5th Feb 2015, Olympus has announced the upgraded version of its EM5, the new OMD EM5 Mark II! Lets take a quick look of what’s new with this new interchangeable lens camera.
1. Powerful in-body 5-axis VCM image stabilisation system providing up to 5 shutter speed steps of shake compensation*1
The Olympus OMD EM5 Mark II has the most world’s most effective shake compensation equivalent to 5 shutter speed steps. Users can enjoy hand-held shooting without worrying about camera shake in low light or during telephoto photography. The system powerfully compensates for camera roll, which cannot be corrected with in-lens stabilisation. Horizontal/vertical shift moves are also compensated for, assuring stable hand-held macro shooting results. This feature also prevents image shake in the viewfinder for a stabilised view, regardless of lens used.
The combination of Olympus Zuiko high performance optics, the high-sensitivity 16M Live MOS sensor and the TruePic VII image processor maximises the camera system’s imaging quality. The fusion of traditional optical technology, advanced image processing and high-performance image stabilisation produces a high-level picture quality that is competitive with the best non-full frame sensor ILC cameras.
2. Compact dustproof and splash-proof camera body and lens system
The E-M5 Mark II is available in luxurious black, or premium silver. It has a robust magnesium alloy chassis. High-precision, high-quality textures are applied with machined metal dials, knurling, spin patterns, and diamond cuts. The super elegant viewfinder housing, a distinctive OM-series design characteristic, features a sharper delta shape for bolder appearance.
The compact body is shaped to be easy to grip. A larger molded grip improves on the handling of the original E-M5. Six customisable function buttons, large dials, and function-multiplying control levers are placed in a layout that enables you to easily change settings while looking through the viewfinder. The E-M5 Mark II has a vari-angle LCD screen for compositional versatility.
The E-M5 Mark II has the same compact, lightweight body as the OM-D E-M5 even with the inclusion of a new vari-angle LCD. In addition to top-class splash-proof performance among interchangeable lens cameras that makes shooting possible even in the rain, this model is freeze-proof up to -10°C. These features make it possible to focus on shooting even under difficult conditions with absolute confidence.
The new M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f4.0-5.6 II has been added to Olympus Zuiko lineup of dustproof and splash-proof lenses. These lenses include the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 EZ, an electronic standard zoom lens perfect for movie recording, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f2.8 PRO, a fast, high-performance standard zoom lens, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f2.8 Macro, perfect for nature macro photography, and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f2.8 PRO, a fast, high-performance telephoto zoom lens.
3. OM-D Movie: Hand-held cinema-quality movie recording
OM-D Movie is a movie solution that provides cinema-quality movies in hand-held shooting. The E-M5 Mark II’s powerful in-body 5-axis image stabilisation system combined with the Zuiko compact-sized lens system provides hitherto unseen stabilised movie recording quality even without special rigs. It lets you capture dynamic action footage on the move.
The E-M5 Mark II supports a 60p high frame rate and a 50Mbps high bit rate recording. Movie AF and AE control have been reworked for smooth, high-resolution, Full HD movie quality. To compensate for image instability, the OM-D E-M5 Mark II’s in-body 5-axis image stabilization system uses a VCM driver that floats the image sensor with magnetic force. This construction makes it possible to shoot smooth, hand-held movies without a movie tripod, mini-jib, rails, or other specialized equipment. Video resolution, video smoothness, live AF, AE quality, and image stabilisation performance are at the top-level amongst interchangeable lens cameras.
The E-M5 Mark II is equipped with Multi Frame Rate, High Bit Rate, ALL-Intra shooting, and the ability to set time codes. Live View can be displayed on an external monitor via its HDMI output. Focus Peaking is now available in 4 colors (black, white, red and yellow); the intensity can be selected from low, normal and high, making focusing easier when shooting. Settings such as exposure compensation, aperture, shutter speed, and microphone sensitivity can also be changed using touch operations while recording a movie. Audio can also be recorded using an Olympus digital recorder equipped with linear PCM recording connected to the microphone jack for optimal audio levels and high quality audio recording. Because power supply settings to the external microphone can be turned on and off, users can use a high-end condenser microphone or dynamic microphone with a power supply. Camera grip HLD-8G (sold separately) enables live audio monitoring through its headphone jack.
The new Clips function lets you easily create movies with a variety of scene changes. Simply press the movie button once as if taking a snapshot to capture short movies with a preset duration, Movies shot as Clips are automatically saved to the camera’s My Clips menu. Add effects and background music within the camera, the result can be exported a single movie. Creative movies can thus be easily produced using just the camera, without editing on the computer.
All Art Filters are available when shooting movies. Partial Color lets you capture movies like a scene from a film, and Vintage movie lets you produce an emotional atmosphere in movies without editing. Four different Art Effects, including Art Fade, which makes changes in Art Filter movies more interesting, and Old Film, which gives movies a film-like effect, expand the possibilities of movie expression.
4. 40M High Res Shot – Resolution that goes beyond current full-frame DSLR cameras
Eight 16-megapixel shots are captured in a sequence while moving the sensor by 0.5 pixel steps between each shot. The eight shots are composited to produce a single, super-high resolution image, equivalent one captured with a 40-megapixel image sensor. This feature is perfect for the photography of still life, products, art objects, and landscapes and and other scenes where high-resolution photos are required. It maximizes the resolution of Zuiko PRO and Premium lenses, capturing images with resolution that surpasses contemporary full-frame DSLR cameras.
5. 2.36 million dot, super large, high-definition EVF
This large, bright, easy to use viewfinder has a field of view of approximately 100%, and a viewfinder magnification of 1.48x. Equipped with Adaptive Brightness Technology which automatically adjusts the backlight brightness in accordance with environmental lighting, the new LV Boost II convenient for shooting stars, and Creative Control for complete freedom of control over color, tone, focus, and aspect ratio, comfortable shooting using viewfinder is possible.
6. Improved FAST AF
FAST AF, which achieved the world’s fastest AF on the OM-D E-M5, has advanced even further. The sensor drive speed has been accelerated to improve AF algorithm, and the high-speed drive MSC lens has contributed to a shooting time lag improvement of 45% from the original OM-D E-M5.
7. Improved sequential shooting performance
RAW sequential shooting is now possible at 5 fps (Sequential L) until the card is full. This frame rate is constant and shooting no longer stops due to sequential shooting time. Additionally, C-AF tracking sequential shooting performance is improved to 5 fps. When using Group Target AF, tracking sequential shooting is possible with the focus on a moving subject within a field of view.
8. High-speed shutter with various modes for different scenes
A high-speed 1/8000 sec mechanical shutter is used that’s available only in high-end interchangeable lens cameras. The E-M5 Mark II has the shortest release time lag of 0.044 seconds among same-class cameras with mechanical shutters. Anti-Shock mode (electronic first curtain shutter) that reduces shutter shock is now compatible with sequential shooting, and Silent mode (electronic shutter) for shooting in environments in which silence is required is included. An all-electronic shutter shooting mode (Silent) enables the use of 1/16000sec shutter speed.
9. Built-in Wi-Fi for camera control and data transfer via Olympus Image Share and new Olympus Image Palette apps
Smartphone connection and image sharing is now easier with built-in Wi-Fi. Simply scan a QR code to complete initial connection settings. Users can then transfer images, add geotags, and apply Art Filters. A smartphone can also be used to remotely control the camera for wireless shooting in a variety of scenes. Olympus Image Palette is a new editing app that can be used on smartphones and tablets to apply effects such as Color Creator, making post-shooting work fun.
The price?
Body Only: RM3,899
Body + Lens kit M12-50mm: RM4,499
Body + Lens kit M14-150mm II: RM5,599
Body + Lens kit M12-40mm PRO: RM6,499
Booking starts today, stock expected to be ready around Mid Feb 20151
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