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Oly OMD EMxx series vs. Nikon DLSR

maflynn

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
Original poster
May 3, 2009
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I see on Olympus' site that I can get a OMD EM1 Mark II for about 2,000 (I'm sure its discounted elsewhere), but I see a Nikon D5500 on Nikon's website with 2 lenses for 700.

I'm not looking to start a platform war, but rather I'm looking now at replacing what appears to be a dead OMD EM5, and quite honestly I'm having some sticker shock over the prices of the various models of the OMD. I'll be honest, I'm not sure which OMD fits my needs the best, having the first gen EM5.

Any insight on the features or why its so much more $$ then a DSLR, I'd appreciate.

I'd rather stick with Oly since I already have a small collection of lenses, but by the same token I don't want to break the bank in buying a new body
 
We paid $1999 for our first two E-M1 II and sold off two of our E-M1 bodies. Since then we got our second E-M1 II bodies for $1799 each when Olympus had a "trade in" sale via their own site plus B&H, Adorama...etc. So indeed check for deals.
 
Have you considered the E-M10 mk ii? Much cheaper, with a lot of the E-M1 features. Almost a throwaway camera by comparison if it gets a soaking.
I know I have one but I'm not being a fanboy here, just practical ;)

Nikon D5500 will have no weather protection either, but as you have been unlucky enough to find out, no camera can withstand a proper dunking.

Cheers :)

Hugh
 
Hughmac said:
Have you considered the E-M10 mk ii? Much cheaper, with a lot of the E-M1 features. Almost a throwaway camera by comparison if it gets a soaking.
Click to expand...
I did, in fact it took me some research to figure out Oly's product strategy.
EM1 - High end, prosumer (or professional). Camera body -2,000
EM5 - Mid level, has weather sealing. Camera body - 1,000
EM10 - Consumer or lower level. Camera body - 650

I really like the idea of the weather/dust sealing because I have been out in the rain with my OMD EM5 (original), and I find myself in situations where its possible to get splashed on.

I will admit that since the EM10 has nearly all the features of the EM5, I was and am tempted, but I was able to pick up the EM5 on sale for 900. I have a little time to change my mind if I so choose, but I think overall I'll stick with what I have. I do think the fully articulating display is a plus and the larger EVF for my old eyes is really nice.

I looked at the used market, and refurb market, but in this case I guess I wanted to buy new. My line of thinking was that that I'm not one to keep upgrading my camera bodies, so I wanted a solid camera to last me several years. This one freak accident was the result of my taking undo chances that I should not have. I will be more careful in the future and with that hopeful mentality, the EM5 Mark II will provide a long life for my needs.
 
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maflynn said:
I did, in fact it took me some research to figure out Oly's product strategy.
EM1 - High end, prosumer (or professional). Camera body -2,000
EM5 - Mid level, has weather sealing. Camera body - 1,000
EM10 - Consumer or lower level. Camera body - 650

I really like the idea of the weather/dust sealing because I have been out in the rain with my OMD EM5 (original), and I find myself in situations where its possible to get splashed on.

I will admit that since the EM10 has nearly all the features of the EM5, I was and am tempted, but I was able to pick up the EM5 on sale for 900. I have a little time to change my mind if I so choose, but I think overall I'll stick with what I have. I do think the fully articulating display is a plus and the larger EVF for my old eyes is really nice.

I looked at the used market, and refurb market, but in this case I guess I wanted to buy new. My line of thinking was that that I'm not one to keep upgrading my camera bodies, so I wanted a solid camera to last me several years. This one freak accident was the result of my taking undo chances that I should not have. I will be more careful in the future and with that hopeful mentality, the EM5 Mark II will provide a long life for my needs.
Click to expand...
Great choice. I made the same decision for the same reasons - fully articulating screen & weather sealing, in that order. The image stabilization is awesome. I can carry the camera and two or three extra lenses in a very small bag, much smaller and lighter than that for my old DSLR.
 
But what does the omd give you that the Nikon DSLR doesn't at a fraction of the price?
Click to expand...

IBIS that can be combined with OIS to give huge stabilization benefits.
Pro capture mode to start taking frames when the shutter bottom is halfway down
FPS rates that are only bettered by Sony a9.
AF points all over the screen
Weather sealed body for shooting in rain or snow.
Dual card slots
High res mode that can produce raw 50MP+ raw images
the list goes on....


the only advantages I can see for any DSLR, especially FF:
larger sensor and apertures to gather more light for more dynamic range
better ISO above 3200 for less noise
 
Last edited:
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OK you beat me to a purchase before I could reply...but I was gonna say E-M5ii. And not just cuz I have one.

The Nikon is basically entry level compared to the E-M1, or even M5ii. And yeah, you do pay a bit more for the smaller size. Nikon's are kinda stupid cheap right now with some sales, but still.

I like to use several lenses on it. My absolute fav is the 60mm macro. It's a great macro, and although I have another body I use the M5ii just to use that lens. I thought it would be a bit too long, but with landscapes I just stitch. Very nice for some portraits too, and just enough extra reach to get me some critters. I often take it with a Panny 20mm stuffed in my pocket in case I need something wider.

I also LOVE to use Pentax lenses and lots of legacy lenses with it cuz of the IBIS and excellent focus peaking. Sure, some are kinda less sharp than modern lenses, but OTOH cheap and fun to mess with. I even have a couple oddball cine lenses.

And then there's pixel shift. A-mazing. You need still subjects, or to do some masking later for stuff that moved, but oh my.
 
robgendreau said:
I often take it with a Panny 20mm stuffed in my pocket in case I need something wider.
Click to expand...
I have that lens, and a 45mm, I'm leaning towards picking up the 12-40 for most of my typical usage. It goes against my mantra of small and light but its weather sealed, and from what I've read a fantastic lens. I'll be searching the used market for such a pricey lens. My 14-42 lens is destroyed due to the drowning that camera incurred, and given the used prices for that lens (100), its not really worth trying to get it repaired. Its funny, I went from a 100 dollar used 14-42, to a 500 to 700 12-40 used lens, but the specs/performance/build quality of the 12-40 are much better then the 14-42

robgendreau said:
The Nikon is basically entry level compared to the E-M1, or even M5ii
Click to expand...
Yeah, when I first posted, I had no idea about the different models Nikon was offering. I had an old D70 back in the day and liked it. I'm happy to be sticking with OMD, though I have 30 days (well less then that now) to fully vet out my purchase decision, since I bought it at a local store that offers a 30 day money back return policy.

I also picked up the Fotodiox Pro grip on amazon, its an inexpensive grip that provides access to the battery compartment, unlike Olympus' 200 dollar grip that blocks it. I had a plastic/rubber grip on my old OMD, but the maker of that doesn't offer it for the MKII, so I had find a different one. I just got it yesterday and its nice, albet it a bit heavy (compared to my original grip), but it works as intended.
 
maflynn said:
What lenses do you use, if you don't mind me asking?
Click to expand...
Mike,
Sorry for the delay in responding. My Olympus lenses are:
12-40 Pro f2.8
25mm f1.8
17 mm f1.8
14-150mm f4-5.6

All are fine lenses. Which one is on the camera depends on whether I need the camera to be small and lightweight, or more versatile, or if I need narrow depth of field, etc. The last two, 17mm prime lens and the 14-150 zoom were in a special "travel kit" promotion that I just couldn't pass up.

I'll usually go out with one of the zoom lenses and both prime lenses. This makes an incredibly compact and light package, compared to comparable lenses for my old DSLR.

Randy
 
maflynn said:
I did, in fact it took me some research to figure out Oly's product strategy.
EM1 - High end, prosumer (or professional). Camera body -2,000
EM5 - Mid level, has weather sealing. Camera body - 1,000
EM10 - Consumer or lower level. Camera body - 650

I really like the idea of the weather/dust sealing because I have been out in the rain with my OMD EM5 (original), and I find myself in situations where its possible to get splashed on.

I will admit that since the EM10 has nearly all the features of the EM5, I was and am tempted, but I was able to pick up the EM5 on sale for 900. I have a little time to change my mind if I so choose, but I think overall I'll stick with what I have. I do think the fully articulating display is a plus and the larger EVF for my old eyes is really nice.

I looked at the used market, and refurb market, but in this case I guess I wanted to buy new. My line of thinking was that that I'm not one to keep upgrading my camera bodies, so I wanted a solid camera to last me several years. This one freak accident was the result of my taking undo chances that I should not have. I will be more careful in the future and with that hopeful mentality, the EM5 Mark II will provide a long life for my needs.
Click to expand...


Camera manufacturers seem to follow this pattern of the fewer numbers in its model number indicates it being higher in the range... always found that weird.
[doublepost=1501085966][/doublepost]
robgendreau said:
OK you beat me to a purchase before I could reply...but I was gonna say E-M5ii. And not just cuz I have one.

The Nikon is basically entry level compared to the E-M1, or even M5ii. And yeah, you do pay a bit more for the smaller size. Nikon's are kinda stupid cheap right now with some sales, but still.

I like to use several lenses on it. My absolute fav is the 60mm macro. It's a great macro, and although I have another body I use the M5ii just to use that lens. I thought it would be a bit too long, but with landscapes I just stitch. Very nice for some portraits too, and just enough extra reach to get me some critters. I often take it with a Panny 20mm stuffed in my pocket in case I need something wider.

I also LOVE to use Pentax lenses and lots of legacy lenses with it cuz of the IBIS and excellent focus peaking. Sure, some are kinda less sharp than modern lenses, but OTOH cheap and fun to mess with. I even have a couple oddball cine lenses.

And then there's pixel shift. A-mazing. You need still subjects, or to do some masking later for stuff that moved, but oh my.
Click to expand...

How do you find AF on the 20mm + EM5ii combo? there is talk of it being slow with Panny lenses.
 
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