New OM-D Camera. What can we expect from the EDR sensor?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jimmykorea
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On paper this camera sounds like an awesome micro 4/3 piece of machinery (photography wise). Video wise the problem is that nobody was ever able to hack it.
 
Not this camera, because it´s not out yet, but I remember the PEN series were a no go here at the forum.
 
The preview at DP Review states, "The E-M5 can shoot 1080i60 video from 30p sensor output though there are no options to natively shoot in 30p or 24p. Two compression options are available - 20Mbps fine quality, which limits individual clips to around 22 minutes, or a 17Mbps normal option that lets the camera record up to its 29 minute limit. Claims of improved processing, plus the newer sensor have encouraged Olympus to promise less jagged video output with substantially reduced rolling shutter effect. You can shoot using all exposure modes, including full manual."

So it is essentially 1080p30? Is that really all that terrible? I'm very interested to see how the new 5 axis image stabilization works- what little footage I've seen with it turned on is really impressive. I also read this comment on DP Review (I'm guessing it applies to the new EM-5):

a lot of consumer cameras which claim to shoot 1080i60 actually only have sensors which can output 30 images per second. Although these cameras record even and odd scan lines on successive 1/60th second fields, both sets of scan lines actually come from the same single image. As such, you don't get the "smoothing" of true interlaced video, and you also don't get the freeze-frame artifacts either. 1080i60 from 30fps sensor output is essentially 1080p30 in a format that's compatible with the AVCHD standard.
 
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Yes I agree that the image stabilization of the EM-5 looks very impressive. It's why I think that it's unfortunate that they didn't implement a more featured video implementation. I'm still trying to work out my options, but if I got an EM-5 I think I'd still need to get a GH2. The lack of a video crop mode is probably a bigger problem to me than the lack of different frame rate options and a higher bit rate.
 
There are a few videos around now which show how effective the IBIS of the E-M5 is in video. Given that in body stabilization works with any lens including manual focus lenses this has got to be pretty impressive, even if the rest of the video implementation isn't as good as it could have been.

[video=youtube;Tr-wfkpDut4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Tr-wfkpDut4[/video]


This shows the reduction in rolling shutter compared to the Olympus E-P3, and it looks impressive to me. It seems to take a pretty severe whip pan for it to be a problem.


I was also impressed in this video review when I learned that the macro footage was handheld.

 
The still image samples of the E-M5 with their comparison widget are up at Dpreview. Prepared to be shocked because the Olympus simply blows the Panasonic GH2 and other Panasonic sensored m4/3 cameras away, especially at high ISOs. In fact the E-M5 keeps up with the best APS-C sensored cameras on the market. It is appears to be at least as good as the NEX 5N. Even more astounding is when you compare it to the 5D mkII, it is close, even at ISO 3200. Nor is this a noise reduction in JPEG thing, it holds up in RAW.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/03/16/olympus-OM-D-E-M5-studio-test-samples

A couple of German testing sites have also published some tests indicating that the dynamic range is over 11 stops, that is quite a bit more than the GH2, which is under 10. However, I haven't posted links to these tests as they are only on JPEGs and I think it's best to wait for RAW testing.

Some of the videos I've seen from the E-M5 appear to suggest that it is far more capable than its modest bitrate implies. The image appears to be miles ahead of that out of the PENs. Unfortunately the only HD setting is 1080p 30 in a 60i wrapper.
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John Caballero said:
Nope. They are just adhering to the sanctioned codec specs, that's all. They have to play it safe to protect themselves. What part of that people don't understand?
Click to expand...

Not to mention that the hacks might introduce instabilities, and they can't have their consumer/prosumer divisions' cameras competing against their own professional division cameras.
 
it seems to be an incredible still camera with an awesome retro look. If this camera can ever be hacked it will derinetely be a very interesting choice for video. But since nobody was ever able to hack the other oly cameras I fear the deal will be the same here.
 
It can only shoot in the 4:3 aspect ratio- is that correct? What a pity it can't do 16:9 like the GH2. This camera seems to have so much going for it- if only it had other frame rates and aspect ratios available.
 
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