I have had the E-M5 for a bit over 3 weeks and after using it my overall
conclusion is the same as it was when I first examined it in Tokyo on
3/31. So many wonderful points, I really like the size/weight of the
lenses/camera compared to all the DSLRs/FSLRs I have been using for many
years, quite happy with the IQ, S-AF is fast and accurate, but the
ergonomics are rather poor compared to what could have been done even
without making the camera larger. Olympus chose to make it look like a
very small 40 year old film SLR and then shrunk that to make it even
smaller and added a tilt rear screen and lots of controls that the
larger film SLR didn't have. The NEX 7 is as small or smaller, but has a
larger sensor, tilt screen, and builtin flash yet the controls, grip,
and EVF are in better positions and are not so small. I am not saying
the NEX 7 ergonomics are ideal, but it shows how much better Olympus
could do while keeping the size the same. The following is a post I
made 2.5 months ago on a forum. I was in Japan for 6 months and
in Tokyo at that time for a few months so I had many opportunities to handle the E-M5.
2012/04/01
I am almost reluctant to post
this because I know from my years on dpreview that there are always
some people who think anything that is not a glowing opinion of the
product/company that they happen to currently like is an assault on
their manhood, worth as a human being, ethics, morals, religion, mother,
wife, or child.
I have something about the E-M5 that I am not too happy about, but
please be assured that this is not meant as a personal insult to any of
you. We are just talking about an inanimate object, a tool, albeit one
that most of us have some interest in. Let's please all try to remember
that.
After
trying out the E-M5 yesterday and discovering that the ergonomics were
less than I had hoped for, particularly since I use my left eye, I
decided to go back to Shinjuku today to try it again. I spent a fair
amount of time holding it and checking to see how it felt with it up to
my eye and using the control dials, tiny top buttons, and the 2 tiny
rear buttons at the top while my eye was to the EVF. Hmmm, I guess I
will say that it is barely acceptable. Of course, in other ways the E-M5
is the sort of camera with the small lenses that I have really been
hoping for so that influences my evaluation. Oh, and I don't have large
hands (not small either). If I didn't want something like this so much I
might put it on the other side of the acceptability line.
As it
is, barring anything important that comes up in reviews or user reports I
am still thinking I will get one later. The feel of it in my hand and
the usability of controls while up to my eye though is definitely the
biggest negative point. One might say that one must expect compromised
ergonomics in such a small body (it is small), but that ignores the fact
that the Panasonic G3 is as small and it feels better to me and the NEX
7 is smaller and it is wonderful. Of the MILCs that have a built-in EVF
I would personally rate the feel and access to my most used controls
while looking through the EVF with my left eye in this order:
1. NEX 7, Panasonic Lumix GH2
2. Panasonic Lumix G3
3. Nikon V1
4. Olympus E-M5
Using
my right eye I would rate them in the same order. The GH2 is bigger and
heavier than the NEX 7 so it isn't really fair to also put it in the #1
spot since it has the advantage of the bigger body for controls.
The
E-M5 ergonomics suffer a lot because Olympus tried so hard to make it
look retro and look like the old OM-1 film SLR. Yes, I know that many
people like this look. Actually, Olympus made it smaller/lighter than
the OM-1:
OM-1: 510g, 136 x 83 x 50mm
E-M5: 425g, 122 x 89 x 43mm
NEX 7: 353g, 120 x 67 x 43mm
Then
with that reduced size they added all the controls that digital cameras
need, but film cameras didn't (LCD, control wheels, buttons). And since
they wanted it to look as much as possible like a smaller version of
the OM-1 they put the EVF directly above the lens and in the center of
the body so that it looked like an old pentaprism OVF. Well, once they
put the EVF there in the center rather than offset then that meant they
had even less space to cram all the controls. Definitely a form over
function design. It has the retro look and that is clearly important and
a selling point for many people. No disagreement from me there.
Olympus, like all companies, makes products in order to sell them and
they are probably right that this compromised, retro design will sell
well and maybe better than a less compromised, modern design. I can't
fault them for that. All I can do is offer my subjective opinion that
they went too far trying to do it all: smaller than OM-1, more controls
crammed onto the smaller camera than the OM-1, and putting that big EVF
hump right in the middle so that there was even less space for the
controls. Oh well, it is what it is.
Although there are reasons
why I am not interested in the NEX 7 (big lenses, few lenses, no IBIS,
slower AF) I couldn't help but be so impressed holding it right after
the E-M5. Smaller size and lighter weight, but the hand hold is great,
the EVF is over on the left so that it works well for people using the
right eye and for people using their left eye, controls on the right
side are not so cramped and small and since people who use their left
eye have their face moved over to use the EVF there is no problem with
using those controls. Sony still manages to get a bigger sensor (1.5x), a
tilt LCD, an EVF, and a flash into the smaller/lighter body. Something
more like this body with the E-M5 sensor, IBIS, and m4/3 mount would be
fantastic, IMO. Even if the E-M5 EVF hump was moved to the left (even
just 5mm would help) it would give more space for the controls, more
space for your face, and more space for your thumb. If they did that
then make the hump smaller and smooth too like the V1 since the camera
would no longer look like an old OM-1 anyway. Sounds like a nice Olympus
additional body.
By
the way, I also tried using my forefinger instead of my thumb to work
the rear control dial. You can do it, but then you have to take your
finger off the shutter button. That is fine for many people and many
types of photography. For me though it would mean missed shots. I often
find myself making a quick adjustment using my thumb while at the same
time my finger is ready to press the shutter release. For many people
who use their left eye though using the index finger will help. Using
the thumb isn't impossible though, just sort of uncomfortable and
cramped.
I recommend that anyone who has any doubts at all about
the ergonomics that you spend time holding it and using it before
buying. Some people will be fine with it, but for some they will think
Olympus just went too far.
), several filters, a Minolta MC/MD lens adapter for my old Minolta MC
50mm f1.4, and an A-mount adapter for my old Sigma 90mm f2.8 macro.
This is what I have now:
