Olympus E-M1 Mark II in 2022 

I owned an OM-1 for several weeks and was thrilled with it.. What a great camera. But then after watching Robin Wong's videos and this one, I realize for my purpose the OM-1 was overkill for an everyday camera. I shoot stills mostly and most of my video is casually shot with my phone. I had paid $28xx for the camera-lens kit. I didn't really need the lens because I have a 12-60 f2.8 already. Anyhow I returned it and got an E-M1m2 for $564 from mbp, and saved myself $2200 while getting pretty much 90% of what I was getting from the OM-1.

Fully with you on this. Olympus is still one of the most overlooked and undervalued brands. I went to the Sony ZX1 for that product showcase feature but ditched it to go back to the EM5iii because I so drastically prefer the color, look and feel. Also laughed so hard at the age commentary. :P

I’ve had the original EM5 for years and still shoot with it occasionally. I just got the EM1 Mark II in excellent condition a few weeks ago for around $600 dollars and I am blown away by both the quality and the features. Much better capability than than any new budget camera in that range and amazing build quality. I am so happy I got this camera! From reviews I’ve read, it’s very close to the Mark iii at a substantial discount. The one thing I noticed where it shows it’s age is the EVF which is not up to the standard of newer camera releases. Other than that, it does everything I need it to and still produces amazing results

Some incredible shots in there! Thank you!

This is my current camera, and probably my favorite camera of all time for the price. I recommend it to anyone who wants to spend a little bit more then the super cheap cameras! Paired with some micro 4/3 prime glass (also super cheap) and you can take amazing photos and videos all day!

Great video Steven! Keep up the great work. I look forward to your video on the Sony ZV E10.

Bought the Em1 mkii a couple of years ago. Loved the handling and all the features. The dials and buttons just fell in the right place for me. So easy to use for longer periods of time. Anyway, I decided in my wisdom i wanted a smaller camera for travel so went with the Em5 mkiii; much of the Em1 mkii but in a smaller package. I loved it; still do……but, i missed the supreme handling. I can honestly say, the Em1 mkii is the best fitting camera for my hands….ever! Had to buy another so it lives happily with the smaller brother! Olympus really does make some awesome cameras! Great video; thankyou!

My first Olympus was the magnificent OM 1. I instantly fell in love with that jewel of a camera. Matter of fact: i still have it AND use it sometimes. 0ver the years i switched to OM2n, OM4, E-520 and finally the OMD E-M1 MARK II. Still in love.

Serious camera love here! Unsurprisingly.Thanks for this review. MFT is a wonderful system for travel, street and video.

I shot with an Olympus Em1 for years, eventually added Sony full frame equipment to my roster but never sold my Em-1 and lenses. A couple of months back I finally upgraded my EM-1 to the mark ii and I'm delighted! It's such a fun camera to use! IBIS is next level! Plus I'd trust it's weather sealing (with the right lenses) and build quality over almost anything else! Especially for the low price this camera is now available for.

Great review Steven, thanks for sharing.

Thumbnail on point. Great video as always Steven!

Olympus colours are just so good. Kind of Kodachromy but more natural. I have an EP1 which I'd totally forgotten about, but took for a walk the other day. AF is slow as hell and the backscreen is very low res, but I took these limitations as a given. It produces great jpeg images that I don't have to care about post processing and don't take up multiple terabyte drives to store. Let's be real, nothing we see online needs much more than a 2mb sensor.

Great video.....Could you do a follow up video showing how you find these video options in the menus? just curious.

Ace and honest review , your videos are always inspiring , so glad you are still posting in these dangerous shots days with such a mega camera , subbed .🤠👍

Thank you. I need to use my EM1ii and iii more.

Thanks a lot for this video!! I started photography with my E-M10 Mark III and I was wondering if I should change my set for another brand... But then I walked by some used E-M1 Mark ii cameras in my local camera store today and wanted to know more about the model ! Thanks again!

I originally got a brand new Panasonic G85, which was a great camera except for its poor auto focus (contrast detect only). My used Olympus om1 mk II has the superior phase detect auto focus and I could see the results quickly (almost no blurry out of focus photos anymore)!

Great video and brilliant video. Does the em1 mkii still have that 30minute limit on video?

Years ago I found an EM1Mii for $900 but bought a newer EM5Miii instead. Now, buying the EM1-Mii as a second body, having the EM5Miii converted to full spectrum. I like Olympus same reason I have Pentax 645, all that legacy glass to play with! Finally, your video wasn't the most technical out there, but your video quality and color editing is the BEST I've seen out there on RU-vid.

Right on the money. Wholeheartedly AGREE

I have the original EM 1 and just talked a friend into selling me his mk ii. My rationale was the continuous autofocus for video. This is just the testimonial I needed! The image quality and colors I already like with the original. I've got the 12-40. What is your favorite lens for your videos?

High praise indeed.. I want one.

I love my EM 1 Mark ii. I'm pairing it with a Leica 15mm lens for video and it just feels so natural. Especially when filming outdoors. Honestly if I had the money to upgrade it, I'd probably just buy an M.Zuiko Pro lens for it instead.

Between the firmware updates that dramatically improved the AF performance and the latest OM Workspace software with the AI Noise reduction for Olympus raw files that also improves image quality , I am still confident to keep my one for a while yet because so few other brands can match the WR sealing of the Olympus/OM System cameras and lenses.

Hi Steven. Thank you for a great video. May I ask if this is correct that it is impossible to set ISO in auto when shooting video and how you get around this.

I bought this the limited addition version for full price. I just did a wedding with it and the bigger brother, the E-M1X. And they both kept up well. Even taking some night dance photos with 16000 iso. Did well, I will be doing some noise reduction on them anyways. I do love the Olympus stuff.

Your new graphics are great :)

I really appreciated this review Steven! I have a panasonic G85 and its been a great camera but the autofocus is horrible. I've been thinking about buying a em1 mark ii because of the amazing C-AF. My only hesitation is the apparently poor audio preamps on olympus, do you have any issues recording audio with an external mic or could you provide any feedback regarding the audio situation with this camera? Thanks!

Yes, its great and this video looks fantastic

As owner of this cam., I appreciate this video.

I Just got it in two days ago~! love it

Got one 6months ago - great camera, always delivers. Totally recommended

I don’t know why. But something about olympus cameras make me feel so different. I mean, even a cheap camera like em10 or ep3. It’s feel so premium. The buttons layout, the menu system so good designed. Much better than Fuji, Sony or Panasonic. The lenses. Nothing to complain a about Olympus lenses. They are perfect

Having been with Oly since they came out with the em5mkll which coincided with the burglary and theft of my nikon kit I agree with your presentation on the 1mkll which you can get at a great price what I have been on the fence about is you can get the EM1X for a few dollars more and it is basically the mothership of there line up prior the selling to OMD "BUT' its a big camera. I have a 5mkll and a Pen-F and agree if I am doing something that is a little nerve racking its nice to have a tool that you know does the job it is capable of.

Switched from nikon dslr last year for the Olympus OM-D e-m5 mark ii and now upgrading to Olympus OM-D e-m1 mark ii

5:20 this really hurt - because basically most the nineties I was in my twenties… 😂 Love your colors. In the end I am certain you can make any system work for you - it is the man, not the gear - although the gear helps.

Great review. Thanks for the effort and sharing. Question: with Oly E-M1 mk2, what is the highest ISO you would use for stills (6400?) or video (800?). Thumbs up.

Olympus has always been leaps and bounds ahead of everyone in all areas except in their marketing. However they never failed to employ the most dreadful and uninteresting people to showcase their products. You can’t seriously expect to get peoples attention with an endless parade of geriatric bird nerds carrying your brand. RIP Olympus. We hardly knew you.

Hi. Really hope you can help me to decide which camera to choose. I like the size of EM5iii but I do sometimes will use the camera as an event photographer. The size of the camera with a 12-40 Pro lens and on-camera flash would be uncomfortable. But most of the time I will be using the camera for street photo sessions and travel. What is your opinion? Thanks.

Hey Steven, Just a beginner at photography, but I managed to pick up a Olympus E3 with the 40-150mm kit lens the other day, so in love with the colour grade my A6000 isn't getting much use.. :) know exactly what you are saying, looking to upgrade to a EM1 mk 3. :) Thanks for your videos.

I just clicked for some validation, as I'm pondering whether to buy the new om1, wait for the new om 5 or change to fuji all together. By now I have a ton of lenses, a defunct em5mkii and the em1 mk2... A bit too invested in the sys at this point

hi. thank you for your overview which is encouraging. I recently got E-M1 Marlk II + 12-45mm pro lens. Does someome know how to set target for INFINITE in night/stars shooting in MF?

if you had to choose between the em 1 ii and the lumix g95, without price consideration, which one would you choose?

The images and video in this look great. Trying to use mine in a multi cam switcher set up. Does anyone have a workaround for the hdmi out no longer allowing live monitoring?

What video settings do you use? What external microphone do you recommend?

Thank you for your video, I recently purchased the Vivitar 20mm f3.8, for my Olympus OM-D E-M1 ii-- I'm trying to find the appropriately fitting mount adapter. If anyone can help with suggestions that will be great. The product number on this glass begins with 2200. Thank you!

I miss olympus :( I used to have E-M5 mkII, which was great, but few things made me quite it: the battery life, the limited autofocus (contast detection based), the poor handeling (poor grip, and the ratio volume/weight was not great). Yes i had a grip, but there was connectivity issue, limited access to the battery, and made the all think heavier... this could have been solve with EM1 mkII, but it was too expensive for me. So I decided to quite olympus. Nowadays, the EM1 mkII being a good second options, i may consider it again and enjoy some ofthe most amazing lenses I ever seen.

M43 cameras offer so much in terms of specs but I’ve always assumed that a bigger (APSC) sensor would be a better option. Something like this one really makes me question my position. Nice new graphics, btw :)

Awesome review, I have a question, I have a lot of Canon glass, would it work perfect with Commlite adapter to EF? I know on EM10 Mark III focus is an issue because has no Phase Detections, I am assuming this has both support. Also Steven you forgot to mention what sets this camera apart other than the IBIS, is the Focus Stacking, the most useful feature for macro photography. Perfect for close up shots, while having the whole shot in focus.

Just picked up an E-M5 mark ii for peanuts. I was pondering whether to buy the E-M10 iv instead but the price was too good. I can now spend the rest on the 12-40mm.

Do a sigma dp1 review, please!!! 💚

You just sold a used EM-1 II lol I was torn between this and the G9 and wasn't sure if I choose better video specs or better autofocus (or at least no pulsing, I hate that) and yeah, I like what you have to say about this little camera. For the 500-550€ I would need to invest for a good copy I think I get everything I need and more.

Does it have good useable auto iso in video?

I am still running Mark I. It is also great.

I Love my E-M1 for the fact that it is so small, lightweight and has KILLER IBIS and AF. BUT I'm missing decent video features and 4K 50p. What settings do you use for recording video? I can't seem to get really good looking footage (at least when comparing it to my GH5s). The highlights look ugly and without much detail and in general there's a unnatural amount of (perceived) sharpness goin on, even when dialing contrast and sharpening all the way down. I have of course tried Flat and OM-Log but haven't really been satisfied with how it looks when graded.

True things, been using it since 5 years. And it’s 2023

Any experience with pixelshift?

Any one, ¿does it do slowmo in 4k and does it crop at 4k?

This camera was released 6 years ago. I bought this camera 8 months ago. Great body grip, excellent image quality, I have the Olympus 12,-45 mm pro lens fitted to it, well balanced with this lens. In 2022, this Olympus is excellent value, would not update to the new OM 1 Very content with my EM 1 mk2.

Bought this after watching this video 👌

This is a better camera than the new OM-1.

I just want to ask you something: Somebody is selling this camera, as used, with about 10 000 clicks in its belly, but also lots of video recording time. Does video use more the camera's sensor life than just taking pictures? I really enjoy your matter of fact videos about Olympus cameras.

Damnit. Just when I think I'm settled on a g9 vs s5, the oly throws me off course...

Hello Steven ! Olympus Em1 Mark II or Sony zve10? They are Now in "dame" price but the Sony is in the shop and the oly on second hand. What do you think? I just want the BEST Quality un 4k24/30fps.

Would you say that this camera would match well a G85? I don't have much experience colour grading? I have a G85 and wanted to get another affordable m43 camera that would pair well with the lenses I have. I was wondering about color science similarity between that and say a G85

I have EM1 m1 and m2 with GH4 and GH5. For video (stabilization and autofocus) I prefer Olympus. But I like color correction and color grading. Panasonic is better.

Clean hdmi to PC where sirr

Now use pen pl-1, but want this camera

The image straight out the camera while nice, is a little too blue/cyan for me.

have you ever had your hands on an Olympus E1?

With B roll showing stabilization, can you show real world examples not in slow motion. As well as other examples, i feel like any camera looks stable in slow motion

Is this camera worth it in 2023? “A million billion percent yes.” I hope so. I had an EMD5 and loved the colors coming out of that body. I was also introduced to IBIS and fell in love. I gave the body to a coworker as I wasn’t using it very much. Going to a workshop this month to learn how to do hybrid photography. The teacher is a Panasonic ambassador so I want to bring my G9 with me. Haven’t used it much during the pandemic and misplaced it. I am still looking for it. Decided to purchase a replacement G9. Watching this video I started looking for an EMD1Mii on Craigslist. Saw an ad for a party and the owner was asking $550. I asked him if that’s his best price and he said yes. I decided to monitor is listing. Last week and EMD one mark two backspace.

I’ll tell you about the 70s sometime :)

Yassssss

Sadly it lacks the 120 fps slow motion capability...

ok

Lol... 70s

This camera was pushed to me by my local camera store when I starting getting into video 5 years ago. It really dawned on me this year how epic that advice was. I still have and use this camera regularly…even now we’ve got into bigger, more expensive projects. The stabilization is UNREAL and I’ve yet to use any other mirrorless camera that can even compete at all with it. The C4K is incredible. I beat my gear up and this thing is a tank (except for the front grip eventually wanting to come off). He’s totally right on handheld telephoto stuff as well. Now I’m just trying to get a couple primes to make the low-light performance a bit better.