Olympus OMD EM-5 Mark ii Review in 4K 

how does this video made 8 years ago looks hyper realistic, impressed by the lighting

hands down the best review on this camera on youtube

33 downvotes? I am baffled. You generate the most thorough and least biased reviews on RU-vid.

Recent firmware update (4.1) makes this camera a great deal as the prices have fallen. I got mine (brand new) for $500 and it is better for me than my Sony A6500. Better video despite not being 4k due to the superior IBIS of the Olympus. Firmware updates makes auto focus much more precise and other changes makes this camera a fantastic deal. I love my Olympus EM5 MKII.

Thanks for this great review! I had trouble finding very thorough reviews of its video capabilities.

Thank you for the excellent review Darren. You really nailed it. I am now several steps closer to actually buying this lovely camera based on your review. Once again thank you. E from UK

I really enjoy your reviews Darren, keep em coming!

Love your work, Darren. Subscribed! Keep up the awesome videos :D

Yours is one of the most interesting, informative and thorough reviews of this camera I have seen anywhere. Most of the others are turned off after a few seconds because they were so boring and didn't provide me with the information I needed to make a purchasing decision. After a ton of research on many different cameras and after viewing your video, I am buying the EM-5 Mark II. Thank you very much Darren!

AS usual you do a great job highlighting the features of the equipment you test. I was happy to see you tested the C-AF on the camera. Every other review I've watched omits this aspect of the Mark ii.

Fantastic review, very well structured and explained and really liked the video/ picture samples!

Terrific review Darren. Thanks for taking the time.

Nice thorough review, thanks! (Your assistant looks like a great kid!)

Wow, great review! Best one I've seen so far. You covered everything I wanted to know. Can't wait for my pre-order to arrive now 😀

Great review. Thanks for all of your effort.

Darren, thank you, I have made many purchases based on your reviews. Thank You again. Tom

Thanks Miles , very useful information. It enhanced the the confidence that I would to purchase one of this .

Loved your review. Very informative! I've made up my mind to get one!

Very nice review Clear, professional and well done by Darren. Frankly, you are becoming one of my favorite reviewers. Please keep doing cameras. I am a pro living in France, using the EM1 and the really good glass and we ned more people like you singing the praises of the M4/3 cameras and lenses.

Loved your review. Very informative! I've made up my minx to get one!

Very good as always keep up the good work

Very thorough review. Thanks

Great review , thank you.

Thx for the review i really need it

Very helpful review! Thanks!

Yup, subscribed! Your reviews got my "Highly Recommended" rating :)

Great share, beautiful review!

Thanks from Sweden...for a really good and useful review. Well done!

Darren, thank you for being so in depth~

Fabulous review. I bought one today. Thanks!

Great review Darren. Subscribed

This was a great review, lots of important details delivered clearly and efficiently. It was also refreshing to get someone else's perspective after hearing the same guys (digital rev, the camera store, northrup, etc) over and over. thanks

Great review. Almost made my mind up.

Finally a review worth watching, honestly I've never seen your videos before as I've only recently got into photography. Couldn't believe it when you mentioned the GH4 as well, as currently I'm considering either em5mk2 or gh4, as good as the gh4 is at video(video is the feature I'm after), I can't help but be drawn to the Olympus(for image quality and overall style), mostly because the gh4 is coming up to its 1st birthday and surely will be old news when/if its replaced by the gh5 and I will be kicking myself if that happens in the near future. Anyway, you have a new subscriber, thank you for being one of the 1st to do a proper review on this camera.

Nice review Darren, thanks! I'm gonna stick with my EM1 for now, since I only got it few months ago. It would be awesome if they could give us choice of focus peaking colour as well via firmware update though, I mean it sounds relatively easy to implement, and will be helpful, since only black & white is not that helpful in some situations. Also, the highres photos look amazing.

Absolutely excellent review. Very well made, thank you. Subscribed. I own this camera since a couple of months (also use the Fuji X-Pro2 and Nikon D800 + Df) and really love it. I'd like to add my two cents if I may... Iso performance, it's basically ok and mostly clean up to 1600iso, sometimes up to 3200 but mind you , you need to nail the exposure right in camera. If you under expose (maybe intentionally to preserve some highlights) and need to open the shadows up later in Lightroom (or other software) you will get noise. Lenses: put really get good lenses on it and it will deliver the best image quality. Cheaper lenses like the 14-42 will only be ok, but stick the 12-40 pro , or the wonderful 40-150 f/2.8 and image quality will raise a lot. I recently tried the 14-42 after two months with the 12-40 + 40-150 and there is a huge, really huge difference. Handgrip : personally I love it when i use the 40-150. If you get bigger lenses on it make sure to go in a shop and try the battery grip. Maybe you will not like it, but just give it a try, for me it's very well made, especially for longer lenses. And it's very clever as you can leave the battery part of it unmounted and only use the grip if you want a lighter solution.

fantastic review Darren. I'm looking for an an all round CSC to complement my DSLR kit , primarily for portability, and need Decent Video. Was almost going to get the GH4 but am really impressed by the reviews and feedback on this EM-5 mk2. The IS looks impressive, for my B roll footage. Video is a key for me these days, gee its going to be a tough call when I buyt in a few weeks. I think I'm going to go with the olympus plus the optional battery/grip (ergonomically i hate the lack of hand grip). Thanks for the great review.

Thanks for making this video. How about performance of continues autofocus for video? Is it realible?

Hi Darren, I always watch your reviews, very informative and trustworthy, I recently got the Olympus EM5 II, and when I turn it on I hear this static noise coming from the speaker in the back of the camera, do you know if this is normal? Thanks!!

I like Olympus ibis I will next post a scope version of flowers beauty with the em5 mk2 and prime lenses

Great review. Cheers!

It's good to know they are now taking video seriously as it is my primary use, and with the vari-angle screen made me consider an Olympus camera for the first time. Would like to know though, can you touch the screen during filming to select a different focus point and does it change focus smoothly?

Good day. Please make a review of how to optimize the video image for RU-vid - because You have one of the most beautiful videos in sharpness, detail and purity without spillage because of the low bitrate. Share a secret? In what codec you are encoding, what bitrate, how to optimize? Thanks in advance

Awesome review! I do 50/50 photo and video and Im thinking of buying the EM 5 mk ii with the Oly 12-40mm f2.8 or the Panasonic GH4 with the Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8. Which one would you recomend? I think I would love the IBIS on the oly but the 4k of the gh4 is also tempting

Flip screen isn't new to Olympus, but is new to Micro Fourthirds and OMD line...E3, E30, E620 etc had it...Glad they finally switched back.

Darren great review. I hope you do more of them. Video question for the EM-1. I noticed I have a lot of camera noise from my EM-1. I have to keep my microphones at least 4ht from the camera to keep it from picking it up. Any idea how to stop that. Is it the In camera stabelization that is making the noise?

Hi Darren, I just purchased the E-M5 Mark ll a few weeks ago along with the 12-40mm f2.8 Pro, the 17mm f1.8 and the inexpensive 40-150mm f4.0-5.6 lenses. So far with the exception of the battery life issue which you covered I absolutely love the camera and many thanks for the great review!!! I have 2 questions for you: 1) I am going to Machu Picchu in July. and everyone is telling me it is a photographer's dream. Do you think I have my shooting needs covered with the lenses I already own? Also are there any tips for shooting there that you can suggest? 2) Because of the battery issue I am looking for a dual battery charger to use with the OEM Olympus BLN-1 batteries that I already have. If there a really reliable brand/model dual charger that you can recommend? Thanks, Robert

I just picked up a used one for $300 as a second body so I can avoid switching lenses with my M1 M3. It still does really well with good lenses in 2022. For static subjects a great option.

Excellent and thorough review! Does the live view frame rate drop when focus peaking is enabled like in the E-M1? Panasonic cameras do a really good job with focus peaking. I currently own a GX7 but gave the E-m5ii on order. Can't wait!

Super review. Thanks

Great review! I already own EM1. Seems Olympus transplants many features / techs from EM1 to EM5 MII and made it better. A bit jealous.

How does olympus OM-D 5D Mark II compare to a Nikon or Canon in the same price category? I'm very new to photography... And all my family and friends use either Nikon or Canon and almost nobody knows what olympus is here so... Help? 😢😢

very nice video as always - great audio - video - thanks - I assume you where using the GH4 for video as it is in 4k - what lens did you use ? my guess the Oly 75mm or the 45mm or the Pany 42.5mm F1.2 - very nice lens which ever you used - love your reviews

Terrific review. I wish every camera review on YT looked like yours! I'd like to ask you sth about this Olympus camera. Would it be good for high quality youtube videos, like reviews, unboxings, cooking etc? Like yours, standing/sitting and talking. I wanted Lumix G7 but it seems to be hunting for focus too much. Is EM-5 a good choice in terms of constant focusing on the speaking person? Or will it hunt too? I know you recommend GH4 for video, but other reviewers show it can hunt as much as G7 when focusing on your face. In short, I want sth not too big and heavy for quality video and quality pictures. Is this Olympus a good choice or can you recommend sth even better?

very informative review, the 4 k looks great. the battery life you talk about a lot, could this be because they want you to add an accessory grip (with a second battery inside)? maybe; using this during times when 5-axis stab. is used as well as for rapid shooting might solve the batt. life (~700 shots with both installed)- you quoted ~ 300- 350 shots per charge.

Darren, How does the weather sealing differ between the E-M1 and the E-M5 MkII ? From what I've read in Olympus' publications, there is no difference. Thanks for a very useful review, Rick

Very nice video, Darren! I see that you put a lot of work into this video, and I think it will help a lot of people out who are considering this camera. Keep up the good work. (I would like to see more camera reviews in the future, if possible.) PS: I wonder what people in Boston are thinking when they see beautiful, sunny, Naples, Florida.

Thank you for an excellent review. I am debating between the Em-1, the Em-5 mark II, but I also heard that the Em-1 Mark II is coming out in September. Should I wait and hope for a price break on the EM-1 mark II at Christmas time or get the EM 5 Mark II? I want to shoot my kids sports, baseball and soccer as well as obviously portraits. Please help my analysis paralysis. :-)

Great review! What about the Olympus OMD EM-10 Mark III Do you have a review on that one?

hi which camera are you using now and which lens? thanks

I have the em5, would I be able to trade it in for the mark 2? Bought this last year.

+Darren Miles! Great review. May I ask what camera and lens did you use to make this very video though?

A great review thanks! I am very close to buying one of these for an upcoming round the world trip especially as in the UK they have £75 off the body and £100 off a lens at the moment. Question is do I get the Olympus 14-150 lens, or 2 get separate lenses? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

After reading your video I'm very impressed. Really great and educational! I'm strugging buying this or em1, especially the body of em1 has same price of em5ii in my hometown... I'm also a complete newbie and owns no lens, as a complete newbie in photography (have been playing with my LX5 for a few years as an amateur) So, which one would you recommend me to buy now? em1 or em5ii? Many thanks!

Another great video. Hi Darren I have left a few comments before but never heard back. Would you recommend upgrading from the OMD EM1 to the new OMD EM5II ? For me it doesn't seem worth it but I would appreciate your advice. Always look forward to your reviews and you are the reason I switched to the micro four thirds system. Thank you.

Thank you for the review, I have an EM-10, and actually I've been thru all your Olympus lens videos, great work! I'm looking for a water resistant camera now because it really gets kinda uncomfortable when shooting my EM-10 in the rain (and kinda silly to use the water resist 12-40 pro with my non-water resist EM10), but maybe I'll give a pass for the EM5MKII and wait for the EM1MK2

are you planning a review of the em1 mkii?

Thanks for the Great review Darren Miles Is there any way to use an external source of power on the EM5 MkII? Or spare batteries are the only option? I'm thinking about converting my entire kit of DSLR to the EM5 MKII due to its compact size and loads of features.

Great review, thank you! I ordered mine and it should arrive second week of April.. Replaces my Olympus E-620!!! Not sure how to Subscribe to your videos?

What camera of this size would you suggest for video specifically?

Thanks Darren! After I have been shooting with the GH2, I've really come to love video just as much, or perhaps even more than stills. I then got the E-M1, hoping as well, they might include a better firmware in the future... rumors were of 24p and later even 4K. But to no avail. So I went ahead and got me the GH4, which has been awesome so far, along with the BMPCC. The E-M1 was just not up for this kind of video functionality. But sometimes you want something that does both right and shoot in a really minimalistic way but nailing the results. And using as well a lot of vintage glass, for the look they give off (with or without focal reducer) or even cinema primes, the 5-axis stabilization is just something that the GH4 and BMPCC won't give you. Now, I had hopes that the new E-M1 firmware might as well just give this flagship a similar video mode to the E-M5II, but no such thing. Besides, with the newly added vari-angle display... battery grip with headphone socket and all the other features... I actually prefer to get the E-M5II and drop the E-M1 (not literally, mind you, heavens forbid). To be honest, I don't need the somewhat more advanced autofocus and burst of the E-M1, or its a bit more pro and solid built and feel. What I get in return... it's what I actually needed the E-M1 to be from the beginning and I'm glad they're realizing that they can't just ignore the need for a bit more serious video. Very excited. Mine will hopefully be shipping out in three days.

What tripod are you using?

Hi Darren Am I right to say that there's now a Mark III version of the EM-5?

Great review ! Awesome camera ! What's your tripod ?

Great review. I'm thinking about upgrading from the E-M10 to the E-M5ii. Also you should do reviews of the Sigma art lenses for Micro 4/3s. That would be awesome.

what camera did you use to shoot this video though?

What filmed this review? on what the camera filmed this review?

Excellent review as always, but I think I'm going to wait for the successor to the E-M1 just because of the grip. That's partially why I sold my E-M5i, because I had so many retro style cameras with smaller grips already. I would like more stability for my 50 Summilux.

На что снимали этот обзор? на какую камеру снимали этот обзор?

Hi Darren Regarding the battery life you pointed. Have you looked into the sleep mode which Olympus claims which gives us upto 750 shots? If it works as they say, its really going to be a huge benefit, considering its high price and able to shoot only 310 exposures:). Thanks and keep up your good work and very professional video quality

Hello, Darren, thanks for sharing. I have a question I don't know if you could help. As we know most all famous camera brands are produced in Japan, which is very good at it. Well, are there any other great brands made in Western world to against it? it is very boring to buy a one among all JP's brands! I know Leica.

I own 3 EM5 mark 1's and I hear you on the battery life. Solution: Buy more aftermarket batteries. They aren't that expensive and it's a trade off I'm more than willing to accept for the IQ out of these cameras! Will be getting a Mark II specifically for video

Youve just got me buying EM 5 ii.

Thanks Darren Miles! Liked your Rich Review! I'm stuck in choicing between E-M1 and E-M5 Mark II.. Could you help me with your opinion please?

Great Review! Question, would you pick this or an EM1 over say a Canon 6D, as they are similar money? I love the size and speed of focus on these Olympus cameras but from prior experience their low light performance wasn't great beyond ISO 1600.

What Camera did you use to shoot this video?

Hi Darren, I too use Olympus EM5mkii and EM1mk1 but find the results very noisy and grainy even at base iso and wondered where am going wrong? Any advice would be appreciated. Regards, Peter

Nice and quite detailed review, Darren. One question remained unanswered, though: can new OM-D EM-5 II be remotely controlled by a smartphone or a tablet, like E-M 1? Thank you for the answer. And keep on doing valuable videos.

Hi! Would you still recommend this camera in 2018 or would you rather go for the Mark OMD 10 III if you were to choose between those two? I want it for both pictures and video. Thank you! :)

Thank you for such a wonderful review! Can the provided external flash be used to take high sync shutter speeds or do we have to buy a different flash? Not sure if I am asking the question correctly so let me put it this way - I am shooting in day light and my subject has a bright background behind. My shutter speed if 1/2000s. How can I use the flash that allows me to sync at that shutter speed? I don't want to be limited by 1/250s that's offered by the camera (which will give me an over exposed image). Of course I can increase the f-stop to get there probably but let's assume I want to shoot wide open. Thanks!

+darrenmilles in your opinion can the omd em5 mk2 be a good stills camera for travel blog and RU-vid channel camera? I was looking to grab the 12-40 pro along with a 25 f1.8 for night or low light photography, eventually maybe grabbing the 40-150 pro. Coming from nikon and hate lugging around a d610 and 24-120, thanks

The video quality of this video :O, looks like the quailty of stills

Hi EM5 the original does not allow you to have Multiple exposures ( for HDR ) and timer so in mark 2 did they solve this problem

Hey, Darren, what is the soundtrack you've used in your son's running clip?

what camera did you use to shoot this?

Good for video

how do explain the grainy quality to the pictures you get with these cameras even at low ISO in daylight and small aperture. My EM5 does it, Em5 mark ii does it and even the EM 1 mark ii does it. Just look at a raw image in lightroom at 1:1 and see what I am talking about. At 1:1 looks as if you are looking at the picture through a layer of plexiglass....the best way I can describe it. I use all prime lenses....45mm 1.8 75mm 1.8.....etc

Great review. Also review Sony A6300 please.

This one has a phase detection mode of focusing ? Or a contrast based one?

The image quality of your videos are great. Damn! haha And I wish the canon cameras had built in stabilization. Its about time.