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Review: The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II’s adventures with action

By Alvin Soon - 24 Dec 2016
Launch SRP: S$2848

There’s a lot packed into the E-M1 Mark II

There’s a lot packed into the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II is something very different, and in some ways, it outguns not just its mirrorless brethren, but the fastest DSLRs on the market. There’s a lot to like, and in fact, there are so many features we’ve hardly gotten to them all.

The E-M1 Mark II’s most obvious advantage is that it’s smaller and lighter than a DSLR with the same set of lenses. Pack a 1D X with 24-70mm and 70-200mm lens and you’re set for a backbreaking expedition. Pair the E-M1 Mark II with the same focal lengths and you could fit the entire kit into a shoulder bag.

The E-M1 Mark II also has best-of-class 5-axis optical image stabilization (OIS), which performs impossible magic, like getting a sharp image while shooting for a full second, handheld. I’ve found the 5-axis OIS to be most useful when shooting video, it takes away the shakiness that makes most handheld videos look amateurish. Talking about video, the E-M1 Mark II can do some pretty high-end shooting, with a maximum resolution of 4K at 24p with a high bitrate of 237Mbps.

The E-M1 Mark II’s body is also solidly constructed, with weather-sealing to tough out the elements. The swiveling touchscreen rear monitor lets you shoot more angles, and the Super Control Panel gives you quick access to important controls. It’s important to remember that some modern DSLR cameras still lack a touchscreen and the equivalent of an onscreen control panel.

Battery life is impressive, and the longest lasting I’ve ever gotten from a mirrorless camera. That itself is a small miracle worthy of praise.

f/2.8 at 90mm, 1/500 sec, ISO 5,000. Processed in Lightroom.

The E-M1 Mark II’s rapid 18fps with AF/AE shooting speed gives you more chances of nailing the shot than its competitors, and Pro Capture Mode (PCM) is an absolute gift. When there’s no room for excuses, PCM can get you better odds at getting the decisive moment, rather than leaving it to reflexes and chance.

On the other hand, the E-M1 Mark II’s autofocus performance is inconsistent in good light and still falters when it comes to moving subjects in low light. If you have to shoot critical jobs in low-light, I’d still recommend a DSLR, which is bulkier but has tried and true AF performance that does well in most situations. The 20MP sensor provides better detail, and noise control is impressive. Details start to take a hit from ISO 3,200 onwards, but the Mark II controls it well. There’s still an ample amount of detail left at ISO 6,400 and the results look good for online.

If 20MP isn’t enough, the E-M1 Mark II also adds the High Res Shot mode that’s available on the E-M5 Mark II and the Pen-F, but not on the original E-M1. It lands you 50MP JPEGs and 80MP raw files, and in our tests made for remarkably detailed images. However, the camera still needs to be mounted on a tripod for sharp images, and moving elements still appear with ghosting, so it’s best used for still subjects.

f/2.8 at 52mm, 1/250 sec, ISO 4,000.

The E-M1 Mark II’s high US$1,999.99 price for the body alone makes it hard to recommend as a niche action camera, especially when you can get the Canon 7D Mark II or the Nikon D500 with more dependable AF for less. Compared against other mirrorless cameras however, the E-M1 Mark II is one of the best general purpose workhorses you can get.

I recently went for a work trip overseas where I would be shooting mostly in good light, and would have loved to pack the E-M1 Mark II. Unfortunately, it wasn’t available so I brought my full-frame DSLR instead. My DSLR performed admirably, but my pack was so heavy that when I had five hours of free time to roam around, I chose to leave the camera behind rather than bring it along. 

If I’d brought the lighter E-M1 Mark II, it could have worked as both my work and leisure camera, for both stills and video. Those are the situations where I can see the Mark II fulfilling a role as a dependable all-rounder that’s more portable than a DSLR.

f/4.5 at 70mm, 1/160 sec, ISO 5,000.

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8.5
  • Performance 8.5
  • Design 8.5
  • Features 9
  • User-Friendliness 8
  • Value 7.5
The Good
Portable compared to DSLR equivalents
Longer battery life than most mirrorless cameras
Solid, weather-sealed body
Super Control Panel gives instant access to vital controls
5-axis OIS provides solid stabilization for stills and video
20MP resolution has more detail than predecssors
Good noise control up to ISO 6,400
Gorgeous Olympus colors in JPEGs
Rapid 18fps is faster than all DSLRs
Pro Capture mode is a great help for action
Video shooting at 4K res. at 24p with a high bitrate of 237Mbps
The Bad
Onscreen menu is confusing to navigate
D-pad is stiff to use
Harder to switch AF points compared to before
AF performance inconsistent, even in good light
AF cannot track action reliably enough in low light
Expensive, especially when considered to DSLRs
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