OM-5 Test Results

      Photo Review 9.0

      In summary

      Our final tests show the OM-5 to be an excellent performer with plenty of potential for photographers who want lightweight, weather-resistant equipment. They also confirm the new model is likely to deliver higher resolution, lower noise at high ISO settings, better stabilisation and faster transfer speeds than the E-M5 III it replaces and, in some cases even out-performing the OM-1.

      The OM-5 body is bound to be popular with travellers, particularly if it’s paired with the lightweight M.Zuiko 14-150mm f/4.0-5.6 II extended-range kit lens, which weighs only 285 grams. The total weight of the camera plus lens is less than 700 grams, which is lighter than many mirrorless camera bodies alone.

      Review

      This report follows on from our initial, detailed First Look at the OM-5 camera, which was published on 26 October, 2022. The camera supplied at that time was a pre-production unit so it was ineligible for our tests. A regular production-level camera has now been provided so we’re able to supplement the original review by adding the results of our normal Imatest test. Links have been provided to enable readers to jump between the two reports.

      Angled view of the OM-5 camera, silver edition, with the 12-45mm f/4.0 PRO lens. (Source: OM Digital Solutions.)

      We tested the OM-5 with the M.Zuiko 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO lens, which is a well-credentialed general-purpose lens that we have used for testing a number of Olympus and OM Systems camera bodies. The same lens was used for our tests on the OM-1 camera.

      Performance
      In the tests of colour reproduction, we obtained very similar results from JPEG files and ORF.RAW files that had been captured simultaneously and converted into editable 16-bit TIFF format with Adobe Camera Raw. Both were close to the ideal values for all measured hues, which is rare – but highly desirable.

      Interestingly, in many of the JPEG files taken with the same settings we found similar over-sharpening to the results from the OM-1. Measurements of resolution produced slightly higher values overall than we obtained from the OM-1, although overall they would be largely insignificant.

      Over-sharpening was probably responsible for the best JPEGs falling slightly short of expectations for the sensor’s 20.2-megapixel resolution.  The raw files captured simultaneously and measured in the same positions were more normally sharpened (marginally above or below the basic zero point) and yielded resolutions that well above expectations.

      Resolution remained relatively high across the camera’s sensitivity range, as shown in the graph of our test results below. This supports the assessments we made of test shots taken during our First Look review.

      Conclusion

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      SPECS

      Image sensor: 17.4 x 13.0 mm 4/3 Live MOS sensor with 21.77 million photosites (20.37 megapixels effective)
      Image processor:  TruePic IX
      Lens mount: Micro Four Thirds
      Focal length crop factor:  2x
      Image formats: Stills: Stills: JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver. 2.31), ORF.RAW (12-bit lossless compression), RAW+JPEG; Movies: MOV (MPEG-4AVC / H.264) with PCM/16-bit stereo audio
      Audio: Built-in stereo microphones; (Stereo linear PCM/24-bit, Sampling frequency 96kHz)
      Image Sizes: Stills – 5184 x 3888 to 1024 x 768 pixels; High-Res mode – 10368 x 7776 / 8160 x 6120 / 5760 x 4320; Movies: C4K (4096 x 2160 pixels, 24p, IPB), 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels, 30p, 25p, 24p, IPB), FHD 1080 and HD 720 (50p, 60p, 30p, 25p, 24p, ALL-I & IPB compression available), Flat & OM-Log400 picture modes
      Aspect ratios: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1, 3:4
      Image Stabilisation: Built-in 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilisation for movie and still photos; up to 6.5 stops of shake correction, depending on lens (7.5EV correction with Synch IS); 4 modes –  S-IS Auto, S-IS1, S-IS2, S-IS3, off
      Dust removal: Supersonic Wave Filter
      Shutter (speed range): Computerised focal plane shutter (Mechanical shutter: 60-1/8000 seconds plus B & T; Electronic shutter: 60 to 1/32,000 second; flash synch at 1/250 sec.
      Exposure Compensation: +/- 5EV in 1, 1/2 or 1/3EV steps
      Exposure bracketing:  2 / 3 / 5 frames ( +/- 1/3, 2/3, 1 EV steps ); 7 frames ( +/- 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 EV steps )
      Other bracketing options: Focus (10 levels, up to 999 shots), ISO, WB, Flash, Art Filter (3 frames for each), HDR
      Multiple exposures: 2 frames (shooting); 3 frames (editing)
      Self-timer: 2 or 10 seconds delay plus Custom (wait time: 1-30sec., shot interval: 0.5 / 1 / 2 / 3sec.
      Interval recording: Yes, Max 9999 frames, 1 sec. – 24 hours intervals for time-lapse recording
      Focus system: TTL 121-point all cross-type On-chip Phase Detection sensor plus 121-point contrast detection (works as MF assist with slower AF compatible lenses)
      AF  selection: All target, single target (normal / small), group target (5-area / 9-area / 25-area), custom target 1-4 (AF area and steps selectable); Eye Detect AF: Off, Left side priority, Near side priority, Right side priority; Predictive AF
      Focus modes: Manual focus, Single AF*, Continuous AF*, Preset MF (AF lenses only), AF* Tracking, Stacking, Starry Sky AF (* – with manual over-ride)
      Exposure metering: 324-zone TTL open aperture metering with Multi-pattern ESP, Centre-weighted average and spot metering patterns plus Highlight / Shadow metering
      Shooting modes: Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual Exposure
      In-camera processing modes: Live Composite, Sharpness, Contrast, Saturation adjustments (5 levels), B&W filter (Yellow, Orange, Red, Green), B&W toning (Sepia, Blue, Purple or Green), Fisheye compensation
      Art Filter modes: Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Colour, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Cross Process, Dramatic Tone, Gentle Sepia, Key Line, Water colour, Vintage, Partial Colour (18 colours available), Bleach Bypass, Instant Film
      Colour space options: sRGB and Adobe RGB
      ISO range: Auto, ISO 200 – 6400; plus expansion to ISO 25600
      White balance: AWB, Keep warm colour ON/Off, Tungsten, Fluorescent 1, Sunlight, Flash, Overcast, Shade, Underwater, Custom (x 4), Colour temperature setting (x 1)
      Flash: Detachable flash with bounce capability (bundled); G.N. 12.9 (ISO 200)
      Flash modes: AUTO, Manual, Manual (Full, 1/4, 1/16, 1/64), Red-eye reduction, Slow synchronisation with red-eye reduction, Slow synchronisation, Slow synchronisation 2nd curtain, Fill-in, Off, TTL-Auto
      Flash exposure adjustment: +/- 3EV in 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps
      Sequence shooting: Max. 10 frames/sec.
      Buffer capacity: JPEGs to card capacity; Max. 149 RAW files
      Storage Media: Single slot for SD, SDHC, SDXC cards (UHS-I / UHS-II UHS Speed Class 3 standard compatible)
      Viewfinder: 2,360,000-dot OLED EVF with 100% frame coverage, +/- 7 levels of colour temperature adjustment, 27mm eyepoint, 1.37x magnification with 50mm lens, -4 to +2 dpt adjustment, 3 styles selectable
      LCD monitor: 3-inch Vari-angle touch-screen TFT LCD with 1,037,000 dots, +/- 7 levels of brightness and colour balance adjustment
      Interface terminals: USB 2.0 Micro-B, Micro HDMI (type D), 3.5 mm mini jack (plug-in power on/off)
      Wi-Fi function: Built-in Wi-Fi; Bluetooth v4.2 (Bluetooth Low Energy)
      Power supply: BLS-50 rechargeable Li-ion battery; CIPA rated for approx. 310 shots/charge or 60 minutes of movie recording; supports USB charging
      Weather resistance: IEC Standard publication 60529 IP53 with splash-proof with IP53 lens, (when used with an IPX1 lens, performance becomes IPX1.)
      Dimensions (wxhxd): Approx. 125.3 x 85.2 x 49.7 mm
      Weight: Approx. 414 grams with battery and card

      Distributor: OM Digital Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, 1300 659 678

       

      TESTS

      Based upon JPEG files recorded with the M.Zuiko 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO lens.


      Based on ORF.RAW files recorded simultaneously and converted into 16-bit TIFF format with Adobe Camera Raw.

       

      Rating

      RRP: AU$1899 (body only); $2399 (with 14-150mm f/4.0-5.6 II kit lens)

      • Build: 8.9
      • Features: 8.9
      • Ease of use: 9.0
      • Autofocusing: 9.0
      • Still image quality JPEG: 8.9
      • Still image quality RAW: 9.0
      • Video quality: 8.9

       

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