new olympus E-M1 video leaked

Engadget has hosted a video with an Olympus PR guy showing it off. They didn't properly protect the URL and the video is still up as I am typing [edit 5 minutes later: well now that I try it again it has disappeared. I still have the video in my browser so can look at it from cache or so, but that doesn't help you. There are some screen shots posted at http://www.43rumors.com/ and perhaps someone downloaded it and will repost the video elsewhere. It was very explicit in details and video footage of all sides].

The original link, now dead, was:

http://www.engadget.com/video/5min/517895409/

It seems to have much better ergonomics with large grip and better spacing of buttons and apparantly a FF-size viewfinder. But the large grip may mean a bigger and more expensive housing. Anyway, I am set with the E-M5 for the foreseeable future but it is still cool to see how technology develops.

Bart

A copy of the video has reappeared on dropbox. You can find it here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/clrndvdpovk8yas/Olympus%20OM-D%20E-M1%20Camera%20Hands-On%20-%20Video%20-%20Engadg.mp4

Bart

A copy of the video has reappeared on dropbox. You can find it here:

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/clrndvdpovk8yas/Olympus%20OM-D%20E-M1%20Camera%20Hands-On%20-%20Video%20-%20Engadg.mp4

 

Bart

Sweeet! Thanks Bart.

Bob

Gone again, but here is a screenshot copied by a blogger.

http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/08/18/olympuss-em-1-micro-four-thirds-camera-leaks-out/

Is it correct to say that this is not significant improvement from a UW-perspective with respect to the E-M5 (Which i am about to buy into)?

/O

Who knows...

The E-M1 is significantly bigger. A housing will be bigger. Many people chose the E-M5 because they wanted to downgrade in terms of size and weight.

http://www.43rumors.com/e-5-vs-e-m1-size-comparison-poll-do-you-think-there-will-be-any-new-ft-camera/

The E-M1 will be more expensive. The Nauticam housing for the E-M5 is one of the cheapest in their line - IMHO the new housing (if they make one) will be more expensive.

From all the rumors that are around the thing that really might (!) be better is autofocus on moving subjects (which on the E-M5 is, well, not too good....) Tests will show. Is that autofocus feature important for you?

For me, the E-M5 is far better than just "good enough".

Jock

I think that the few things we really know for sure about this camera is that it has a significantly larger grip, something that most of us will favor out of water. I have a second E-M5 as my travel camera and the battery grip is never removed because it is so much easier to hold with the grip for both vertical and landscape. It still appears smaller than the Panasonic GH3 and still far smaller than most DSLR cameras. In Jock's link the camera is shown with the battery grip and with a 43 lens and adapter not a much smaller M43 lens.

This is the camera that Olympus hopes will get owners of the 43 lenses for their Olympus DSLR cameras like the E-3 and E-5 to crossover to mirrorless bodies. Those top of the Olympus line cameras sold when introduced for $1699.00 in the US. The speculated $1500.00 US price for the E-M1 is just that speculation. We all know the E-M1 price will be higher than the $1000.00 US entry price for the E-M5 body, just like the E-PL5 body is less than the E-M5 body. Regarding housings, Nauticam and all the others seem to spread R&D costs over the expected number of housing being built so yes I would expect the housing to cost a bit more but again it will still be less than most DSLR housings of the same materials and quality.

I think that what this camera will offer over the E-M5 which will be useful for U/W photography is the larger viewfinder rumored to be as large as most 35mm sensor full frame cameras. Also a higher flash sync speed of 1/320th sec.and perhaps a low ISO sensitivity of 100 which will be excellent for those black backgrounds we all like so much. Also the higher 1/8000th sec shutter speed which is helpful out of the water when shooting wide open with the very fine fast, sub F/2 lens line. A bump in AF speed, image quality, perhaps a longer battery life and as yet addressed perhaps better video output numbers. I like the built in WiFi as well and the idea that it might be used on a pole-cam with remote trigger.

I fully agree that the E-M5 is an excellent camera for U/W use while at the same time I can see enough upsides with the E-M1 to attract new buyers and those who may wish to upgrade from the E-M5 if a quality housing is offered.

Phil Rudin

The E-M1 appears to have at least 6 extra buttons (while retaining all the buttons of the E-M5), plus an extra switch which changes the function of the two dials (from say aperture & shutter speed to ISO and WB, but almost certainly completely configurable). Those additional buttons and controls would be quite useful as well. It also appears to support dual SD cards.

I think you need to do a recount, several of the push buttons and the on/off switch have been moved but does not look like that many new buttons have been added to me.

Two new buttons on the opposite side of the lens from the release.

New AEL/AFL button -- new switch which alters the behaviour of the dials is located around this button.

Drive / HDR button (top half of left film rewind thing where on-off switch is now located)

AF / Focus point selection (bottom half of left film rewind thing)

Appears as though there may be a button on both dials (not just one -- the shutter as on the E-M5)

Otherwise all the existing buttons of the E-M5 are there, although re-arranged as you noted.

I fully agree that some new push buttons have been added, but the photos I have seen it would be hard to say that those two things on the opposite side of the lens are buttons. It looks to me like one may be the AF assist illuminator which would have been moved to make room for the external flash connector, (the black cap) for studio lighting. If they are push buttons they may be depth of field preview and/or a WB preview.

Yes to the AEL/AFL buttons which have displaced the playback and Fn1buttons on the EM5. Looks to me like the Fn1 button has been moved to the upper right corner on the rear, with the Info button above the four way OK and the menu, playback and trash buttons located below. This spreads these buttons out nicely on the right of the camera. The live view button has been moved from the side of the EM5 viewfinder to the left rear of the camera, so basically the AEL/AFL has has been added and everything else on the rear of the camera is on the EM5. The top right still has the Fn2 and video buttons along with the same dials and shutter release, the mode dial has been moved to the right side and it now has a lock (the button on top) which is not like an additional function button. Also a new mode on the mode dial which looks like it could be multi images in the same frame.

In place of the EM5 mode dial is a two push button arrangement and the on/off switch moved from the rear of the camera. It appears the front half button can be assigned as an HDR, shooting mode and frame rate. The rear button appears to assign AF and metering.

At any rate three, four or six whatever the camera has many new features that will allow added control and ease of use. The new 12-40mm F/2.8 lens which also has an L-Fn button also looks quite nice.

You can checkout the lens photos at 43rumors.com along with two more camera photos with the M 43 lens mounted and no battery grip to get a better idea of the true size of the camera.

P.S. I would also venture to guess that the new camera will first be sold as a "kit" with the new 12-40mm F/2.8 zoom. Anyone want to take a guess at the package price. I will start $2295.00 US.

Phil Rudin

4/3 rumors (http://www.43rumors.com/category/rumor/) has posted pricing for the new O-MD E-M1 body, 12-40 F2.8 lens and an underwater housing!

The good news: body+12-40mm lens kit price comes in $100 below Phil's estimate! The bad: these prices are converted from Yen, actual prices may vary or depending on where you live. But there will be at least one affordable housing and Nauticam may surprise us again with a housing that excels in the price/quality balance.

Bart

Here is the important part:

1) E-M1 body ¥ 145,000
Converted: 1100 Euro or $1500

2) E-M1 with 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 kit lens ¥ 175,000
Converted: 1330 Euro or $1800

3) E-M1 with 12-40mm f/2.8 kit lens ¥ 220,000
Converted: 1670 Euro or $2200

4) Power Battery Holder HLD-7, ¥20,000
Converted: 151 Euro or $200

5) PT-EP11 Waterproof housing, ¥100,000
Converted: 750 Euro or $1000

6) 12-40mm f/2.8 lens only, ¥90,000
Converted: 681 Euro or $900

Camera looks nice. No way would it persuade me to change from the EM-5. No major improvement in sensor quality or resolution (yes, I LIKE more megapixels) is the major reason to hold with what I have. If the next iteration hits 22-24 megapixels, that would be a sweet spot that would make me think about switching (Sony RX100 shows that good quality even at ISO 800 can be had with higher megapixels, and on a much smaller sensor).

Improvement in continuous AF and tracking will be nice, but I find myself using single AF even in fast moving situations, as it is just so fast and accurate. I have rarely missed a shot.

Looks like some significant price increases as well to move into this kit ($500 more), plus whatever more the housing might cost.

If I were starting new to the system, of course, I would think about it once housings are out, but I bet that the cost savings of getting into the EM-5 system will persuade even new buyers to go that way and save their funds for a diving trip.

Oly/Nauti just did too darn good of a job with the EM-5. Talk about a home run in terms of cost/capability/quality . . .

Plus, the next year should see mirrorless FF cameras from Sony, and perhaps Canon. That is going to be the future of photography, along with the smaller and higher quality lenses coming from the shortened flange distance. Definitely, will keep the EM-5 a few more years before making any decisions.

.