Micro 4/3 Olympus PEN E-P5 has arrived (officially)

wolfie

Veteran
And looking good in 1960s chrome and faux leather livery
olympus-unveils-pen-ep5-7.jpg


Notably the front is "Olympus PEN", not just "Olympus".
Lots of good updates from the E-P3, but sadly lacks the WR sealing despite apparently better build than the E-M5. But improved 5 axis IBIS, 100 iso option, 1/8000 top speed, faster AF, 9fps top speed, smaller AF points, WiFi, 1.04M tiltable touch screen, twin wheels, 2MP hot shoe EVF - back compatible to earlier PENs (except E-P1), more metal construction.

Previews at Ming Thien , digitaltrends and dpreview sites (and probably dozens of others within 24 hours).

And of course the all black version for the discrete shooters...

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Looks nice. If I hadn't downsized my m43 gear to one body and a few (mostly longer) lenses, I'm sure I'd be interested. As is, it doesn't appear to be an upgrade from the OMD (maybe AF speed, but when AF speed is THAT fast, "diminishing returns" doesn't even begin to tell the story. Also, not clear whether the IBIS will work with the detachable EVFs on this camera the way the EVF is stabilized in the OMD, but I seriously doubt it. EVF stabilization is one of the most useful features I've ever found for using long lenses. So no significant upside to this and one pretty big downside. So, I'll definitely be sitting tight. Also, quite a costly body only, although the 17mm f1.8 and the new EVF for another $450 sounds like a pretty good deal...

-Ray
 
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!? What does Oly have against allowing metering to be an assignable function to the many customizable buttons on its cameras????? Just keeping a tradition alive??? Just to spite me? Aarghhh!!

End rant.

1/8000, ISO100, focus peaking, time lapse and Wifi remote trigger are very nice!!

Like the new configurations and dials too.
 
how many button presses to change metering mode on a dedicated button vs SCP. You must change your metering modes a lot more than I do. I'm pretty much a matrix sorta guy unless there's something strongly backlit and then I use spot. And even if I only had one way to meter, I'd just use the exposure compensation dial.

The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks;)
 
If it had an integrated EVF where they put the flash (NEX 7,6, Fuji XE-1) it would be more of a real camera. Quite pricy, compared to the NEX6 and Fuji, considering the smaller sensor. I`d choose the OMD (still the best Swiss army knife of a camera), over this one any day.
 
the ISO100 is not a real ISO100, but the 1/8000 is definitely welcome. Goodbye ND filters.

!!!

-Eliot "...but if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world..." - Fox, Le Petit Prince
 
I really like the silver and black model. Looks great!

The deal (if you can call it that) is to get the VF4 and 17/1.8. It's not cheap, but probably setup against the Fuji X series and targeting that market of serious photographer willing to spend more to get the "right stuff." While the EP5 costs a little more, you get IBIS, faster AF and access to the M43 lens lineup. That's the a fairly compelling package, although why not get the EM5 if you really want the VF4.

Improved ergo, IBIS, wifi, 1/320 flash sync, 1/8000, etc are features not to be overlooked. Price is the only issue for me.

Stepping back and looking broadly, it's good to see M43 bodies having this level of product maturity. The g6 has a solid feature set, and the GH3 is a bigger body that enables all-day shooting with a grip and longer lenses with top-level video.
 
how many button presses to change metering mode on a dedicated button vs SCP. You must change your metering modes a lot more than I do. I'm pretty much a matrix sorta guy unless there's something strongly backlit and then I use spot. And even if I only had one way to meter, I'd just use the exposure compensation dial.

The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks;)

Yes, I do! LOL!!

But seriously though, how ridiculous it is that Oly allows every single function to be assigned to the customizable buttons EXCEPT metering!?!? What is the rationale behind that???? On my (formerly your) OMD, I can have 5 buttons assigned to exposure compensation (or something like that), but zero for metering. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot ...

It's sort of like Fuji refusing (so I've been told) to put face detection on their "advanced" cameras. Maybe not every one likes to use FD. And for those who don't like FD, they can keep FD off. But for those who do like FD, it's be a great asset for them. But Fuji decided that those who like to use FD can go kiss Fuji buttocks.
 
WAY too overprices. Should be about $700 body to fit the lineup.

This gives me no GAS. That's a lot of money for a camera that can't use a viewfinder and a flash at the same time.
 
WAY too overprices. Should be about $700 body to fit the lineup.

This gives me no GAS. That's a lot of money for a camera that can't use a viewfinder and a flash at the same time.

Its got a pop-up flash that'll work with the EVF. And I don't know if this one will or not, but Olympus on-board flashes have often been usable as triggers for larger flash systems. So you might be wrong about that.

It seems really high to me too, but realistically the EP2 and EP3 were right around $899 when new, weren't they? Or were those with kit lenses? Not sure. But this looks like the m43 body I'd want if I wasn't into longer lenses with this system and a permanent EVF. I love the controls and the even GREATER amount of customizability on this body. And the 5-axis IBIS. I'd say its worth more than any of the Pens that have preceded it. Whether by this much, I don't know...

-Ray
 
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