Still the Best! Olympus OM-D E-M1, E-M5, E-M10 Mark II Series 

Why hasn’t Olympus picked you up as one of their visionary’s. Your knowledge about their camera systems is phenomenal. Your teaching skills explaining how to use them helps those that don’t read manuals. I personally enjoy your videos and even as along term Olympus user do pick up the odd tip which I find useful. Keep up the good work, and during this difficult time stay safe.

Great and informative video as always. I really enjoy your content and it has helped me more than anything else on the internet to grow as a photographer. Thank you.

Although I'm a faithful follower of your videos, I don't often comment. I just wanted to echo the thanks of many others who are grateful for the hard work you put into making the videos. Please keep up the good work!

Good and I learn something every time. Thanks!

Another great, informative and USEFUL video Rob. You are a great ambassador for Olympus and photography in general. I'm glad there are people like you out there who share their knowledge with us. Of course you make me spend money, but I'll forgive you that one.....

That's a fantastic video. Thanks to this I have a clearer idea about the ideal Olympus camera for my purposes. Thanks a lot, Mr. Trek.

A very informative tutorial thank you! It's always nice to see the newer version and sometimes I do feel tempted to purchase the E-M5 Mark ll, especially when you do a great job explaining the differences. I feel if you worked in a shop I would of walked out of Trek Cameras with the E-M5 Mark ll under my arm! Stay healthy and thank you again!

Thanks, Rob. I love my EM-1 MkII. When I see this video I realize how much more I can tap out of this camera. I often use the sync terminal with an attached strobe. I like that feature. Not sure the others have that. Little things count! Thanks again

Thanks again, I have now my first olympus camera, but I love it. Never want another camera anymore. Your you tube helpp me so much for how to work with the olympus camera. Thanks 😊

Another great video... Thanks Robert !

I went from the Canon range of camera's to the Olympus range in 2018 and have never looked back. I love all cameras for what they can produce in the right hands ;) But doing long hikes and all day model shoots my hands where starting to feel the pain. To add to the comment below, you really should be an Olympus visionary as you do so much for the brand in such a calm, educated, and informative way. All the very best for the future and I look forward to following you on here for many more years. Cheers Jim

Really great comparison Rob fantastic summary. I've long wanted someone to quantity the long shutter speed hand holding abiities of the EM1ii vs my EM5ii so many many thanks for that. Also I had'nt realised just how superior the EM1ii is at focusing in low light. Stay Safe, Rich.

I can't wait to have the money. Thank you, Rob!

Excellent explanation! Thank you!! N.B impressive the GD3WH at the start of the video ;-)

Thanks a lot for your review and I wholeheartedly agree. I have the OMD-1 Mark II combo with the 12-40 mm Pro and the 60 mm macro lens and for me it's a great combo. The quality of the glass is great. The camera is jampacked with all kind of useful, great features and delivers great quality photos. For me it's the ideal combination that handles everything you throw at it.

Thank you! Very clear! 👍

If you remember a couple weeks ago I ask about the E-M10 II, wanting to replace the one I sold last year. Well, I did repurchase it with that $299 sale Adorama just had (body + kit lens) so now I have all three of the ones you mention in this video along with my E-PL7. I'm happy to have them and they all have their place and use. I really did miss my E-M10 II and started thinking about replacing it within 3 months of selling it :-)

A great help - Thanks

As always interesting content about Olympus cameras. I started with M10 2, then won M5 3 in a competition from Olympus. Still trying to get my head around M5 3, but with your videos, which help a great....How do you remember all about the workings, its a mine field. Thanks for your help through this channel. Have a good day and stay safe .

A very interesting comparison, professional as usual, thank you very much. Just to mention it - the EM-10 II can do focus stacking as well. I did it a lot with the 25mm/f1.8 lens and some extension tubes for macros. Keep on the good work and please stay healthy.

Nice vid, I love my EM1 Mark II!

Excellent video Rob. I always learn something new about my camera whenever I watch your posts, thank you.Why doesn't. Olympus market these great features. Maybe you should offer them your services.

Thank You for your info about Olympus system. I have bougth m1 mIi, 12-40 f2,8; ; 40-150 f 2,8; 300-f4; 60mm macromedia f2,8 and panasonic 25mm F1,7. All this secon hand as like new. And now, m10 mIV a new one. I am very happy with this system. And agan, thank You for your information wich given me this resultat..

Hi Rob, thanks for the video. I am not a pro and nor do I take or use a camera in work life. For me photography is stickly for fun. I picked up my first Olympus, an OMD EM 10 mk 2 about 4 years after watching your tutorials. I love this little camera, it's lightweight and provides excellent picture quality which has allowed me to hang photos, that I took, on our walls in our home with my wife's blessings. And over the years I bought a few prime lens, just bought the 30mm, and I have been thinking about upgrading to the EM-5 or EM-1 mark 2 with a Pro zoom 12 - 40. I thinks it's going to be the EM-5 because of the small size and weight and I am not a pro or pixel peeper and don't plan on becoming one. This video and all of your tutorials have helped me with understanding my camera of choice (Olympus) and to become a better photographer. Thanks, I look forward to more from your channel. Neil

Seems Olympus reached maturity at mark 2. Thankyou for a good post.

Great review.

I'm a professional photographer, yet I've recently purchased two E-M5 MkII's rather than the E-M1. My decision was based upon performing a MoSCoW Requirements Analysis on the various features, so that I could understand the worth of each feature to myself. MoSCoW breaks down into assigning each feature a value of: • Mo = MUST HAVE, or else I'm not buying. • S = Should Have, where I need most of the Should Have features, but (ultimately) I can accept not having all of them; just most of them. • Co = Could Have, which are nice to have non-essential features. Assign points for these, but they're only "wish list" items. • W = Won't Have, which are features I'm not willing to pay for because I don't need them; such as (in my case) any of the video capabilities. If you assign MoSCoW values to each of the camera's listed feature, your decision on what to spend your money on will be much more logical. This should include features such as ergonomics, ease-of-use (e.g. the menu system), size and weight. For example: the E-M1s are too big for my particular requirements, whereas the E-M10 and E-M5 score highly in these Must Have requirements. For you, size and weight may be only Should Have's. Never forget, even if you buy today's most advanced camera, even before you've mastered all of its features, something else will have come along to supersede it. You'll also be one of the 'early adopters' who are the Guinea pigs who endure all of the pain of early release software and waiting for bug fixes. That's why I liked the well tried and proven Olympus OM-D E-M5 MkII. One last point: once you've made your decision and laid out your money, STOP reading technical reviews and equipment comparisons. You have chosen the best equipment for your needs, now it's time to learn how to master what you have and stop thinking the grass may be greener elsewhere. Practice makes great photography. A technically perfect image of doggy doo-do is still a picture of doggy doo. A less than technically perfect, yet amazing image, will always be of greater artistic and photographic value. Rick Bear

Just picked up the EM1 Mkii for $899.00 from Olympus flash sale, amazing bargain. Good things come to those who wait... lol, Great Video Rob

Great Video.. I am a Nikon Z6 user and last month after an Olympus workshop I tried to switch to the system even bought the M1 mark III and the 12-40 pro and 150-300 2.8 pro, unfortunately I was really disappointed with the EVF resolution, way too low for today's market. went back the following week and returned everything. but I keep following the brand.

nice review, love my 5II.

I have had a M10 since they were first released. Having followed all your videos I now realize that I was using about 10% of the capabilities. I debated upgrading to the M5 III but finally purchased an ex demo M5 II for a great price. Super happy with it for all the reasons you mentioned. I even bought "Mastering the Olympus OM-D E-M5 mark II" as a quick reference.

I'm still using EM5 II for fun and professional jobs. Indeed this camera is a gem.

This was a nice practical video. I started digital ILC photography with an E-M10 Mk.1, then handled an E-M1 Mk.1 a year or so later. Jonesd for it and bought one on a Black Friday sale. I made the mistake of handling the Mk.2 version a couple of years ago and now have one of those as well. The 20MP is a nice improvement but what really floored me were the small changes - higher capacity battery, improved grip profile plus 1>2 lever and AEL/AFL button orientation changes. It's a camera that will last me a long time, probably until the E-M1 Mk.4 shows up! My 'go to' lens for site surveys and lighting assessments is the 7-14mm f2.8. It's very sharp and compact enough to throw in a small sling. BTW I'm finding your WorkSpace videos very helpful at weaning me off OV3.

Hi Rob, late to the party, sold on EM 10, Mark 11, your review nailed it, good enough for this amatuer. No weather sealing? Use a freezer bag!, Used prices afforable now plus kit glass, as you have pointed out, with "post", no discernable diff to pro glass. Keep up the good work and stay safe.

Thank you from someone who was so overwhelmed with the choice of cameras out there ..I just purchased the E-m10 mkii and was wondering if I should have gotten the m5 instead because of the weather proofing .. I’ll just watch for specials on it and enjoy what I bought

E-M1 II is a great camera. When the price drop a little bit, like with most older models, it will become a really tempting buy.

Great comparison. I have been enjoying my original em1 and have been thinking about some of these newer features like in camera focus stack, high resolution mode, smaller autofocus point, improved ibis. Think it’s time to add a newer em1.

Great video! I've been thinking for a few months now that the mk2s are the ones I'd like to hang on to. I've owned the Em10mk2 for 4 years and was dissapointed when the mk3 came out as it seemed to have been dumbed down and stripped of some advanced features. I just picked up an Em5 mk2 used in great shape and great price. I've read it has a few things they stripped of the mk3 like bigger viewfinder. Maybe in a couple years when used Em1 mk2s are cheap I might grab one of those as well, still too expensive for my needs right now.

The em5 II blew me over with it’s image quality and all the amazing feature like Live Comp. I could not believe a little thing like this could perform so well. The result is that I hardly ever use my Canon 5d iii anymore and went on to buy a used em1 II and several lenses from Oly and Panasonic.as usual a great video, Rob. Looking forward to tonight’s livestream.

Not so long ago you were missing out if you didnt upgrade your camera about every 18 months; now a five year old model like the E M5ii will satisfy most users - I love mine. Each of these models is still excellent, and the E M10ii is fantastic value, particularly for folks upgradng from phones.

Awesome.!👍

Thank you Rob for another non fuss video. You helped me made my choice with one f your videos. I have the em10 and got out of Auto mode in spring, bought me the 60mm macro lens in september and got crazy about macro. I was considering to buy a 5. Mark 3 but ended up ordering an omd 1 m ii with a pro lens at excellent black friday price today. I have read that the plastic base of omd 5 m iii can crack when using a tripod,

awesome video ^^

Just got the em5 II next to my em10 II... both are gems. I needed focus stacking for my product shoots. It works Just very very good. Both of them are great. Will never sell them...

Great video Rob and would you believe, I still use my EM5 Mk1 !

I recently bought my first Olympus camera EM5 marks 2. I only owned a point and shoot prior to that. Your videos for the basics on the camera EM 10 kept me from taking mine back! Thank you for your wonderful for beginners videos. You are a wonderful teacher. Do you have videos on how to move from the point and shoot mind set to adjusting the camera on the go? I am a true beginner. Your aperture priority mode has helped me so much but I am ready to venture out a bit. Thanks!!!

I totally agree.

Really enjoying my OMD-5ii but I do struggle with flying birds. I’m using the 40-150f2.8 native or with one of the adapters, but tracking is hit & miss and exposure all over the place. Still birds are not a problem, but flying, struggling. Sounds like the 1ii with its better C-AF etc might be the way to go. Thanks for another informative and helpful video.

Hi Rob. I use an EM5 Mk.2 which I bought new with the 14-150 kit lens at the time. It wasn't cheap then in 2016 but I gotta tell you it was worth every British penny that I paid for it. Great bit of kit.

Thank you mr Trek for your excellent video's! All of them! Recently I switched from a lifelong (40yrs+)pro Nikon camera's (last one a Z6)to a(mint) EM1MKII.(12-45 pro)(Euros 1400,) And oh brother am I happy! This is the 2nd most beautiful, fun camera I ever used and owned (Leica Q being nr 1, nothing beats the Q in terms of simplicity.......and do I hate the Olympus menu system....)And far too late I discovered how good MFT is. The black and white"s are amazing!! Thank you again for your great video's and best wishes for this new year. Stay healthy. Greetings Gerard (Netherlands)

Now we need a Pen F mk2 to complete the set. I hope Olympus reconsiders and decides to make a Mk2

Hi Rob, I recently picked up my first camera, a EM10 II, and have watched a LOT of your content to learn the ins and outs of the OMD system, as well as general photography tips. So much thanks to you, I'll definitely buy you a coffee! I have the 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 ii R amd 40-150mm f4.0-5.6 R kit lenses, as well as the Olympus 25mm f1.8. I think I will be able to cover a lot of ground with this kit and will be able to learn the basics well, but are there any other lenses I should keep an eye out for (I like to scour the used market for good deals) that are good bang for my buck? Should I consider saving up for any pro lens in particular? I haven't been able to get out much to practice with this pandemic going on, but I'm hoping to get into street photography, landscapes, and portraits. Also, the street photography videos are great! It really helps a beginner photographer hearing the thought process.

Fair comments.

Thanks for putting them side by side on the table. I have spent more than a month comparing these cameras based on available videos online. How big is the E-M1 (1st gen) compared to the E-M5 MK II? I'm planning to use it for macro/product photography.

Great comparison - Thanks! What is that articulating head you show at 1:08 - that looks pretty useful?

Thanks for this video! So glad to see you are well in these weird times. In your opinion is the M1 Mark II - because of the better focusing - as good as the Panasonic G5 for 1080p video? So many professionals practically worship the G5's video ability (which I would never trade for, simply because the Olympus has far more AMAZING photo features built in). I have the M5 Mark II and love it, wishing only to improve the video possibilities.

Hi Mr.Trek.....Where could I get assistance to know my om d cameras...?? Their menus are so complicated for me....!!!! Thanks a lot Mr Trek for your help. Regards.

I have the 10 ii and I guess I always thought that it was performing images tacking when I use HDR.

Tk very much.

I love your videos and have watched all of the OM-D E-M10 ii video tutorials. One think I'm a bit surprised you don't mention in this video is a major difference the E-M10 has over the other two, and that's an OLED viewfinder as opposed to the LCD on the more expensive ones. I know viewfinders can be quite subjective but I so much prefer the vibrant and easier-to-see-outside one in the E-M10 that I ditched the E-M1 I thought would be better. It was not, looked washed out in comparison.

Hi, great comparison! Is there a difference in image quality between this 3 models using the same lens?

Great tutorial Rob, I have a omd10 mk 3 and would love to upgrade when all this coronavirus thi g is over. Could yo do a similar comparison on the mark 3's. Thankyou Peter.

I currently have the em5ii and pen F (and em10 II and pen epl9) and I’ve been debating if I should upgrade to the emi mkii because I find the focus and shutter lag on my em5 to be frustrating. (If the Pen F was weather sealed I would stick with that) so I’m curious if the em1 would be a good option for me.

have your thoughts and opinions change much since this was first posted? I’m in between a few models, em-5mk2, em-10mk2 or 10mk4. the newer sensor with a bit more MP is slightly attractive.

All these are in my wishlist. I'm really confused as to which one to get for macro photography.

Rob, love all your videos. Thank you very much. I am often told my EM5ii is terrible for birds. I own a 300mm pro n 150mmpro, but most think the EM5ii will not be good for bird photography. Upgrading is presently not possible till I save up. Is EM5ii lacking for birds?

I'm still loving my EM-5 Mark II, first real camera I ever bought and it's just so much fun to tinker with all the features and hidden gems. I admit learning the menu system took some time, but I eventually found what was most important and that's the Super Control Panel. I'm in and out of it all the time. Only thing I wish I had was more lenses, I've got two and would like to really see the power of the camera by adding two more: a macro lens and a good prime. Any how, love your videos Rob. I been watching since I first bought my OM-D and you've been super helpful.

Hi, Rob. Great video. I m using Em1 Mk2 for a while. Love it as you said. But also have a problem when I record the video it can not record for a long duration. May be 15 mins or 30 mins then it shut off automatically. Instead I have enough space in my memory card. How to set up to solve this problem or it s a firmware bug? Looking forward for your reply. Thank you. ;)

Hi Rob, great explanation/comparison of the different cameras. You know that I’m not a professional, I just shoot for fun (stills only, no video) and I’m very happy with the Fuji X-T2 and the lenses that I have, but watching your videos makes me want to get an Olympus camera, I like some of the features that they offer not found on the Fuji cameras. But my issue now is that I have to decide between the OM-D E-M1 Mark II or the OM-D E-M1 Mark III and which first zoom lens should I get, the 12-40 f/2.8 or the 12-100 f/4, and they say that retired people don't have any problems. LOL

It's great to have a review of these top value bodies . I picked a slightly used Em10-II a few months ago at great price as those Em5-II where both pricier and way more used localy (not overpriced but just not as good a bargain). If i am not mistaken , the 10 has an 'af pad' missing on the 5 . The EZ 14-42mm pancake version that came with it has a bad reputation for IQ but my experience with that kind of lens is to simply leave it at F8 (aperture priority mode) at all time and wow, it delivers ! Adding a tiny 9mm fisheye 'body cap lens' for fun and a 45mm f1.8 for extra IQ and depth control makes it an impressively small, light, cheap, good and capable kit . I sometimes add a 30mm f3.5 macro, 40-150 f4-5.6 and/or a fl600r flash . Dont forget a mini (always) or full size (sometimes) tripod for live composite and other 'slow light' functions...

Can anyone help I want to upgrade me olympus om-d e-m5 mark ii firmware. I can't find anything on the Olympus website. When I select update firmware with the camera plugged in My Sofware (Olympus Viewer version 2) say this function is not available?

Rob, is the included flash with the em1 mkii strong enough to bounce off a standard height 7-8 foot indoor house ceiling and still be useful? It’s pretty nice that you can tilt and swivel it. The Fuji included kit flash does not do that. Thank you

A new Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II with 14-42mm II R Lens is on sale now in the U.S. for $299 at one of the big sites.

I have the em5 mark III which I really like but I'm looking for a complementary camera, is the em10 markII still a good choice these days? (I don't think there is a very big difference with the em10 III or IIIs and the IV is much more expensive - and I would like a tilt screen to change).

Hi Rob, were you using the Pen F for filming this? I'm just wondering why the all the moiré on your shirt. Does the E-m10 ii have the same problem?

Hi Rob~ in order to use High-Res Mode, you said in the VDO that it requires “compatible lens” - by that you mean any M43 sharp lens, right? or do they have to be the Pro Lenses?!

Any tweaks you can suggest for my 5mii for vlogging audio . Out seems very noisy, even connects with external rode mic

I don’t use the cameras enough and keep forgetting any custom settings I may have been using. Sometimes the aperture dial on my E-M1 seems a little unresponsive.

Thank you for your interesting video. I still own an Em10 II and considering Em5 mk 2 or Em5 mk3. Hard choice... I just wanted to comment ont focus stacking capabilities though : the em10 II does have this feature, but it will not assemble the shots, you have to do it with a dedicated software on your Mac or PC.

Please do a Pen F in 2020. That camera is interesting as well.

WoW. Very nice topic for the 249th episode. I wonder what would it be for the 250th...🤔

I am choosing between Lumix G9 and the Olympus om-1 Mark ii for 4k video capture. Which one would you recommend? Thank you.

I would like to upgrade my EPL7 to the EM5 mark ii for the flippy screen but whats stopping me is the lack of 20mp sensor. Any chances we get an EM10 mark IV with flippy screen and 20mp sensor? Em5 mark iii cost too much

I bought my E-M10 Mk II shortly after I got the III. Bought both earlier this year, just before the early lockdown in the US. Was digging getting into m43 and scored all of my favorite lenses used. Mulling getting either a EM-5 II or III next at some point. I know people rag on the plasticky build of the EM-5 III, but I'm really only worried about that if I act like a doofus and leave the thing overnight unused on a tripod.

Rob, out of the 3, do you think that the em10 is just as good as the others? I'm not into video so that hardly matters to me. I'm a minimalist professional photographer. Thank you

Hi Rob, just found your channel and subscribed. I have the EM1 Mk2. I have been looking at the EM1x as an addition to My Canon 1D series cams I use for events. Do you have any thoughts on the "x" or tried it? Thanks

Hi Rob, is it necessary to put LCD screen protector? Thank you

they are also very very robust... I dropped my EM5II several times out in the field.. . resulting in a visible dent in the metal case, it looks a bit rough but it works perfectly still, also the lenses do not smash that easily ( my Macro and my 45 mm hit the ground, both still fine, although showing the impact marks, but I almost had a heart attack ;) ) I guess I have to get the TG6, sounds like I need it ;)

What about considering 10 mk2 for wildlife photography? Does the contrast based focus detection work good?

The E-M10 Mark II was my first Micro 4/3s camera too. Like you I was using Nikons before getting into Olympus. The E-M10 Mark II is now my main camera .

What does the lens have to do with focus stacking?

EM1 - 2 is amazing and great in low light too.....I print and the difference between 5D lll is hardly noticable

Would you still recommend Olympus for someone getting started today?

I bought my daughter her first camera, the em5.2 last year, probably the same 100th birthday special. Zero regrets.

Hi Rob, they are all excellent cameras. But I do wish they were more competitive on price because Panasonic are.

Will boosting the dynamic range improve contrast autofocus?

Awesome views! I have an om-d e-m10 Mark ii which I bought along with the 14-42mm ez kit zoom. And the combo worked for me until recently one day a message popped out on the LCD saying "please check the status of a lens"! After fiddling with the system for about an hour I finally realised my biggest mistake! "NEVER BUY A MOTORIZED ZOOM LENS! NEVER, EVER!"

would the battery grip work with em10 mkiii

I have some doubts to buy a new Olympus( I use stillan EPL-1) because they are closing this year, I ask myself if it has sense or better go for a Panasonic...😒

The OM-D 10 MKII must be the camera that gives the most bang for your buck today.