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Hi Emily, thanks for the review. Have you tried Starry AF yet? I'd like to get a new camera with such feature - unfortunately Starlight AF from Lumix series (I tested it in the S5 mk2) never works as intended, huge disappointement.
I love my OM-1. It is everything i need in a camera for both still and video capability. If I need higher level performance I can get an external record for 12 bit video recording and an external 32bit float recorder for audio. Price is just right and the reliability is amazing.
For me it's nearly there. I got an OM-1 as my first OMS camera, and I'd love to add one of these as a smaller bodied stablemate to that. However, what I'd like to see is USB-C, the same battery as the OM-1, and the updated menu system of the OM-1. Any spec bumps would be a bonus on top of that, but for now, getting the simple things on point would be my priority.
My wife and I recently did a 12 day tour of Oregon / Northern CA and I took the OM-5 rather than my OM-1, mainly for the weight and compact form factor. As much as I love the OM-1 it is quite large for a M4/3 camera and I generally only use it around town or when I don't have to carry it for long periods. I have no idea how I dealt with my FF Canon's and Sony's for all those years. I previously had an EM-5 Mk. 3 and I chose to upgrade for two reasons, the improved IBIS and the inclusion of the computational Live ND filters. For glass I took my OM 12-45 and 40-150 f/4's as well as the Panasonic 9mm and 42.5 mm f/1.7's and the Tokina reflex 300 mm f/6.3. I never used either of the Pano's, but to be fair, at the last minute I decided to take my Ricoh GR III as well and I used that for most indoor / low light shots. The IQ results more than met my expectations and in my opinion were, for the most part, stunningly good and when they weren't it was generally operator error ;-). I took quite a few shots using the in-camera computational ND (which works well) but I mostly relied on Bracketing (rather than the in camera HDR) and combined them in post, shooting 3 shots at +/- 2 stops. I ended up using both methods for a lot of scenes so I set up the top panel exposure compensation button to toggle between Live ND and HDR bracketing. Of the likely 400 shots I took using bracketing (i.e. 400 x 3) there were less than a handful that would not align in post, which just reaffirms how good the OM IBIS is. This gave me superb dynamic range and decent smoothing of (the many) waterfall shots. In my opinion, combining this with using Topaz Sharpen AI and Megapixel AI in post you end up with an unbeatable travel camera kit. I only took a couple of videos with the camera but the quality (4K 30) was just fine by me, mostly for video when hiking I used a DJI Action 3 which also worked out well. All in all a magical trip with lots of great shots to remember it by. Lastly Emily I love your channel both for the information but also as a boy who grew up on the Wirral your Liverpool, Chester and Port Sunlight shots bring me home on a regular basis, thank you.
Eye point is a feature that doesn’t get discussed much, but it’s vitally important for those who wear eyeglasses. The OM-5 lets you hold the camera further from your eye than the e-m5 does. Seeing more of the viewfinder is a real advantage.
This camera and the EM1ii recently replaced my entire Fuji lineup and I swear it's been the most wonderful move! Such an awesome camera! I've been loving the M43 experience and am gunning to replace my Ricoh GRiiix and an LOVING your reviews on these cameras and small pocketable cameras. Cheers!
The OM5 is a lovely Camera. Capable of almost everything and really light and compact. I think that many M43 cameras were years ahead compared with other systems, and now they are suffering from a apparent stagnation. For me, the OM5 is just fantastic. It works great for travel, adventure, macro and street. I use it with the Leica 9 and 15mm, the Oly 12-45 or 12-200 and the Oly 75-300! Perfect for my climbing adventures!
It sounds like you are using this is just the same way I want to. How have you found that Leica 9mm on it? Have you done any astro with it? I have been searching everywhere for a decent review on the OM-5 leica 9m combo but not really found much, would love to hear your thoughts.
The OM5 + Leica 9 Combo is fabulous, but I haven't tried it for Astrophotography yet. I use it for Landscape and street. But I imagine it's a great combination for astrophotography. I believe Emily is better suited than me to answer you about the Leica 9mm in astrophotography.
Olympus has in built stabilisation which means third party lensed like ttartisan are ACTUALLY usable. The cameras are also the nicest to use and with the control dials etc. I got an em10iv over the om5 because it's half the price and I use manual focus for filming low light music gigs. Realising what features you don't need is what makes the whole planning and filming experience interesting in my opinion.
I've had the OM5 in my tool-kit for a while now. It's definitely my go-to for everyday and travel photography. I pretty much consider it an EM1 Mark iii with a smaller form factor, as it has many similar features. While photography is my primary use for it, I do use it in my professional videography as a C camera, if I need a third angle. The Gh6 and OM1 are my A and B cameras for video. You are right, the video is fine enough for my professional purposes, but I'll definitely go for the GH6 first for video. But there's something about the form factor and the way it looks with my tiny little silver f1.8 Olympus primes. I have the silver version, and often people comment on it as how cool it is that I'm using an old film camera. I even got into a concert venue that restricted interchangeable lens cameras. The door staff looked at it and said, "oh that's an old camera. Go ahead." 😀
Emily, your review is an absolute joy to watch.🎉 Your technical skills and experience shine through in testing the OM-System EM-5. I haven’t purchased the OM -1 as I had just purchased the OM -EM1III before Olympus closed their deal. I have considered buying the Panasonic FF, but was waiting for the industry to get back in production following COVID. Thank you for the infectious enthusiasm about your work. ❤❤
I love my OM-5. The Live ND is terrific. When paired with a fixed ND filter, I can get rich, flowing water handhelds with 2 second exposure. Additionally, I tend to use it quite a bit with the mzuiko 20mm f/1.4 lens when on multi-hour walkabouts. Bad weather is no problem.
For me, the problem with this camera is the fact that you can buy an excellent condition EM-1 Mk iii for half the price. Unfortunately I can't really see any advantages to buying a new one of these. Now if it had the OM-1 sensor in it...😀 loving the channel, keep up the good work👍
This. From a photography perspective it seems like the om5 is an em-1 mk3 in a smaller package. Which is fine .. trickle down of features etc. I guess the om1 sensor will rock up in cheaper cameras eventually as well. I will my upgrading from a em-1 mk1 to a mk3, which is a big bump!
Have changed from Canon 90D with sigma 18-250mm to OM-5 with 14-150mm and I am amazed at the results I am achieving. This is a great overall camera especially on trips due to its light weight and compactness. I purchased a generic battery charger and spare battery rather than rely on charging through the camera. I love that when you change it for black and white photography you actually see the subject in black and white, great for getting the best tonal results. Overall I would recommend this camera to anyone. Can't wait to get 25mm f1.8 and/or 45mm f1.8.
I have an OM5 and I love this camera (I think it's my favorite along with my Pen F) The OM5 has a smooth release and a viewfinder that makes it very easy to compose the scene for street photography. Because one of its greatness is its small size and light weight...
I traded the e-m5 mk ii for my OM5 and am very happy with my decision. I don’t miss the alloy body (thought I would back when the iii came out) the new features are great but the auto focus was the selling point for me.
I have the OM-1. And love that camera. But when the Om-5 came out. I was like it’s so tiny I gotta try it. Well I love it. It’s just so light and well built. And nice. It’s just one of the best little cameras I have ever used. And SO much fun to use. Take in anywhere.
I loved my Lumix camera and the menus, I had the G9 & GX9 and switched them both to OM1 & OM5 and never looked back. Last month I traveled to Japan with this two bodys. It was lovley and great kit to carry, the PDAF just wins.
Hi Emily, what a surprise to see you on TV commenting on the UK rail problems! Great video, as I have the EM5 mkiii I’m not going to upgrade just yet, but I do appreciate the benefits of the OM5.
Absolutely loving your videos Emily. This video in particular convinced me to both stay with Micro Four Thirds and to update my mint low shutter count original E-M1 for an O-M5. Keep up the good work. All the best.
I'm really hoping they release an OM10 next year and start the shift to usb-c, the trickle down of the newer menus and new battery system, and that slightly improved feature set for video use. I'm also still seeing issues in forums with the tripod mount on the om5 pulling out of the camera body and have personally had the issue with the em10 mark iv, so some build and engineering fixes for the non-flagship cameras would be real nice.
I love everything about this camera except the price. Im waiting on Panasonic to release a small camera with phase detect autofocus with better video specs. Hopefully it'll be this year. My patience is wearing thin. Have a great day.
EM5 Mk3 owner here and for my purposes (travel, family, street) and paired with the 12-45 f/4 Pro, there is no better camera, until this OM5 came along. Perhaps not a reason for me to upgrade, but for buyers new to M43 who are looking for a travel camera, I would say the OM5 is the one to get.
weather sealing and better IBIS and more quick controls were the reason I chose to upgrade from my otherwise lovely GX85. I like the GX85, but end up using it like an automatic point-and-shoot rather than how I used to shoot with my old Nikon DSLR because the GX85's small body lacked enough dials and buttons to make it easy to adjust manual settings on the fly. (at least for me). Also, I got nervous whenever weather wasn't perfect out. Been looking into APS-C, and it's still tempting. But the lenses are so much larger and I don't miss lugging around heavy kit in a heavy bag. I would carry my GX85 with a prime lens and carry a second prime lens all in one fanny pack! For everyday carry walking around, you can't beat that!
Thanks for the great review. I’m a total beginner in terms of video, so your insights are helpful. For me, as a new M43 user the OM-5 made sense. With the sales (and trade-in bonus) it was a good deal. I love the IBIS and Live ND.
Classic Olympus design, great specs, what’s not to like? I’m a panasonic gx8 user for several years but have been considering changing to Olympus for its replacement as panasonic seem to be neglecting stills shooting in preference for vlogging. Long live mft! Great review, thank you
The hand held high resolution and the starry focus are the two reasons (and light weight and weather resistant) that's why I bought it (I can not tested yet for Milky Way stills).
I have the EM5 mk3 and EM1 mk2, I can hold off buying the new OM series until the OMs themselves get to mk2 releases. At that point, hopefully, there will be more than enough new features to tempt me. Although I'm also very interested in seeing the G9 mk2 or GX9 mk2 as I also love my GX8. As the GX series can no longer be bought new in the UK (for about 6 months past) and the G9 has recently been declared as no more new ones to be made, their replacements hopefully, will be out soon. If they have phase detect, I'll probably buy into one of those.
I bought the em5 III for my EDC used about 2 months ago I'm very happy!!! but for a Panasonic user the menu system is a bit challenging... I really like the phase detect af and am looking forward to a Panasonic mft gh6 ii or gh7 with this focus system. 👍👍👍
I had the previous camera. Having a light stable 24p with decent af in video - arguably the best is what makes it a great hybrid travel camera. Those features together will never get old & if you compare it to sony which are leading the pack only the zv-e1 can compete and that camera is 2x as much but to be fair, with all the other features makes the OM5 feel really dated. Still I can’t state how important a stable 24p with af when doing video and if you want light weight this camera is a winner
As a long-time M43 and Olympus shooter this video really spoke directly to me in the way no other OM-5 review has. I have been sorely tempted to get this camera, as in right on the verge several times, but two things have stopped me so far: (1) I really wish it had a tilt screen rather than a flippy screen, and (2) while I desperately want a small weathersealed street camera (I live in Seattle), M43 doesn't make equally pocketable weathersealed lenses. If there was a weathersealed Lumix 20 f1.7 III or Olympus 45mm f1.8 II, the OM-5 would be mine in a heartbeat. So for now I continue using my E-PL10. Still...phase detect AF. Phase detect AF. Yeah...
Did the OM gods finally shine on you and give you a test device? Nice to see your excitement about the phase af. I still dream of a remake of the gm5 with stabilization, phase af, waterproof and gh6 features. Please.
Nice deep dive overview of this camera. It always surprises me what features manufacturers select to leave out or put in.. but it's good I think to have advanced features at entry-level prices. If it was me I would probably buy a used Om-d e-m1 MarkII.. it has most of the features with the metal, weather- proof construction at 1/2 the price. The only thing you would miss would be the fake ND filters.. and the high-res mode isn't handheld.
Great review! I wish now I’d gone with this camera. I recently bought the EM-5 Mark III. About two weeks after I bought it, OM has discontinued that one. They didn’t say the OM 5 was any type of direct replace for the EM-5 Mark III, but it certainly looks that way. Who knows. Maybe I’ll sell one of my other cameras and pick up the OM5 🤔😜. Again, thx for the review!
Great video on this unit, thank you. Sold my M5 mk iii and happy I did, replaced with the OM5.. Bought a BM pocket cene for my video work and use M43 for video with a Zhylin stabilizer with the BM.
The OM5 can do a few things more than my OMD E-M5 Mk3. A few things I don't use. So why switch? The E-M5Mk3 is enough for me to take photos. It is small, handy and light with my fixed focal lengths. And if the E-M5Mk3 lasts a few more years, it wasn't a bad buy in 2021. And since I'm into sustainability, I'll probably continue to use my old system. Best regards 🙂
After many years of shooting Panasonic M43 cameras, i left the system i decided to go with the Nikon Z7 when my GX85 was stolen. I wish I could have gotten a new compact Panasonic with phase detect af and an improved bsi 20+ mp sensor. The Z7 is of course larger than the OM5, but the viewfinder and sensor are great and it works with all of my old dslr lenses. I hope m43 survives... it is a great system for lightweight travel.
If the normal release scheme is to be followed, the next one up should be a OM-10 in some sort of configuration. Going by memory, the 10s are normally released somewhere in the later winter/early spring. The current 10MkIV is a seriously lovely piece of gear, as is the MkII version of it, so I have high expectations for the OM-10.
I can't believe how well and quickly it focused on you, never thought I would see that in a M43 camera. If only it had 4K60 and 10-bit, it would be perfect. It's going to be an amazing camera to buy on the used market in a couple years. $1200 is too much for it, even $1000 is pushing it. Also I know this is petty but I hate the way the "OM System" logo looks on the front of it.
Thanks for the video. You bring the fun and smile to the camera review world not just cool and serious guys (like in street photography videos) The micro USB… thanks that the new TG-7 comes with USB C just released. My question is is the face AF fast enough to track fast moving kids in burst mode? I’m on the fence to try Sony’s AF but still want to consider OM5 if it is a problem fixed in OM.
There aren't any specific subject detections modes built into the om5, unlike the om1 or the new lumix g9ii, but in my experience with my fast moving pets the om5 did great with the tracking! I'd say you'd be fine 😊 and thank you for your kind words!
Beware - phase detect autofocus is only available in Continuous AF mode. For stills, you select C-AF, then half-press and hold the shutter to acquire continuous focus. For video mode selected on the top dial, it's full time. For fast, small objects (birds in flight, etc) many users (and me) report better C-AF performance by "click and pray" where you keep the focus target on subject and just press and release the shutter, instead of holding half-press on target, then full press. As for the micro usb port, the problem I have is more that the cables that allow tethering, download to PC, or firmware update are specific. I found one in my kit, and labeled it specifically for my EM5.3. Many usb-micro cables won't support those features, and sorry but I don't have specs on what will. Olympus/OMDS only refer to their own cable. USB-C would necessarily fix that issue, but would reduce the number of cables needed to carry. And yeah OM-5/EM5.3 improve a lot on video capability, but with reduced expectations, like no log support on EM5.3 and wimpy log support on OM-5. On EM5.3 I see a fair amount of IBIS warping with wide angle lenses (common issue), and the IBIS will sometimes jump if a move is too fast. Does the OM-5 behave the same?
As others have here, i went for a used Em5 mkiii. It’s 95% of the camera for way less. Love it as a travel camera and with the small primes, it rocks. Loved my GX80 but just couldn’t get on with the EVF technology in that canera. The Olympus hasn’t a really high res EVF, like say, the G9 but i find it much better for me than the sequential field systems on some Lumix models. Worth looking at on the used market for sure.
I bought the OM-5 a month back as a replacement for an old em-5 mk1. I think a new camera per decade is reasonable. Big upgrade for me with a lot of game changers. Better focus peaking, pro capture, wireless shutter, wireless transfer, ND, High Res, more megapixels, better battery life, more buttons... Wasn't happy spending the $999 for it (on sale), but I now see that it is worth the dough. Not sure who would go through the 500+ page manual and think that it is featureless and unsophisticated. I am looking forward to improving my skills with the OM-5. I like using a good cine lens with it.
@@ktbikefun Same for me! I'm also considering if I should upgrade now or still wait a bit and see if a new OM-5 mk2 will come out... But I guess the OM-5 will already be a decent upgrade for me!
@@ktbikefun I was also looking at those briefly but I really like the lightweight and compactness of the 5-series. The em1 is quite a bit heavier I guess, no?
I bought a just-superseded E-M5 Mark III in December. At the price I paid it is great value compared to the price of an OM-5 and a useful feature improvement over my old E-M10. Unfortunately it is with OM Systems Australia for a sensor replacement under warranty and I have been without it for 5 weeks. I still love this camera though.
Om5 is great, but they indeed should have updated the ports. No usb c and old hdmi. The hdmi out is only 1080p 8bit. The internals are the same as the em1iii and that camera can output prores raw 4k. Still love mine for edc though, like you said the ok video is a happy bonus
You are sooo kind to omd… I did get an used om1 iii and have all that features, without This camera’s faults. Yeah a little bit bigger, but not too much. Thanks for your focus testing. ( beautiful eyes!)
I am waiting for m43 with pdaf and internal 4k60 4:2:2 10bit with no crop and with vlog. Thats all I need. Glad we get first m43 with pdaf but I am worried that those video limitation we see in this body is dirrectly related to this new AF technology. Hope Panasonic will come up with new body soon to meet my expectations (GH6s perhaps)
Limitation on video is due the processor power. Fuji has x-s10 then upgraded their image processor in the X-s20 and now can do 4k60p internal besides outputting clean HDMI for Atomos Ninja V+ and Blackmagic Video Assst. So lack of video frame rates is due to underpower image processor. Think that the AF of Canon R10 and Canon R7 are better.
Almost missed this for some reason…but a wonderful review (albeit a year or so behind…even better because more seasoned by now)! I recall DP review made much the same points (I thought your review was much more fun) and in the written review also quite positive (a silver award at 83%). I keep getting tempted by it; as you noted largely geared for those who practice photography outdoors so only OK video features, so,less hybrid focused than many others. I have a G9, which is still an amazing camera for photography and pretty good video as well, but often too large for my uses so a small camera like this could be perfect, but do wish a firmware update could upgrade the video features a bit (may not be possible). 4:2:2 vs 4:2:0 pretty much the same as far as I’m aware, 10 bit however is a big bump up if you like to colour grade. For its price there are a number of Fuji and Sony APSC bodies that are very tempting though. Mostly more video focused, but suspect most folks rarely need to use all if just for social media. Small though, and APSC lenses these days not always much bigger (or some even smaller I think). Still, I like this camera! Pair it with a 12-200 and a fast prime (both weather sealed of course) and I would be good to go!
Hallo Emily. Ich ❤️ den Starry Sky AF! Ich besitze die OM-1 und die Panasonic GX9. So habe ich eine große und eine kleine Kamera, je nach Verwendungszweck. 😎 Für Astrofotos verwende ich am liebsten die OM-1 und das PanaLeica 9mm. 😍 Deine Kritik bezüglich der OM-5 ist berechtigt, aus diesen Gründen würde ich sie mir nicht kaufen. Aber ich habe ja auch die tolle GX9 als kleine Kamera und vloggen tue ich nicht. Danke für deine tollen Videos und viele Grüße aus Hannover in Germany. 👋
If you are an avid m43 user, update your bodies fairly often, then the OM-5 doesn't offer much. If you're a m43 user and haven't updated a camera body in a while then the OM-5 become more interesting. If you're not a m43 user but are looking at all brands, the OM-5 is a couple of things going for it (weather-sealing and computational photography) compared to similarly priced cameras, but it is not a slam dunk since it lags behind in other key areas. If you are not a m43 user and don't have any particular reason to look at m43 then I think the OM-5 is not enough of a "wow" camera to make you notice it or the system.
Nice review. I have the EM5 Mk iii and that was a special camera when released given size, pdaf etc... The OM5 is essentially the same camera with the same weaknesses, a couple new features and a relatively high price compared to what is available in other camera systems. It is still a great camera but coming from what I have, it is a bit of a let down. MicroUSB and a weak tripod mount were the biggest issues with the EM5 iii and neither were addressed with the OM5.
The point of that camera is what you get in a small body. You can wear that camera on a clip attached to your bag strap so this is ideal for outdoor/travelling/wildlife and the specs offered in that form factor are great. With by the OM f/4 PRO lens lineup it's a perfect combo, especially when you add the 40-150 f/4 PRO to the 12-45 f/4 PRO.
I honestly think, this is maybe my own opinion, I think that the best Olympus camera is the (old Olympus brand) EM1 Mark III, metal and very strongly built and packed with features. Love it! I also have the EM1 Mark I and also sold my EM5. I heard lots of issues with the OM1 System.
Thanks Emily! I’m interested in updating from my first Olympus E-M10 and doubting about E-M5iii or saving more money and go for OMSystem OM5… Video is not important for me, I almost never use that…
Thanks for this honest review!! ❤ Own an E-M5 Mk2 and was underwhelmed by the OM5-despite being an upgrade. Investing $1.3k in a seemingly non-future-proof body (outdated menus, uncertain updates, micro USB) and agree with you that it feels noticeably cheaper than the solid metal build of the Mk2. It also leaves me considering a switch to alternative options such as Fuji that offer more longevity and value for the investment. I found it for 850€… do you think it is worth upgrading or shall I invest in a lens instead? 🤔
I did not know that it had Phased Detection. Wow! Or I may have ignored/overlooked when I was looking for a cheap(ish) second-hand MFT camera to help with astro last winter. Like you, I'm still waiting for clear sky's. May I ask if Olympus play's nicely with Lumix lenses, because all my money has been thrown down that money-pit. I have loved my second hand Panny G9 so much that I'm itching for a current photo dedicated camera but it must have Phased Detection and a full-size HDMI port. Is that too much to ask? Hope not.
Thanks for sharing with us your experiences and opinions. My first m43 camera was an Olympus PEN E-PL1(year 2009)... then later PL3, PL6, OM-D E-M10, E-P5 and finally I jumped 2021 - Fujifilm X-S10. I feel only IS was better Olympus m43. I have still P5 and 3 Olympus lenses.
I was shooting a bunch of astro a couple of months ago a with my OMD 1 Mark iii, I also tried starry AF. It was good enough, but by no means sharper than my manual focussing efforts.
Great reviews! Indeed, Olympus has a huge issue with their marketing politics: the "old" Olym cameras were and are so good, while the new ones are not good enough or out of date. I came from Canon system to MFT, and the EM10 I or II are absolutely suffisent for me. We dont want to talk about the change of name, the wierd sales on the official web site... Olympus is actually worse than themself some years ago.
"My menu" is indeed a great addition, I have it on Canon and Panasonic, and it's great to group my favorites features and not be obliged to dig in the infinite options to change something. I'm a fan of Olympus since OM-2 film camera, yes I'm old. But my next camera will be the Panasonic G9MKII, not enough evolution at OM System compared to my OMD-1MkIII and also I regret the built quality of the first Olympus digital SLR, the Camedia E series, I had the E-1, E-3 and E-5 but just kept the E-3 as I sold my E-5 to finance my first MFT camera. And the E-3 is a tank, magnesium and metal, sad to see this built quality is disappearing, OMD-1 is still a very tough camera but not as the E-3.
I have the EM10 III and never been blown away with the AF. I'm really tempted to upgrade to the OM5 or OM1 I have a Sony A7 II but it's blooming heavy AI are the lenses so been using the EM10 III more and more but still not enjoying its performance.
I'm so glad that you did this review! I trust your instincts and usage type so this is perfect! I am barely getting into M43 after years of 35mm/MF and full frame so ...still on the fence but wondering if I should wait for the mark ii. I love the EDC aspect but just not sure if it'll pull its weight for me. Looking to travel with it, yes but does it hold up for the occasional wildlife?
You really don't need to get the latest and greatest M43 camera, since camera technology does not move as fast as cellphone or AI. Look around for a mint e-m5 mkii, then invest in the lenses. The Panasonic 20mm f1.7 is a superb travel lens and really compact. If you want to capture wildlife, then you need to get a zoom telephoto. The 40-150 if you're on a budget or the 12-200 if you want more flexibility/reach.
@@wnose thanks! I have enough lenses for street photography but all that's lacking is the body (e-m5 ii or iii is my first choice) and a long lens. I heard good things about the Oly 75-300mm.
I took advantage of the New Years sales at ympus and snagged a 5MkIII with the 12-45 for about what the body only MkIII was sold for, and like that quite a lot. Having added an OM-1 later, and have (very) slight yearn for a OM-5, but rationally, it is to little to bother upgrading the MkIII for, when I can do the heavy lifting with the substansially better, more feature rich and a year older OM-1. I find the OM-5 release as a bit of an enigma wrapped in a riddle. It would have made sense if it was released before the OM-1, but released about a year after and being for the most parts, a EM-1 MkIII repacked into a smaller body? It seems a bit odd. Had they kept the camera as it is but added the new sensor, USB C and the new menu system, I think the reviewers and customer base would have been more than satisfied. 🙂
Of all the commentators who talk about M43 you seem to leagues ahead of all the others. You are first and foremost a professional which makes what you say count. There is such nonsense bandied about, and you’re a real antidote!!
I really can't decide if I should get a used g9 or s5. I love the smaller lenses but low light, dynamic range and mp count leaves so much to be desired.
spec wise it is pretty much a G90 with better video autofocus. It is also 50% more expensive... So yeah, it is probably a nice EDC camera for documenting your family. But if you don't need video (and astro isn't required), I'd go for the much cheaper G90.
This is marketed squarely at me. I hike a lot, and shoot outdoors almost exclusively - I like to play with light, and I like to shoot nightscapes. I see a lot of criticism from folks who it's not really being targeted at, or are disappointed that it wasn't more of an advance on the previous model; I too would like to see a PD rated usb-c port but otherwise I think this is a really good option. The weather sealing is a big thing for me and speaks to a quality build despite the plastic over magnesium choice (some of us actively count grams to the point where having a body this light and this capable - with an actual IPX rating & freeze resistance is seriously attractive when it's going to be carried for days over mountains). I haven't seen anything else out there this small+light and capable, so despite its compromises for me this is the best thing going right now. With the seemingly imminent death of Canon EF-m I am very tempted to get one of these as my next camera. My big questions are: Were the pics in this vid out of body jpegs or raw files that got your presets? (cos those colours are great!!) How does that 9mm Panaleica go on it? Does the stary AF work well with it, and is there any of that Panaleica purple fringing with this Oly shooting stars? Love your vids, this was a great review, really hope to see some more - especially looking at astro and light painting if you get kind conditions☺
This camera is perfect for your needs! Absolutely great for rugged outdoorsy use! The wider shots in this video were from the oly 8-25mm f4 and the Laowa 6mm f2, I don't own the Leica 9mm unfortunately but its such a fab lens. The photos were edited with my "city escape" preset pack - glad you like the colours! I'm hoping to get some more astro done soon on m43 can't wait for some clear skies 🙏
As someone, who sometimes does concert photography (with a Lumix GX8 at the moment) the OM-5 will get a pass from me. I might go for the OM-1 some day, if I have OM-1 money to burn, but realistically I'll get myself a second hand Olympus E-M5 some day because I like the Olympus approach to colors, but either stick to the GX8 for my concert photography or try out a GX9 if possible.
Having had the GX8 and 9 and shot them a lot over several years, I now have the EM5MkIII and it beats both of them hands down. The two things I miss from those are the LVF of the GX8 and the Lumix menu system. Other than those, the EM5MkIII beats both of them hands down. 🙂
@@JensMHA For my concert photography, I shoot in manual mode, because I need the shutter to be fast enough and the aperture to be wide open (as fast as possible), but I use auto ISO, because I can't adjust the ISO fast enough manually to get the shots in the constantly changing light conditions. A camera with a max auto ISO of 6400 just isn't fast enough for my needs. At the last concert, I photographed, I got keepers with an ISO of 8000. If my camera had been limited to an auto ISO max of 6400, I would have missed those shots. I fully realise, that there are many cameras better than the GX8, but for me it works.
@@NPJensen As far as I can see, the upper limit on the Auto ISO on the OM-1 goes to 102k and something. According to Peter Forsgaard, the noise level at ISO 25600 on the OM-1 is comparable to ISO6400 with the EM1 MkIII. I havent gotten around to try it yet, but it was one of the considerations before I decided to buy one as I live a place where we have about 7 hours of dusk, masking as day time for the winter months. 🙂 When I shot the GX8, I had it normally capped at 1600, but would if necessary go up to 6400. Then again, I didnt have access to the modern noice killers then.
Thanks. Olympus (now OM System) and Panasonic Lumix were way ahead with computational features, but the other brands are catching up. I feel Panasonic could really revive the M43 if they bring PDAF in their lineup: G100, G9, GH6, G95/90, BGH1, GX9, GX850/800, LX100 II. If Panasonic Lumix bring PDAF in those cameras, I think it will be awesome. Really don't know for OM System, I still feel the last releases could be stuffs that Olympus that were already working on before the transition. Does OM System can keep up and release new gears in the future, well wait and see. It's surprising the last OM5 does not have the new menu system.
I think most modern cameras have enough! It more so depends on the photographer these days. That said, I have the E-M5 mark II and am debating selling it with a couple lenses and battery grip to help fund the OM-5 or E-M5 mark III. My E-M1X stays forever but i need a small one too. NEED. SMALL. CAMERAS.
Just a note, you misspoke concerning the video features on this camera. It can absolutely do 4k (UHD) in 24, 25, and 30 fps. However, it won't do anything other than 24 fps in C4k, but it does have 1/48 of a shutter, which many lumix cameras don't have. Also, it has almost every feature you complained about in your G100 video not having with the exception of 59g of extra weight. Lumix is going to have a hard time beating this camera, I think. In fact, they'll have a hard time beating the E-M5 iii with almost all the same features as in this camera.
You posed the question: who is the OM-5 for? It’s for me! And the vast majority of M43 users who (1) place a big premium on small size and light-weight for travel photography; (2) appreciate the superb Olympus colour science; (3) take overwhelmingly many more photos than videos (smartphones do their occasional videos), and (4) are happy to leave their tripod and ND filters at home. Spoiler alert: I believe the OM-5 designers knew exactly what they were doing when they made the video feature tradeoffs of this camera. In a future episode why not do a comparison of the OM-5 and Lumix G9, the other stills-centric M43 camera? Of course you will mention that the G9 is 60% heavier and bulkier than the OM-5, and the G9’s inferiority when it comes to AF.
@@MicroFourNerdsI really like the light shutter of my G9, but it is my main camera, I appreciate if you are using lots of different cameras you would really notice it. Can I ask how the evf on the OM5 compares to the G9?
@sue.Holmes1960 I think the g9 evf is one of the very best I've ever used. I've just checked the spec and the numbers back that up too, the g9 evf had 1 million more pixels than the om5 evf
Sorry, I made a mistake; just checked the volumetric size (or bulk) of the OM-5 and the G9 (that is, the camera body’s length multiplied by its width and multiplied by its depth). It turns out the G9 is three times the size of the OM-5. My shoulder bag says “no”.
If OMS hadn’t have gimped the om5, I would have picked one up just to play with the computational features… but same old sensor when OMS had the new one for the OM1, same outdated ports… why? It feels like nothing more than a resale of old inventory to get OMS products out. It could have been so much better!
What do you think of the OM5?! And more info on this video's sponsor here: Sign up to Milanote for free with no time-limit: milanote.com/microfournerds
Hi Emily, thanks for the review. Have you tried Starry AF yet? I'd like to get a new camera with such feature - unfortunately Starlight AF from Lumix series (I tested it in the S5 mk2) never works as intended, huge disappointement.
I love my OM-1. It is everything i need in a camera for both still and video capability. If I need higher level performance I can get an external record for 12 bit video recording and an external 32bit float recorder for audio. Price is just right and the reliability is amazing.
For me it's nearly there. I got an OM-1 as my first OMS camera, and I'd love to add one of these as a smaller bodied stablemate to that. However, what I'd like to see is USB-C, the same battery as the OM-1, and the updated menu system of the OM-1. Any spec bumps would be a bonus on top of that, but for now, getting the simple things on point would be my priority.
My wife and I recently did a 12 day tour of Oregon / Northern CA and I took the OM-5 rather than my OM-1, mainly for the weight and compact form factor. As much as I love the OM-1 it is quite large for a M4/3 camera and I generally only use it around town or when I don't have to carry it for long periods. I have no idea how I dealt with my FF Canon's and Sony's for all those years.
I previously had an EM-5 Mk. 3 and I chose to upgrade for two reasons, the improved IBIS and the inclusion of the computational Live ND filters. For glass I took my OM 12-45 and 40-150 f/4's as well as the Panasonic 9mm and 42.5 mm f/1.7's and the Tokina reflex 300 mm f/6.3. I never used either of the Pano's, but to be fair, at the last minute I decided to take my Ricoh GR III as well and I used that for most indoor / low light shots.
The IQ results more than met my expectations and in my opinion were, for the most part, stunningly good and when they weren't it was generally operator error ;-). I took quite a few shots using the in-camera computational ND (which works well) but I mostly relied on Bracketing (rather than the in camera HDR) and combined them in post, shooting 3 shots at +/- 2 stops. I ended up using both methods for a lot of scenes so I set up the top panel exposure compensation button to toggle between Live ND and HDR bracketing.
Of the likely 400 shots I took using bracketing (i.e. 400 x 3) there were less than a handful that would not align in post, which just reaffirms how good the OM IBIS is. This gave me superb dynamic range and decent smoothing of (the many) waterfall shots. In my opinion, combining this with using Topaz Sharpen AI and Megapixel AI in post you end up with an unbeatable travel camera kit.
I only took a couple of videos with the camera but the quality (4K 30) was just fine by me, mostly for video when hiking I used a DJI Action 3 which also worked out well. All in all a magical trip with lots of great shots to remember it by.
Lastly Emily I love your channel both for the information but also as a boy who grew up on the Wirral your Liverpool, Chester and Port Sunlight shots bring me home on a regular basis, thank you.
Eye point is a feature that doesn’t get discussed much, but it’s vitally important for those who wear eyeglasses. The OM-5 lets you hold the camera further from your eye than the e-m5 does. Seeing more of the viewfinder is a real advantage.
This camera and the EM1ii recently replaced my entire Fuji lineup and I swear it's been the most wonderful move! Such an awesome camera! I've been loving the M43 experience and am gunning to replace my Ricoh GRiiix and an LOVING your reviews on these cameras and small pocketable cameras. Cheers!
The OM5 is a lovely Camera. Capable of almost everything and really light and compact. I think that many M43 cameras were years ahead compared with other systems, and now they are suffering from a apparent stagnation. For me, the OM5 is just fantastic. It works great for travel, adventure, macro and street. I use it with the Leica 9 and 15mm, the Oly 12-45 or 12-200 and the Oly 75-300! Perfect for my climbing adventures!
It sounds like you are using this is just the same way I want to. How have you found that Leica 9mm on it? Have you done any astro with it? I have been searching everywhere for a decent review on the OM-5 leica 9m combo but not really found much, would love to hear your thoughts.
The OM5 + Leica 9 Combo is fabulous, but I haven't tried it for Astrophotography yet. I use it for Landscape and street. But I imagine it's a great combination for astrophotography. I believe Emily is better suited than me to answer you about the Leica 9mm in astrophotography.
@@TITAOSTEIN Thanks for that, really appreciate the response
Olympus has in built stabilisation which means third party lensed like ttartisan are ACTUALLY usable. The cameras are also the nicest to use and with the control dials etc. I got an em10iv over the om5 because it's half the price and I use manual focus for filming low light music gigs. Realising what features you don't need is what makes the whole planning and filming experience interesting in my opinion.
@@TITAOSTEINcan second this. Panasonic 9mm is great.
waiting for the G9 II of course
I've had the OM5 in my tool-kit for a while now. It's definitely my go-to for everyday and travel photography. I pretty much consider it an EM1 Mark iii with a smaller form factor, as it has many similar features. While photography is my primary use for it, I do use it in my professional videography as a C camera, if I need a third angle. The Gh6 and OM1 are my A and B cameras for video. You are right, the video is fine enough for my professional purposes, but I'll definitely go for the GH6 first for video. But there's something about the form factor and the way it looks with my tiny little silver f1.8 Olympus primes. I have the silver version, and often people comment on it as how cool it is that I'm using an old film camera. I even got into a concert venue that restricted interchangeable lens cameras. The door staff looked at it and said, "oh that's an old camera. Go ahead." 😀
Emily, your review is an absolute joy to watch.🎉 Your technical skills and experience shine through in testing the OM-System EM-5. I haven’t purchased the OM -1 as I had just purchased the OM -EM1III before Olympus closed their deal. I have considered buying the Panasonic FF, but was waiting for the industry to get back in production following COVID. Thank you for the infectious enthusiasm about your work. ❤❤
I love my OM-5. The Live ND is terrific. When paired with a fixed ND filter, I can get rich, flowing water handhelds with 2 second exposure. Additionally, I tend to use it quite a bit with the mzuiko 20mm f/1.4 lens when on multi-hour walkabouts. Bad weather is no problem.
For me, the problem with this camera is the fact that you can buy an excellent condition EM-1 Mk iii for half the price. Unfortunately I can't really see any advantages to buying a new one of these. Now if it had the OM-1 sensor in it...😀 loving the channel, keep up the good work👍
This. From a photography perspective it seems like the om5 is an em-1 mk3 in a smaller package. Which is fine .. trickle down of features etc. I guess the om1 sensor will rock up in cheaper cameras eventually as well. I will my upgrading from a em-1 mk1 to a mk3, which is a big bump!
Have changed from Canon 90D with sigma 18-250mm to OM-5 with 14-150mm and I am amazed at the results I am achieving. This is a great overall camera especially on trips due to its light weight and compactness. I purchased a generic battery charger and spare battery rather than rely on charging through the camera. I love that when you change it for black and white photography you actually see the subject in black and white, great for getting the best tonal results. Overall I would recommend this camera to anyone. Can't wait to get 25mm f1.8 and/or 45mm f1.8.
I have an OM5 and I love this camera (I think it's my favorite along with my Pen F)
The OM5 has a smooth release and a viewfinder that makes it very easy to compose the scene for street photography. Because one of its greatness is its small size and light weight...
I traded the e-m5 mk ii for my OM5 and am very happy with my decision. I don’t miss the alloy body (thought I would back when the iii came out) the new features are great but the auto focus was the selling point for me.
The af is so solid! Super impressive
I have the OM-1. And love that camera. But when the Om-5 came out. I was like it’s so tiny I gotta try it. Well I love it. It’s just so light and well built. And nice. It’s just one of the best little cameras I have ever used. And SO much fun to use. Take in anywhere.
I also like OM-system cameras... Lovely and Great Cams! I recommend this brand, since I have one and when I go on Photowalks, I never get disapointed!
This is a great camera and so underrated! Regards from a happy user of a OM5
I loved my Lumix camera and the menus, I had the G9 & GX9 and switched them both to OM1 & OM5 and never looked back.
Last month I traveled to Japan with this two bodys. It was lovley and great kit to carry, the PDAF just wins.
This is why I picked up the EM-5 M3 used for under half the price of this camera - and it's bloody marvellous.
Hi Emily, what a surprise to see you on TV commenting on the UK rail problems!
Great video, as I have the EM5 mkiii I’m not going to upgrade just yet, but I do appreciate the benefits of the OM5.
Absolutely loving your videos Emily. This video in particular convinced me to both stay with Micro Four Thirds and to update my mint low shutter count original E-M1 for an O-M5. Keep up the good work. All the best.
I'm really hoping they release an OM10 next year and start the shift to usb-c, the trickle down of the newer menus and new battery system, and that slightly improved feature set for video use. I'm also still seeing issues in forums with the tripod mount on the om5 pulling out of the camera body and have personally had the issue with the em10 mark iv, so some build and engineering fixes for the non-flagship cameras would be real nice.
Thanks for the info, excellent to know, appreciated, I never knew about the phase detect auto focus on the OM5.
I love everything about this camera except the price. Im waiting on Panasonic to release a small camera with phase detect autofocus with better video specs. Hopefully it'll be this year. My patience is wearing thin. Have a great day.
EM5 Mk3 owner here and for my purposes (travel, family, street) and paired with the 12-45 f/4 Pro, there is no better camera, until this OM5 came along. Perhaps not a reason for me to upgrade, but for buyers new to M43 who are looking for a travel camera, I would say the OM5 is the one to get.
weather sealing and better IBIS and more quick controls were the reason I chose to upgrade from my otherwise lovely GX85. I like the GX85, but end up using it like an automatic point-and-shoot rather than how I used to shoot with my old Nikon DSLR because the GX85's small body lacked enough dials and buttons to make it easy to adjust manual settings on the fly. (at least for me). Also, I got nervous whenever weather wasn't perfect out.
Been looking into APS-C, and it's still tempting. But the lenses are so much larger and I don't miss lugging around heavy kit in a heavy bag. I would carry my GX85 with a prime lens and carry a second prime lens all in one fanny pack! For everyday carry walking around, you can't beat that!
Thanks for the great review. I’m a total beginner in terms of video, so your insights are helpful. For me, as a new M43 user the OM-5 made sense. With the sales (and trade-in bonus) it was a good deal. I love the IBIS and Live ND.
Classic Olympus design, great specs, what’s not to like? I’m a panasonic gx8 user for several years but have been considering changing to Olympus for its replacement as panasonic seem to be neglecting stills shooting in preference for vlogging. Long live mft! Great review, thank you
The hand held high resolution and the starry focus are the two reasons (and light weight and weather resistant) that's why I bought it (I can not tested yet for Milky Way stills).
I have the EM5 mk3 and EM1 mk2, I can hold off buying the new OM series until the OMs themselves get to mk2 releases.
At that point, hopefully, there will be more than enough new features to tempt me.
Although I'm also very interested in seeing the G9 mk2 or GX9 mk2 as I also love my GX8.
As the GX series can no longer be bought new in the UK (for about 6 months past) and the G9 has recently been declared as no more new ones to be made, their replacements hopefully, will be out soon. If they have phase detect, I'll probably buy into one of those.
I bought the em5 III for my EDC used about 2 months ago I'm very happy!!!
but for a Panasonic user the menu system is a bit challenging... I really like the phase detect af and am looking forward to a Panasonic mft gh6 ii or gh7 with this focus system. 👍👍👍
I had the previous camera.
Having a light stable 24p with decent af in video - arguably the best is what makes it a great hybrid travel camera. Those features together will never get old & if you compare it to sony which are leading the pack only the zv-e1 can compete and that camera is 2x as much but to be fair, with all the other features makes the OM5 feel really dated.
Still I can’t state how important a stable 24p with af when doing video and if you want light weight this camera is a winner
As a long-time M43 and Olympus shooter this video really spoke directly to me in the way no other OM-5 review has. I have been sorely tempted to get this camera, as in right on the verge several times, but two things have stopped me so far: (1) I really wish it had a tilt screen rather than a flippy screen, and (2) while I desperately want a small weathersealed street camera (I live in Seattle), M43 doesn't make equally pocketable weathersealed lenses. If there was a weathersealed Lumix 20 f1.7 III or Olympus 45mm f1.8 II, the OM-5 would be mine in a heartbeat. So for now I continue using my E-PL10. Still...phase detect AF. Phase detect AF. Yeah...
Did the OM gods finally shine on you and give you a test device?
Nice to see your excitement about the phase af.
I still dream of a remake of the gm5 with stabilization, phase af, waterproof and gh6 features. Please.
Me toooooo! That would be my dream camera I think!
Nice deep dive overview of this camera. It always surprises me what features manufacturers select to leave out or put in.. but it's good I think to have advanced features at entry-level prices. If it was me I would probably buy a used Om-d e-m1 MarkII.. it has most of the features with the metal, weather- proof construction at 1/2 the price. The only thing you would miss would be the fake ND filters.. and the high-res mode isn't handheld.
Very good video! You covered a lot of ground, and as an owner of an older EM5, I understand this is a feature-dense camera. I'm looking at it!
Your final point rings true - it is expensive for what it offers. Roll on the G9 II
With the 40-150mm f4 it is a fabulo light weight wildlife camera. Replaced my em1 ii.
Great review! I wish now I’d gone with this camera. I recently bought the EM-5 Mark III. About two weeks after I bought it, OM has discontinued that one. They didn’t say the OM 5 was any type of direct replace for the EM-5 Mark III, but it certainly looks that way. Who knows. Maybe I’ll sell one of my other cameras and pick up the OM5 🤔😜. Again, thx for the review!
Great video on this unit, thank you. Sold my M5 mk iii and happy I did, replaced with the OM5.. Bought a BM pocket cene for my video work and use M43 for video with a Zhylin stabilizer with the BM.
The OM5 can do a few things more than my OMD E-M5 Mk3. A few things I don't use. So why switch? The E-M5Mk3 is enough for me to take photos. It is small, handy and light with my fixed focal lengths. And if the E-M5Mk3 lasts a few more years, it wasn't a bad buy in 2021.
And since I'm into sustainability, I'll probably continue to use my old system.
Best regards 🙂
After many years of shooting Panasonic M43 cameras, i left the system i decided to go with the Nikon Z7 when my GX85 was stolen. I wish I could have gotten a new compact Panasonic with phase detect af and an improved bsi 20+ mp sensor. The Z7 is of course larger than the OM5, but the viewfinder and sensor are great and it works with all of my old dslr lenses. I hope m43 survives... it is a great system for lightweight travel.
I love my OM 5. Such a tiny cute camera.
OM System needs to release a new camera soon! They can't just be a two camera company!
If the normal release scheme is to be followed, the next one up should be a OM-10 in some sort of configuration. Going by memory, the 10s are normally released somewhere in the later winter/early spring. The current 10MkIV is a seriously lovely piece of gear, as is the MkII version of it, so I have high expectations for the OM-10.
I can't believe how well and quickly it focused on you, never thought I would see that in a M43 camera. If only it had 4K60 and 10-bit, it would be perfect. It's going to be an amazing camera to buy on the used market in a couple years. $1200 is too much for it, even $1000 is pushing it. Also I know this is petty but I hate the way the "OM System" logo looks on the front of it.
I think there is a market for a thin but stiff foil with the word "Olympus" on it ,for glueing over the OM System logo...
Thanks for the video. You bring the fun and smile to the camera review world not just cool and serious guys (like in street photography videos)
The micro USB… thanks that the new TG-7 comes with USB C just released. My question is is the face AF fast enough to track fast moving kids in burst mode? I’m on the fence to try Sony’s AF but still want to consider OM5 if it is a problem fixed in OM.
There aren't any specific subject detections modes built into the om5, unlike the om1 or the new lumix g9ii, but in my experience with my fast moving pets the om5 did great with the tracking! I'd say you'd be fine 😊 and thank you for your kind words!
@@MicroFourNerds Thank you for your fast reply!
Superb review.. fair and balanced...
Enjoyed the review Emily!
Beware - phase detect autofocus is only available in Continuous AF mode. For stills, you select C-AF, then half-press and hold the shutter to acquire continuous focus. For video mode selected on the top dial, it's full time. For fast, small objects (birds in flight, etc) many users (and me) report better C-AF performance by "click and pray" where you keep the focus target on subject and just press and release the shutter, instead of holding half-press on target, then full press. As for the micro usb port, the problem I have is more that the cables that allow tethering, download to PC, or firmware update are specific. I found one in my kit, and labeled it specifically for my EM5.3. Many usb-micro cables won't support those features, and sorry but I don't have specs on what will. Olympus/OMDS only refer to their own cable. USB-C would necessarily fix that issue, but would reduce the number of cables needed to carry. And yeah OM-5/EM5.3 improve a lot on video capability, but with reduced expectations, like no log support on EM5.3 and wimpy log support on OM-5. On EM5.3 I see a fair amount of IBIS warping with wide angle lenses (common issue), and the IBIS will sometimes jump if a move is too fast. Does the OM-5 behave the same?
The OM-5 is great as a travel camera and as an Every Day Carry camera.
awesome video! thank you for the insight! its greatly valued!
As others have here, i went for a used Em5 mkiii. It’s 95% of the camera for way less. Love it as a travel camera and with the small primes, it rocks. Loved my GX80 but just couldn’t get on with the EVF technology in that canera. The Olympus hasn’t a really high res EVF, like say, the G9 but i find it much better for me than the sequential field systems on some Lumix models.
Worth looking at on the used market for sure.
I bought the OM-5 a month back as a replacement for an old em-5 mk1. I think a new camera per decade is reasonable.
Big upgrade for me with a lot of game changers. Better focus peaking, pro capture, wireless shutter, wireless transfer, ND, High Res, more megapixels, better battery life, more buttons...
Wasn't happy spending the $999 for it (on sale), but I now see that it is worth the dough. Not sure who would go through the 500+ page manual and think that it is featureless and unsophisticated.
I am looking forward to improving my skills with the OM-5. I like using a good cine lens with it.
i am also a em-5 mk1 user, looking at om-5 now.
@@ktbikefun Same for me! I'm also considering if I should upgrade now or still wait a bit and see if a new OM-5 mk2 will come out... But I guess the OM-5 will already be a decent upgrade for me!
@@geertvanriet4159 actually I end up with a secondhand e-m1 mark III pretty satisfied for now :)
@@ktbikefun I was also looking at those briefly but I really like the lightweight and compactness of the 5-series. The em1 is quite a bit heavier I guess, no?
The new computational features of the OM5 also sound nice to experiment with... Especially the ND filter one sounds nice.
I bought a just-superseded E-M5 Mark III in December.
At the price I paid it is great value compared to the price of an OM-5 and a useful feature improvement over my old E-M10.
Unfortunately it is with OM Systems Australia for a sensor replacement under warranty and I have been without it for 5 weeks.
I still love this camera though.
Love this review Emily! - S
Om5 is great, but they indeed should have updated the ports. No usb c and old hdmi. The hdmi out is only 1080p 8bit. The internals are the same as the em1iii and that camera can output prores raw 4k. Still love mine for edc though, like you said the ok video is a happy bonus
You are sooo kind to omd…
I did get an used om1 iii and have all that features, without This camera’s faults. Yeah a little bit bigger, but not too much.
Thanks for your focus testing. ( beautiful eyes!)
This system is secondhand😂
Hopefully, this will push Panasonic to keep releasing M43 lenses with phase detect autofocus. The G9 II or the GH6s \ GH6 II are long overdue.
I am waiting for m43 with pdaf and internal 4k60 4:2:2 10bit with no crop and with vlog. Thats all I need. Glad we get first m43 with pdaf but I am worried that those video limitation we see in this body is dirrectly related to this new AF technology. Hope Panasonic will come up with new body soon to meet my expectations (GH6s perhaps)
Limitation on video is due the processor power. Fuji has x-s10 then upgraded their image processor in the X-s20 and now can do 4k60p internal besides outputting clean HDMI for Atomos Ninja V+ and Blackmagic Video Assst. So lack of video frame rates is due to underpower image processor. Think that the AF of Canon R10 and Canon R7 are better.
Just to let you know, the EM 1 Mark 1 and Mark 2 both have phase detect auto focus.
I just picked this up new in April 2024 for £699. At this price, it was a steal, especially when MPB had like-new versions for £900+ too.
Almost missed this for some reason…but a wonderful review (albeit a year or so behind…even better because more seasoned by now)! I recall DP review made much the same points (I thought your review was much more fun) and in the written review also quite positive (a silver award at 83%). I keep getting tempted by it; as you noted largely geared for those who practice photography outdoors so only OK video features, so,less hybrid focused than many others. I have a G9, which is still an amazing camera for photography and pretty good video as well, but often too large for my uses so a small camera like this could be perfect, but do wish a firmware update could upgrade the video features a bit (may not be possible). 4:2:2 vs 4:2:0 pretty much the same as far as I’m aware, 10 bit however is a big bump up if you like to colour grade. For its price there are a number of Fuji and Sony APSC bodies that are very tempting though. Mostly more video focused, but suspect most folks rarely need to use all if just for social media. Small though, and APSC lenses these days not always much bigger (or some even smaller I think). Still, I like this camera! Pair it with a 12-200 and a fast prime (both weather sealed of course) and I would be good to go!
Hallo Emily.
Ich ❤️ den Starry Sky AF! Ich besitze die OM-1 und die Panasonic GX9. So habe ich eine große und eine kleine Kamera, je nach Verwendungszweck. 😎 Für Astrofotos verwende ich am liebsten die OM-1 und das PanaLeica 9mm. 😍 Deine Kritik bezüglich der OM-5 ist berechtigt, aus diesen Gründen würde ich sie mir nicht kaufen. Aber ich habe ja auch die tolle GX9 als kleine Kamera und vloggen tue ich nicht.
Danke für deine tollen Videos und viele Grüße aus Hannover in Germany. 👋
If you are an avid m43 user, update your bodies fairly often, then the OM-5 doesn't offer much.
If you're a m43 user and haven't updated a camera body in a while then the OM-5 become more interesting.
If you're not a m43 user but are looking at all brands, the OM-5 is a couple of things going for it (weather-sealing and computational photography) compared to similarly priced cameras, but it is not a slam dunk since it lags behind in other key areas.
If you are not a m43 user and don't have any particular reason to look at m43 then I think the OM-5 is not enough of a "wow" camera to make you notice it or the system.
That is a very concise conclusion!
Nice review. I have the EM5 Mk iii and that was a special camera when released given size, pdaf etc... The OM5 is essentially the same camera with the same weaknesses, a couple new features and a relatively high price compared to what is available in other camera systems. It is still a great camera but coming from what I have, it is a bit of a let down. MicroUSB and a weak tripod mount were the biggest issues with the EM5 iii and neither were addressed with the OM5.
It’s Liverpool !!!!
The point of that camera is what you get in a small body. You can wear that camera on a clip attached to your bag strap so this is ideal for outdoor/travelling/wildlife and the specs offered in that form factor are great. With by the OM f/4 PRO lens lineup it's a perfect combo, especially when you add the 40-150 f/4 PRO to the 12-45 f/4 PRO.
For photography alone, it's good enough. As a hybrid travel camera, it is very lackluster. Video specs seem like it is from 2016. 4k30p 8bit?
I honestly think, this is maybe my own opinion, I think that the best Olympus camera is the (old Olympus brand)
EM1 Mark III, metal and very strongly built and packed with features. Love it! I also have the EM1 Mark I and
also sold my EM5. I heard lots of issues with the OM1 System.
Thanks Emily! I’m interested in updating from my first Olympus E-M10 and doubting about E-M5iii or saving more money and go for OMSystem OM5…
Video is not important for me, I almost never use that…
Thanks for this honest review!! ❤
Own an E-M5 Mk2 and was underwhelmed by the OM5-despite being an upgrade. Investing $1.3k in a seemingly non-future-proof body (outdated menus, uncertain updates, micro USB) and agree with you that it feels noticeably cheaper than the solid metal build of the Mk2. It also leaves me considering a switch to alternative options such as Fuji that offer more longevity and value for the investment.
I found it for 850€… do you think it is worth upgrading or shall I invest in a lens instead? 🤔
I did not know that it had Phased Detection. Wow!
Or I may have ignored/overlooked when I was looking for a cheap(ish) second-hand MFT camera to help with astro last winter. Like you, I'm still waiting for clear sky's.
May I ask if Olympus play's nicely with Lumix lenses, because all my money has been thrown down that money-pit.
I have loved my second hand Panny G9 so much that I'm itching for a current photo dedicated camera but it must have Phased Detection and a full-size HDMI port. Is that too much to ask?
Hope not.
I want to get all this in the ep7 body. Combined with leica lenses the quality is amazing, just not enough blur and iso performance.
Thanks for sharing with us your experiences and opinions. My first m43 camera was an Olympus PEN E-PL1(year 2009)... then later PL3, PL6, OM-D E-M10, E-P5 and finally I jumped 2021 - Fujifilm X-S10. I feel only IS was better Olympus m43. I have still P5 and 3 Olympus lenses.
I was shooting a bunch of astro a couple of months ago a with my OMD 1 Mark iii, I also tried starry AF. It was good enough, but by no means sharper than my manual focussing efforts.
Great reviews! Indeed, Olympus has a huge issue with their marketing politics: the "old" Olym cameras were and are so good, while the new ones are not good enough or out of date. I came from Canon system to MFT, and the EM10 I or II are absolutely suffisent for me.
We dont want to talk about the change of name, the wierd sales on the official web site... Olympus is actually worse than themself some years ago.
Great video and info, I own a EM10 MKII and would like to update to either OM1 or Om5, still deciding...
"My menu" is indeed a great addition, I have it on Canon and Panasonic, and it's great to group my favorites features and not be obliged to dig in the infinite options to change something.
I'm a fan of Olympus since OM-2 film camera, yes I'm old. But my next camera will be the Panasonic G9MKII, not enough evolution at OM System compared to my OMD-1MkIII and also I regret the built quality of the first Olympus digital SLR, the Camedia E series, I had the E-1, E-3 and E-5 but just kept the E-3 as I sold my E-5 to finance my first MFT camera. And the E-3 is a tank, magnesium and metal, sad to see this built quality is disappearing, OMD-1 is still a very tough camera but not as the E-3.
The camera is tailored to my needs but it is very expensive. M43 would also need entry level new cameras.
They need to release a more well thought out video-emphasized pen series camera, imagine
I have the EM10 III and never been blown away with the AF. I'm really tempted to upgrade to the OM5 or OM1 I have a Sony A7 II but it's blooming heavy AI are the lenses so been using the EM10 III more and more but still not enjoying its performance.
I'm so glad that you did this review! I trust your instincts and usage type so this is perfect! I am barely getting into M43 after years of 35mm/MF and full frame so ...still on the fence but wondering if I should wait for the mark ii. I love the EDC aspect but just not sure if it'll pull its weight for me. Looking to travel with it, yes but does it hold up for the occasional wildlife?
You really don't need to get the latest and greatest M43 camera, since camera technology does not move as fast as cellphone or AI. Look around for a mint e-m5 mkii, then invest in the lenses.
The Panasonic 20mm f1.7 is a superb travel lens and really compact. If you want to capture wildlife, then you need to get a zoom telephoto. The 40-150 if you're on a budget or the 12-200 if you want more flexibility/reach.
@@wnose thanks! I have enough lenses for street photography but all that's lacking is the body (e-m5 ii or iii is my first choice) and a long lens. I heard good things about the Oly 75-300mm.
I took advantage of the New Years sales at ympus and snagged a 5MkIII with the 12-45 for about what the body only MkIII was sold for, and like that quite a lot. Having added an OM-1 later, and have (very) slight yearn for a OM-5, but rationally, it is to little to bother upgrading the MkIII for, when I can do the heavy lifting with the substansially better, more feature rich and a year older OM-1. I find the OM-5 release as a bit of an enigma wrapped in a riddle. It would have made sense if it was released before the OM-1, but released about a year after and being for the most parts, a EM-1 MkIII repacked into a smaller body? It seems a bit odd. Had they kept the camera as it is but added the new sensor, USB C and the new menu system, I think the reviewers and customer base would have been more than satisfied. 🙂
I’ve got a g7 and em1.1. Thinking om5 or g95 is my next camera
Of all the commentators who talk about M43 you seem to leagues ahead of all the others.
You are first and foremost a professional which makes what you say count.
There is such nonsense bandied about, and you’re a real antidote!!
Thank you! I do try! 🙌😁📷
Thanks!
Thank you!!! 🙏
They should make an OM-G camera :) Ha ha ha
Looks like a really nice upgrade. If you are primarily a video shooter, you'll be a Lumix user anyway.
I really can't decide if I should get a used g9 or s5. I love the smaller lenses but low light, dynamic range and mp count leaves so much to be desired.
I've been thinking about doing the same thing.
@@DominiKing32let me hear your thoughts for and against and I'll share mine in the morning
That footage looked better than Sony full frame. The colors were so lovely. I’m rethinking my decision to leave micro 4/3.
spec wise it is pretty much a G90 with better video autofocus. It is also 50% more expensive... So yeah, it is probably a nice EDC camera for documenting your family. But if you don't need video (and astro isn't required), I'd go for the much cheaper G90.
Does it actually do 80mp high-res via tripod?
This is marketed squarely at me. I hike a lot, and shoot outdoors almost exclusively - I like to play with light, and I like to shoot nightscapes. I see a lot of criticism from folks who it's not really being targeted at, or are disappointed that it wasn't more of an advance on the previous model; I too would like to see a PD rated usb-c port but otherwise I think this is a really good option. The weather sealing is a big thing for me and speaks to a quality build despite the plastic over magnesium choice (some of us actively count grams to the point where having a body this light and this capable - with an actual IPX rating & freeze resistance is seriously attractive when it's going to be carried for days over mountains). I haven't seen anything else out there this small+light and capable, so despite its compromises for me this is the best thing going right now. With the seemingly imminent death of Canon EF-m I am very tempted to get one of these as my next camera.
My big questions are: Were the pics in this vid out of body jpegs or raw files that got your presets? (cos those colours are great!!) How does that 9mm Panaleica go on it? Does the stary AF work well with it, and is there any of that Panaleica purple fringing with this Oly shooting stars?
Love your vids, this was a great review, really hope to see some more - especially looking at astro and light painting if you get kind conditions☺
This camera is perfect for your needs! Absolutely great for rugged outdoorsy use! The wider shots in this video were from the oly 8-25mm f4 and the Laowa 6mm f2, I don't own the Leica 9mm unfortunately but its such a fab lens.
The photos were edited with my "city escape" preset pack - glad you like the colours!
I'm hoping to get some more astro done soon on m43 can't wait for some clear skies 🙏
@@MicroFourNerds Thanks a bunch, I really appreciate the advice! Bring on the clear skys
As someone, who sometimes does concert photography (with a Lumix GX8 at the moment) the OM-5 will get a pass from me. I might go for the OM-1 some day, if I have OM-1 money to burn, but realistically I'll get myself a second hand Olympus E-M5 some day because I like the Olympus approach to colors, but either stick to the GX8 for my concert photography or try out a GX9 if possible.
Having had the GX8 and 9 and shot them a lot over several years, I now have the EM5MkIII and it beats both of them hands down. The two things I miss from those are the LVF of the GX8 and the Lumix menu system. Other than those, the EM5MkIII beats both of them hands down. 🙂
@@JensMHA For my concert photography, I shoot in manual mode, because I need the shutter to be fast enough and the aperture to be wide open (as fast as possible), but I use auto ISO, because I can't adjust the ISO fast enough manually to get the shots in the constantly changing light conditions. A camera with a max auto ISO of 6400 just isn't fast enough for my needs. At the last concert, I photographed, I got keepers with an ISO of 8000. If my camera had been limited to an auto ISO max of 6400, I would have missed those shots. I fully realise, that there are many cameras better than the GX8, but for me it works.
@@NPJensen As far as I can see, the upper limit on the Auto ISO on the OM-1 goes to 102k and something. According to Peter Forsgaard, the noise level at ISO 25600 on the OM-1 is comparable to ISO6400 with the EM1 MkIII. I havent gotten around to try it yet, but it was one of the considerations before I decided to buy one as I live a place where we have about 7 hours of dusk, masking as day time for the winter months. 🙂 When I shot the GX8, I had it normally capped at 1600, but would if necessary go up to 6400. Then again, I didnt have access to the modern noice killers then.
That camera seems nice AF 😅
I appreciate your passion
i hated the over sharpen video quality of E-M5 III
Thanks.
Olympus (now OM System) and Panasonic Lumix were way ahead with computational features, but the other brands are catching up.
I feel Panasonic could really revive the M43 if they bring PDAF in their lineup: G100, G9, GH6, G95/90, BGH1, GX9, GX850/800, LX100 II. If Panasonic Lumix bring PDAF in those cameras, I think it will be awesome.
Really don't know for OM System, I still feel the last releases could be stuffs that Olympus that were already working on before the transition. Does OM System can keep up and release new gears in the future, well wait and see. It's surprising the last OM5 does not have the new menu system.
Olympus has been using phase detection Panasonic used contrast focus
I think most modern cameras have enough! It more so depends on the photographer these days. That said, I have the E-M5 mark II and am debating selling it with a couple lenses and battery grip to help fund the OM-5 or E-M5 mark III. My E-M1X stays forever but i need a small one too. NEED. SMALL. CAMERAS.
Just a note, you misspoke concerning the video features on this camera. It can absolutely do 4k (UHD) in 24, 25, and 30 fps. However, it won't do anything other than 24 fps in C4k, but it does have 1/48 of a shutter, which many lumix cameras don't have. Also, it has almost every feature you complained about in your G100 video not having with the exception of 59g of extra weight. Lumix is going to have a hard time beating this camera, I think. In fact, they'll have a hard time beating the E-M5 iii with almost all the same features as in this camera.
You posed the question: who is the OM-5 for? It’s for me! And the vast majority of M43 users who (1) place a big premium on small size and light-weight for travel photography; (2) appreciate the superb Olympus colour science; (3) take overwhelmingly many more photos than videos (smartphones do their occasional videos), and (4) are happy to leave their tripod and ND filters at home.
Spoiler alert: I believe the OM-5 designers knew exactly what they were doing when they made the video feature tradeoffs of this camera.
In a future episode why not do a comparison of the OM-5 and Lumix G9, the other stills-centric M43 camera? Of course you will mention that the G9 is 60% heavier and bulkier than the OM-5, and the G9’s inferiority when it comes to AF.
And that shutter button on the g9 is a nightmare 😂 you only have to glance at it and it's already taken 6 photos
@@MicroFourNerdsI really like the light shutter of my G9, but it is my main camera, I appreciate if you are using lots of different cameras you would really notice it. Can I ask how the evf on the OM5 compares to the G9?
@sue.Holmes1960 I think the g9 evf is one of the very best I've ever used. I've just checked the spec and the numbers back that up too, the g9 evf had 1 million more pixels than the om5 evf
Sorry, I made a mistake; just checked the volumetric size (or bulk) of the OM-5 and the G9 (that is, the camera body’s length multiplied by its width and multiplied by its depth). It turns out the G9 is three times the size of the OM-5. My shoulder bag says “no”.
If OMS hadn’t have gimped the om5, I would have picked one up just to play with the computational features… but same old sensor when OMS had the new one for the OM1, same outdated ports… why? It feels like nothing more than a resale of old inventory to get OMS products out. It could have been so much better!