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Easy to use92% agree
Good image quality100% agree
Good value100% agree
46 Reviews
Great value, still worth considering at current price point
On eBay yon can purchase "near mint" E-M5 for under $200. At this price point, I think it's one of the best values in the Micro Four Thirds segment. The Electronic Viewfinder, the OLED screen, and the fabulous 5-axis in body stabilization (IBIS) are all highlights for me at this price.
You won't see many folks extolling the virtues of this camera in 2023, but I encourage you to look at the excellent DPReview article from 2012. That is the best explanation for the pros and cons of this camera. Their review still holds up 11 years later.
If you are not familiar with Olympus OM-D cameras, especially the menu system, be prepared for a learning curve. The quickest way to get familiar with is to learn about the "Super Control Panel". That simplifies the operation considerably.Read full review...
Verified purchase: No
smaller camera works like a larger one
So far this camera works great. I recommend getting the micro 4/3 lenses. I used an adapter with my 4/3 lens from my E-510 and the auto focus is very slow. It is not an "Olympus" adapter, but an off brand one that was a third the price, so that may be the problem. Purchased a micro 4/3 14-150 which takes the place of two of my other lenses (14-42 and 40-150) That made a big difference.Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: engrave_ur_photo
Little gem on the prairie
Fantastic camera even though it is a 10 years old workhorse . It still perform as if it is a newly launched camera with numerous good features.. Pictures are sharp and is so compact in its size that makes you like to hold it all days long.Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: hmoc2020
NOT USER FRIENDLY.
Difficult to set settings for F-stop using the dials. Not intuitive at all.
My mail camera is a Canon 7D and settings are all at your fingertips
I always somehow end up over or underexposing and cannot switch it back easily without having to go to the screen and resetting. By then the shot is almost ALWAYS missed.
When you do manage to get settings right, the shots come out great. It's just fighting the camera to get to those settings is enough to make you want to throw the camera against a brick wall.
Not a good low light or night camera. Trying to take photos of the night sky is a nightmare. You can never get a good view through the viewfinder...that, and it almost always nearly blinds you because it is a digital viewfinder. An LCD right up against your eye. Nobody wants that.. It hurts your eyes in the dark. Also, If you have a slower SSD card, your processing times to save a picture is always going to mess up any quick shots you might want to take...it sits there flashing while it's writing to the card.
I like that it's small and cute and an excellent performer when you manage to get the settings right, but trying to set those settings on the fly is like pulling teeth. Way too stressful to try and take a good picture in changing light conditions.
I cannot imagine many professional photographers using this as a daily driver. The Canon had a learning curve and it wasn't too difficult to operate after a few tries. The learning curve on this thing is pretty much a wall.
Pay the extra cash and get yourself a camera that is more user friendly. Less stress means you get better pictures.Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: dylancs2012
Solidly built, all needed features a serious photograper would need.& more
I have shot Nikon my entire photographic life along with MF cameras. I have owned my own studio and shot professionally as a side business for nearly 30 years.
I love to travel and was looking for a less expensive, less bulky camera to take on my trips that was rock solid as I had recently destroyed a lens for my Nikon from the vibration from my Harley Davidson on a 6000 mile cross country road trip.
I was looking at the Sony Nex line when my son steered me towards this jewel. I had purchased a Nex5n and although I loved the camera for my needs it was coming up a little short as I like to have the viewfinder option. (My old eyes are not what they used to be.) I was looking at the higher end of the Sony line when I looked at this I never took another look at the Sony NEX.
I did a lot of research prior to my purchase. I own a Oly 5050 which I use as my dive camera and my wife uses it for everyday shooting and travel. Knowing how rock solid that point and shoot is and its superb image quality I had no qualms about the Olympus brand.
As for the OM-D E-M5 I looked at it once and knew it was the one for me. With the kit lenses its focus is blazing fast and at 9 fps capability what’s not to love. Much faster than any of my Nikons. I choose to go with the 14-150mm lenses which when the firmware is upgraded to the 1.1 version it seems as fast as the kit lenses or maybe just a tad slower but not enough to quibble about.
AS for me the only changes I would like to see are:
1. A pop up flash rather than the small clip on flash that comes with the camera. The flash works flawlessly and is small enough to not be in the way and secure enough not to accidentally fall off. I would just prefer a built in pop up. It seems like an afterthought even though older SLR did not have built in flashes either. I have since added the FL-600 which I also love when linked with the RC capabilities of the camera.
2. My second qualm is the panoramic mode. It does not cut and stitch in camera but rather designates the images as being part of a panoramic shot and the included computer software does the actual work of stitching it all together. It works fine and is easy; but you really can’t see what you have until you download the photos. I found if you shoot at too wide of an angle you get scallops in the image. You need to shoot more towards around the 25mm (50mm equivalent) to get a nice smooth image. That may be mentioned in the instruction; I haven't read them that far yet.
3. My third short coming would be the focus tracking of moving subjects. Maybe I just haven't gotten the hang of it yet. I think part of the problem is it is difficult to follow a moving subject when there is a very slight lag-time in the view finder. Bumping up the refresh rate helps but still not a complete cure. I think ANY camera without a true mirror reflex system would be hard pressed in this area. If that is what you plan on shooting a DSLR would be a better choice.
I agree that the optional grip is overpriced but fortunately it is not really needed.
That is my list of short-comings of this camera. All other areas are just WOW!
Image quality I believe is on par if not above my Nikons. I love the warmer tones that Olympus is famous for. The In camera scene modes are nice for the less experienced and the Art filters are interesting to say the least. Don't know if I would ever use them but they are fun ways to spice things up.
Bottom Line is Buy It!Read full review...
bad screen
I purchased 2 camera from on line store few month ago and they were both defective and i had to return them. (the monitor goes black after less than 30 mints use) the 3rd one was purchased from diff. co. and after using it for several houres on and off, still have no problem with it.Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: quickndone
Great buy in 2021
At 2021 prices its a real bargain. Menus are a little complicated but it also highly customizeable. The original EM-5 had tons of features no other camera had in 2012. Still very capable.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: juanfae1988
Nice camera
It has all the features I wanted in an upgrade from my Olympus EPL-3
There is a bit of a learning curve getting it to do exactly what you want it to do but it certaily feels good to use.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: ericflexyourhead
Lightweight with great features
Beautiful little compact toy less expensive with very good image quality but menus can get a little daunting. If you want to get the most of it you have to study the manual (like in almost all the cameras) but it worth it.Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: ado.japan130
Delivered ion time and all items as promised. Polite and customer friendly
Excellent seller. My highest regards.Excellent product. Included extras at not cost.Product is high quality I have no dislikes. The camera is complicated and requires further study from many sources to operate it completely. The camera does use legally lenses from my Olympus OM4, making images strong and the cost reasonable. My thanks to the seller.Read full review...