I am very attracted to the OM-D but I think I should wait to see what Canon's mirrorless camera will be. Nikon, I think, shot themselves in the foot with the J1/V1 as the sensor is way too small. I hope Canon's mirrorless system will feature a larger APS-C size sensor with a nice hybrid VF and some fast primes. That would rock! But knowing Canon, they are not likely to want to introduce a new line that could possibly cannibalize their DSLR lines/sales.
I guess when I shoot video I always use a tiny pocket tripod or monopod so its never been a concern for me.
I mean either you're doing shaky cam for style or you're shooting smooth video on a tripod/monopod. Anything in between looks kinda dumb unless its just for friends/family shooting.
FlyPenFly wrote:
I guess when I shoot video I always use a tiny pocket tripod or monopod so its never been a concern for me.
I mean either you're doing shaky cam for style or you're shooting smooth video on a tripod/monopod. Anything in between looks kinda dumb unless its just for friends/family shooting.
Don't get me wrong, IBIS is great, but that's kinda how I feel, and I have the NEX kit zoom and 50mm with OSS, if I need stable family videos.
For still photography, I find that I don't need IBIS as much as I did with my DSLRs, because there isn't a mirror flapping and there's an electronic first curtain shutter on the NEX-7, which makes a big difference. I can handhold a 30mm lens down to around 1/20 without IBIS, and I'm not taking a lot of lowlight shots slower than that, because of motion blur. Still, it would be nice to have the option.
I just sold off my entire Sony NEX and Nikon systems and am throwing my hat in the ring tomorrow with an order for a M5. My style of shooting will do fine with the kit 12-50 lens along with the Zuiko M 75-300 and that new fantastic 45mm f1.8 along with their FL-600R for flash. I think I"m going to really enjoy the lower size and weight to deal with. also not having it overheat in video mode. I'll be sure to post examples when I finally get one and have a chance to ring it out good.
FlyPenFly wrote:
Anything in between looks kinda dumb unless its just for friends/family shooting.
Exactly! It won't look dumb anymore with IBIS
I use pocket-tripods too, but of course, you don't always have time to set-up for every single shot..like a once in a lifetime street shot you to capture on video..smoothly.
Amateur/n00b/beginner photogs posting videos, that honestly look surprisingly professional (not looking at their content nor composition, etc, lol) because of the tremendous lack of shake and jitter. You just don't see these kind of stable shots, unless it's on TV, commercial and professionally made. Who cares about the gear or camera/lenses use, really. It's all about the image. And the images coming from this IBIS machine are astounding and unheard of...especially in the hands of newbie and beginner video-shooters.
I know this is a still-photo forum..but if you shoot video more than stills, then you'll quickly see IBIS is a BIG thing.
I really think it'll be a game changer and in a year or two, all the other manufacturers will copy Olympus footsteps (like when they were the first to introduce sensor vibrate cleaning, or so I recently read).
I have to admit...the IBIS on the E-M5 is pretty darn amazing. It's very good for stills...about on par with most modern in-lens solutions (3-4 stops), but of course usable on everything (which is great for fast primes).
For video it's simply astounding...it almost looks like steadycam footage. If you are pretty still, video can almost look tripod mounted from wide angle to medium telephoto.
I have to agree regarding the EM-5 5 axis IBIS for video work, its astonishingly good.
I really have very little interest in video myself as I think I just don't have the attention span to want to watch my clips over again when a good still photo can convey all the memories for me in just a glance (IMHO anyways, not knocking video for others)
I was amazed at just how rock solid it is when I had mine. Take a look at some of the various samples online. It really is quite a revolution.
I didn't see all the samples but I have seen some samples.
Looks good for casual shots but its just not anything close to a good monopod or tripod. I mean, it doesn't really even matter if it's close. Video is just one of those things where if it's supposed to be shaky style, it should be, if it isn't supposed to be shaky, any shake at all looks really bad.
Thats the thing... video is Never even supposed to be shaky. And for those "intended shaky shots", those shots are actually still free of rapid frequency shaking like ultrafast hand jitters, like when you cough or tap the camera or a button lightly with your finger, you want only natural body/arm movement slower shakes if trying to make intended shaky shots, imo...just my 2 pennies
This thing is so revolutionary, people are WALKING while taking videos. And these are n00bs that have never used a video camera and the footage still looks decent! This is like the 1st no-no rule to video shooting. I would never even think of trying to shoot video while walking without at least a shoulder rig or steadycam, because I already know it's a waste of time and will be unusable trash footage. And, I wouldn't even try something easier, like panning, without a fluid head for the same reasons; but this IBIS makes it totally possible.
A steady cam (Merlin, etc.), a shoulder mount rig (redrock, zacuto) and/or a tripod with fluid head (thousands of diff options) = at least $500+ each (not including the vest), a big bulky heavy piece of gear that you need a big bag for, need a few minutes to set up, cannot bring everywhere, won't have it on you at all times, sore and tired arms from using them and setting up = lost footage, stress, tired, no fun (but, I know the more professional your work needs, these are all necessity; so I am talking in terms of hobby, amateur, travel, street shooting)
..or, an OMD.. that fits in your pocket along with a nice pocket tripod and nano-clamp for static shots, long exposure and timelapses = super-win and super-fun!
But from what I read about the new 5-axis design and also all these clips on vimeo and YT (again, even when handled with people whom never even shot video before)...it just makes me droool. But i think the answer is yes..it's better than the OSS from the comparisons I've seen and read.
douglasf13 wrote:
I'm a little confused. Are we saying that the IBIS is drastically better for video than the OSS in Panasonic lenses used on the GH2?
Yes, its a night and day difference. I've got a GH2 and several OSS lenses, in addition to the NEX with 18-55, 50 1.8 etc and those systems while able to provide a noticeable improvement in handholding are nothing like the 5 axis IBIS in the EM5.
People are getting good results regularly down to 1/4th a second for stills and its typically subject blur more than camera shake the proves to me the real issue. For the shooting I do, I prefer faster shutter speeds to capture motion, but the IBIS is insanely good for stills and really comes into its own for video.
As long as you've got a steady hand, and don't make any silly amateur video mistakes like trying to zoom the lens in/out etc, the handheld footage looks like it was shot with a fluid head.
It really is a revolution as far as IS systems in cameras goes
Jonas B wrote:
That's why I bought the not top notch but usable Zuiko 12-50 zoom together with the E-M5.
Jonas (or anybody else), are you in a position to compare the 12-50mm Olympus kit lens to the Panasonic 14-45mm zoom? I have that Lumix lens and I'm still unsure whether I should buy my E-M5 with the 12-50mm zoom or body only.
I would surely like the weather sealing on the Oly lens, but from all I have read so far I'm not sure its optics is as good as the Panasonic lens (which is quite good for a cheap kit lens).
the other is here: http://forum.photozone.de/index.php?/topic/1945-olympus-e-m5/page__view__findpost__p__18155
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Please note that the second test has a link to some very large zip files; if you download this file please post a copy here; as i suspect there might be bit issues if a large number of copies of that files are downloaded.
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The first suggest that there is not a big difference between them; The second one clearly shows the 14-45 quite a bit better (corners at short end; full image at long end). I *think* the second is near infinity; no clue about the first.
Well, I just jumped in the water and ordered my OMD along with the 12-50 kit lens adding the grip, hood, extra battery and eyepiece and FL-600R flash. Next week I'll probably add the M Zuiko 75-300 and that wonderful 45mm f1.8. Looking real forward to getting to work with this little wonder. Having sold off all my Nikon DSLR gear along with my NEX system it should provide some unique feature sets. That visit to the mountains awaits...
Let me preface my opinion by saying I'm primarily a video producer, I shoot stills, but I'm by no means a great photographer. I've used and owned dozens of video cameras over the last 15 years, for personal and professional projects, and for the last few I've used a 5d2 with L's and ZE's. Now I'm using a Sony FS100 with an adapted A-mount 16-50/2.8, a few Nex lenses and some Rokkors along with a few smaller cameras for different looks. Anyway...
Regarding video and IBIS vs OS (I have the Nex7, GH2, OMD and a GoPro), the 5-way IBIS is more effective at removing the handling shakes than the Panasonic OIS or the OSS on Sony's lenses (I have the 18-55 and the 50/1.8) - it does look like the OMD is on a steadicam. I modded a $150 Steadicam Smoothie to handle the weight of the Nex and the OMD footage is very similar, its very impressive.
The real drawback for the OMD is the video functionality is pretty basic. The lack of framerates (1080/30 is all you get), low bitrate (17mbps) of the video and the IBIS doesn't work with MF glass doesn't exactly scream great video camera. My current crop of Rokkors are on the FS100 about 1/2 the time I'm shooting, so I can't take advantage of the IBIS if I'm not using a m43 lens. The IBIS does do one weird thing - when you stop a pan abruptly - the IBIS opposing the movement makes the whole image shift a bit in the direction of the pan. I'm hopeful there will be a hack to boost the video options, but I'm not holding my breath.
I'm about to whittle my camera lineup down a bit after getting the FS100. The GH2 and the Nex7 are overkill as B cameras so I'm "downgrading" them to a 5n. The OMD is a great all around camera and the 5n will be the go to camera for WA lenses. I shoot stills to package with some of my film productions and the 5n/OMD are easily up to the task.
