Olympus today announced the new OM-D E-M5 Mark II, successor to its popular OM-D E-M5 interchangeable-lens mirrorless camera. Similar in physical appearance to the camera it replaces, the E-M5 Mark II boasts several technological improvements including a new 5-axis image stabilisation system which delivers up to five stops of stabilisation in stills mode, and dramatically improved hand-held video stability.
In a world first, the stabilisation system can also be put to work to produce 40-megapixel images from the camera's 16-megapixel Live MOS sensor. In Hi Res Shot mode, the camera fires eight shots, each time moving the sensor by 0.5 pixel steps. The images are then composited to produce a single, high-resolution image. There are limitations, and to produce sharp images the camera must be mounted on a solid tripod and the subject must be stationary.
Movie features have been greatly improved compared to the E-M5, and the new model now offers Full HD resolution with a choice of 24, 25, 30, 50 and 60p frame rates. All-Intra and IPB recording modes can be selected with (approximate) maximum bitrates of 77Mbps and 52Mbps respectively. Sound monitoring is also possible with an optional accessory grip.
Australian Photography + digital previewed the camera last week and we can report that stabilisation in movie mode is exceptional. Comparable to an external gyro-stabilised system, it's possible to produce usable footage while running with the camera in your hand.
The E-M5 Mark II uses a metal alloy chassis and is splash-proof, dust-proof and freeze-resistant to -10°C. Other features include a 2.36-megapixel digital viewfinder, a flip-and-swivel 1.04 megapixel LCD monitor, silent shooting mode (utilises electronic shutter with a 1/16,000s top shutter speed), and faster AF with a shooting time lag improvement of 45% compared to the E-M5.
Several accessories were announced simultaneously with the E-M5 Mark II including the M.Zuiko 14-150mm f4.0-5.6 II super-zoom weatherproof lens, the dust and splash resistant FL-LM3 tilt-and-swivel wireless flash, the HLD-8 power battery holder with headphone jack, and the PT-EP13 underwater housing.
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II will be available in black and silver in early March 2015. Recommended retail price for the camera and accessories has not been announced.
