You can play around with the “mirrorless can be professional” debate as much as you like. One decides according to one’s needs. The Olympus OM-D E-M1 was probably the first to answer that question positively for many photographers. A number of predecessor competitors produced by Sony and Fujifilm lacked a sufficiently extensive system, while Olympus has deliberately worked on it for years.
The Olympus OM-D E-M1 digital compact camera with interchangeable optics
16.3 Megapixel 12-40mm F2.8 3″ $2650
The camera meets the basic requirements of professionals: reliability and flexibility of control – enough for a wide range of tasks quality. The notorious semi-frame format, which is the most common complaint, in practice is not such a stumbling block. There are plenty of areas where APS-C and 35mm formats are unnecessary, when the compactness of the camera and lenses makes a much bigger difference.
Preserving the traditional retro-styling of the series, the designers have managed to put a maximum of controls on a small surface of the body without sacrificing the appearance. Well-balanced magnesium body with oversized grip, reinforced dust and water resistance. The camera has one of the best electronic viewfinders with a long field of view and high resolution. Touch screen display gives you an extra level of interaction with the powerful software inside.
Vibration compensation on five axes, built in E-M1, can not only provide a clear picture when shooting with telephoto or at long shutter speeds, but also effectively suppress vibration when recording video. It is important that the stabilization is quite effective with any, even mechanical optics. To do this in the camera menu, select the appropriate focal length lens required to calculate the amplitude of the sensor oscillation.
Performance of 4/3 inch format sensors has improved a lot lately. The image quality has been optimized, noise reduction has been improved, and the addition of phase auto-focus sensors has made it possible to achieve the speed and sharpness needed for a serious camera. It is impossible not to note the significant breakthrough of the developers of the system.
Finally, a kit with a lens worthy of the camera itself – M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm 1:2.8. Buying these optics with the camera is also very profitable, because the savings will be about 15 000 Dollars. If you’re lucky, you can buy a large set for the same money, which in addition to the camera will also include an extra battery portrait arm.
How does the performance of the Olympus OM-D E-M1 mirrorless camera compare to other cameras in its price range?