Center Valley, PA—Olympus is building on the 40-year legacy of the OM SLR film camera series with the launch of the Olympus E-M5—the first of the new Olympus OM-D (OM Digital) series of Micro Four Thirds products. The E-M5 boasts a built-in electronic viewfinder, fast autofocus speeds and creative control in a classic, rugged body ready for sand, sleet or snow.
Evoking the classic design of the original OM series introduced 40 years ago, and transforming it for the modern age, the OM-D series is an entirely new Micro Four Thirds camera system. It combines features found in Olympus E-system DSLRs with those of the compact Olympus Pen models for photographers who demand more performance and portability from their interchangeable-lens cameras.
With a lightweight, magnesium alloy body that is enhanced with dustproof and splashproof durability, the compact Olympus E-M5 employs a built-in 120-fps-refresh-rate, high-res electronic viewfinder (EVF). An eye sensor allows a seamless switch between a tilting, 3.0-inch touch-screen OLED and the EVF. The viewfinder features a 100% field of view, 1.15x magnification and an 18mm eye point for fatigue-free viewing. Camera setting information is displayed at the bottom of the viewfinder so photographers can concentrate on framing shots and take advantage of the EVF’s ability to display the effects of various exposure adjustments and art filters without having to take their eye away from the viewfinder.
The E-M5’s 16.1 megapixel Live MOS sensor and TruePic VI image processor work together to improve image quality in low light, with a maximum ISO of 25,600 and expanded dynamic range for more faithful color reproduction. And Olympus says the E-M5 has “the world’s first 5-axis image-stabilization mechanism capable of reducing the effects of camera motion and image blur from five directions on stills and video, even including motion blur caused by the photographer walking or running.” Previous IS mechanisms compensated for shake by addressing only two kinds of movement along the vertical and horizontal axis. The E-M5 IS mechanism is incorporated into the camera body itself so that all lenses mounted on the body can take advantage of this technology, whether shooting stills or video.
Other features include: a blazing 240-fps speed in continuous autofocus; maximum frame rates increased more than 2x to 9 fps in single AF; Full HD 1080i movie recording, in the MOV format (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264); a new 3D tracking AF system; new movie effects, such as one-shot echo, for a semitransparent frame, and multi echo, for a multi-motion trail effect; a new interface (EVF creative control) that produces a tone curve overlay on the viewfinder screen to enable separate adjustment of highlight and shadow brightness, white balance, magnification and aspect ratio that can also be manipulated via the EVF; and an electronic flash (FL-LM2) that ships with the camera and has its same dustproof and splashproof construction.
The Olympus E-M5 will be available in April in the following configurations: body only, in black and silver, $999.99; black or silver body with black M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ lens, $1,299.99; and black body with black M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R lens, $1,099.99.
New Lenses and Accessories
The HLD-6 power battery grip, with dust- and splashproof construction, is an adaptable, two-part grip that can be used as a landscape grip for easier handling or as a portrait grip with an additional shutter release. The portrait grip accommodates an extra lithium-ion battery to supplement the one in the E-M5, thus extending battery life.
The FL-600R electronic flash (GN 50 at ISO 200 or GN 36 at ISO 100) is designed to offer an improved recharge time and enhanced flexibility and operability for movie recording, and offers a wireless control option. Equipped with a built-in LED, the FL-600R can be used to light movies and as a brighter AF auxiliary light.
The MMF-3 Four Thirds mount adapter allows the mounting of a Four Thirds-compliant lens on a Micro Four Thirds camera body. It also features dust- and splashproof construction.
The Olympus E-M5 is compatible with all Micro Four Thirds lenses, including two new lenses that Olympus will introduce later this year: the M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 macro. olympusamerica.com
