Nature Photography With Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

Finally, the highly anticipated Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II is released in Singapore on 2 November 2016. I am fortunate to get a full hands-on experience with this mirrorless camera before its release date. Reinventing the Olympus flagship model E-M1, the OM-D E-M1 Mark II has a 121-point all cross-type On-chip Phase Detection AF, and an impressive 18 fps high-speed sequential shooting in AF/AE tracking. With its magnesium alloy weatherproof body, this advanced camera weighs about 600 grams and able to deliver brilliant imagery when used with the superior resolution of M.Zuiko PRO lenses.

Here are the 12 amazing features of the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

Maximum 18 fps sequential shooting performance in AF/AE tracking
Advanced DUAL FAST AF with 121-point all cross-type sensor
New Pro Capture mode for lag-free shooting
20.4 Megapixel Live MOS sensor with new High-speed TruePic VIII image processor
Digital cinema standard 4K movies
Advanced in-body 5-axis Image Stabilization with approx. 6.5 shutter speed steps
Dual SD Card Slots
Ultra high-resolution image quality with 50M High Res. Shot
Dustproof, splashproof and freezeproof performance
High-magnification, high-speed Electronic Viewfinder
Silent Mode for noiseless shooting environment
Built-In Wi-Fi

How did Olympus achieve the high-speed sequential shooting?

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II uses the newly developed high-speed TruePic VIII image processor. This processor is a double quad core system which encapsulates 4 CPU cores and 4 image processing cores, making it approximately 3.5 times faster than the preceding TruePic VII version. The 20.4 Megapixel Live MOS sensor and the 121-point all cross-type On-Chip Phase Detection sensor makes the transfer speed 3 times faster than the OM-D E-M1.

With the above mention hardware improvements, Olympus brings the Pro Capture Mode, which allows lag-free photo shooting of full pixel images in a split-second.

How well can the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II handle tough weather conditions?

Using high-level hermetic and weather-resistant sealing throughout the camera, the camera is dustproof, splashproof and freezeproof (-10°C). The M.Zuiko PRO lens series are also designed to be weatherproof.

Why the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II is best for photography and 4K videography?

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II is equipped with the latest in body 5-axis Image Stabilization which boasts the best compensation performance in its class for both images and 4K movies. When combined with in-lens image stabilisation, the camera delivers great performances for greater possibilities in hand-held shooting. The camera creates authentic movie production with it’s Digital Cinema Standard 4K movies. There is also an HDMI Monitor connection feature for high image quality monitoring while shooting.

One week before the official release, I brought the OM-D E-M1 Mark II to Tampines Eco Green for a nature photoshoot. With a park size of 36 hectares, Tampines Eco Green is an eco-friendly park with open grasslands, freshwater wetlands and a secondary rainforest. Here are my nature photographs using the M.Zuiko 12-100mm F4 IS PRO.

Conclusions

Firstly, I love the ergonomics of the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II due to the large protrusion. The high definition electronic viewfinder gives me a clear view of what I am shooting. I would say the high-speed shooting coupled with high accuracy makes the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II an advanced camera . With the Pro Capture Mode, photographers will never miss the best shot.Despite exceeding many of my expectations for the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, the only disadvantage is that it has too many functions and settings in the software menu. Beginner photographers might take some time to explore and understand all the settings.

Despite exceeding many of my expectations for the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, the only disadvantage is that it has too many functions and settings in the software menu. Beginner photographers might take some time to explore and understand all the settings.