After some months with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 mk2 (OlyM1) i would like to tell my impressions, based on comparism with my use history of Lumix GX8 and others.
My snapping-history:
After initiation into photography with borrowed cameras for 120 film and later for 110 pocket i saved some money and made the switch to Canon FD (Full format 35mm film) and lenses. I also tried a Canon EF camera for a short time, but then due to my work occupations sort of paused my snapping activities, although i also used sometimes 35mm compacts. Then i took up again in 2006 with a 6MP compact camera, waiting for a system camera worth using and which would not cost me a leg. I had some other digital compacts after the first, until the Lumix GX8 in 2015, which i pretend to replace now with the Olympus OlyM1 mk2 which i have my hands on for some months.
The Lumix GX8 was the first MFT camera of 20MP resolution, which i had been waiting for since there were already some enthusiast compact cameras of 20MP with a sensor of 1 inch type. I suppose a good system camera should be superior or at least equal the performance of a compact camera with a smaller sensor.
After using the camera OlyM1 mk2 sporadically, side by side also with phone cameras, i hope i am going to improve my snapping experience with this «new» camera.
Here i would like to point out what striked me, some by suprise, some expected, but some sort of differences anyway when using the new camera, having in mind the experience of the former Lumix GX8 and also the specs of the current OM flagship cameras. Maybe at the time of publishing some current drawbacks are nonexistent, due to firmware update ?
Disclaimer: I mostly use my camera for photo, seldomly for video.
The positive of each:
| OlyM1 mk2 | Lumix GX8 | |
| Body exterior | – Nice big grip – Additional function button next to the lens – 2nd SD card slot – individual caps for cable connectors (audio, hdmi, usb) | – Nice grip, big enough – Power switch next to the release button on top – EVF at the edge of the body (no nose problem on display) – EVF tiltable, helps shooting at difficult angles, without need for «bloating» the camera flipping the display |
| Handling and features | – quick menu – almost silent shutter mode (first electronic curtain) – solid AF-C mode (not shure if because of PDAF or software/firmware) – set focus point on touch screen – Lens info list of manual lenses for copy to EXIF data – Filename can be set, easing image processing from different cameras – Copyright setting – live composite exposure – Pro capture – Focus stacking with some lenses – High resolution mode – ISO limit and Shutter limits for auto modes – Self timer configuration options – Speedlight can trigger also with electronic shutter | – basic quick menu – set focus point on touch screen, use possible while using EVF – panorama photo function |
The downsides of each:
| OlyM1 mk2 | Lumix GX8 | |
| Body exterior | – body too big ? – Power switch impractical, but can be set to another function switch – WTF EVF bulky and in the middle of the camera – SD card cover (at the side of the grip) weak material ? – usb not for charging | – body too big ? – material rubber of caps of cable connectors non optimal (melt/break after several uses) – SD card slot at the bottom of the body – not practical for use with tripod – usb not for charging |
| Handling and features | – When power switch function set on alternative switch, the original power switch remains «dead» – not having «My menu» – set focus point on touch screen seems to be blocked when using EVF – no live ND – no panorama photo – no star AF, but has option for lens reset – only 3 custom settings – no photo starring/rating – WIFI transfer unusable for video (maybe there is a hidden option to optimize/compress ?) | – Not having «my menu» – no Lens info list of manual lenses for copy to EXIF data – no ISO limit and Shutter limits for auto modes – occasional focus-«pumping», ugly for video, and may be cause for miss of still photo – HDR not optimal |
Disclaimer2: Some features i listed as goodies, although maybe i isn’t crucial to me, but nice feature to have. I will try to mark the big ones for me.
Bonus p.d.:
Both cameras have shoulder straps which i don’t like. The Lumix strap is falling apart, due to the time it had with me in all sorts of climate. But the straps of both cameras are too bulky for my taste. I replaced them with the strong but discrete ones from some old analogue camera.
clicK-DIMension 