Review: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Micro Four Thirds camera

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

As DSLRs are feeling the pinch of smaller camera bodies with more innovative features and improving photo quality, companies like Olympus are crossing the threshold from consumer to semi-pro with improved bodies and lenses that are making waves. One such camera is the OM-D E-M1.

In one swift stroke, Olympus has merged its long standing professional grade Four-Thirds line with its innovative OM-D line and the result is really the pinnacle of what is possible with non-DSLR interchangeable lens cameras. Compact enough to satisfy photographers moving up from smaller ILC's yet with many features that match and even surpass some prosumer DSLR's, the OM-D E-M1 is a no-nonsense performer that will easily fit into most photographer's workflows. Note that there are 57-lenses available for this camera with more coming and an unlimited number of options through the use of lens adaptors.

The OM-D E-M1 looks and feels professional grade. A secure handgrip gives it great support and the level of build quality is unsurpassed for a camera in this class.  Full magnesium alloy body construction, an intuitive control layout, an interactive electronic viewfinder, dual fast auto-focus (combining on-chip phase detection and contrast), it also offers 10 frames per second sequential shooting.

Best of all, it can easily shift between traditional Olympus lenses and the new batch of micro-four thirds lenses while maximizing the qualities each of these systems bring.

I’ve been using the OM-D E-M1 for a month and have been amazed at the amazing results specially when paired with the new batch of lenses. The auto-focus is super-fast and the 1/8000s shutter is on a class of its own for an ILC. The 5 Axis image stabilization, a feature debuted on the OM-D M5, is something I look for on any new camera I try, and it makes a difference when working without a tripod.

The onboard electronic viewfinder is a superb feature that makes it possible to really focus on the subject (although the articulating viewfinder is equally solid and versatile for users who need to shoot high and low angles). The key feature that impressed me the most is the fast and accurate automatic focus. 

Built-in WiFi is a feature that enables quick sharing with smartphones and tablets, something that many professional users and photojournalists will love from the get go. The ability to quickly share or export shots from a location and upload them to a server or website has never been easier. It is also compatible with the Eye-Fi card which can similarly push jpegs to a smartphone or tablet. 

These wireless solutions tied into a camera of this caliber open up possibilities for photographers who need to cover events live and get images up on websites, social media services quickly and reliably. 

Olympus has outfitted the OM-D E-M1 with easy to use controls although the full-manual access is easy to learn and the intuitive placement of the dials as well as the buttons, some of which are programmable, make using this camera ideal for seasoned professionals. This is quite customizable and there are various ways to set it up.

There's no room for fumbling or tripping up controls and settings. The top mode dial is locked into place by a button which ensures you don't have to worry about losing settings for specific shooting conditions.

The freeze proof, dustproof and splash proof rating of this camera don’t get in the way of its great handling and lightweight frame. Shooters can choose from 32 Olympus Lenses and 57 Lenses from all of the Four Thirds consortium members for a great array of photography tools. There’s also a variety of adaptors that will allow one to use Nikon, Canon, Leica and other types of lenses in manual focus mode for an even wider range of options.

Olympus has put all its eggs in one basket with the OM-D E-M1 and it has really baked in all the best features that many had expected while innovating in areas that the competition has neglected.

The power, speed and image quality that the OM-D E-M1 can achieve puts it at the top of the compact non-DSLR camera hierarchy, it's advanced features makes it a viable replacement for larger, bulkier and lower-tech DLSRs.

While compact and lightweight in size, the range and features of the pro-level OM-D E-M1 have really elevated the Micro Four Thirds format and secured Olympus’ place as the standard bearer of the prosumers and professional line of cameras and lenses.

Rating: 5 out of 5