I have written an extensive review for the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II (please do read if you have not), I loved the camera so much I purchased one not too long after the review. I have owned the E-M10 Mark II for more than half a year now, and have used it extensively for my own shutter therapy sessions, as well as some assignment shoots (event coverage, pre-wedding shoots, and actual day wedding photography). Throughout my use of the E-M10 Mark II, I cannot help but always feel that this is perhaps one of the best camera I would recommend for new comers to photography!
If you are already an experienced photographer and have been shooting religiously for a while now, this article may not be relevant to you. However, if you are shooting mostly with your smartphone cameras, or a compact, basic point and shoot and are thinking of taking your photography game to the next level, you may want to take a good look at the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II. It is not the cheapest value for money budget system camera (entry level DSLR or CSC). In fact, I would not label the E-M10 Mark II as an entry level camera, after using it extensively for half a year, I believe it is a lot more capable in terms of field performance and delivering high quality images than most entry level DSLR or mirrorless system. In this blog entry, I shall discuss the advantages and strengths of the E-M10 Mark II against most other entry level systems available out there.
1) EXCELLENT KIT LENS
When taking pointers from professional photographers or friends who are more experienced in photography, the common advise would be getting better and more expensive lenses to be able to shoot better images. While that advise is true, I do not think getting all the expensive lenses together with your first camera is going to help you much in your photography game when you are still struggling to grasp the correlation between shutter speed, aperture and ISO of the camera, and you might not even know which button to press to change the white balance settings. It takes time to learn photography, it takes time to understand and be able to master the controls of the camera settings and there are no shortcuts. The best lens to start photography with is the lens that comes with the camera, the humble, lowly kit lens!
I am sure many have heard about how kit lenses are crap lenses and some even recommended to just buy the body only option of any camera and upgrade to better lenses. Yes, the general understanding is basically true, kit lenses were not designed to provide the ultimate best quality, realizing the full potential of your camera. Kit lenses are inferior in sharpness and technical flaw control in comparison to more expensive, higher grade lenses. Have you heard of photographers who are happy or satisfied with their kit lenses' performance? I am one of the few who would advocate the use of kit lens, especially for new comers to photography. Olympus makes some of the best kit lenses out there!
If you are going to start photography with a kit lens as your primary lens that you use most of the time in your photography learning journey, you should consider the quality of the kit lens that comes with your camera purchase seriously. Either you use the 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 IIR lens, or the 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ Pancake Zoom lens, they both perform incredibly well, super fast in focus and delivering surprisingly good results (for kit lenses of course). I have used Olympus kit lenses so often and there are many instances when people actually did not believe that I shot some of the photos I have shown them with kit lens.
2) OPTIMIZED STRAIGHT OUT OF CAMERA JPEGS
I acknowledge that post-processing is important, and an integral part of digital photography. I also personally post-process most of my images, though minimal and nothing out of the ordinary was done to my images. One big mistake that I have witnessed again and again throughout the years that a new comer to photography make is the rush to do aggressive post-processing to their images. The professionals and advanced camera users will strongly recommend shooting in RAW and performing extensive post-processing. The gruesome results were mostly difficult to stomach: honestly the straight out of the camera JPEG image looked so much better than a poorly processed RAW file, when both were placed side by side for comparison.
For learning photographers, do not rush to do crazy post-processing stunts. While you are free to explore the realms of Lightroom and Photoshop, remember that if you cannot get it right in your camera there is no miracle in image editing that can save your mistake or lack of discipline when you were actually out there shooting. Instead of performing tricks and magic in computer, focus on shooting and getting your practical camera settings right, get as close as you can to the image results that you visualize. Most modern cameras come with superb JPEG engine.
I cannot say that all cameras are built equal, different camera manufacturers will process their JPEGs very differently. What has been consistent over the years, even on large professional review sites like DPReview.com, is the high praise for Olympus JPEG engine. It has been repeatedly mentioned "Other manufacturers should learn a thing or two from Olympus' JPEG processing". The results from Olympus E-M10 Mark II JPEGs are optimized, wonderful true to life color rendering with realistic skin tones, reliable auto white balance, excellent noise-filter and sharpening, and all the necessary corrections (Chromatic Aberration, distortion, etc). As a new comer to photography, you need not worry about processing the images or correcting the image flaws, instead you should be focusing your efforts in shooting more and more images, and have fun being out there with your camera!
All images were taken with Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II and M.Zuiko lenses 14-42mm EZ Pancake, 25mm F1.8, 45mm F1.8 and Sigma 19mm F2.8 lens
A loyal friend
A friendly stranger
Construction
Red, Blue and Yellow 1
Red, Blue and Yellow 2
Red, Blue and Yellow 3
Red, Blue and Yellow 4
3) IMAGE QUALITY & PERFORMANCE SIMILAR TO HIGH END OM-D CAMERAS
One of the common trait between most entry level DSLR or Mirrorless system, is the huge gap in terms of image quality output and camera performance in direct comparison to higher end camera models. That is not the case with Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II. Though positioned at the lowest level of OM-D tiers (below E-M1 the flagship and E-M5 Mark II) and priced the cheapest, the E-M10 Mark II has the exact same autofocus performance as the E-M5 Mark II and E-M1 (though E-M1 has an edge in continuous AF), with very much the same super fast speed and dead-on accuracy. Also the image quality, taken by either E-M1, E-M5 Mark II and E-M10 Mark II, it is difficult to tell the difference when put side by side. The ISO6400 image from E-M10 Mark II looks about the same as the ISO6400 image taken with E-M5 Mark II and E-M1. All the unique features and capabilities of OM-D such as Touch AF, Wireless Flash TTL, built in large Electronic Viewfinder, Live Composite/Live Bulb, Live View Boost are all still in the E-M10 Mark II.
The differentiating factor that made E-M10 Mark II cheaper, and placed it lower than E-M1 and E-M5 Mark II, is the absence of magnesium alloy chassis and full weather sealing. There are a handful of small differences (E-M1 & E-M5 Mark II have larger EVF, higher mechanical shutter speed limit of 1/8000sec, etc) but on the whole, you actually get the performance and image output of E-M1 in a simplified, cheaper E-M10 Mark II.
If you use other entry level cameras from other systems, you will end up wondering how much improvement in your images you can achieve if you upgrade to higher end cameras, because it is obvious that there is a clear difference, a large gap of final output quality. There will always be that need to upgrade to better system because you know your camera is inferior. When I am using my E-M10 Mark II, I never lusted for E-M5 Mark II or E-M1, because I know I get the exact same output. I cannot speak for you if you need weather sealing and better handling (E-M1 has the best ergonomics and handling for Olympus cameras now) with larger lenses, but I do not shoot in harsh environmental conditions and I do not use very large lenses. Knowing confidently E-M10 Mark II is just as capable as E-M1 and E-M5 Mark II, how can I not feel proud to own this little beast and be inspired to go out and push the camera to its limits?
4) POWERFUL 5-AXIS IMAGE STABILIZATION
A powerful image stabilization system is a game changer. Olympus offers their best innovation in their imaging business even in the E-M10 Mark II, the 5-Axis Image Stabilization. The ability to shoot at lower shutter speeds, confidently negates the camera shake and the need to carry around a tripod. The hand-held shooting freedom, combined with the light-weight construction and small size of the camera resulted in a truly compact, and easy to carry around system. After all, the best camera is the camera that you have with you, and a camera that is easier to bring about can almost guarantee you more photography opportunities. No other camera manufacturers have added this level of powerful image stabilization in their lower tier system cameras!
The benefits of the 5-Axis Image Stabilization is also extended beyond still photographs to video recording. While I genuinely agree that Olympus may not be the best when it comes to movie recording, you cannot stop but be in awe with what the built in camera image stabilizer can do when you shoot the movie hand-held. Seriously, it is like a mini steady-cam built right into the camera around the sensor.
See the live music performance video below for an example of a stabilized video recorded hand-held, with the E-M10 Mark II and 45mm F1.8 lens, with 5-Axis Image Stabilization at work!
See the live music performance video below for an example of a stabilized video recorded hand-held, with the E-M10 Mark II and 45mm F1.8 lens, with 5-Axis Image Stabilization at work!
HAMEER ZAWAWI - THE ACHING
Featuring Jonathan Khor at Merdekarya
Check out Hameer Zawawi at his Facebook Page and Website
Since we were at a super low light condition shooting at Merkekarya, let's put the E-M10 Mark II to some high ISO torture tests!
End the Shutter Therapy session with an overpriced cup of Coffee
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ISO3200
ISO6400
ISO3200
ISO5000
On The Phone
The Iron Man
Apam Balik
Portrait of a Stranger
5) FUN FUN FUN CAMERA TO USE
I think the most subjective, yet a very important question to ask when choosing a camera: does the camera inspire you? Does it make you want to pick it up and just go out to shoot? Does it make you think about it when you are not shooting?
You may have the best, most expensive, most powerful camera, but if the camera looks ugly to your eyes, is too bulky to carry with you everywhere you go to, and is just plain joyless to use, I do not think you will enjoy using the camera. That is the point is it not, why get a camera that you cannot enjoy using? What is the point of doing photography if you do not enjoy shooting? User experience of the camera to me is extremely important, and I want a camera that not only feels good in hand but makes me feel good about myself, my shooting process and allows me to fully immerse myself in shutter therapy!
I understand that this description of fun may not be applicable to every one, but hey, if you have not tried the OM-D E-M10 Mark II, it is one hell of a fun camera to use!
Nick Wade and his take of how to have fun with an Olympus camera
How to murder a bread
Do you agree?
Iron Man on Flowers
If you have a friend who is keen to start photography, what system camera would you recommend him or her to get? Do share your suggestions, recommendations and I want to hear your thoughts!
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