Camera Reviews / Olympus Cameras / Olympus OM-D i Review

20.40 Megapixels	Micro Four Thirds	4/3 size sensor

Olympus E-M1 Mark II Review

by Jeremy Gray, Mike Tomkins, William Brawley, Dave Pardue and Zig Weidelich
Preview originally posted: 09/19/2016

Updates:
09/21/2016: Technical Info posted!
11/02/2016: First Shots, Image Quality Comparison and Print Quality posted!
11/02/2016: Gallery Images posted!
11/02/2016: Field Test Part I posted!
11/29/2016: Field Test Part II posted!
01/13/2017: Review Conclusion posted!

Last updated: 06/27/2018

 

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Does weather-sealing matter? Watch our test and decide for yourself.

Read more of our "Water Torture Test" by clicking here.

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Update: The E-M1 Mark II earned multiple accolades in our 2016 Camera of the Year Awards, including our pick for the Overall Winner as 2016's Best Camera of the Year. It was also awarded Best Professional Mirrorless Camera and Best High-Speed Capture Camera. For more on how this camera pairs with the award-winning Olympus 300mm f/4 I. S. Pro, please click here!

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At the Photokina 2016 trade show, Olympus announced the development of its latest flagship Micro Four Thirds camera, the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. This high-end mirrorless camera features a lightweight yet durable, compact design and a wide array of impressive shooting features, with many upgrades over the earlier E-M1 model that launched back in late 2013.

At the heart of the OM-D E-M1 Mark II is a new 20.4-megapixel Live MOS 4/3" sensor which is equipped with 121 on-chip phase detection points, all of which are cross type. Working with the newly-developed TruePic VIII image processor -- which is stated to be 3.5 times faster than previous TruePic processors -- the E-M1 Mark II can record full-resolution images at up to a whopping 60 frames-per-second with both AF and AE locked and up to 18fps with continuous AF and AE when using the camera's all-electronic shutter mode.

The TruePic VIII image processor has a double quad-core design with one of the quad-cores dedicated to autofocus and the other to image processing. Continuous shooting specifications are particularly impressive with the OM-D E-M1 Mark II. When using the mechanical shutter, the camera can shoot at up to 15fps with locked focus and exposure. In the slower, mechanical shutter sequential shooting L mode, the camera can shoot at up to 10fps. There is also a new "Pro Capture" function which comes with maximum shooting speeds of 60 and 18fps in H and L modes respectively. In this mode, the camera captures up to 14 full-resolution frames as soon as the shutter button is half-pressed and then captures additional frames up to buffer capacity when the shutter is fully-pressed.

Regarding the Live MOS sensor itself, not only has resolution increased from 16.1 to 20.4 megapixels, but Olympus notes that it has been optimized for lower power consumption, faster data readout, better noise performance and better dynamic range. Noise performance is claimed to have been improved by a stop, although we believe Olympus included the effects of refined JPEG noise processing to arrive at that figure. The extended ISO range is 64-6400 when using Auto ISO and 64-25,600 when using a manually-selected ISO. The new ISO LOW (ISO 64 equivalent) setting should allow users to shoot with wider apertures in bright settings. And like the E-M1, the E-M1 Mark II's sensor has no optical low-pass filter for maximum per-pixel sharpness.

Of course the OM-D E-M1 Mark II gets Olympus' famous High Res Shot mode which utilizes the 5-axis image stabilization system's voice coil motor system to shift the sensor in precise half pixel increments. After capturing a total of eight shots, the images are composited into a single 50-megapixel JPEG frame and/or a 80-megapixel RAW file. In combination with the TruePic VIII processor, the High Res Shot mode can now suppress blur due to situations such as slightly moving grass or moving water. In addition, it is possible to select a smaller 25-megapixel JPEG file size.

Weighing in at approximately 20.2 ounces (574g) with the battery and memory card included, the OM-D E-M1 Mark II has dimensions (width x height x depth) of about 5.3 x 3.6 x 2.7 inches (or about 134 x 91 x 69 mm). That's a little heavier, wider and deeper than the E-M1, but slightly shorter. (The E-M1 weighs 17.5 ounces / 497g and its dimensions are 5.1 x 3.7 x 2.5 inches / 130 x 94 x 63 mm.) As you'd expect, the weather-sealed body is dust, splash and freeze-proof and can be operated in temperatures as low as 14°F or -10°C.

The durable shutter is rated for 200,000 actuations. As a side note regarding the shutter, it is actually isolated from the body which has allowed Olympus to put shock absorbers between the shutter and the body. Good thing too, given the camera's 15fps shooting using the mechanical shutter.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II body now includes dual memory card slots allowing users to use two SD cards when shooting. There are four options for how to utilize the dual card slots: Record to the specified card, automatically switch to the second card when the first becomes full, independently record to both cards according to specific image quality assigned to each slot, and finally recording identical files to both cards simultaneously. The two card slots do not include the same card support, but rather slot 1 supports UHS-II and UHS-I cards while slot 2 supports only the latter.

The Mark II's electronic viewfinder features the same 2.36M-dot resolution, 1.48x (0.74x 35mm-equivalent) magnification and 100% coverage as its predecessor's, but is noticeably faster with a refresh rate of 120fps and a latency of only six milliseconds, which makes keeping track of fast-moving subjects much easier.

Taking a look at the rear of the camera, we find a 3-inch touchscreen monitor with the same resolution of approximately 1,037K dots, but it now has a more versatile, fully-articulating vari-angle design instead of the tilting-only LCD found on the E-M1. Touch control allows you to release the shutter, magnify a selected area, select AF area, change AF area size, utilize AF touch pad, move frames forward and backward, magnify playback, view Live Guide, access Super Control Panel, establish Wi-Fi connection, access movie controls, use movie teleconverter, and use selfie controls (release, e-portrait, custom self-timer).

Image stabilization is of course included in the E-M1 Mark II body, and the camera is equipped with the latest version of Olympus' in-body 5-axis image stabilization system. The correction algorithm has been optimized to provide a reported 5.5 stops of vibration reduction. If you combine the camera with Olympus' optical image stabilization-equipped lenses, you can achieve up to 6.5 stops of image stabilization compensation for both stills and video recording.

E-M1 Mark II has many more PDAF points than its predecessor

As previously touched upon, autofocus specs and features have been greatly improved with the OM-D E-M1 Mark II. The advanced Dual FAST AF system automatically selects between contrast and phase detection autofocus depending on the attached lens, camera settings and the current lighting conditions. Continuous autofocus performance is improved due to a new moving subject tracking algorithm as well. There's also a new in-camera autofocus limiter which allows you to limit the focus range of the lens, resulting in less focus hunting and faster overall autofocus speeds. Continuous AF tracking sensitivity can also be customized.

The 121 cross-type on-chip phase detection AF point spec is much improved compared to 2013's Olympus O-MD E-M1, which had 37 on-chip phase detection points and 81 contrast detection points. AF coverage is now 75% of the frame vertically and 80% horizontally, versus 66% and 60% for the E-M1 respectively. And unlike the E-M1, the Mark II's phase-detect AF works with Micro Four Thirds lenses in both single AF and continuous AF modes (as opposed to the E-M1 which used PDAF primarily for supporting Four Thirds lenses, only using it to assist during continuous AF with Micro Four Thirds lenses).

As expected, there are a number of autofocus functions in the E-M1 Mark II including AF target mode, face/eye priority AF and the AF targeting pad. The targeting pad feature allows you to use your finger on the touchscreen display to select the AF point while simultaneously looking through the viewfinder.

E-M1 Mark II offers numerous shooting modes

Special shooting modes include silent (which utilizes the electronic shutter; the electronic shutter has a shutter speed range of 60s to 1/32,000s when shooting in silent mode), focus stacking/focus bracketing and Live Composite/Live Bulb shooting modes. Focus stacking allows you to stack eight shots at different focus points and composite them into a single frame. Focus stacking is available with seven M.Zuiko Digital ED lenses: 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO, 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO, 30mm f/3.5 Macro, 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO, 8mm f/1.8 Fisheye Pro and 300mm f/4 IS PRO. Focus bracketing allows you to capture anywhere from 3 to 999 shots with adjustable focus steps using any Micro Four Thirds lens. Live Composite and Live Bulb keeps dark areas of frames constant while updating light areas as you shoot multiple frames, combining shots of subjects such as stars and fireworks into a single frame.

Creative features include multiple picture modes, gradation effects, filter effects, picture tones, art filters, art effects and a selective color-oriented color ring mode. There are 14 art filters including Pop Art, Pin Hole and Cross Process. There are nine art effects including Pin-hole, Star Light and Shade effects. While not so much a creative mode as much as it is a new form of correction, the E-M1 Mark II includes keystone compensation, ideal for photographing architecture. Trapezoidal compensation can be applied simultaneously in both horizontal and vertical directions.

In addition to these special shooting features and modes, the OM-D E-M1 Mark II has a standard assortment of shooting modes including P, A, S and M. In these shooting modes and others, the camera utilizes Digital ESP metering which has a 324-area multi pattern metering system. Metering modes also include center-weighted average and spot metering modes. Spot metering also has optional highlight control and shadow control variants. Spot metering can be used with AF target spot metering too. The metering range is -2 to 20 EV and exposure compensation up to +/-5 EV is available.

E-M1 Mark II Video: Shoot Cinema Standard 4K at 237 Mbps!

The Olympus O-MD E-M1 Mark II supports Digital Cinema Standard 4K (4096 x 2060 pixels) video capture at a frame rate up to 24 frames-per-second with a bit rate of 237 Mbps. The 20.4-megapixel Live MOS sensor has a read speed three times faster than its predecessor which helps the camera to produce sharper, clearer image quality with less distortion. The camera also includes a "flat" picture mode which is designed for color grading and post-production work on the resulting video files.

Uncompressed video, including 4K video, can be viewed or output live via the camera's HDMI port. When recording to an external device, video recording can be started and stopped via the camera. Output is 4:2:2, allowing a wider color correction range.

Video files are recorded in MOV and AVI file format and available video recording resolutions include 4096 x 2160, 3840 x 2160, 1920 x 1080 and 1290 x 720. While Cinema 4K is capped at 24fps, you can record 4K UHD video at up to 30fps. Full HD video recording is available at up to 60fps. It is also worth noting that you can utilize the OM-D E-M1 Mark II's in-body image stabilization system even when recording Cinema Standard 4K video.

E-M1 Mark II gets improved battery, ports and accessories

The E-M1 Mark II comes with a new, larger BLH-1 lithium-ion battery pack. The new battery is larger and has 37% greater capacity than the old one, with a CIPA rating of 440 shots per charge (versus 350 for the E-M1). The E-M1 Mark II also has a quick sleep mode which boosts battery life to 950 shots. Olympus also notes that charging is "much faster", although it doesn't say precisely how much. The camera has a USB 3.0 Type-C port, a 2.5mm remote jack, a Type-D Micro HDMI connector, hot shoe, PC sync terminal, 3.5mm mic and headphone jacks, as well as built-in Wi-Fi.

Optional accessories for the E-M1 Mark II include the HLD-9 Power Battery Holder which holds an additional BLH-1 battery and includes a directional pad, two control dials, two function buttons and a shutter release resulting in the camera handling the same way in the vertical orientation as it does in the standard horizontal orientation.

There's also a new FL-900R weatherproof high-intensity flash, STF-8 weatherproof macro flash, RM-CB2 release cable, PT-EP14 underwater case and CBG-12 large-capacity backpack.

Compared to predecessor, E-M1 Mark II is much faster in many ways

When comparing the E-M1 Mark II to the E-M1, the new flagship camera brings with it a lot of impressive improvements. The Mark II's sensor has a 25% higher pixel count and the new processor and memory brings with it roughly double the RAW buffer capacity and three times faster internal data writing speed. When considering both shooting and autofocus speeds, sequential S-AF shooting is six times faster and C-AF shooting is two times faster.

The new autofocus system includes 3.3 times more AF points. The improvements to the electronic viewfinder result in a 63% faster EVF response rate. And with the introduction of Digital Cinema Standard 4K video shooting, the OM-D E-M1 Mark II has four times the video resolution of its predecessor.

The E-M1 Mark II's mechanical shutter still tops out at 1/8,000s with a 1/250s flash x-sync, but as previously mentioned the electronic shutter's exposure range is now 60s to 1/32,000s, up from 1/8s to 1/16,000s on the E-M1.

There are a lot of significant improvements and features in the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. When compared to its predecessor, the new camera is a dramatic upgrade. Considering how well-received the original E-M1 was, Olympus shooters are sure to be pleased with the new E-M1 Mark II.

 

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In the Box

The Olympus E-M1 Mark II U.S. retail package contains the following items:

• Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II body
• Rechargeable Li-ion battery BLH-1
• Battery charger BCH-1
• Flash FL-LM3
• USB cable
• Cable clip
• Shoulder strap
• Instruction manual
• Limited 1-Year Warranty

 

Recommended Accessories

• Large capacity SDHC/SDXC memory card. 32GB should be a minimum, and we highly recommend a fast UHS-II card.
• Spare battery BLH-1 for extended shooting sessions
• Power battery holder HLD-9
• M.Zuiko lenses, especially the M.Zuiko Pro 12-40mm f/2.8
• Remote cable release RM-CB2
• Medium camera bag
• Micro HDMI cable