with manual lenses on all OM-D models (better with E-M10II and above, but even with the simpler IBIS of the E-PM2 it does work, just not as good with long lenses). But it is necessary to set the focal length used (there's a setting for this, just not list-based in the "lesser" models, so it is necessary to set the value itself when the manual lens is changed).
Nice comparison video Robin. Up till now I didn't have any knowledge about the EPM1 and I'll definitely have to pick one up when a good deal arises. Since I joined the M43 club in 2015 with an EM5 Mark I I was aware of the GM1 but on the used market in Australia. They hardly ever came up for sale and if one did it was going for something like $500 to $600 which is a lot. I resigned myself to accepting that I'd probably never be able to own one. Fast forward to 2022 and one afternoon browsing my FB marketplace I saw a Black GM1 with 12-32mm lens for sale for $45 AUD. I could not believe my eyes and had to look again to make sure I wasn't imagining things. Suffice to say I jumped on it so fast and a few days later in came in the mail and I was jumping for joy knowing I got incredibly lucky to score such a good deal! Now the hunt continues for a GM5 which hopefully happens one day!
Thanks for the video Robin, we all appreciate the effort you put in. I have an E-PM2, the E-PM1's successor and the GM1. Now then, this is where it gets tricky. E-PM2 takes better photos and produces WAY better videos than the GM1. However, the E-PM2 is not easy for me to use in manual mode, due to the fiddly little wheel at the back jumping and skipping some options. That annoys the hell out of me. So, I shoot in automatic with it, just to soothe my nerves. Yes, it has a touch screen, but that kind of annoys me too. The GM1 wins hands down for portability and ease of use. The twist: I travel a lot and I tend to take my G3 because of the tilty/flippy screen and the wheel with the push function for changing it from aperture to shutter. Or, I take a Samsung EX2F, which is a 12MP compact camera with a tiny but beautiful sensor and too many features to wave a stick at. Sorry for rambling.
Yes, when those little wheels start to be hit or miss like that, it does get on the nerves. I once got the wheel on my Fujifilm X-E1 to work right again by spraying the it with contact cleaner and working it, hoping some would get in where the poor contact was. It worked (and continues to work several years later), and this was with no disassembly. The contact cleaner I'm using is CRC QD Electronic Cleaner, "Safe for Sensitive Electronics, Quick Drying, Plastic Safe."
Yeah that is the issue - there is no perfect camera, and each has their quirks and issues. Interesting to note the PEN Mini takes better videos, as I remember GM series cameras are respectable for their video capabilities.
Epm2 is still my go to small camera. The 16mp sensor gives me great results, all the older Olympus cameras I have allow min shutter speed settings using the flash sync work around (my EM5.3 has a specific setting) which is great for photos with my little girl. I picked up an EP5 while my EM5 was being serviced thinking it would become my second favourite camera (looks,handling and higher shutter speeds) but the extra size and weight has me reaching for the EPM2 most of the time. With aperture priority, auto iso and min shutter find I’m rarely menu diving or spinning the back dial to adjust settings. I picked my EPM2 up super cheap and love the results I get with all my favourite lenses. In terms of numbers is compares really well to most of the other pen and small lumix series. Really enjoyed the video, great to see what people fall back on for their smaller walk around camera use and how sometimes undefinable parts about a camera have you reaching for it over potentially more capable options. P.S. The super control panel (Olympus) is also a big win on such small cameras for me, I’ve used the Lumix equivalent and much prefer the everything in the one place feel of SCP.
Agree. I have used EPM2 with 17 f1.8 and 45 f1.8 for 6 years and then moved into PEN-F. Then I paired EPM2 with Pana 20 mm f1.7 and it's the smallest combo which I can hold in my hand. Still a great camera... even though the internal battery is dead and I have to set the date every time..
@@bkaustav yeah the date time thing is a minor annoyance for sure, I assumed there was no battery to keep the date and time as both my EPM2 and EP5 do that. I had the 20/1.7 and sold it off with my EM10.3. I keep seeing people making great photos with that lens and have a little regret in selling it but I think the slightly chunkier 17/1.7 focus speed is worth it. I also use the 14-42EZ when I need lighter and more compact (and there is good light). I find the 45.1.8 sits on the EPM2 well and my plastic fantastic 25/1.7 while bulkier size wise makes for a nice light combo as well. I got into MFT pretty late in the game but having so many great body and lens options makes the whole system a lot of fun and shopping mostly second hand make it a slightly cheaper hoby than it may have been.
Yeah I use my OM-D cameras for work, but when I was just doing some casual snapshots, I prefer much smaller bodies! The super control panel indeed is such a joy to use.
Hello Robin, thank you for your video. It is a breath of fresh air, a smile and pure joy. Great photos.I have the Mini1 as well as many other Pen and lumix bodies. Always amazed at how simple they make to take nice pictures. Cool in Canada
After seeing one of your EOM video's I hav bought one in The Netherlands, my country. Still learning and practicing, but for sure a nice camera Robin. Thanks.
I love my gm1 too. When it came out It cost about one thousand euro here in Germany. I also have the e-pl7 its design I also love. It is hard to decide between both but I am definitily fan of such small cameras :-)
Great video 😁 Glad you did this comparison 😁 Have always had a little FOMO when it came to the Panasonic GM1 😁 Since I just gave my niece my old E-PM2 with the 14-42 ez lens (and she absolutely loves it 😁) I may have room in my collection to try this modern classic 😁
Hi Robin. I'm holding out hope Panasonic (at least) will come out with smaller bodies. The release of the 9mm has convinced me they haven't totally abandoned small cameras. If they come out with updated versions of their 1.7 lenses, I'll be even more convinced (crossing fingers).
They have two flagships released in the past 2 years - GH6 and G9 Mark II, so they are definitely serious about Micro Four Thirds. The other cameras will surely follow.
E-PM1 is small and solid, but the shutter shock is so powerful that it actually makes the images look extremely soft. Also the sensor produces weird looking images, at least compared with the previous generation of olympus cameras(E420). I would suggest to anyone to look for a more recent EPL model(3, 5, 7) because you will get better results and these cameras are neither large nor expensive.
I get the same shutter shock thing with my E-PM2. Heck, I wish that thing had a silent shutter, then it would be nigh on perfect! The only EPL that has a silent shutter is the 9 & 10. You can pick one of those up today for around £350.
I have no issues with shutter shock. And to my knowledge, shutter shock only happens at certain shutter speeds (eg 1/160s -1/200s), and if your shutter speeds are far from that range, say I am shooting at 1/500s, or slower 1/50s, then it should be completely fine.
Love your videos Robin! Just a correction though. The Samsung NX Mini is the smallest interchangeable lens mirrorless camera where the GM1 is the smallest interchangeable 4/3 camera. Both great Street Photography Cams!
I had both the e-pm1 and 2, which I shot with the VF-2 EVF, and liked them both with a nod to the e-pm2. I still have the GM5. In your head-to-head, I would have to side with the GM1, but all of these small cameras are remarkably capable and just fun to shoot especially for casual/street shooting.
Emily from M43 nerds agrees with you on the GM1. I like small M43 bodies. Where as I like small and light I don’t need the smallest and lightest kit. I use the Panasonic GX85 and recently the GX9. Small and light is what I want. Neither are weather sealed or have an audio port. Maybe that will be fixed with the GX9Mii. I look forward to having phase detection. Panasonic’s DFD works pretty well for photography. The autofocus with video isn’t sticky. That will improve. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
Emily is great but she is bias toward Panasonic. I believe that she is a brand ambassador. She also reviewed the Pen E-PL6 and the review was full of errors.
REALLY wish Lumix would return with a GM body! But I am not holding my breath. If they put a new model up for presale with the new 25mp sensor, I'd order it first day! (It would go backordered immediately ..)
I had the EPM1, which I upgraded to EPM2. It was the camera I spent years with until I switched to the OM-D. Over time I needed a small camera again, I could never get the EPM2 again and I got the GM1. I am very happy with it, it feels better built than the EPM, smaller, lighter and very stylish. There's something about the way it captures light and shadows that looks different from EPMs and Olympus cameras. It also has the leveler that the EPMs do not have. Its biggest cons are not having an image stabilizer and that in situations with a lot of light I cannot see correctly on the screen (I don't know how to solve that). That's where I miss the viewfinder and use the OM-D. I'm tempted by the GM5, but I haven't been able to find one at a good price.
Another excellent video Robin! Always enjoy your video. I know you made already made a video about Lumix Lx100 but would be great if you made another comparison video between Lumix GM1 vs Lumix Lx 100. That would be awesome.
Robin, recently I bought a olympus Ep-5 as a street photography camera and many may not realize it but it helps tremendously if you turn on the super control panel which is turned off by default.
Good one, as usual Robin! I have both, and prefer the GM1 as well, but I do have that tiny OEM handgrip for it, which I use both on the GM1 and 5. Just shot a month long SiS challenge with a E-PL3 which I think shares the processing engine and sensor with the E-PM1 but sports a tilty screen and the output is surprisingly nice with all the might of 12 MP sensor. That said, I find the E-PM1 a bit clumsy to work with, being that it is more or less totally menu driven and lacking a touch screen.
In addition to my two GM1s, I also have an PM2. The IBIS on this has stopped working. Maybe luckily, as the PL12-32 I have fitted seems to have better stabilization anyway. Unfortunately, shutter shock (I guess) often generates blurry pictures in the range 1/40s - 1/160s. But otherwise, I love this combo!
GM1 looks great but relatively expensive. The Olympus E-PM2 Pen Mini 2 was a nice update over the Pen Mini and it's a lot less expensive than the GM1 and has a similar 16mp sensor.
Hi Robin--First,,beautifully done video,,,your production values are just terrific. Blurry to sharp transitions,,graphics,,,audio mix,,,,all very nice and a signature for your videos. I got my GM-1 only because it had a old 12-32 zoom that had a metal mount..but watching your videos made me conscious of the possibilities. I wouldn't mind a GM-5 but prices are ridiculous $600 US++. In actuality,, the Olympus EPL-7 that I got 4 years ago for $200 is a better performing camera in every way ..just bigger/ heavier ,,so that's where the GM-1 shines--plus stabilization in the 12-32 lens. I did buy a VF-4 used for the EPL-7 and it does add to the user experience. Don't understand why EPL-9/10 omitted the VF connection. If you get a chance,,try the Lumix GF-3. Tank-like construction,, but very old school handling like the Olympus--just a fun experience! Keep shooting..We'll be watching,, Love your live streams too!!
Thanks so much Clint for the kind words, really appreciate them. It is strange that GM1 is so expensive elsewhere, here in Malaysia you can get them dirt cheap in the used market, but it is also quite hard to spot them!
I was a very happy GM5 user right up until the control wheel in my camera started not working in one direction 😕 I really love the tiny rangefinder style of the GM5 and i wish so hard that they'd come out with an updated successor! At the moment there's just nothing on the market that really fits the bill; I'm looking at the GX9 at the moment, but it bugs me that even that is years old at this point, and way bigger anyway. Other than that though, there just aren't any small rangefinders anymore, unless I'm missing something?
The gm5 is a winner for me even all these years later. I wonder how Robin gets on with not having a view finder in a bright sunny country. I struggle on sunny days seeing the back screen so rarely use it to compose shots. Like you I would love an updated version with IS. I was just scanning the used market for a gx85 that’s smaller than the gx8 but a little bigger than the gm5….nothing available. People who have them are still holding on to them by the looks of it.
Well I have an E-PM2, also with a broken I.S.and paired with my Lumix 14mm it is almost the exact same size as my Ricoh GRD4. But it is the Ricoh with its poor AF which is the camera that always comes out with me. Yes, I can imitate snap focus with the E-PM2, and the E-PM2 has a far better sensor, AND I can swap lenses, but it is the handling on the GRD4 which kills the E-PM2 every time. I've taken some incredible street shots with the GRD4.
I think the Pentax Q/Q7 is slightly smaller than the GM1, but it also has a much smaller sensor. The Panasonic GM1 blows it out of the water (speaking as a Pentax Q owner) I _really_ want one!
Wouldn't the E-PM2 be the more fair comparison? Could get that compact GM1 grip that stick on to front of the camera. I had the Panasonic grip with my GM1 & it was a nice upgrade to have.
Olympus stuck with that rectangular battery with the sharp edges for a long time, so if you have other used PENs and OM-Ds, you end up with lots of them. And so, some are very old and some are newer, so they'll hold varying charges. But I've found that all the ones I have, no matter how old, do charge up and work, at least for a while. The original E-M5 (version I) can fool you, as it has a different battery that's slightly rounded on two edges.
Thanks Robin - after you videos I bought an E-PM1 for £20 all mint boxed and then a VF-2 - I usually shoot at 45mm and there’s no equivalent in AF lenses - so wondered what you would recommend for a tiny lens ?
Another fantastic video, thank you Mr. Wong. Question - I have been finding only Japanese menu GM1 cameras on the used market and it appears (maybe I’m wrong) that your GM1 has an English menu system. Did you have to hack it or are there GM1 cameras with an English menu that I haven’t discovered?
Rare and expensive. You'd be better served looking for a Ricoh GRD4, because the GM5 I believe only has a shutter, I believe, that goes up to 1/500th. The GRD4 has a built-in 2 stop ND filter.
@@randomstuffman01 I use the electronic shutter on my Olympus E-M1 mk1 & 2 all the time. I wish LUMIX would make the GM series again. The E-M1's are amazing but they’ve progressively got bigger and bigger. Not good.
Hi, I have never used a camera before. Can someone recommend which camera i should try as a beginner and i don't think i wanna go professional just simple snap fun moments with friends or selfies or birds and cool looking insects. Please help me guys. Btw robin your videos are very pleasing and informative. Thankyou for sharing your joy in this platform.
Let's have a conversation about this - should we have more smaller cameras like Panasonic GM1 and Olympus E-PM1? Live Stream on 5 October 2023, Thursday 9pm Malaysian time: ruclips.net/user/live_RED-A-YVEA?si=WLkknYdgXIWIeR5m
I've broken two GM1's by dropping them. Love the camera but they are too tiny. Which is the best Pen model to get for portability? Pen 5,3. 1? They are way more affordable than the GM1.
6 месяцев назад
Is posible to change the Lumix DMC-GM1 internal battery? The date keep reseting when i change the batteries :(
I got an old E-PL3. I love it. I think the E-PM lacks any manual dials, the L has one, and the plain EP is the largest camera with two. Targeting, at the time, seems to have been EP for men, E-PL (Light) for Japanese girls (photo only at the time, remember) and E-PM (Mini) for the cheapest buyer. Personally I love the white metal body. Today that sexist marketingn would read as odd, and too segmented. But it was a different time and people were still buying cameras instead of all smartphones, so having tons of variants made "sense". You can still see that to some extent on the Lumix side, whereas OM Digital has shrunk down to just 4 MFT models. Not even the Pen-F any more.
If I were to use the dials and controls, I'd just stick with my OM-D cameras. When I use small cameras, I treat them like point and shoot and I like the simplicity. It is just so much fun with these tiny cameras.
@@robinwong I got you. Anyway, I find the mini back dial on the e-pL works well. But I do covet a em5 ii for the future and some more serious photography; my gx85 just doesn't inspire me like Olympus handling.
Hey Robin, this is an unrelated question to this video. But I’ve got an EM5 III, and I’m curious if I can use it as a webcam for streaming. I’m having difficulty finding any information on this topic. Can you please give me guidance on this topic?
I have an E-M10ii, a PEN-F and a GM1, yeah the PEN-F is definitely not small, it's near the E-M10's size (a tad shorter due to EVF placement and a bit slimmer), while GM1 is ridiculously small compared to them, it's friggin adorable.
@robinwong do you have any suggestions ore websites in malaysia to find one of these little lumix gm cameras? I'm in kuala Lumpur next week and hole to find one there 😅
Hi Rob. I feel that OM systems has not been listening to their customer base that uses their cameras, And has not given us any feedback stating that they’re still working on new products, I personally like the larger cameras, such as the OM-1 & E-M1X for the type of photography I do using longer lenses, but I do feel there’s a need for those who do the type of photography where you want to have a small compact camera for doing such type of as street photography and other genres that smaller compact camera is more suitable, I feel they should re-introduce the Pen-F camera for the street photographer that appreciates a small compact system to use with white angle lenses that are traditionally used in street photography, I want to see a resolution boost of a minimum of an extra four megapixels of resolution over the current sensor that you use with the OM-1 any less 24 megapixel sensor in a new camera will be more than disappointing. It is time for OM systems to move to a higher resolution sensor. When you invest money into lenses or assist, it’s nice to feel it. You’re not being forgotten about by the company that you bought your camera system from .
GM1 is great. I have a few GM1 and use them regularly, mostly with Pan 14mm f2.5 , 20mm f1.7 , Olympus 25mm f1.8. And the GM1 is better than the GM5. Sez me. Panasonic GX850 and GF7 are in the same family as GM1. I have a GX850. Thanks. toronto canada.
GM5 ergonomics are better than GM1 due to the clickable wheel which allows to change aperture or exposure compensation much more easily and quicker than the wheel of the GM1 that can be pressed by error to change another setting. Plus the EVF for bright daylight or longer lenses.
Panasonic is very nice mini camera, but it does not have IBIS which is instant death sentence :) Olympus PEN E-PM2 or even EPL-5/6 would be better counterpart for comparison.
Lack of a viewfinder was a bigger minus for me with the GM1, but the GM5 solved that (at least, rudimentarily). But yeah, IBIS would be really nice to have with all of the good cheap M43 primes out there 👍
Timely video as was looking at a used GM1 but go for over £350 in the UK.. Have commented before that one of my 4 Olympus bodies is my original PM1 bought in 2013,. I use it when have to travel ultra light. On Friday paired it with the Lumix 12-32 kit lens to film the (very dark) interiors of London music venues on a location recce. The combination of in body and lens OIS meant that I could use very slow shutter speeds keeping the ISO at 1600-2400 so not too noisy and fixed in Photoshop. The images were great for the team to make choices and better than an iPhone. So my question, will I get better images in low light with the GM1 with its better sensor using a lens with OIS and using a faster shutter speed or the PM1 with a combination of in body and lens OIS with a slow shutter speed? Basically is it worth spending the £350?
The question here is - are you happy with the shots from the E-PM1? If you are, then no reason to spend more. If you are to get another camera, buy the camera for features or capabilities that you cannot do with your current camera.
That's one of the reasons why I won't be getting an Olympus PEN camera anymore. I have an E-PM2, which I bought used. Everything was ok until all of a sudden the image stabilizer stopped working. There are instructions on how to repair this, but you have to have the finger skill to do it. I have now often read that the image stabilizer on the Olympus PEN cameras broke after a few years. In my opinion, this is a (known!) problem, but Olympus has never fixed it! Also, the ViewFinders for the Olympus are too expensive in my opinion. That's why I prefer cameras like the Olympus OMD, or Panasonic Lumix G, where it's already built in.
@@robinwong I'll probably sell the E-PM2 anyway, as I'm more comfortable with my OMD and need a ViewFinder. I prefer to use the ViewFinder like I used to. I'm just an old-timer... 😉
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I wish Panasonic still made the GM1 and GM5 or a successor to them.
I wish the same.
Panasonic claims the GM series sold very poorly compared to their other cameras. Which I can see being true because lots of other great cameras were out at the time like the GX85 with IBIS. But clearly since Panasonic started going bigger with their bodies and lenses, people really want a tiny camera again. So they definitely are crazy not to take advantage of a GM1 with modern G9ii sensor and phase detect. Even without IBIS it would be amazing.
Robin, this once again confirms that you are an excellent photographer! I am always stunned by the inspiring photos you take with the camera you happen to have at hand.
Thanks for the video. I love my GM1. I bought it shortly after it came out. After I realized how great it was for travel photography, I bought a second one as a backup. I wish Panasonic would introduce a new camera with a similar form factor but with IBIS and a 20MP or 25MP sensor.
Great comparison. I have an old E-PM1 lying around (as well as 4 other Pen cameras of varying ages.....) So now I use it as my daily carry. BTW - no other photographer on RUclips takes as good food shots as you! I love them, but they always make me hungry! LOL.
is the E-PM1 better than the newer models?
You covered all points about the E-PM1. I had one, with functional IBIS. Also an E-PM2 (16 MP), which I did prefer (both with the external EVs), and also with working IBIS. Gave both away to friends, and at least the E-PM2 is still working fine (I've asked ;-)). If I want to take a smaller camera with me, I pick the E-M10II - not as compact as the E-PM models, but still the right size for me. Edit: Switched cameras with my friend - he now has the E-M10II, I have the E-PM2 back. Very compact and rather light-weight, exactly what I need as a companion for my large format camera …
E-M10 series is definitely a winner for Micro Four Thirds too.
Can you use IBIS with manual lenses?
@@snappy8k Yes, IBIS works with manual lenses on all OM-D models (better with E-M10II and above, but even with the simpler IBIS of the E-PM2 it does work, just not as good with long lenses). But it is necessary to set the focal length used (there's a setting for this, just not list-based in the "lesser" models, so it is necessary to set the value itself when the manual lens is changed).
Nice comparison video Robin. Up till now I didn't have any knowledge about the EPM1 and I'll definitely have to pick one up when a good deal arises. Since I joined the M43 club in 2015 with an EM5 Mark I I was aware of the GM1 but on the used market in Australia. They hardly ever came up for sale and if one did it was going for something like $500 to $600 which is a lot. I resigned myself to accepting that I'd probably never be able to own one.
Fast forward to 2022 and one afternoon browsing my FB marketplace I saw a Black GM1 with 12-32mm lens for sale for $45 AUD. I could not believe my eyes and had to look again to make sure I wasn't imagining things. Suffice to say I jumped on it so fast and a few days later in came in the mail and I was jumping for joy knowing I got incredibly lucky to score such a good deal!
Now the hunt continues for a GM5 which hopefully happens one day!
That was a great find of GM1 at such good price! You are so lucky, and yes that camera is so wonderful to work with.
Thanks for the video Robin, we all appreciate the effort you put in. I have an E-PM2, the E-PM1's successor and the GM1. Now then, this is where it gets tricky. E-PM2 takes better photos and produces WAY better videos than the GM1. However, the E-PM2 is not easy for me to use in manual mode, due to the fiddly little wheel at the back jumping and skipping some options. That annoys the hell out of me. So, I shoot in automatic with it, just to soothe my nerves. Yes, it has a touch screen, but that kind of annoys me too. The GM1 wins hands down for portability and ease of use. The twist: I travel a lot and I tend to take my G3 because of the tilty/flippy screen and the wheel with the push function for changing it from aperture to shutter. Or, I take a Samsung EX2F, which is a 12MP compact camera with a tiny but beautiful sensor and too many features to wave a stick at. Sorry for rambling.
Yes, when those little wheels start to be hit or miss like that, it does get on the nerves. I once got the wheel on my Fujifilm X-E1 to work right again by spraying the it with contact cleaner and working it, hoping some would get in where the poor contact was. It worked (and continues to work several years later), and this was with no disassembly. The contact cleaner I'm using is CRC QD Electronic Cleaner, "Safe for Sensitive Electronics, Quick Drying, Plastic Safe."
@@wadelapan5756 Oh, thanks for the tip!
Yeah that is the issue - there is no perfect camera, and each has their quirks and issues. Interesting to note the PEN Mini takes better videos, as I remember GM series cameras are respectable for their video capabilities.
Sweet pair of cameras. Thanks for the photo montages and a look at them.
Thanks, glad I can share!
Epm2 is still my go to small camera. The 16mp sensor gives me great results, all the older Olympus cameras I have allow min shutter speed settings using the flash sync work around (my EM5.3 has a specific setting) which is great for photos with my little girl.
I picked up an EP5 while my EM5 was being serviced thinking it would become my second favourite camera (looks,handling and higher shutter speeds) but the extra size and weight has me reaching for the EPM2 most of the time. With aperture priority, auto iso and min shutter find I’m rarely menu diving or spinning the back dial to adjust settings.
I picked my EPM2 up super cheap and love the results I get with all my favourite lenses. In terms of numbers is compares really well to most of the other pen and small lumix series.
Really enjoyed the video, great to see what people fall back on for their smaller walk around camera use and how sometimes undefinable parts about a camera have you reaching for it over potentially more capable options.
P.S. The super control panel (Olympus) is also a big win on such small cameras for me, I’ve used the Lumix equivalent and much prefer the everything in the one place feel of SCP.
Agree. I have used EPM2 with 17 f1.8 and 45 f1.8 for 6 years and then moved into PEN-F. Then I paired EPM2 with Pana 20 mm f1.7 and it's the smallest combo which I can hold in my hand. Still a great camera... even though the internal battery is dead and I have to set the date every time..
I love the Olympus super control panel.
@@bkaustav yeah the date time thing is a minor annoyance for sure, I assumed there was no battery to keep the date and time as both my EPM2 and EP5 do that.
I had the 20/1.7 and sold it off with my EM10.3. I keep seeing people making great photos with that lens and have a little regret in selling it but I think the slightly chunkier 17/1.7 focus speed is worth it.
I also use the 14-42EZ when I need lighter and more compact (and there is good light). I find the 45.1.8 sits on the EPM2 well and my plastic fantastic 25/1.7 while bulkier size wise makes for a nice light combo as well.
I got into MFT pretty late in the game but having so many great body and lens options makes the whole system a lot of fun and shopping mostly second hand make it a slightly cheaper hoby than it may have been.
Yeah I use my OM-D cameras for work, but when I was just doing some casual snapshots, I prefer much smaller bodies! The super control panel indeed is such a joy to use.
i own the GM1 and i love the color profile
Not a fan of Panasonic colors. Olympus skin tones are more natural.
Hello Robin, thank you for your video. It is a breath of fresh air, a smile and pure joy. Great photos.I have the Mini1 as well as many other Pen and lumix bodies. Always amazed at how simple they make to take nice pictures. Cool in Canada
After seeing one of your EOM video's I hav bought one in The Netherlands, my country. Still learning and practicing, but for sure a nice camera Robin. Thanks.
EOM? What is that?
Sorry Robin, grammar check didn't help, I meant I bought an Olympus E-PM1, black. Have a nice day.
Once again impressive and beautiful pictures and moods from colourful Kuala Lumpur. Thank you Robin!
Thanks, glad you like the photographs!
I love my gm1 too. When it came out It cost about one thousand euro here in Germany. I also have the e-pl7 its design I also love. It is hard to decide between both but I am definitily fan of such small cameras :-)
Both are quite good cameras. Thanks for sharing
Thanks, and glad I can share!
Great video 😁 Glad you did this comparison 😁 Have always had a little FOMO when it came to the Panasonic GM1 😁 Since I just gave my niece my old E-PM2 with the 14-42 ez lens (and she absolutely loves it 😁) I may have room in my collection to try this modern classic 😁
Thanks, and yes if you can find one used unit in good condition at a good price, why not?
Hi Robin. I'm holding out hope Panasonic (at least) will come out with smaller bodies. The release of the 9mm has convinced me they haven't totally abandoned small cameras. If they come out with updated versions of their 1.7 lenses, I'll be even more convinced (crossing fingers).
They have two flagships released in the past 2 years - GH6 and G9 Mark II, so they are definitely serious about Micro Four Thirds. The other cameras will surely follow.
E-PM1 is small and solid, but the shutter shock is so powerful that it actually makes the images look extremely soft. Also the sensor produces weird looking images, at least compared with the previous generation of olympus cameras(E420).
I would suggest to anyone to look for a more recent EPL model(3, 5, 7) because you will get better results and these cameras are neither large nor expensive.
I get the same shutter shock thing with my E-PM2. Heck, I wish that thing had a silent shutter, then it would be nigh on perfect! The only EPL that has a silent shutter is the 9 & 10. You can pick one of those up today for around £350.
I agree. I think shutter shock is a problem, maybe less so, in later models. But I don't call it a serious problem ..
I have no issues with shutter shock. And to my knowledge, shutter shock only happens at certain shutter speeds (eg 1/160s -1/200s), and if your shutter speeds are far from that range, say I am shooting at 1/500s, or slower 1/50s, then it should be completely fine.
@@robinwongWish I knew that back then ! 😂
You make good videos, I watch them and currently have a EM10 II.
@@robinwong interesting! did not know!
Love your videos Robin! Just a correction though. The Samsung NX Mini is the smallest interchangeable lens mirrorless camera where the GM1 is the smallest interchangeable 4/3 camera. Both great Street Photography Cams!
I miss my E-PM2 paired with a Panasonic 20mm f1.7
I had both the e-pm1 and 2, which I shot with the VF-2 EVF, and liked them both with a nod to the e-pm2. I still have the GM5. In your head-to-head, I would have to side with the GM1, but all of these small cameras are remarkably capable and just fun to shoot especially for casual/street shooting.
Emily from M43 nerds agrees with you on the GM1.
I like small M43 bodies. Where as I like small and light I don’t need the smallest and lightest kit. I use the Panasonic GX85 and recently the GX9. Small and light is what I want. Neither are weather sealed or have an audio port. Maybe that will be fixed with the GX9Mii.
I look forward to having phase detection. Panasonic’s DFD works pretty well for photography. The autofocus with video isn’t sticky. That will improve.
Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
Not sure if the phase detection AF will trickle all the way down to the entry level department, but hoping it will.
Emily is great but she is bias toward Panasonic. I believe that she is a brand ambassador. She also reviewed the Pen E-PL6 and the review was full of errors.
To make the small GM1 or GM5 even better: add a sony AG-R2 grip! It fits perfectly on my GM5 as if it was made for it.
REALLY wish Lumix would return with a GM body! But I am not holding my breath. If they put a new model up for presale with the new 25mp sensor, I'd order it first day! (It would go backordered immediately ..)
Hopefully they can surprise us.
I had the EPM1, which I upgraded to EPM2. It was the camera I spent years with until I switched to the OM-D.
Over time I needed a small camera again, I could never get the EPM2 again and I got the GM1.
I am very happy with it, it feels better built than the EPM, smaller, lighter and very stylish. There's something about the way it captures light and shadows that looks different from EPMs and Olympus cameras. It also has the leveler that the EPMs do not have.
Its biggest cons are not having an image stabilizer and that in situations with a lot of light I cannot see correctly on the screen (I don't know how to solve that). That's where I miss the viewfinder and use the OM-D.
I'm tempted by the GM5, but I haven't been able to find one at a good price.
Another excellent video Robin! Always enjoy your video. I know you made already made a video about Lumix Lx100 but would be great if you made another comparison video between Lumix GM1 vs Lumix Lx 100. That would be awesome.
I do wish OM System and Panasonic will make small and compact micro four thirds cameras again. Small compact cameras make photography fun.
Robin, recently I bought a olympus Ep-5 as a street photography camera and many may not realize it but it helps tremendously if you turn on the super control panel which is turned off by default.
Body ep5 really really so cool
Good one, as usual Robin! I have both, and prefer the GM1 as well, but I do have that tiny OEM handgrip for it, which I use both on the GM1 and 5. Just shot a month long SiS challenge with a E-PL3 which I think shares the processing engine and sensor with the E-PM1 but sports a tilty screen and the output is surprisingly nice with all the might of 12 MP sensor. That said, I find the E-PM1 a bit clumsy to work with, being that it is more or less totally menu driven and lacking a touch screen.
E-PL3 is definitely a huge step up from the older E-PL1, especially in terms of AF and handling!
@@robinwong sorry, typo. I meant the E-PM1, where I wrote E-PL1. Edited it in the OP.
In addition to my two GM1s, I also have an PM2. The IBIS on this has stopped working.
Maybe luckily, as the PL12-32 I have fitted seems to have better stabilization anyway.
Unfortunately, shutter shock (I guess) often generates blurry pictures in the range
1/40s - 1/160s. But otherwise, I love this combo!
GM1 looks great but relatively expensive. The Olympus E-PM2 Pen Mini 2 was a nice update over the Pen Mini and it's a lot less expensive than the GM1 and has a similar 16mp sensor.
Love your content Robin! Been following you since blogging days
Hi Robin--First,,beautifully done video,,,your production values are just terrific. Blurry to sharp transitions,,graphics,,,audio mix,,,,all very nice and a signature for your videos. I got my GM-1 only because it had a old 12-32 zoom that had a metal mount..but watching your videos made me conscious of the possibilities. I wouldn't mind a GM-5 but prices are ridiculous $600 US++. In actuality,, the Olympus EPL-7 that I got 4 years ago for $200 is a better performing camera in every way ..just bigger/ heavier ,,so that's where the GM-1 shines--plus stabilization in the 12-32 lens. I did buy a VF-4 used for the EPL-7 and it does add to the user experience. Don't understand why EPL-9/10 omitted the VF connection. If you get a chance,,try the Lumix GF-3. Tank-like construction,, but very old school handling like the Olympus--just a fun experience! Keep shooting..We'll be watching,, Love your live streams too!!
Thanks so much Clint for the kind words, really appreciate them. It is strange that GM1 is so expensive elsewhere, here in Malaysia you can get them dirt cheap in the used market, but it is also quite hard to spot them!
I was a very happy GM5 user right up until the control wheel in my camera started not working in one direction 😕 I really love the tiny rangefinder style of the GM5 and i wish so hard that they'd come out with an updated successor! At the moment there's just nothing on the market that really fits the bill; I'm looking at the GX9 at the moment, but it bugs me that even that is years old at this point, and way bigger anyway. Other than that though, there just aren't any small rangefinders anymore, unless I'm missing something?
The gm5 is a winner for me even all these years later. I wonder how Robin gets on with not having a view finder in a bright sunny country. I struggle on sunny days seeing the back screen so rarely use it to compose shots. Like you I would love an updated version with IS. I was just scanning the used market for a gx85 that’s smaller than the gx8 but a little bigger than the gm5….nothing available. People who have them are still holding on to them by the looks of it.
Well I have an E-PM2, also with a broken I.S.and paired with my Lumix 14mm it is almost the exact same size as my Ricoh GRD4. But it is the Ricoh with its poor AF which is the camera that always comes out with me. Yes, I can imitate snap focus with the E-PM2, and the E-PM2 has a far better sensor, AND I can swap lenses, but it is the handling on the GRD4 which kills the E-PM2 every time. I've taken some incredible street shots with the GRD4.
How difficult it is to get the AF right? Ricoh got to buckle up! Even their latest cameras have some serious AF issues.
I think the Pentax Q/Q7 is slightly smaller than the GM1, but it also has a much smaller sensor. The Panasonic GM1 blows it out of the water (speaking as a Pentax Q owner) I _really_ want one!
Great stuff.
Happy work week Robin.
Same to you Rob!
Wouldn't the E-PM2 be the more fair comparison? Could get that compact GM1 grip that stick on to front of the camera. I had the Panasonic grip with my GM1 & it was a nice upgrade to have.
Sure. Send me the E-PM2 please. Cameras don't just appear.
@@robinwongOh I just meant spec wise. Maybe talked about it a bit more at the end section when it was mentioned.
Thank you :)
Cheers
great video. Once a Panasonic, always Panasonic!
The reason I got the GM1 was because it was the tiniest Micro Four Thirds camera.
Olympus stuck with that rectangular battery with the sharp edges for a long time, so if you have other used PENs and OM-Ds, you end up with lots of them. And so, some are very old and some are newer, so they'll hold varying charges. But I've found that all the ones I have, no matter how old, do charge up and work, at least for a while. The original E-M5 (version I) can fool you, as it has a different battery that's slightly rounded on two edges.
They did make some improvements and upgrades with the same battery, so I don't mind them using the same shape. Better compatibility.
Have you used the Lumix 14-140mm lens and if so what you think of it?
Thanks Robin - after you videos I bought an E-PM1 for £20 all mint boxed and then a VF-2 - I usually shoot at 45mm and there’s no equivalent in AF lenses - so wondered what you would recommend for a tiny lens ?
Hi Robin! Thanks for this great video. What are the smallest mirrorless cameras available in 2023? Thanks in advance!
I like Design of Lumix
Another fantastic video, thank you Mr. Wong. Question - I have been finding only Japanese menu GM1 cameras on the used market and it appears (maybe I’m wrong) that your GM1 has an English menu system. Did you have to hack it or are there GM1 cameras with an English menu that I haven’t discovered?
I love those interesting, smaller mf3 cameras. Excellent video.
Thanks, appreciate that.
I am hoping to see the Lumix GM5 in the used market.
Rare and expensive. You'd be better served looking for a Ricoh GRD4, because the GM5 I believe only has a shutter, I believe, that goes up to 1/500th. The GRD4 has a built-in 2 stop ND filter.
Hopefully there is.
@tomfenn . The GM1 and GM5 mechanical shutter goes up to 1/500. The electronic shutter goes to 1/16000.
@@randomstuffman01 I use the electronic shutter on my Olympus E-M1 mk1 & 2 all the time. I wish LUMIX would make the GM series again. The E-M1's are amazing but they’ve progressively got bigger and bigger. Not good.
Ok, the, go ahead with your favorite Panasonic one, go go...
Hi, I have never used a camera before. Can someone recommend which camera i should try as a beginner and i don't think i wanna go professional just simple snap fun moments with friends or selfies or birds and cool looking insects. Please help me guys.
Btw robin your videos are very pleasing and informative. Thankyou for sharing your joy in this platform.
hii im malaysian too
What about epm1 vs epm2?
Let's have a conversation about this - should we have more smaller cameras like Panasonic GM1 and Olympus E-PM1?
Live Stream on 5 October 2023, Thursday 9pm Malaysian time: ruclips.net/user/live_RED-A-YVEA?si=WLkknYdgXIWIeR5m
Hi robin i would like to ask if which is better to buy epm1, epm2 or epl7 looking forward for your respond (wishing)
I've broken two GM1's by dropping them. Love the camera but they are too tiny. Which is the best Pen model to get for portability? Pen 5,3. 1? They are way more affordable than the GM1.
Is posible to change the Lumix DMC-GM1 internal battery? The date keep reseting when i change the batteries :(
I got an old E-PL3. I love it. I think the E-PM lacks any manual dials, the L has one, and the plain EP is the largest camera with two. Targeting, at the time, seems to have been EP for men, E-PL (Light) for Japanese girls (photo only at the time, remember) and E-PM (Mini) for the cheapest buyer. Personally I love the white metal body. Today that sexist marketingn would read as odd, and too segmented. But it was a different time and people were still buying cameras instead of all smartphones, so having tons of variants made "sense". You can still see that to some extent on the Lumix side, whereas OM Digital has shrunk down to just 4 MFT models. Not even the Pen-F any more.
If I were to use the dials and controls, I'd just stick with my OM-D cameras. When I use small cameras, I treat them like point and shoot and I like the simplicity. It is just so much fun with these tiny cameras.
@@robinwong I got you. Anyway, I find the mini back dial on the e-pL works well. But I do covet a em5 ii for the future and some more serious photography; my gx85 just doesn't inspire me like Olympus handling.
Go Olympus!!!!
Hey Robin, this is an unrelated question to this video. But I’ve got an EM5 III, and I’m curious if I can use it as a webcam for streaming. I’m having difficulty finding any information on this topic. Can you please give me guidance on this topic?
I use a PEN F which is small too
Not small at all, with that size, I'd rather use an E-M5 series - which is weather-sealed and cost about the same.
I have an E-M10ii, a PEN-F and a GM1, yeah the PEN-F is definitely not small, it's near the E-M10's size (a tad shorter due to EVF placement and a bit slimmer), while GM1 is ridiculously small compared to them, it's friggin adorable.
Is that 12-32 the main lens you would use for the GM1?
@robinwong do you have any suggestions ore websites in malaysia to find one of these little lumix gm cameras? I'm in kuala Lumpur next week and hole to find one there 😅
Logical explanation for Panasonic is hidden in your video about Olympus ;)
is the gm1 gm5 and gx the same sensors??
Quick question, does the GM1 charge via USB? :)
Hi Rob.
I feel that OM systems has not been listening to their customer base that uses their cameras, And has not given us any feedback stating that they’re still working on new products, I personally like the larger cameras, such as the OM-1 & E-M1X for the type of photography I do using longer lenses, but I do feel there’s a need for those who do the type of photography where you want to have a small compact camera for doing such type of as street photography and other genres that smaller compact camera is more suitable, I feel they should re-introduce the Pen-F camera for the street photographer that appreciates a small compact system to use with white angle lenses that are traditionally used in street photography, I want to see a resolution boost of a minimum of an extra four megapixels of resolution over the current sensor that you use with the OM-1 any less 24 megapixel sensor in a new camera will be more than disappointing. It is time for OM systems to move to a higher resolution sensor.
When you invest money into lenses or assist, it’s nice to feel it. You’re not being forgotten about by the company that you bought your camera system from .
GM1 is great. I have a few GM1 and use them regularly, mostly with Pan 14mm f2.5 , 20mm f1.7 , Olympus 25mm f1.8.
And the GM1 is better than the GM5. Sez me.
Panasonic GX850 and GF7 are in the same family as GM1. I have a GX850.
Thanks. toronto canada.
GM5 ergonomics are better than GM1 due to the clickable wheel which allows to change aperture or exposure compensation much more easily and quicker than the wheel of the GM1 that can be pressed by error to change another setting. Plus the EVF for bright daylight or longer lenses.
No ! GM1 is number ONE, GM5 number TWO.
No, it is the opposite ! 🙂
Ok. Opposite. GM5 is TWO. GM1 is ONE.
hihi, there is still a pb :) GM5 is a legend camera, GM1 is a very good but more common camera
Sry it was Samsung NX Mini wit 9mm Lens
are your pictures straight out of cam or edited
try the Leica 100-400 on gm1😂
GM1 sells for over $400 US Dollars!
It is about USD200 or less here in Malaysia.
Panasonic is very nice mini camera, but it does not have IBIS which is instant death sentence :)
Olympus PEN E-PM2 or even EPL-5/6 would be better counterpart for comparison.
The E-PL series are just too big, and built differently, hence they are not fit for comparison.
Lack of a viewfinder was a bigger minus for me with the GM1, but the GM5 solved that (at least, rudimentarily). But yeah, IBIS would be really nice to have with all of the good cheap M43 primes out there 👍
Timely video as was looking at a used GM1 but go for over £350 in the UK.. Have commented before that one of my 4 Olympus bodies is my original PM1 bought in 2013,. I use it when have to travel ultra light. On Friday paired it with the Lumix 12-32 kit lens to film the (very dark) interiors of London music venues on a location recce. The combination of in body and lens OIS meant that I could use very slow shutter speeds keeping the ISO at 1600-2400 so not too noisy and fixed in Photoshop. The images were great for the team to make choices and better than an iPhone.
So my question, will I get better images in low light with the GM1 with its better sensor using a lens with OIS and using a faster shutter speed or the PM1 with a combination of in body and lens OIS with a slow shutter speed? Basically is it worth spending the £350?
The question here is - are you happy with the shots from the E-PM1? If you are, then no reason to spend more. If you are to get another camera, buy the camera for features or capabilities that you cannot do with your current camera.
Happy but with limitations. Was very impressed with the GM1 for its size though. @@robinwong
So what is the modern successor to the Lumix GM1? Is there a modern small form factor equivalent?
Nope. Nothing came close to the GM1.
Next best thing I can come up with is the GX9, but that's about twice the size 😕
@@krugerdave yeah, small form factor is one of the key features of 4³ and it's a shame there aren't that many options that play to that strength.
How do I fix the epm2 colors for jpg? Faces come out red.
Turn off keep warm colours in the white balance settings and select a natural picture profile.
@@Gregulah the warm color is off. I have used natural picture and even turned down saturation in Rgb.
I don't see any issues with colors with Olympus. Panasonic however, gives me purple skin tone. Try fixing that.
TDC
The Olympus Air is smaller than both of these
You know I have the Olympus Air, right?
Olympus Air A01 and Pentax Q are smaller
Nope. Check the dimensions. GM1 is smaller.
That's one of the reasons why I won't be getting an Olympus PEN camera anymore. I have an E-PM2, which I bought used. Everything was ok until all of a sudden the image stabilizer stopped working. There are instructions on how to repair this, but you have to have the finger skill to do it. I have now often read that the image stabilizer on the Olympus PEN cameras broke after a few years. In my opinion, this is a (known!) problem, but Olympus has never fixed it!
Also, the ViewFinders for the Olympus are too expensive in my opinion. That's why I prefer cameras like the Olympus OMD, or Panasonic Lumix G, where it's already built in.
The image stabilization stopped working. The camera continues shooting. Life goes on.
@@robinwong I'll probably sell the E-PM2 anyway, as I'm more comfortable with my OMD and need a ViewFinder. I prefer to use the ViewFinder like I used to. I'm just an old-timer... 😉
Regret selling my e-pl1.
Go get one back, it should be cheap in the used market.
Does the GM1 have ibis??? No. End of story.
ibiS
Please @robinwong, give out one camera to me,I can't afford one because I don't have money, pls I wanna be using for my contents creating