Not only by hardcore fans of Olympus long expected with curiosity, she is finally here: the continuation of the digit numbered professional series of Olympus. E-1 and E-3 is the E-5, what probably hot, followed by Olympus count that after more than three years developing quiet a number may be omitted. While other manufacturers produce “firsts” in the same period nearly double-digit, is Olympus time for revision and model maintenance and delivers megapixel enthusiasts a rather meager diet. Whether the new flagship with “only” 12 megapixels, LiveView and 720 p video for round points 1,800 euro compared to the competition, explains our test.

Ergonomics and processing at the first glance, looks E-5 as its predecessor. Nothing has changed on the front, only the lettering reveals the novice. The Olympus E-5 has the typical face of a SLR camera. It is not excessively large still very small, but just right. However, it has much in the hands, for aufnahmebereit with the this test used Zuiko Digital F2, 8-4/12-60 mm SWD brings the E-5 whopping 1.520 g on the scales. The massive exterior still shows that it is a tool of the robust variety. The housing consists of a magnesium alloy, and it is excellent. At all slots, seals are affixed, so that even when it rains or in very dusty environments can be photographed unrepentant. All buttons have an exceptionally large hub – say: you have to be pressed deeply before something happens. We spent some time with the E-5, you may no longer miss the sound switch, and simpler cameras occur one like toys.

The battery compartment on the base is locked with gentle pressure on rubber seals with a solid lever. The rubber cap, conceal the connections for external power supply, video, USB, HDMI and the external microphone is quite simple, seems to sit but very precisely and densely. The tripod is made of metal, sits on the regular course and the battery compartment is available also with planned quick-release plate. Only the flap behind which the memory cards are, is no longer protected by a stop and Olympus here makes a rather cheap impression has unfortunately inkonsequenter way a standard solution, but at least with seals, installed. All grip surfaces which are exemplary rubberized and give a great feel.

You will discover the most obvious new feature on the back, because the monitor now nearly covered the entire height of the case. Its size has grown to 3 inches (7.6 cm) and the resolution to 920,000 pixels. Thus, the E-5 draws equal with the models of the competitors. However, there is hardly a similar rotatable and Tiltable display of this quality in this class of camera. Almost from any direction and any angle, it allows the observation of the subject centered in LiveView mode. And the sound execution of the tilt-twist mechanism makes a very robust and long-lasting impression.

Due to the size of the display, had to leave their place at the bottom of a few switches and were redistributed. However everything has remained essentially, what will please the switch over of the E-3. The bead of the handle on the right side lies perfectly in the hand, on the back of the thumb in a form similar to ergonomically designed based which enables a very secure hold. The index finger is like of course relaxed on the trigger, while the thumb adjusts easily important recording parameters such as aperture or shutter speed on the rear wheel wheel. This can remain the E-5 to the eye. You are looking for a program dial wheel in vain; with the wide range of functions, a mode selection would have been completely overwhelmed. The control requires therefore always two steps: man presses one of the seven direct memories and scrolls with the front or rear command dial through the appearing on the screen. After a short adjustment is very fast. While both hands are needed, but you are anyway to the site, and you can reach all the buttons really easily.

At all are in the very extensive menu is rarely necessary, such as when the camera is to be customised fully. All acquisition-related settings are buttons directly accessible or clenched overview via quick menu, which is achieved with the “OK” button. This all sizes affecting recording, which can be then selected with the arrow keys and changes appear densely crowded on the display. In addition to the large monitor on the back of the E-5 has a LC-display on the top of course, so that it constantly keeps all essential recording parameters in mind. And finally should be mentioned also in the viewfinder below the image field all the necessary show. The viewfinder itself is surprisingly large given the relatively small sensor format, and can keep up with 1,15-facher magnification completely with the viewfinder of other professional models. In addition, there are the 100% view long ago not to each competitor. The viewfinder is as clear and bright that an analog lens connected through an adapter can be focused pretty sure by hand. In our test we did with the (by the way visually excellent) F 4, 0 / 200 mm OM lens. Who bothers the renunciation of auto focus and the Arbeitsblendenfummelei not too much, should definitely times try this old sweetie on the E-5.

The optical viewfinder is genial complemented by the LiveView, the Olympus calls in the manual “Design view”. On push of a button the mirror flips up and the viewfinder image appears on the monitor. For recordings from the craziest perspectives or inconspicuous photos from the hip, which is awesome, but also the manual focus “on the sensor” is useful in some situations. Especially using the Magnifier preview, which is very precisely possible where the magnification is adjustable.

The menus of Olympus are already often been called to be confusing, and this is unfortunately not very different to the part in the E-5. At least this is true for one of the five menus: the user menu contains 10 main points, each with up to 15 subitems of which is provided. The course also reason that nearly every function, every COG and each key can be customised in the E-5. Unfortunately, the menu uses some cryptic names and abbreviations that are not always self-explanatory. One wonders why Olympus has here built a little helper function, not, as there are for example at Nikon. Looking not only rarely needed options some time, so you should set his favorite settings to one of the four individual sets.

Facilities of the Olympus E-5 has everything needs a dedicated photographer and much more. This is of course expect at a camera in this price range and therefore more interested how the respective functions are executed. When the metering we do not have only the choice of product, time, shutter priority and manual setting, the type of measurement can be varied: automatic measurement field evaluation (ESP) with and without taking account of the AF field, Middle stressed measurement and spot metering. also spot metering with clipping or shadow emphasis. This uses a medium gray, but white or black as a measurement reference. Thus, light or dark spots can be targeted and correctly exposed. No matter what the photographer adjusts the exposure metering of the E-5 is extremely reliable, and you get a properly exposed picture in almost any situation.

Can be different grid, histogram, excess, and little warning in live view or map the horizontal position and the tilt of the camera with built-in Gyrosensoren if necessary. In the viewfinder is then shortly after saving the sharpness in addition, a level that enables the camera to the eye can be adjusted exactly horizontally.

And of course there are the exposure preview, with which also the white balance is controllable. The Olympus to offers a comparative view of the subject, simulate exposure corrections and different colour temperatures. The exposure preview but is not completely reliable, who would like to have it precisely, adjusts the exposure on the basis of the live histogram.

Immerse yourself in the menu, more powers arise. In the tab “Kamera1″ can be selected from six presets, whether the image should be represented naturally, paler or monochrome or optimized for portraits with saturated colors. Each setting is customisable in sharpness, contrast, saturation and color history. And that’s not enough who can tinker is something together from the specifications and store as a seventh mode. Also the art filters that have been enriched by a filter called “dramatic” which conjures up a pseudo-HDR effect in the image have been taken over by the E-30. The E-5 provides also a lot of post-processing options for long rail travel. Not just RAW data can subsequently be converted, but also JPEGs. For example, the backlight correction that too dark is interesting spots quite sensibly and comfortably installed. The processed images are saved in addition to the existing, so that you can compare in peace.

The built-in Flash works according to a key on the prism housing approx. 11 cm high on the optical axis, so that it rarely comes to red eyes. Undressed he solves either on-demand automatically or forced as bleaching agents. He can be synchronized to the first or second curtain, taking into account the ambient light and its performance manually up to 1 / 64 regulated in be. In addition you can control large with the small speed cameras, such as the FL-50R. For a Studio Flash system the E-5 provides a standard x contact and of course an accessory shoe, also flashes of third-party vendors fit into the. Although some people thinks that fits a built-in Flash not to a professional camera, the practitioner will be thankful about. With guide number 13 (in the native sensitivity of the E-5 of ISO 200 even LZ 18) the small Flash has ample power to meet all standards in many everyday situations. The illumination extends to 14 (see KB 28 mm), the 12 mm of the lens of our test show therefore dark corners. In everyday life that will hardly notice, more disturbing as the lens hood, which casts a significant shadow. At close range, that’s mighty 12-60 mm the Flash-zoom without lens hood in the way. In addition, the Flash exposure is exemplary but correct and neutral in color.

As a long overdue first offers now a video mode the Olympus E-5. Where many cameras already in FullHD film (1080p), it can record only with 1280 x 720 pixels and 30 frames per second. However, this will be enough for many applications. To accommodate videos, the LiveView must be activated first. The recording begins when pressure on the AF point button which can be reached with the thumb. Focus is with the trigger, but this is very slowly and with sharp Knartzen so that it better to leads with the hand the sharpness. The optical image stabilizer is not active in video mode, for this purpose, which is slightly increased and with the obtained reserves digital unloading wackelt video image. The sound quality is up to the focusing noise in order, where the camera captures only Mono. The recording can be improved by connecting an external stereo microphone. The E-5 offers a 3, 5 mm jack to do so. In our practice test, we could actually decouple the mechanical sounds of the camera from the microphone with this solution. With the mentioned restrictions in the operation, the video quality of the E-5 is fully in order. For the storage of the video stream Olympus memory card with a data transfer at least 6 MB / s is the data stream of the video recording is slightly over 4 MByte/s. The E-5 offers two card slots, one for CompactFlash (CF) and the other, you stare for SD cards. It was long overdue that Olympus separates from the slow and expensive XD cards. It is therefore no problem to get sufficiently fast memory cards for the E-5.

The speed of the memory card has a significantly greater meaning than for video recordings for the series image speed. After all around 13 MB per photo must be stored in full resolution raw five times in the second. Since it is already, spend a couple of bucks more for a very fast card. We have the serial image speed with a 16 GB Lexar professional UDMA 600 x determined and are come to the following values: in RAW mode, the flagship of Olympus creates indeed almost the promised 5 images per second, but the internal memory is full after about 16 shots and the speed decreases to 3.6 B / s. In the JPG format, the thing is not so unique, because the recording time depends on the success of the compression and thus from the subject. In an average 5.6 MB per image, the E-5 actually scarce 5 B / s, and the shoots until the card is full. To choose the SD card slot, she is thwarted Olympus. The camera with 4.9 frames per second makes only 10 raw files, then decreases the speed to about 1.5 B / s shooting in JPG format break while a post about 28 photos on about 3 B / s, which should but nominally better to the SD card. Finally, we have used a SanDisk Extreme 30 MB / s. It makes sense therefore suspected that Olympus here has used a slightly slower drive. For most tasks, the speed will suffice but loose because the tracking of focus with highest speed and adverse lighting conditions pretty well manages the E-5. Between the two drives must be switched manually with copies in both directions are possible.

Objectively the tested with the E-5 lens of F2, 8-4/12-60 mm SWD has a focal length that is great for most applications. Particularly the short end offers considerably more wide angle, as so many other standard zoom. After all the lens starts compared to Kleinbild at 24 mm. opposite the old 14-54 mm-lens of focal length not only has grown, but also the auto focus speed. On the E-3 was 12-60 as extremely quickly. It is no different at the E-5 and not only the high speed, but also the accuracy even in low light is phenomenal. Even if the eye of the photographer has difficulties finding the sharpness, the E-5 has already focused. On the annoying strobe light you do without therefore as far as possible. The 11 AF points can be used together or in reasonable combined groups. This must only the measuring box button pressed and elected at the front or rear command dial the desired combination. What implies the practice measuring read confirmed: shutter lag with sharpening is low with 0.4 seconds, it somewhat faster is a focused, since approved the E-5 is about a tenth of a second.

The E-5 either once provides (S-AF) or continuous (C-AF) hot. This can either the advisable on or off. With lenses with mechanically coupled focus which the tested 12-60 mm zoom used lens, can at any time to intervene in the sharpness. This function must be enabled only for lenses with electronically controlled focus. When using the “live view”, the face recognition is added as more AF method. It is enabled, detects the E-5 faces and is it hot, continuous AF, the face is even followed. However, the contrast auto focus in live view is quite slow, shoots easily beyond the goal and swings then a. It’s good that you can use the phases AF in live view. But also it takes, because first the mirror in measuring position must cover and up again after the test. Better, you set but manually hot, which easily manages the E-5: attack the photographer to the focus ring of the lens, the E-5 automatically switches in the Loupe view, so that can be focused on the point. This is very comfortable! Of course the depth of field can be controlled with the cut-off button front next to the bayonet.

A further particularly not feature is the image stabilizer. The E-5 solves this task with finest correction movements of the sensor. Therefore, all attachable lenses are stabilized, even those without own stabilizer. The photographer can thereby choose from three variants: either all movements are offset only horizontal or vertical. This has the advantage of not unnecessarily delaying Mitzieher. For the stabilisation in old, adapted lenses work well, the focal length can be entered in the menu manually. This otherwise brilliant technique, however, has a disadvantage because the IS function works only when recording and the viewfinder remains unregulated. Also in the LiveView, nothing is felt, so that you sometimes doubt whether the feature is enabled at all of the image stabilizer. On the photos, however, the effectiveness of the system of the Olympus shows: normally, no more than 1/125 s should be exposed with the zoom lens at 60 mm focal length. With stabilizer could be photographed but still slightly more than 1/15s completely verwackelungsfrei. Contrary to the statement of Olympus, to illuminate five f-stops, longer that “only” three results, however, “Trembling” is a very personal matter and only hard metrologically to capture.

Competitive are 12 megapixel image quality? Taking into account the small sensor, 12 million pixels are already quite densely packed. This course has effects on many properties, and requires very good lenses. The E-5 was not only with reference applicable the zoom lens in this test available measured, but also with the 50 mm macro. (The exact measuring results and tables are for little money, see related links). With two lenses, the new flagship is tremendous: the resolution is located in the Center near the 100% mark and achieved an efficiency of 90%. This means that the E-5 of almost every pixel on the sensor resolution to implement is able. Already at full aperture the photos are extremely hot, what changes only slightly at the fade out. The E-5 is in this combination can be used safely at maximum aperture. The resolution offers reserves, which do not reach competitors with higher pixel count. Bought this performance is on the one hand but also a fair bit image processing by excellent lenses. That is unfortunately negative noticeable. The sharpening algorithms result in so-called artifacts, which erodes the detailed profit at this point to small structures. However, you can certify the E-5 with these lenses at full aperture a visible, excellent sharpness. Also the moderate noise contributes to this. Where other cameras flat iron the noise – and unintentionally unfortunately also the details-, the Olympus affords a moderate brightness noise, which is only disturbing above ISO 800. At higher sensitivities, light color noise added to so that the E-5 of good conscience should be used only to ISO 1600. In it hisses significantly, what should be acceptable but in view of the then prevailing lighting conditions.

The 12-60 mm-lens listed at the short end of quite clear barrel-shaped, what is visible critical subjects in the viewfinder. At only slightly longer focal length, the distortion disappears and is easy pillow-shape at the long end. The wide angle is therefore limited to use of architecture. The vignetting up to two-thirds of the image height is invisible, at maximum aperture in wide angle accumulate over an aperture to edge up to then. This phenomenon decreases significantly in blind spot and is only slightly at photos.

The signal transmission of the E-5 turns in the JPEG format rather to amateurs, because the reverse-S-shaped tone curve flatter reflects the contrasting, quarter and three-quarter tones midtones. That seems slightly more, at first glance leaves but the subsequent image processing less room. If you want to get here even more, should wait for the RAW converter. The input dynamic are highest at ISO 200 with 8.5 f-stops, but remains up to ISO 800 at a similar level. That sounds while not just overwhelmingly, but must be seen in connection with the rather moderate noise reduction leaves much detail in dark areas of the image. The exposure is very precise and takes advantage of almost the entire range of tonal values. In case of doubt, the black in the image editing should be attracted.

We titelten the announcement of the laboratory test with the 50 mm macro conclusion “You last its kind”. Is single-lens reflex in times of spiegellosen system cameras still up to date? This question arises if one compares the cold figures. Others can values long, what can the E-5 on the paper, sometimes with “better”. Nevertheless, who is the flagship of Olympus in the hand and taken with you, can feel immediately: it gets so easy this quality not back in the finger. You will find rare combines the extremely robust and perfectly processed housing, the enormous experience of hand and the great operation in a camera. In addition an excellent image quality, which provides some pixel car in the shade despite the “low” number of pixels. And the absolute reliability even in unfavourable light conditions to find accurate focus and exposure. You feel easy safely with the E-5 and it will take some time until a device similar to perfect in the class of the Spiegellosen will be having. And also the competitors of the SLR group, there is not much partner. The E-5 is a perfect E-3. Alone the price is daunting, and that could jeopardise the success.