A very positive Olympus E-5 review at ePhotozine
ePhotozine posted a surprising positive articel about the new Olympus E-5. De facto they say that “If this is the last of the mirror type DSLRs in the Four Thirds range that will be a great pity. Olympus have a finely made product that delivers exceptionally good results. Does the smaller sensor compromise quality? Not in the E-5, that’s quite clear.”
Those are just a few of the many positive statements you can find inside the article:
- The E-5 instantly inspires confidence
- In terms of exposure, the camera is not susceptible to errors from bright light sources and backlighting.
- Focusing in all modes is crisp, fast and accurate. Very impressively, the camera seems able to focus upon almost featureless dark subjects with the same snap as more normal ones.
- I have no complaints about colour reproduction either. Colours are accurate and correctly saturated at the Natural setting.
- AWB deals very convincingly with mixed lighting sources and low light levels, so it is a mixed bag of settings to achieve the best results.
- The dynamic range of the sensor is not a problem. Highlights and shadows are recorded with detail over a surprisingly wide range.
It looks like despite the not so attractive features the E-5 is capable of delivering a very good image quality! Now Olympus, bring us the Pro-MFT camera 
Olympus E-5 direct shop links:
Amazon US
P.S.: You can download the japanese E-5 system chart and brochure here: http://www.olympus.co.jp/jp/support/cs/ctlg/index_ctlg.html. The english version is available here: http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/208_manuals.cfm?prodID=MN4279292
Via ePhotozine
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Recent comments
Comment from Tim: FYI I've been shooting with it for weeks...
Comment from Ross: I've got photos from a Canon 5D used at ...
Comment from Chris: @cL: That's exactly my point. All of the...
Comment from Jason: Nice, I cannot wait to get mine.... Hop...
Chris
2 years ago |Rubbish! The E-5 is overpriced and uses the EPL1 sensor! They must be paying off all these reviewers while simultaneously going bankrupt because of their awful business decisions and the mass exodus of E-3 users to Canon and Nikon!
Excuse me while my head explodes.
napalm
2 years ago |have you used it?
dCrap
2 years ago |God you’re a moron. The improvement lies not in the sensor itself but the processing applied to it. Every review by every reviewer that I have seen has given the E-5 a thumbs up, and people who are actually taking pictures with it (rather than looking at a skimpy spec sheet like you have done) are praising the image quality. The results are out there to see, and have persuaded many who were skeptical at first to reverse their opinion. Your CaNikon prejudice does not allow you to consider that there may be improvements besides more pixels. Please be considerate, and postpone your head explosion until you are among your own kind, who will be sympathetic to your inane and repetitive ramblings. Meanwhile the rest of us will actually use our cameras instead of obsessing over specifications.
Chris
2 years ago |Sorry, I should’ve denoted that my comment was entirely sarcastic.
dCrap
2 years ago |If that’s true then I sincerely apoligize. I’m so sick of people bashing legitimate reviews because of their personal prejudices. Olympus-bashing seems to be the absolute favorite sport of the Canikon crowd. Meh. I’m probably just venting because there’s no way I can afford an E-5, let alone one of the FF darlings of those other camps.
Chris
2 years ago |No problem. I was just poking fun at all the negative comments that have come from the members of this forum ever since the E-5 came out.
cL
2 years ago |I can’t afford an E-5 either. I am already over-budget. I know, it’s the holiday season. I can make people crabby…. Anyways, don’t feel too bad dCrap. Let’s wish for an E-620 replacement or some affordable 4/3 camera from Oly. (*prepares some bonfire and hippy clothing for anyone who wants to participate the night of peace*)
Do you guys think Olympus should skip FF all together and aim for developing a medium format DSLR? I think I’d prefer that, given I’m a landscape person. I’d love to use an Oly glass on a medium format camera for unprecedented sharpness even at f32, and the ability to blow the photo up in super size to show its full glory. Medium format is also an area Canonikon aren’t exploring. 645 and 6×7 medium formats are also very close to 4×3′s squarish aspect ratio. I don’t see why Olympus shouldn’t do a medium format.
cL
2 years ago |I mean “it can make people crabby.” I don’t mean to make anyone crabby…. That’s too much credit. :-p
Chris
2 years ago |@cl: It’d be risky to enter medium format digital, since it’s expensive and that arena already has numerous competitors with decades of experience in the game: Hasselblad/Fuji, Mamiya, Sinar/Rollei, Leica, and now Pentax.
cL
2 years ago |@Admin: Is there a way to fix the “reply” button not showing on longer thread (or is it too much hierarchy?) and not showing up flat view? Thanks in advance.
@Chris: Yes, there are many medium format, but Hassy, Mamiya, etc., are not exactly household names (btw, Pentax has been in medium format for a long time, only recently they regained their interest in developing a newer model). If you asked people on the street about medium format camera on the street, you’d be lucky if someone tells you they’ve used a Diana or a Holga. Most of these cameras are also unattractive to regular consumers. What I mean is, a medium format camera competing in the same market as 35mm. Which using 645 format makes perfect sense, as that’s the smallest medium format, and allows Olympus to carry its tradition, making the most portable camera of their format. Plain speaking, a medium format camera in the package of a 35mm with features of a consumer camera, like swivel screen LiveView (and not waist level OVF like a Hassy, Rollei or Lubitel has). It makes it easy to transition users from smaller format to medium format, which has always been very professionally geared. Nowadays people think 35mm is for pro already…. 35mm first started as an amateur camera!
Oh, yeah, I was looking at a Lubitel 133+ when I thought of the idea.
Chris
2 years ago |@cL: That’s exactly my point. All of the current players in the MFDSLR arena have decades of experience, have preexisting designs they can build their new models on, and already have established names.
Roaming around Flickr, and speaking from experience from researching medium format cameras myself, Mamiya, Hasselblad, Pentax, and Rollei are already household names in the medium format arena and are well-known by pros and amateurs looking to step into medium format themselves.
Olympus isn’t currently established in medium format, they are barely mentioned among new film shooters, and if they can’t even afford to keep both 4/3 and m4/3 on the same production lines at the same time, I don’t think they have the resources to move into medium format digital. Especially since that camera will most likely cost upwards of $7500 with no incentive for new buyers to jump in like other medium format rigs or even the m4/3 cameras (ie. cheap, used lenses, backwards compatiblity with older models, etc.)
George
2 years ago |+1
Ross
2 years ago |The only exodus was when doomsday sayers like you managed to panic a few before it was released while most of the rest are eagerly buying up the E5 & loving it. I’m sorry if you think yours is better, just go play with yours without spoiling the fun for others.
Ross
2 years ago |Chris if you were intending something else, then I make my comment to all the other knockers instead.
Jesper
2 years ago |But from what i’ve heard (from actual users, not websites) the E-5 is really good. Maybe as you said overpriced, but don’t equall it with E-PL1 just because of the sensor. Cameras nowaday are more than just sensor.
Take Pentax K-5 for instance, Sony A55 got the same sensor in it, but which is the real winner?
El Cabong
2 years ago |Some pro m4/3 glass wouldn’t hurt either. Although, given the prices we’re already paying for lenses…
Jesper
2 years ago |Yeah, really hope that P or O will make a 12-35mm F2.8 lens (24-70mm 35mm equivalent)
Ross
2 years ago |Keep wishing. I don’t see that happening until there is a micro 4/3s body of equally pro standard & I think will be a while yet (a long while
).
napalm
2 years ago |and again, anything positive about the E-5 draws the negative hehehe
(sits back and eats his popcorn)
Fish
2 years ago |Yes, the hands-on reviews on the E-5 have been excellent. Kind of reminds you that Olympus knows a thing or two about photography. Photonika was a let down, but I have a feeling something good is on the way.
Hopefully it’s a pro mft that also does pd-af for 4/3 lenses.
Voldenuit
2 years ago |The high ISO/low light samples don’t look too good. In fact, they look horrid. ISO 6400 is unusable (not a big deal), but ISO 3200 doesn’t look great either. There’s also visible smearing in the steam room sample, which suggests the NR algorithm is being too aggressive… and that’s at ISO200! Olympus made a big deal about how they improved image processing with the Trupic V+ processor, but I think they’re not doing a good job at retaining detail in low light with the on-camera processing. It really seems as if they’re struggling with the limitations of the sensor and having to overcook the image with software instead.
In good light, I’m sure the E-5 is a brilliant camera, especially when coupled with a good zuiko lens (14-35/2, 35-100/2 etc). But if one is going to be taking photos in low light, it’s not competitive with mainstream APS-C DSLRs, let alone pro bodies.
I just don’t find that the published samples coincide with the conclusions in the E-5 reviews I’ve read. There seems to be a vast disconnect between them.
dCrap
2 years ago |Well why the fuck aren’t you writing the reviews then? You obviously have so much more expertise than the reviewers, or the people who are actually using the camera.
holyfackingcrapyou bobbleheadsTire
2 years ago |Bunch of FANBOIS you all are crying yourselves to sleep when some of dare to criticize olympus for such dumbfounding decision making that they have made, the problem is not that the E5 is not a decent camera, the problem is too little too late! And where is the innovation, the leadership they are known for, ok they mad e acamera that DOESN’T SUCK, WHOOPTEFUCKINGDOO
see, you should be more concerned that Many have decided to switch already, it is OKAY to criticize utter bufoonery when it has been coming from your favorite camera company of many years, this erosion of userbase HURTS EVERYONE with OLY Gear GOT IT>??? And the above poster with legitamte criticisms is IMMEDIATELY bashed, when you could stand to leanr a thing or two from his shrewd analysis there buster up above me, hopelessly flaming FANBOY
Voldenuit
2 years ago |Dude, take a chill pill. Not every criticism is a personal attack, unless you have some serious insecurity issues.
My point is that there are lots of reviews praising the E-5, but the praise does not seem to be borne out by the image quality in the samples the reviews post.
Now it is natural that different standards and expectations are applied to a $500 camera vs a $2000 one, and the E-5 falls short of pro and enthusiast expectations *in my opinion*. Feel free to have your own. Last I checked, that’s not illegal.
Jason
2 years ago |@Voldenuit – It all matters how much image quality you want, and what glass you are using. If using HG and SHG lenses, which maybe some of the reviewers were not – then the image quality is quite good and is above that quality of the 7D and D7000 – easily. The reviewers that used good glass, clearly have proven the results are of excellent quality.
http://robinwong.blogspot.com/2010/10/olympus-e-5-review-macro-shooting-at.html
What do you say is better in the same price range, and do you have any samples to back up your argument?
John Krumm
2 years ago |Voldenuit,
It’s definitely not a camera for everyone, but it’s quite nice. The “standard” NR algorithm is stronger than Oly cams in the past, and that is probably fooling a few less knowledgeable reviewers I agree. You can change that setting to low or off, or just shoot raw. I’ve been opening up my raws in Lightroom as E30 files and they look great. In fact, I just looked at a K5 raw sample at iso 80 and it looked mushy by comparison to what I’m used to (maybe the reviewers were using a bad lens).
Likely they haven’t really decreased the noise much at the raw level with the E5, but they have increased detail, so the detail/noise ratio is better than before. Combine that with really good IS, the sharp lenses, and the very high quality build and it’s a pretty sweet camera.
Voldenuit
2 years ago |Agreed. My complaint is more about the methodology of these early reviews and to point out the disconnect between their findings and conclusions.
I definitely think that to shoot a pro camera mainly in JPEG in a review is doing a distinct disservice to both the camera and the prospective users who will be buying it. It does sound like ePhotozine just left the camera in its default settings, which is not indicative of the usage it will probably see in the field, or should. In their defence, they did point out that ISO 3200 and 6400 were best reserved for web and small prints, but I challenge that anyone who buys a $2000 body is not going to be happy with that level of performance, and perhaps if they’d dug deeper (and with better methodology), they might actually have been able to show the product in a better light (no pun intended).
Might I say it’s also very pleasant to be able to have a reasoned, intelligent discourse on the net (of all places) without parties flying off the handle at the drop of the hat, so thank you for this discussion, John.
George
2 years ago |you are accusing people being a canikon fanbois, but tell me
are you different from them?
Scott
2 years ago |We have 5dll and 7ds in our studio and you cant use ISO 3200 or 6400 on them either
er
2 years ago |if you want bigger bodie then E-5 is for you ,that’s it.
if you don’t like then don’t buy it.
Miklos Rabi
2 years ago |“Now Olympus, bring us the Pro-MFT camera”
No, please, don’t do that. GH2 is pro enough.
WE NEED LENSES. 10/2.5, 50/1.2, 100/2.8 macro
43 photo
2 years ago |“WE NEED LENSES. 10/2.5, 50/1.2, 100/2.8 macro”
Releasing a pro mft body that focuses quickly with 4/3rds zuiko glass brings a new range of outstanding lenses within reach of mft. The 150/2.0 and 50/2.0 macro are tempting to use on mft.
I would vote for different lenses:
7/4.0
12/2.8
80/1.2 (portrait prime with good close focussing)
100/3.5 macro 1:1
Voigtlander already released a very nice one. More primes will probably follow in the coming two years if the sales of 25/0.95 live up their expectations.
juavel
2 years ago |Well, in this site everything is about product availability, buying options, prices drops and bells & whistles news, I did never heard a criticism, everything is very positive, too much for my taste.
A review of a pro-camera in JPG says all. No mention that I still have to see a comment in a review about the slower than E3-E30 buffer speed, ranging from 33% to 50% slower depending on the card, the burst is slow compared with the competence, but now the buffer is also slower.
Otherwise the E5 it´s a good camera as it was the E3, they have managed to get detail enough (softening the anti alias filter) to apply an agressive pre-filtering without looking overwashed at low ISOS.
The real problem is that the spending in the development of this camera was very little (new $30 processor + software + E30 screen), so I think that the price increase relative the current E3 price should be also little.
I hope that all the next olympus models will have a soft AA like this one, even that I don´t know if I will leave and go to the dark side.
Ross
2 years ago |I just checked the specs for a Canon 7D & guess what? It can only go up to 15 RAW files for sequential shooting. Can’t be any good if that’s all it can do! (sarcasm OK) Yes it does 8fps at 18MP which means it will cover 1.5 seconds of rapid shots of 15 RAW frames & the E5 will cover 2.2 seconds with 16 frames (rapid shots). I would go for the E5 for its features I appreciate in Olympus which includes built in wireless flash control & articulating screen (bigger & triple the resolution) & all the other new offerings that come with it that my E30 doesn’t have. Call me a fan boy if you want but I don’t need to run down other makes of cameras to appreciate what I have.
holyfackingcrapyou bobbleheadsTire
2 years ago |you said better than my incoherent not always so sober babbling ever could
look poeple, i am not tryin got start war ok??? I am just pointing out, it is OK to get pissed sometimes, and yes to criticize your GODS ON MT OLYMPUS
Yes, I was like you once and i have seen the light
money talks bullshit walks
if there ios no more R&D in the systme, as is clearly stated AND EXHIBITED
then I walk
simple as that
I am holding out hope, a glimmer, for something big to be announced the first haf of next year, if not, i gotta bail, not that any of ya’ll shed tears, right, I’m, Just saying!! Quit being so GODDAMN SENSITIVE it’ss an inanimate object for fucks sake, i just want to get my money’s worth and to make a good investment for myself, THATS ALL
Ross
2 years ago |I won’t shed any tears if you walk. I promise.
Tobias W.
2 years ago |I caved. I saw one yesterday, played around with it at the shop for about 15 minutes, using both the 12-60mm and the Panasonic 25mm. It feels great. The viewfinder is simply the best to be expected from FT (it can’t compete against a FF camera though). Focusing is EXTREMELY fast, I haven’t seen anything like that before. The body is a lot bulkier and heavier than my E-520, so I am glad I also got the E-PL1 for those occasions where the camera should be smaller and lighter – and less intimidating.
I made a down-payment yesterday, so it’s officially mine already. A guy walked in after me, asking for the E-5, I said “boy, am I glad I walked in before you!”. He didn’t share the humor. I got the last one of a batch of five they got this week. Apparently it’s selling well.
I’ll pick it up this evening. If I have time on the weekend, I can compare it to both the E-PL1 and the E-520, using one of my Rokkor lenses for comparable sensor results (same lens across all cameras). I haven’t gotten the MMF-2 yet (it’s simply not available in Europe it seems).
From what I’ve seen so far, it’s a solid piece of equipment, certainly better than anything I’ve used before. I’m still sure it’s overpriced right now, but I’m willing to accept that – it’s Christmas soon anyway and what is money on a bank good for anyway?!
Ross
2 years ago |Half ya luck. Wish I could have one for Christmas.
Jason
2 years ago |Nice, I cannot wait to get mine…. Hopefully this year!!!
Jozeph
2 years ago |A few weeks ago i was here for the last time because of the E5. I see that the buzz around E5 is still going on!! If its about E5: there appear many pro’s and con’s. My conclusion: its really a pity that Olympus couldn’t convince all of us with E5. A missed change to serve the needs of many who where waiting for a super-pro 4/3 camera.
I decided to leave Oly a while ago of this. Sold my stuff for a good price, while its still worth some, stil ost money on it. Although i miss the compact, light lenses and the innovative features on the E620, i don’t regret at all i made the switch.
Fot those who are enthusiast about the E5, go for it. I bet you will be happy. I was not that convinced.
Samo
2 years ago |Olympus are the only company in the biz that actually have the balls not to follow the other companies with really high mega-pixels. All the other SLR companies try to out do themselves by increasing meaningless specs. its the processor, the lens which makes alot more difference and olympus know that.
to be honest you cant blame the other companies acting like sheeps as they are continuously trying to beat each other to the no 1 spot every year. Olympus realise, they probably will never get to the market share and target audience of the big guns but they are not trying to. They just want to make good tools to aid people expressing themselves in the photographic world and they do that very well and the new e5 (which I also had my doubts on) keeps with that mentality
Voldenuit
2 years ago |Actually, Canon is the only big maker that seems hell bent on raising megapixels beyond reason, which is why it’s behind Sony, Nikon and Pentax in high ISO on its consumer cameras.
Yes, Nikon had the D3X, but they kept the D3 and D3S at 12 MP concurrently – the D3X was intended at a different market – product, studio and landscape photography, where lighting was usually controlled or bright and the extra resolution was beneficial.
FWIW, the pixel density between Panasonic’s 12 MP sensor (the one used in the E-5) is almost the same as on a consumer 60D, at 5 MP/cm^2 vs 5.4 MP/cm^2. I’m sure Oly would have chosen an even lower pixelcount sensor if they could, but sadly they are not in control of the sensor developers and manufacturers and have to make do with whatever their vendor provides.
Dana Curtis Kincaid
2 years ago |“The high ISO/low light samples don’t look too good. In fact, they look horrid. ISO 6400 is unusable (not a big deal), but ISO 3200 doesn’t look great either. There’s also visible smearing in the steam room sample, which suggests the NR algorithm is being too aggressive… and that’s”
Oh just STFU. PLEASE
Inge - M.
2 years ago |If you look to tyre on boat, so start problem by ISO 800, but i lake the is little horrid i the dark. LOL
On my E-P1 is the little horrid from ISO 100 in the dark. LOL the double!
zigi_S
2 years ago |Noise really wasn’t the problem with olympus ever. It was more about banding and the handling of blacks. Since the E-30 all olympus cameras are more or less up to the competition. Yes they are a bit weaker, but not in practice. ISO 6400 and beyond looks crap on other systems as well as on olympus.
Ross
2 years ago |I’ve got photos from a Canon 5D used at ISO 3200 for a musical production where a flash couldn’t be used & the noise in the dark areas are banding & not at all pretty. The chroma noise is very apparent & I don’t know why they didn’t use a good noise filter software before giving the photos to the cast members. It’s a pity Olympus is getting such a bagging for their noise when they aren’t far behind the others in dealing with it considering the small disadvantage for 4/3s over APS-C size sensors, when there are other advantages with it.
Alfons
2 years ago |Still wondering why we had to wait for so long. However, sounds good.
The only gripe I have left is that they didn’t make the controls more tactile. There’s this thing called winter and one has to wear things called gloves. E-500 had better touch on buttons than E-3 or E-5 :\
Alcides
2 years ago |The real ground breaking camera should be one which has an open operating system as Tom Hogan describes here: http://bythom.com/design2010.htm.
That could be a real killer of the rest of cameras.
John Krumm
2 years ago |It’s not as bad as it looks with gloves. Definitely a lot better than my small 620 was with gloves, but not perfect. I’d prefer a regular mode dial, for one.
cocute
2 years ago |Pentax K-r is better valorate that E-5 in same web:
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Pentax-Kr-14989
Rocky
2 years ago |I like what I am reading on the E-5. I know that boat is taking water but I am not willing to jumping ship…
BTW: Lets be respectful of people’s opinions. Comments that are offensive or have offensive content should be removed by Admin.
dCap
2 years ago |(just wanted to add that dCrap and me, we’re not related)
Tim
2 years ago |FYI I’ve been shooting with it for weeks and it’s an outstanding camera. Beautifully built, and the first weatherproof DSLR video camera in it’s class.
E5 is the real deal. Don’t believe the haters, the image quality is legit.