First few hours with the Olympus OM-D EM-5

This is the sort of stuff legends are made of. Yes, I might sound a bit over the board, but that is the kind of effect the Olympus OM-D EM-5, a micro four thirds compact interchangeable lens camera, had on me.

Having used almost all interchangeable lens cameras available in the Indian market, I wasn't expecting much. But everything, from the design to the fee of this camera, was not what I had expected.

To start with, the lens is much thinner than anything else out there. Though it seems a little awkward at first, soon you realise this is actually a better build and much more handy.

The magnesium alloy body of the camera give it a businessy feel unlike some ompact mirrorless cameras that have plasticky bodies.

But it was the performance that had the user in awe. To start with, it is hard to seem a camera that is this fast while locking on to images. The auto-focus is real quick thanks to the 35-point AF.


The sequential or burst mode is also very fast, so is the focusing while shooting video. The M.Zuiko lenses range of lenses are build to perform well with both still and movie and has three zoom options.

The camera has a electronic viewfinder as well as a touchscreen OLED monitor. Both have live previews and show exactly how you r final picture will look.

The monitor can also be used to click pictures, like in the new smartphones. Along with manual, aperture and shutter priority, the camera also has a intelligent auto, Art and Scene modes which will easily cover most of your requirements.

The Olympus OMD EM-5 costs Rs 77,990 with a 12-50mm M.Zuiko lens.

Read the full review in next issue of Gadgets & Gizmos