Olympus OM-D E-M1 Review | 108 Data compared

The Photoscala review positions the Olympus OM-D E-M1 as a professional-grade mirrorless camera, highlighting its robust, weather-sealed magnesium body and an improved 16-megapixel sensor without an anti-aliasing filter for superior sharpness. Key advantages include fast autofocus with legacy Four Thirds lenses, an excellent 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder, and highly effective 5-axis image stabilization, all of which enhance handling and image quality. Conversely, the review notes that the smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor exhibits significant noise at high ISO levels, particularly beyond ISO 6400. Furthermore, continuous tracking speed drops to 6.5 frames per second, and the complex, extensive menu system paired with limited battery life under heavy use poses challenges, ultimately requiring high-quality lenses to achieve the best results.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 is a high-end mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (DSLM) tailored for highly demanding enthusiast photographers and legacy users of the older Olympus E-system. Priced at approximately 1,500 Euros for the body alone, this flagship Micro Four Thirds model aims to offer a seamless bridge between traditional DSLRs and compact mirrorless systems. It treats users to exceptional build quality and a substantial, ergonomic handgrip that stands out when compared to smaller mirrorless bodies, providing effortless handling even when using heavier lenses. Among its notable advantages (pros) are its highly sophisticated functions, very fast autofocus acquisition speeds with native lenses, and an abundance of physical control elements that allow for extensive customization. Additionally, it provides backwards compatibility and improved autofocus performance for original Four Thirds lenses. On the downside (cons), the camera's massive array of dials and deep customization menus can easily become overwhelming for less hands-on photographers. Furthermore, due to its relies on a smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor, it faces inherent performance limitations in very low-light scenarios and is less optimized for sports or fast action requiring ultra-high...

Summary The Olympus OM-D E-M1 is a high-end Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera (DSLM) that delivers professional-level performance in a compact, splash-proof magnesium body. Despite its retro 1970s aesthetic, the camera ranks highly due to its impressive 16-megapixel resolution, which yields remarkably sharp photos that rival larger APS-C DSLR competitors. Its image quality is further bolstered by a strong 13-stop dynamic range, reliable image stabilization, and a highly capable electronic viewfinder boasting 100% field coverage. For action shots, it proves highly responsive with an 81-point autofocus system that excels even in low light, alongside rapid burst shooting speeds of up to 10 RAW or 11.2 JPEG frames per second. Additional strengths include a sharp, 90-degree tilting touchscreen, integrated Wi-Fi for remote control, full-HD video recording, and specialized creative modes like a real-time Live Bulb exposure feature. However, the camera presents several drawbacks, most notably its steep price tag of approximately €1,500 without a lens, which strictly targets advanced photographers rather than casual users. The sheer abundance of physical buttons, dials, and extensive menu sub-items creates a complex user interface that...

The Digitalkamera.de review highlights the Olympus OM-D E-M1 as a professional-grade, versatile Micro Four Thirds camera featuring a massive, bright electronic viewfinder that matches full-frame DSLR sizing. Key advantages noted include a vast, highly functional feature set, robust construction, and high-performance, though the test was conducted with the 12-50mm kit lens rather than the premium 12-40mm f/2.8. Operational constraints identified in the test include low battery endurance, with roughly 200 shots per charge, which is further reduced by Wi-Fi usage. The review notes this high power consumption is a significant drawback during active, professional, or travel use. Digitalkamera.de

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 is a robust and highly capable tool well-suited for professional environments like street and wedding photography. Designed with a physical, built-in handgrip, the camera provides superior ergonomics and a secure hold compared to previous retro-styled models. Its standout features include a remarkably fast and precise autofocus system that accurately locks onto subjects even in low-light scenarios, an automated face-detection mode for portraiture, and a massive, immersive electronic viewfinder. Additionally, the exceptional 5-axis in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) allows photographers to take sharp, handheld shots at shutter speeds of one second or longer, dramatically keeping ISO values low in dim settings. Combined with high-quality lenses, the Micro Four Thirds sensor yields organic, highly detailed RAW images and impressive shadow recovery of up to 3 EV.

The author evaluated the Olympus OM-D E-M1 micro four-thirds camera as a potential creative travel alternative to her bulkier Canon DSLRs (the 600D and 80D). She praised the camera for its highly intuitive manual operation featuring easily accessible dual adjustment dials, an excellent area-metering system, and impressive 5-axis image stabilization that allows sharp handheld shots at shutter speeds as slow as 1/5 of a second. Additional strong points include the built-in automated timelapse video generation, beautiful out-of-camera colors, a unique in-camera double exposure mode, and robust weather sealing against cold and moisture. Later, the reviewer updated the post after buying the cheaper, lighter sibling model, the OM-D E-M10, noting that while it lacks weather sealing and the superior physical ergonomics of the E-M1, its final image quality matches the flagship model perfectly at a much lower price.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 is a professional micro Four Thirds (mFT) mirrorless camera that was originally introduced in 2013 for €1,500 and can now be purchased secondhand with warranty for around €175. A major standout feature of this camera is its phase-detection autofocus system, which allows it to lock focus instantly and accurately ("in a single snap") without the frustrating hunting or multi-step "inching" common in contrast-detection models. This phase-detection capability breathes new life into adapted legacy Four Thirds (FT) lenses—such as the Zuiko Digital 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 and 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5—enabling faster autofocus performance that makes them viable for sharp, high-quality documentary photography. Additionally, the camera delivers excellent 16-megapixel image and data quality, benefits from an identical battery compatibility with the E-M5, fits very comfortably in the hand without needing an extra grip, and features reliable in-camera RAW-to-JPEG conversion. However, the camera has several notable downsides, primarily its notoriously complex and overwhelming menu system that can cause "headaches" and easily overwhelm beginners. The firmware update process is also cumbersome, requiring the camera to be connected directly to a computer via a...

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 is a robust Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera featuring a dust- and splash-proof magnesium alloy body capable of operating in temperatures as low as -10°C. Designed to be larger than standard mirrorless models for enhanced ergonomics, it offers substantial room for physical controls, including three top dials and a dedicated AF/HDR button layout. The camera integrates an electronic viewfinder with 100% field coverage and an automatic eye sensor, alongside a tilting touchscreen display that supports touch-to-focus and playback navigation. Its overall weight stands at 712 grams when paired with the M.Zuiko 12-50mm kit lens, powered by a 1,220mAh BLN-1 lithium-ion battery. A major advantage of this camera is its lens versatility; the Micro Four Thirds mount supports a vast range of native lenses, and using the MMF-3 adapter enables legacy Four Thirds lenses to utilize a 37-point phase-detection autofocus system. Additional strengths include reliable performance with high-capacity storage like 256GB UHS-I SDXC cards, a broad selection of external ports (3.5mm microphone, Micro-HDMI, USB), and the inclusion of a specialized FL-LM2 clip-on flash powered directly through a...