All up, it’s an impressive little beast, so what’s wrong with the E-M1?
Well there isn’t much.
Some might see the body only tag of $1599 a little expensive, but really, this isn’t a terrible price for what’s being offered, and certainly against what is out there that can compete with the E-M1 on its professional level.
Rather, the lack of a built-in flash is something we’re not particular fond of, especially when there could have been something added to the top of that pentaprism shape.
To its credit, Olympus does include a small external flash in the box, but if you’re anything like us, you’ll wonder why Olympus didn’t just include this in the body for the times you might need it.
The vari-angle LCD also continues something Olympus is known and not exactly celebrated for, and that’s the range of angles available.
It’s great for looking down on, and ok for popping the screen slightly out, but just like in past models, it won’t sit at a perpendicular angle if you hold the camera up above your head.
Likewise, it can’t be aimed at you for self-portraits, making the angles for the LCD rather limited.
Conclusion
I love cameras. Always have, always will, and even though my career path led me to journalism, there is a soft spot in my heart for things with viewfinders, focus rings, and a heavy reliance on optics.
Up until a couple of years ago, I carried my big bulky Nikon camera everywhere I went, a move that several of my colleagues thought was odd, and would point out all the time.
“You’re not a photographer anymore,” they would say, referencing what I was, “so you don’t need the big camera with you at all times.”
They were right. I didn’t. I could have easily carried a compact with me and performed my job, as well as grabbed personal images here and there when I needed to.
The point, though, was that I loved having a big camera with me, and in the Olympus OM-D E-M1, it felt like my larger camera had been returned to my hip without the weight or bulk.
There were times in carrying and walking with this that I had to remark as to how much lighter than my regular camera it was, checking frequently to see whether it was still in my bag.
As a reviewer, I’m used to seeing cameras that are lighter and smaller than the previous generation, but the point of why I’m saying all of this is that this is the first time I’ve felt like a smaller camera could genuinely fill the shoes of my big camera, and not only felt right in my hands and on my shoulder, but also had the controls, the speed, and the power to take over from that large DSLR.
For photographers who love the look and feel of a film camera, but no longer want the weight of a big machine, the E-M1 has to be checked out.
Last year’s OM-D was lovely, but this year’s model is a step ahead, and with the E-M1, Olympus has gone ahead and made something to be marvelled at. Highly recommended.
