The image on top (Click on it to enlarge) is another comparison made by the Japanese DSRLcheck website. These are in camera JPEGS with NR off and maximal quality taken with the [shoplink 29074]Olympus E-M5[/shoplink] and the also very new Canon 5DmarkIII (full frame camera that costs $2400 more than the E-M5). The google translation tool doesn’t help me a lot but here is what I hope to have understood from the article. This is an 18mm focal length comparison. The images have been taken at the ideal aperture of the lens (f/4.0 for the E-M5 and f/5.6 for the markIII). The best lens on the E-M5 is the Four Thirds 7-14mm ZD lens ($1799 here at Amazon). The best m43 lens is the Panasonic 7-14mm.

As usual with those testings be aware that there are many subjective variables the tester has to set. But the overall impression I get from these images is that the image quality difference between the two camera is pretty much negligible in real world conditions. That’s a good achievement for that tiny m43 sensor! If you really don’t need the 5DmarkIII buy the E-M5 and spend the money on good quality lenses! Or even better, buy the $149 E-PL1 (here via Cameta) and put a top quality lens like a [shoplink 30452 ebay]17.5mm f/0.95 Nokton (hee on eBay)[/shoplink] on it :)

More E-M5 reviews:
Steve Huff (Click here) compared the E-M5 and X PRO 1 video quality and it is definitely not a surprise that the E-M5 beats the Fuji by miles! Fuji didnt’ make the camera with video in mind. P.S.: New firmware is out for the X PRO 1 (via Fujirumors).
Admiringlight (Click here) posted an E-M5 preview: “So, one more thing I feel needs mentioning from my brief time with the camera.  The shutter is QUIET.  Very quiet. It is far quieter than any other Micro 4/3 body, and quieter than any SLR I’ve ever used.  It is almost approaching leaf shutter quiet.  Needless to say, if you shoot in quiet environments and need to maintain stealth, this camera deserves a hard look from you.”
The first three user reviews are up at Amazon (Click here). Also the German Amazon (Click here to read their interesting opinion) has three reviews. All six reviewers are super satisfied with their E-M5 camera! A good start :)

The first batch of E-M5 (mostly with the 14-42mm kit lens) is now shipping in Europe and USA. And it clearly shows in the rankings that the E-M5 is now climbing on top! Today E-M5 Rankings (changes hourly!):
USA: E-M5 on position 2/7/11/13 (Click here)
UK: E-M5 is on position 7/12 (Click here).
Germany: The E-M5 is on position 1/4/5 (Click here).
France: not available (Click here to see rankings anyway).
Japan: E-M5 on position 3/6/11 (Click here).

E-M5 (Pre)order links (Click on store name): Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.

P.S.: For our japanese readers, there is a new review at Nikkei (Click here).

Before to read the next E-M5 reviews you may help me with this: Egami (Click here) posted the info about a new Olympus patent describing a sensor technology. Egamis claims that this could be alreayd in use in the E-M5. But the google translation tool does a messy job and I really can’t get into the details of this. Do you understand it?

And now back to reviews! In these days you can read many comparisons between “our” Olympus E-M5 and the other two advanced mirrorless cameras, the Fuji X PRO 1 ($1600 at Amazon) and Sony NEX-7 ($1199 again at A.). After ThePhoBlographer (Click here) and Dslr-check.info (Click here) also Kai from Digitalrev made it. You can see it on the video I posted here on top. And Blog Paran (Click here) compared the E_M5 against the…Samsung NX200 which isn’t really known to be a good performer! And to finish, a hands-on report by one of our readers at Weisserth (Click here).

Today E-M5 Rankings:
USA: E-M5 on position 5/7 (Click here)
UK: E-M5 is on position 23 (Click here).
Germany: The E-M5 is on position 5/10 (Click here).
France: not available (Click here to see rankings anyway).
Japan: E-M5 on position 4/5/9 (Click here).

E-M5 (Pre)order links (Click on store name): Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, Amazon Japan and Digitalrev.

Olympus E-M5 with the [shoplink 30286 ebay]Sonnetar prototype lens[/shoplink] (that will  not go into final mass production).

Sound Noise
In these days our readers will hopefully receive their E-M5. But the first thing you will notice once you unpack the camera is the Sound Noise you hear when you turn on the camera. It’s pretty annoying but on the good side you here it in a silent ambient only and it gets away during video recording. Olympus issued that official response to explain the Sound Noise you hear on the E-M5: “You are hearing the new 5 axis Image Stabilization system. It uses a type of Magnetic field to keep the sensor assembly suspended so you will even hear it if the IS system is disabled.”
My very basic question is. How is it possible that you don’t hear the noise while recording movies? I mean it’s not that it stops working …so would it not be possible to turn the noise off while shooting photos? Hmmmm.

E-M5 review
Our reader “RRR-HHH”(funny name) summarized the E-M5 review from the latest Chasseur d’images magazine: “they are absolutely in love with it. They were sincerely bluffed by the IQ, appreciated the handling, the honorable VF, the good stabilization, the reactivity, the lightness, the manufactured quality of the body and the large choice of lenses.”

What they don’t like :

• the lack of an external plug for the mic (sema 1 prevents blocks the hotshoe);
• and the lack of GPS.

What the E-M5 does well :

• images : exceptional IQ up to 800 ISO, very good IQ at 1600 ISO.
• stabilization : you gain 5 stops (sic ? I’m not sure they tested that) and it is also good for video
• monitor : big touch LCD, flipping and offering clean and good readability, completed by a VF,
• very nice well finished and weather sealed body.
• full HD video of promising quality, with continuous and fast AF
• very large choice of lenses.

Thanks for the translation!

—

USA+Canada:
Black E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Silver E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 14-45mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).

Europe:
Black E-M5 body at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here) and Warehouseexpress (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here) and Warehouseexpress (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here), [shoplink 30334 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and Warehouseexpress (Click here).
Silver E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here), [shoplink 30333 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and Warehouseexpress (Click here).

Asia:
Black E-M5 body at Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon JP (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Digitalrev (Click here) and Amazon JP (Click here).
Silver E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon JP (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 14-45mm lens at Digitalrev (Click here) and Amazon JP (Click here).

Sigma 19mm
DSLRmagazine (Click here for the translation) posted the new Sigma 19mm lens review. Resolution is very good and the lens has no CA, no aberrations no major flaws a part of some vignetting at f/2.8. Afterall the two new Sigma 30mm and 19mm lenses are performing extremely well and may be the best choice it you have a limited budget! For my European friends. Take a look at the lens price from Digitalrev as it is cheaper than in Europe (with improt tax icluded!):
The 30mm lens is in Stock at Amazon US (Click here), Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon FR (Click here), Amazon JP (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).
The 19mm lens is in Stock at Amazon US (Click here), Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Amazon FR (Click here), Amazon JP (Click here) and Digitalrev (Click here).

Panasonic GX1
Photographyblog (Click here) posted the full Panasonic GF5 review: “With the GX-1 satisfying the needs of prosumers, the GF5 is free to concentrate on wooing compact step-up users, and it does a great job of persuading them to invest in what is undoubtedly a faster, fuller-featured system that ultimately delivers better image quality, in a form factor that won’t intimidate or confuse.”
Panasonic GF5 search links at [shopcountry 30485].

Leica 35mm
ThePhoBlographer (Click here) tested the Leica 35mm Summicron on the E-Pm1: “Though it can be used to create some wonderful images, it also often left me with less keepers than I’d thought due to focusing issues. However, once that focus is perfectly nailed and the user combines this with careful thought, they’ll be able to get images that they’ll be very happy with.”
The Leica Summicron is one of the tiniest lenses and available on [shoplink 30486 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Olympus E-M5
E-m5 testing at E-P1.net (Click here). X PRO 1 versus E-M5 at Srlclub (here and here).

E-M5 preorders (Click on the names of the stores to see the product page):
Black E-M5 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, J&R, Warehouse UK, Digitalrev and Amazon Japan.
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, J&R, Warehouse UK, and Amazon Japan.
Black E-M5 body with 14-42mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto , Digitalrev and J&R.
Black E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, J&R, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Deutschland , Digitalrev and Amazon Japan.
Silver E-M5 body with 12-50mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, J&R, Jessops, Amazon UK, Amazon Deutschland and Amazon Japan.

A quick roundup of new E-M5 tests: First look by Steve Huff (Click here). E-M5 vs X PRO vs NEX-7 at Steve Huff (Click here). E-P3 versus E-M5 at Pixinfo (Click here). Premiere approache at Lepidi-photo.blogspot.fr (Click here). E-M5 versus GH2 dynamic range comaprison (Dpreview forum). Impression review y Josh Root at Photo.net (Click here): “Every other mirrorless camera that I have liked so far has been a “I’ll add it to the bag because it will be useful for ________ situation”. However, none had yet been able to threaten to become a “replacement” for existing gear. The E-M5 has a chance to be the kind of camera that replaces gear I currently use, and I think that’s kind of a big deal.”

The first E-M5 book is already available for preorder at Amazon Germany (Click here). That was fast Reinhard!

Meantime first user are reselling their free adapter they got with the E-M5 purchase. One of them sent me the link to his sale auction on [shoplink 30459 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. I don’t expect a big gain on them :)

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USA+Canada:
Black E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Silver E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 14-45mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).

Europe:
Black E-M5 body at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here) and Warehouseexpress (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here) and Warehouseexpress (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here), [shoplink 30334 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and Warehouseexpress (Click here).
Silver E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here), [shoplink 30333 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and Warehouseexpress (Click here).

Asia:
Black E-M5 body at Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon JP (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Digitalrev (Click here) and Amazon JP (Click here).
Silver E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon JP (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 14-45mm lens at Digitalrev (Click here) and Amazon JP (Click here).

I really can’t stop to post new links to E-m5 related news. There are so many new things to show you that here we are again with a new E-M5 related post:

Federico Cabrera shot a full fashion photo series with the E-M5. The title of his work is “Daydreamers” and you can read and see more about it at Olympus Finland, Federico Cabrera website and Revsmag.

Gakuranman (Click here) posted his E-M5 field test: “It will be exciting to see what Olympus can innovate next to improve upon the camera. I look forward to seeing their micro 43 pro model in time. But for now, the E-M5 is everything I need in a camera and much more.”

First Impressions: Sony NEX 7 vs Fujifilm X Pro 1 vs Olympus EM5 OMD at ThePhoBlographer (Click here): “This is a three way tie. OMD wins for autofocusing, NEX 7 wins for manually focusing in real life, and the X Pro 1 wins for the easiest ergonomics and getting your settings right if you’re a manual shooter.”

First nighttime test of the E-M5 at E-P1.net (Click here). The french blog Lesnumeriques (Click here for the translation) posted the full E-M5 review. The dutch website Focusmedia (Click here for the translation) also posted a new E-M5 review. The polish website Optyczne (Click here for the translation) also did his job pretty well.

—

USA+Canada:
Black E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Silver E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 14-45mm lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), Bhphoto (Click here), J&R (Click here), Henrys (Click here).

Europe:
Black E-M5 body at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here) and Warehouseexpress (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here) and Warehouseexpress (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here), [shoplink 30334 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and Warehouseexpress (Click here).
Silver E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon DE (Click here), Amazon UK (Click here), Jessops (Click here), [shoplink 30333 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and Warehouseexpress (Click here).

Asia:
Black E-M5 body at Digitalrev (Click here).
Silver E-M5 body at Amazon JP (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Digitalrev (Click here) and Amazon JP (Click here).
Silver E-M5 with 12-50mm lens at Amazon JP (Click here).
Black E-M5 with 14-45mm lens at Digitalrev (Click here) and Amazon JP (Click here).

The new Nokton 17.5mm f/0.95 is now shipping in some German and Asian stores. And what you see here on top is actually the first video test shot with that lens.

P.S.: The lens ships (or can be preordered) at:
[shoplink 30300 ebay]Fotomundus (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 30373 ebay]Bayern Foto (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 30374 ebay]Shphoto (Click here)[/shoplink].
[shoplink 30375 ebay]Photoalps (Click here)[/shoplink].