E-M1 - First Impressions

[marcr1230]

Just received the camera tonight.

First thoughts

It's pretty overwhelming, to learn all the new controls and settings
I suppose I need to go slowly, use and learn and use some more

The camera is rock solid, great feel in hands. the mode dial is so pleasant and
heavy but smooth - I found myself turning it just for the sheer enjoyment.

The shutter button feels great, nice action. control wheels both solid and smooth.

Can't say too much about the picture taking ability yet, shot a few dozen images in the house. It focuses fine and quick.

The included flash is handy in a pinch, you do have to juggle 3 covers, the flash and Body to install it. I'm pretty sure the little covers will go missing soon.

The included manual is much abbreviated - the full manual is available online , maybe also in the included DVD.

The Wifi remote app is easy to use on a smartphone, the range is limited, the Camera acts as a Wifi network - but you need to be fairly close, or line of sight, at least in my house when I walked out of the room and into the hall - the app lost connection.

I may have an issue with the external battery holder, not sure, I'm pretty sure I installed it correctly and nothing happened, shutter button on the holder didn't respond. I'm charging the batteries now to be sure - I did remove the contact cap before attaching to the camera (and the contact cover on the camera.

size - it's a touch narrower than the OM-3/4, maybe a touch higher at the top on the finder. the body itself is not as tall as the OM ancestors, excluding the finder.

The finder itself is gorgeous - no complaints, east to see and > 1:1

Will have more to say in the next few days

For now, here's a photo of the OM boys:

 

[plummerl]

You can also order a printed copy of the manual, bound and covered with a see-thru plastic sheet. It is the same size as spec'd in the PDF file. It's only $10 with delivery. This can be done thru the Olympus web site. Highly recommended.

 

[Thardy]

Can you log onto a home network?

 

[marcr1230]

The camera itself acts as the Wifi network - so your phone has to connect to the camera and leave the home network.

I'll look into whether you can have both the phone and camera on the home network (or another).

I think the idea is that when you are away from a network - the camera provides a rudimentary one for remote control and photo transfer purposes

Can you log onto a home network?

 

[marcr1230]

Today was the first day out with the camera.

originally I though I had an issue with the battery holder, turns out "lock" on the holder means "off" and not "locked to the body" , so when I switched it to the non-lock setting (a little dot) it started working.

outdoors , the 75 1.8 was great. I was shooting a touch football game. still very early in the process of getting the hang of the settings.

I used continuous focus and continuous with tracking, and set the camera to shoot sequential low ( multiple shots as long as shutter depressed). Almost every shot in focus.

Not sure if I like tracking, it's like cruise control, some people like it, some don't. seems pretty effective. I'm still sorting out which AF mode (how many sensors , single, central...)
to use.

I used "iAuto" for other settings.

one note - the camera automatically switches from EVF to back screen when your eye is put up to or removed from the finder. I tend to take my eye away from the finder by about 1/2 inch after a sequence, and it would switch to the back screen momentarily. I saw a black viewfinder and wondered until I figured it out, I'll probably look for a setting to lock the EVF from switching.

WiFi for transferring photos to phone/iPad is awesome - no cables, easy and fast to use

Also noticed that the AF didn't work so well directly opposite a mirror (a selfie) it focused on the mirror, not back on me - don't ask me how that works... had to switch to manual focus - which worked great with this lens and EVF

The action shots were not that great photographically - so I'll just include a portrait: