Really enjoying this camera. Right of the box it felt good. Image sharpness better than any of my previous cameras. Camera has too many features to mention, but the most important is the images look great and the camera works flawlessly.

the best camera on the market by far

feels; looks and is great

a better model will come along

? Updated: Firmware 2.0 page added The Olympus E-M1 is the latest addition to the Olympus compact system camera (CSC) line-up and it's aimed at professional and enthusiast photographers. It doesn't replace the Olympus OM-D E-M5, but sits above it.

Lack of time and sleep during the past 6 months due to my hectic schedule have resulted in severe delays of publishing reviews on this website. On one hand, I wish I wrote this review much earlier when I first got the Olympus OM-D E-M1.

If you're unfamiliar with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 from three years back, it was the company's flagship compact system camera (CSC), built to a really high standard. We happened to really like it (ok, we loved it). Now we have the second-generation model, the small and mighty Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II.

Very fast; quick autofocus; articulated touchscreen; image stabilisation is unreal ; mechanical and electronic shutter shooting modes ; can be customised to the nth degree; ever expanding lens choice; sharp images at low to mid ISO settings

Image quality in low contrast light; limited dynamic range in high contrast light; silent shutter is so discreet that it's easy to forget what shooting mode you're in ; it's an expensive purchase

I previously owned a Panasonic DMC-G5 and a DMC-GH3. I was reading reviews that this Olympus camera had the best image quality in the Micro Four Thirds world but I was hesitating to move to that one. And this was mainly to the reviews that it was a bit complex to use etc.

The Olympus E-M1 builds upon the legacy of the outstanding OM-D E-M5, adding not only a ton of features geared for pros and advanced enthusiasts, but also an on-chip, phase-detect autofocusing system that delivers the responsiveness that Olympus Four Thirds DSLR owners have long been waiting for.

Exceptional rugged, weather-proof, professional build; Lightning fast contrast-detect AF, and phase-detect AF that makes Four Thirds lenses far more responsive; Tons of useful physical controls with immense customizability; Arguably the best image quality of any Micro Four Thirds camera we've tested...

Bigger and heavier than many other compact system cameras; Most expensive Micro Four Thirds camera on the market to date; Menu system and customization options have a steep learning curve; No optical low-pass filter means greater risk of moire; No built-in flash, Larger and heavier than most compact...

Olympus also launches two new lenses ahead of Photokina

Olympus put a great deal of effort into producing a flagship mirrorless camera that can match up against all but the most powerful DSLRs. While the EM-1 is slightly more expensive than comparable DSLRs, its weatherproofed body means enthusiast shooters need not fear adverse weather.

Great image quality; 10 fps burst shooting mode; Sharp; informative electronic viewfinder; Fast autofocus; Large number of customizable controls; Weatherproof magnesium alloy body

Steep learning curve; Mediocre video; Short battery life

Since it launched the PEN E-P1 way back in 2009, Olympus has been a leading light of the compact system camera world.