Which camera would you recommend?

[bconolly]

Hi Ross, yes indeed. Hoping the extra battery arrives before our trip to Hawaii in early July.


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[Nick Cliff]

Look forward to seeing your EM-1 photos one day Brendan, and enjoy.

[bconolly]

Thanks Nick - couple of quick snaps from today posted up here: http://www.ausphotography.net.au/for...-new-OMD-EM-1)

[Bromo]

How are you enjoying your EM1? There are a ton of features on the camera and, if the rumors are true, the camera is set to receive more firmware updates (already up to 3.1).

[Ross the fiddler]

How are you enjoying your EM1? There are a ton of features on the camera and, if the rumors are true, the camera is set to receive more firmware updates (already up to 3.1).

I think we may see more in September somehow. That is when the 2 year contract on the Panasonic sensor (with limited use) is supposed to finish (according to Simon) where we might see other video frame rates like the E-M5 II & hopefully some other sweeteners to keep it a desirable camera on the market up till September 2016 when Olympus is likely to bring the E-M1 Mk II. I'm happy with what they bring in the FW updates, but can't say I use all the features that have been added though.

One thing I would like to see is an option to use Contrast Detect AF for 4/3's lenses on the E-M1 if desired as there are circumstances where (with the 14-54 II lens) PD-AF on the E-M1 it will hunt (because of horizontal only on sensor PD-AF sensing) whereas it can cope better on the E-M5 that only uses CD-AF, albeit slower. I've sent a Firmware Update Request in to Olympus (Aust) in that regard & if others would like that, then I would suggest contacting Olympus with a similar request & just maybe they might add that into the firmware in the future (hopefully sooner rather than later or not at all). I should have been requesting this last year (when I first got my E-M1) & encouraging others with 4/3's lenses to do the same, but we shall see...

[bconolly]

How are you enjoying your EM1? There are a ton of features on the camera and, if the rumors are true, the camera is set to receive more firmware updates (already up to 3.1).

Hi Bromo,

Excellent so far. Image quality is great, IBIS is amazing and loving the portability. It fits in my baby bag along with snacks and the usual days worth of gear which was one of the pre reqs. Single AF is as fast as my D610 and as accurate in all like conditions that I've tested. Haven't gotten into C-AF much but expect that to be fair. Battery life has surprised me so far. Love the EVF and frankly would be very reluctant to go back to an OVF. Also the quiet shutter is brilliant.

Firmware updates are great to see. Looking forward to the rumoured 4K video update and perhaps another C-AF update as well.

Overall I'm thrilled. To be honest, best camera I've purchased for my needs since my Minolta Film SLR 20 years ago!

Thanks for checking in!

Brenden

[Ross the fiddler]

Hi Bromo,

Excellent so far. Image quality is great, IBIS is amazing and loving the portability. It fits in my baby bag along with snacks and the usual days worth of gear which was one of the pre reqs. Single AF is as fast as my D610 and as accurate in all like conditions that I've tested. Haven't gotten into C-AF much but expect that to be fair. Battery life has surprised me so far. Love the EVF and frankly would be very reluctant to go back to an OVF. Also the quiet shutter is brilliant.

Firmware updates are great to see. Looking forward to the rumoured 4K video update and perhaps another C-AF update as well.

Overall I'm thrilled. To be honest, best camera I've purchased for my needs since my Minolta Film SLR 20 years ago!

Thanks for checking in!

Brenden

Brendon, I wouldn't be holding my breath waiting for 4K video on the E-M1 as I highly doubt that it will come by FW update (but I have been known to be wrong before) but it should come on the E-M1 Mk II next year (or I'd be very surprised if it didn't). The E-M1 would have to be the best camera I've had too & I do love it. I'd be interested to know how you get on with C-AF. Using C-AF with High sequential drive is the most effective, but what you see is a review between each frame, so that needs to be considered for moving subjects so that you are aiming ahead of the subject , whereas C-AF Lo uses preview between frames instead. I hope you continue to enjoy it with all that it has to offer.

[bconolly]

Hi Ross,

Yeah I also think it's unlikely if the new model's looking like late 2016. I guess though if that's deferred for any reason we might be in with a shot

I thought this was interesting (how true it is remains to be seen):
http://www.43rumors.com/e-m1-will-ge...er-the-e-m5ii/

Personally 4K isn't a major deal, but hey, if I can pick it up "for free" I'll take it

Brenden

- - - Updated - - -

Oh another thing I forgot to mention was that it only took about a week for the redeemable battery and grip to arrive which I thought was pretty quick turn around!

[Ross the fiddler]

Hi Ross,

Yeah I also think it's unlikely if the new model's looking like late 2016. I guess though if that's deferred for any reason we might be in with a shot

I thought this was interesting (how true it is remains to be seen):
http://www.43rumors.com/e-m1-will-ge...er-the-e-m5ii/

Personally 4K isn't a major deal, but hey, if I can pick it up "for free" I'll take it

Brenden

- - - Updated - - -

Oh another thing I forgot to mention was that it only took about a week for the redeemable battery and grip to arrive which I thought was pretty quick turn around!

I'm happy to take whatever they offer for free too. BTW, Simon might be the leaker, but O gives genuine hints (without saying too much).

It sounds like a nice quick supply of the grip. That doesn't sound like they were over run with orders perhaps (says the pessimist side of me), but it was good you got it so quick though.

Cheers, Ross

[bconolly]

I'm happy to take whatever they offer for free too. BTW, Simon might be the leaker, but O gives genuine hints (without saying too much).

Ah ok - that's good to know.

It sounds like a nice quick supply of the grip. That doesn't sound like they were over run with orders perhaps (says the pessimist side of me), but it was good you got it so quick though.

Cheers, Ross

I think the counter indicated 124 claimed by the time I submitted mine which was more than I thought and less than I'd hoped ;-)

[Ross the fiddler]

Ah ok - that's good to know.



I think the counter indicated 124 claimed by the time I submitted mine which was more than I thought and less than I'd hoped ;-)

Thanks Brenden. I remember the long wait I had for my E-M5 (middle of 2012) & then the wait for the bonus MMF-3 adapter (I used it for the ZD70-300 & ZD14-54 II lenses with it then & MF for the Sigma 150mm macro lens), but that was understandable with the first of the new & somewhat improved line of cameras with the greatly improved sensor from Sony & the first M4/3's model with the EVF built in. There was no way I was going to go for a PEN (& with essentially the same sensor as my E-30 DSLR) where I couldn't use the EVF & mounted flash at the same time so there was a big queue for that ground breaking model then. When the E-M1 came out I wanted it for my 4/3's lenses as well as all the other attractive features it had to offer & also put in a (unpaid) pre-order but I was notified it was in stock just after the Springwood fire started (in October that took out so many houses then) & I had my bags packed in case we needed to run, so I didn't take it then but then after the fires were out & close to Christmas Olympus brought out the Stylus 1 (with a constant f2.8 10.7 X zoom lens) so I ended up getting that for Christmas & glad I did because it has been such a great take anywhere camera with full advanced features. It was in (the end of) May last year (2014) that Olympus then had the $300 Cash Back till the end of June, plus the price had come down too, so I just had to have my E-M1 then.

[arthurking83]

....

Firmware updates are great to see. Looking forward to the rumoured 4K video update and perhaps another C-AF update as well. ....

From my(albeit limited) understanding of the rumours around these cameras .. the next iteration of this camera(ie. the EM-1 II(??)) model may have 4K video.

video is handled by another chip in the processing pipeline.
That is, while you can tweak some video settings .. a wholesale tweak like a format change is not possible.
The chip encodes the video in a a kind of hardware manner. That is, the chip can do specific pixel numbers(ie. HD or 4K or whatever) specific frame rates .. 30fps, 60fps, 120fps etc, and specific format output types.

If the chip was capable of 4K .. you'd have thought it would have been implemented from day one.

They could provide bit rate updates(say if the bit rate was set to a lowly 20Mb/s they could do say 50Mb/s or more.
This does allow slightly higher quality video capture, but it could be questionable as to whether most users would see a benefit to this.

So like Ross said .. even tho firmware updates(with actual substance!!) are great .. don't hold your breath for 4K video.

Most manufacturers are due to start a massive round of one upmanship over the coming months, Olympics are on next year. So they need to have a new king in their lineup.
Olympus is no different to Canon and Nikon, and they all just want their version of the new model to outdo the other models.
I think this is what/where the 4K rumour is centred around.

[bconolly]

Hi Arthur,

Yep agree. I suspect the most likely update will be to 60p up from the current 30p. Codec bit rate is 24Mbit's so there's (logically) room to move. Arguably I'm not sure that 4K would've / should've been on their roadmap as the camera was released October '13 with 4K sets really only affordable (and as a result really talked about in the mainstream media) mid 2014. Yep, get that YouTube etc were all up in everyone's grill prior (but that was from 2010), but it's when it goes mass market that people get interested.

It will be interesting to see what next year brings!

Thanks for the thoughts!

Brenden

[arthurking83]

Hi Arthur,

Yep agree. I suspect the most likely update will be to 60p up from the current 30p. Codec bit rate is 24Mbit's so there's (logically) room to move. ....

Even this could be physically impossible.(I dunno, just speculating going on some info I've gained on the Nikonhacker forums).

Again, the frame rate can be fixed within the chip doing the video processing.
On most(if not all .. I can't remember) Nikon cameras, there is a chip that does the video processing. I assume that other camera manufacturers follow similar principles.

So what happens(from what I've gathered) is that the camera has a XYZ model chip to encode the data steam that the sensor sees.
This chip does all the encoding, and it's basically set. That is, the pixel size it outputs and the frame rates it can produce.

say for example, this chip can do 29/30fps .. this is 'hardwired' into the chip. To achieve 60fps(in real time) the chip needs to be replaced, or some form of video interpolation needs to be done possibly by another processor, but in doing that(if possible) .. its only going to be a pseudo 60fps, where they may double up on each frame at 30fps and reprocess this into a 60fps output .. or something like that.
This is almost certainly unlikely to happen tho.

But in many instances where Nikonhacker have provided info on this topic, there is simply no way to hack the firmware to produce a 60fps video rate, as the chip is hardwired to be limited to only 30fps.
This is true if the manufacturer hasn't deliberately limited the capability of the hardware.

eg. if the manufacturer has used a chip that is 60fps capable .. or 4K capable, for arguments sake, to maximise profits they deliberately limit the capability of lower end models, to increase the increased price justification of models just above the lower end models.
Canon have done this(Nikon do it too!) .. and because Canon have done it to their model line up, the Magic Lantern group have taken advantage of this deliberate downspeccing of lower end Canon cameras, and provided a firmware that unleashes the hardware's actual potential!
But you still don't see 4K video from Magic Lantern on Canon cameras .. simply because the hardware required isn't there.
I'm not overly knowledgeable on Canon or MagicLantern, but from my understanding, I don't think that they do 60fps(if the hardware is limited to only 30fps).

So I'm fairly sure that if Olympus had implemented a video encoder on this camera that was 4K capable, they'd have jumped onto the 4K bandwagon sooner rather than leave it this late into the camera's life cycle.

Almost certain that 4K will be a feature of any new model EM-1 that transpires in the short term future .. 4K video is the new feature to have in terms of marketing!
How many folks will use it tho remains to be seen. 4K video capture requires a lot of data to be processed .. and hence stored too.
HD video at 30fps is bloody hard to store as it is .. I can't imagine how many terabytes of card space 4K or 60fps(with any reasonable quality) for each brief moment of video capture!

[Ross the fiddler]

In case you haven't seen these before, the Panasonic sensor Functions specs (at the bottom of the PDF chart) for the MN34230PL sensor that's in the E-M1 (& GH4) are:-

Full scan mode (No mixture, No decimation)
Monitor (Live View) mode : 120fps
HD movie mode
1080/60p (4pixel mixture)
720/60p (9pixel mixture)
High speed mode
240fps / 481fps
Full scan, Any size cropping
4k2k movie mode (30fps)

And the whole PDF can be found here http://www.semicon.panasonic.co.jp/d...Y000036_EN.pdf

If you want to know how it's known (or assumed) that the above sensor is in the E-M1 then look here. http://www.imaging-resource.com/news...sonic-not-sony

[bconolly]

Thanks Ross. Was looking for that info and couldn't find it!