Olympus E-M1 mkii, How good is it in 2022? An “in use” review

[@simonatterbury]

Bought one two weeks ago, Superb piece of kit. already shot 2 commercial jobs with it and have another one booked Tuesday.

[@1957PLATO]

Also bought a used one a couple of years ago. Quite simply the best camera I have ever owned and I own Canon 50d and 5diii. Took it on my city trip to Berlin in May with the 12-40 pro and the 40-150 plastic fantastic. It’s all I needed. Fairly light, never misses focus and a battery that lasts all day.

[@clintjohnson2460]

Hi Brian,,,,My acquiring a EM1 MK II was a step ahead and yet poignant experience. I was a devoted Panasonic user with GX-8s and a G9. I had found a couple of very nice Olympus Legacy 4/3 lenses (not Micro 4/3) that were had at good prices but found that the Panasonic focusing system was useless with them so I decided it was time to pick up an Olympus that had the hybrid AF system--and it works with the older lenses perfectly. I had been a huge fan of David Thorpe's KZbin channel and he was a key inspiration for me to add Olympus gear to the kit. About that time I had started watching your channel as well. I finally found a very nice used MKII that was almost mint,,so I set out on the 2 hour drive to pick it up. On the way home there was a spectacular play of light on a rocky canyon that I had to capture so I slipped an SD card into my new purchase and grabbed the scene. When I clambered back to my car and was putting everything away and getting myself buckled in,, your post announcing that David had passed away came through..just then... My Olympus MKII purchase has been a great experience and has helped me grow as a photographer,, and has a personal touch every time I pick it up..

[@Gipsy-Danger73]

2024 and the Em1 mkii is still the best MFT camera ever made. I have a Sony A7riii gathering dust because the Em1 mkii is simply a pleasure to use. Best ergonomics hands down, and the images are pristine. 10 out of 10 for me.

[@tlr0789]

Damn, that's a big statement. I've got the original EM5 Mark 1 from 2012 and i've been looking to upgrade. The EM1 Mark II seems to be the right upgrade for what it's worth. Still reckon it's worth the upgrade?

[@crsantin]

Still using the original M1 and I love it for my needs. I have no need for anything else as long as it works and I got mine very cheap.

[@info-lh4bu]

Brilliantly put together video! Very well done...

[@gordon3988]

The EM5M3 also somewhat supersedes as well; or perhaps just a smaller version, with a few improvements but a few features less. Agree the Mk11 a great value and likely meets most peoples needs.

[@viktor4860]

its fantastic even in 2024 ! Get them while you still can !!

[@stuartriley]

Yes, I agree with you Brian. I have the OMD-EM1mkII and simply love it. The functions are set to factory and I have the most changed features setup in "my Menu". Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[@kevinbourke4038]

The OMD EM 1 mk2 does not have a My Menu. The mk3 has My Menu

[@ianparr1533]

Hi Brian, I bought a used E-M1 mk2 last year and I am very happy with it. The customisation functions do take some time to get around, but then I've struggled with similar issues with my Pansonic and Canon cameras on occasion, usually when in a hurry while setting up a shot, so no-one should let that put them off. Using Pro-Capture, Interval Timer, Keystone comp and some of the art modes will result in C-AF being disabled. You mentioned using art modes so perhaps that's what's happened to you. The video record button works just fine in A mode on my camera. The button is customisable in the main tool menu so maybe yours has been disabled in there. I don't do video much, and mainly use a Panasonic when I do, but I did notice that you can customise the lever switch to go between stills and video mode. My old Canon 70D had a similar switch. Maybe that would be of use to you? Hope you sort out your issues - it's worth persevering as the E-M1 mk2 is a great camera (in my totally unbiased view, of course).

[@newjersey1029]

i bought a used one and very good,

[@marklawson8346]

Great video Brian plenty of information just what I needed 👍🏻

[@kevinbourke4038]

It is the same camera today as it was 6 yrs ago. If you liked its functions, grip, controls, image quality etc. 6 yrs ago, and if 20 mpxs if sufficient, then it is still a good camera today. Yes I do own one, that and an EM1 mk3 So sad Olympus is no more. Oh well, such is life.

[@t-money561]

Picked up a pair for $560 each from the Olympus store, this year. At that price its good.

[@richardturner81]

That fl-lm3 flash is ace. It’s weather sealed too.

[@hedydd2]

That’s exactly the way I carry my E-M1 Mkii, and Panasonic G6 and G7. Same Op-TechUSA wrist strap too. My favourite grab and go lens is the Lumix 14-140, but I also invariably take the Olympus bodycap fisheye and the 45mm f1.8 Olympus. If for a specific shoot then I might use a 7-14Pro Oly or a 100-300 Lumix

[@garyk4017]

You can use the LCD as an AF touchpad to position the AF point, which may be better than using the 4-way pad. I save my PASM settings to custom mode C1 and can easily restore them if needed. I also save all settings, including the custom modes, to my PC using the OM Workspace app. I don't think the E-M1 Mk II allows saving settings to and restoring settings from the OM Share phone/tablet app like the Mark III does.

[@malcolmwright6948]

I bought a second-hand Lumix 25mm f1.7 for use on my EM1 MK2, it's the first Lumix lens I've owned. Unfortunately it appeared to hunt for focus and suffer from focus wander when for example trying to pick out one green plant in a tray of green plants, it might have been a bad copy. So I sold it on and got a secondhand Olympus 25mm f1.8, it hits focus first time every time. I've never used a Panasonic camera so don't know if there's much of a difference with focus between Olympus and Panasonic. I'm currently on holiday with my EM5 mk3 and 14-150mm lens, 17mm f1.8 and 9-18mm, taking lots of photographs. When it comes to upgrading missing out on several makes the eventual upgrade all that more noticeably satisfying..

[@sweeneyTodd-de4by]

Fantastic video Thinking of buying this has y first camera, but being a beginner I'm not sure. Had to subscribe great channel

[@MrFirstdance2000]

Aside from all the great info, and I love my Em1Mkii for the dual stabilization (s in the u k) for the lenses I utilize it for, your production today looks super sharp, great color and clarity. Well done, sir!

[@nigelcliff7390]

I'm shooting football with my EM1 Mk2 and 40-150 f2.8 and it still delivers even though it's "Old",why change when it does what you want it to do,my holiday camera is the even older EM10 mk2 and again it does the job I want it to

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

Photography is 99% the person taking the photo and 1% the equipment. They’ll be good shots because you are working at it and taking them well rather than relying in the cameras features

[@Lordvader330]

I do the same. I use my MII as my travel camera with the 12-200MM

[@jay-by1se]

Dude,I shoot this, a r6ii, and Nikon D3. This tends to be my go to 90% of the time even over the canon..

[@mistergiovanni7183]

Hi Brian, I have an existential question. I use an E-M5 with Olympus and Lumix lenses and was thinking between a E-M1 MK II or Lumix G9 that here in Japan used ones are available at a similar price I'm only interested in photography and I'm interested in high resolution mode. But here I see that the G9 has the advantage of mode 2 that manages to stop the movement, for example of leaves due to the wind or water or of people and things. I have seen that it works very well, however I am not sure if Olympus has something similar on E-M1 Mk II or later models.

[@ridealongwithrandy]

Thanks Brian, good video, am thinking of a mkii or mkiii for use on my gimbal instead of the em1x. Cheers!

[@rolandwiktor2222]

Hallo Brian! Thank you for that recommendation! To follow you is also an English-lesson. Most parts I listen and repeat. For Germans it is not so easy to follow your speach…, I guess you come from South- England!? In my schooltimes I had an Englishteacher from Liverpool (Mrs. Thickbroom 😂) , she was quite easier to understand! Nevertheless your postings are very usefull, I do like Mft-System so you do! Thanks! Rolo from Germany 👍

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

No, I’m from the north east of England, Newcastle. Unfortunately where I come from has a very strong accent (mine is considered mild) and we talk very quickly too. Thanks for the comment and for watching

[@martingreenberg870]

Looking forward to using my recently purchased EM1 Mii. Purchased the body for $400 with two Olympus brand batteries. Have some Panasonic lenses so I’m ready to go. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)

[@emarshallp]

Brian thanks for sharing!!!! I owned a omd em10 mark iii one year ago. I know it's not a flagship camera but i like it. I have some prime lenses. The reason i like it it's because its tiny. I was thinking on upgrade in a future to an omd em5 mark iii, what do you think? Thanks again! Best wishes!

[@nickm8134]

Hi Brian, thanks so much for these videos, I'm considering buying another MFT camera, and the E-M1 mark 2 is currently at the tops of my list. I really appreciate the info, it is so helpful.

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

Go for it!

[@geekinthegarden3927]

I've just got an E-M1 mk 11 and have been playing with the settings in the comfort of a dry house. Have you figured out how to switch from Aperture Priority mode to Video mode without turning the dial all the way round yet? You can set the lever to switch between dial mode and video mode by setting the lever to mode 3 in the buttons settings options, however I haven't found out how to press the red button in anything other video mode to start recording. If there isn't a way to use the red button to start video I may just move the video trigger to the shutter button because of muscle memory (I keep pressing the shutter at the moment anyway) plus that would let me use a remote trigger to start/stop videos.

[@EstelonAgarwaen]

For my Switzerland vacation im thinking i might just bring my em1ii with the 12-40 and nothing else🤔

[@ianparr1533]

If I was going to the mountains I'd take a lightweight consumer-level tele zoom as well. They weigh next to nothing, are cheap to buy used and are small enough to put in your jacket pocket.

[@EstelonAgarwaen]

@@ianparr1533 i do have the plasic fantastic 40-150 on my shelf so i might.

[@robdido]

The red video record button starts recording when your in a-mode or any mode really.. but it does not inherit the current settings. It will record as if its in P PROGRAM mode.. have to go to video mode fir full control

[@zweitervorhang]

As for the "record button": is it possible that you have the shutter release button set to start video? That might prevent the record button to start video, / be assigned to it ...? If so - yes, It would have be nice if that were still possible

[@normstangl3499]

To be clear then, you plan to make the MK II your go to stills camera and the G9 more toward video shooting as your new standard? Is that correct? That seems like a sound idea.

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

Pretty much but I’m not as regimented as that. It’s more of a “what’s in my mindset” for the day. Plus I do try to use all of my cameras for all things just so I keep familiar with them.

[@patrickbelanger2535]

Hi! I just bought an Olympus OM-D E-M10 mark iv brand new about a month ago. Now i saw on my store’s website that they have an E-M1 mark ii used and less expensive.. should i make the switch? What do you think? Thank you

[@h.e.verheijden8083]

Cropped video is only with digital stab on

[@jasontaylor1920]

How good will it be on October 17th 2025?

[@n4mullingartolongford223]

I have the Mk 1 but I think you need to activate Live View for the red record button to work in video, from either Aperture / Shutter speed priority. I've had the same problem myself. Re your issue with the settings becoming upset, I wonder if you accidentally nudged the Mode1/2 switch on the back. I've done this myself too!! [Not sure if I can forgive you about your comment re Olympus menus though!! LOL!]

[@EstelonAgarwaen]

I see your using the 17mm 1.8 on it. The same setup im runnig when i dont use the 12-40 :)

[@gregpatterson134]

Brain , another request for the desperate search for my new camera. You have been so helpful. Im primarily stills landscape, flowers, travel, some wildlife, macro and want to be able to start some prints moving up from my g85. i have many panny lenses so want to stay panny or omd. But, since you have great experinece with both g9 and omd em1 ii, which do you find a better stills ? I'm so comfortable with panny control panel that i'm concerned about the more difficult omd system, but it sounds learnable. But, overall will the g9 get closer results and I'd maybe be more enjoyable with use? Plus, will my panny lenses work on the omd or will I need to gradually replace in time? Decisions. I also still wonder if the new g9 ii will be that much better of a stills than omd em1 ii or iii and worth waiting to get prices more in line. I do want to take my stills photography up a few levels from the g85, so trying to pick wisely to allow several years of improved results. Thanks again.

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

Purely my opinion. I really don’t find one better than the other overall for stills. I’m also including the EM1 iii along with the mkii and the G9in this as they really are all in the same ball park. Yes, the Oly is favoured by sports and nature photographers because of the PDAF but in 99% of situations you’d be hard pushed to really see a big advantage. With having so many Panasonic lenses I’d instantly err toward the G9. I don’t believe the G9ii will be a big enough difference for the large outlay of funds to buy one when each of these cameras are available in used but as new condition, with warranties if bought from the likes of MPB or a good camera shop for well less than half the price on an OM1 or a G9ii. Your Panasonic lenses will work on the Olympus but I hear more issues with Panasonic lenses on Olympus than I do the other way around. And, of course, the Dual IS combining the IBIS and the lens IS only works with the same brand of lens/camera. I love both my G9 and my EM1 mkii. But for what you describe I personally would be buying an as new or end of line G9 mki and using the difference I save to buy another lens to fill any gaps I have. Buying used and the slightly outdated model also means that most of the depreciation has been borne by the previous purchaser. This is for stills For video to me it’s a no brainier…..the G9 again just make sure you are on the newest firmware. I know I’ll still be using my G9 several years from now

[@outfoxthefox]

I am forever managing to get the camera doing things i dont want. even thr OM1 went onto the high resolution. I wondered why it was taking so ling to write to the card. I want a camera with very few knobs and buttons.

[@karikaru]

Hi Brian, would you consider this camera as able to daily carry with a light prime on it? Or would I be better off with the em5mkii? I like the specs but seems like it might be a tad big to throw in a small messenger bag as I run about town.

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

You can (and I do) carry it around like that but the 5/2 may be a better option as it is smaller slightly.

[@karikaru]

@@ThatMicro43Guy thanks for the reply! I'll take your advice and get the e-m5.2!

[@marcusvaldes]

I just bought a mk iii on a Black Friday sale. $999

[@georgelamb9873]

Hi Brian would it not be worthwhile providing a link to your caravaning page on a regular basis.

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

It will be…when I get off my backside and produced more content lol

[@drpentecost]

Hi Brian, I shoot Canon at the moment but am thinking of switching to Olympus micro four thirds. Can I still use my Canon 600 speedlite and Elinchrom D-Lite One studio strobes with the Olympus E-M1 mkiii ? Thanks for your help.

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

Unfortunately not, at least not with TTL capabilities. If Elinchrom do triggers for the Panasonic/Olympus then you may get away with full control but I’m not familiar with their range to comment. It does look as though the Elinchrom Transmitter Plus, receiver plus and sky port systems possibly will work as they just seem to be a remote trigger system. I use the Yongnuo canon triggers to trigger my strobes but they cannot remotely control the light power, I have to manually adjust on the strobe.

[@drpentecost]

@@ThatMicro43Guy Thanks Brian

[@RamblingTog]

Hi Brian, In my opinion there is little difference between the EM1MKII MKIII and OM1 unless you doing sport of bird photography and certainly not worth the hundreds of pounds to upgrade. Olympus are missing a trick or two certainly for landscapers. The 50 megapixel seems to work ok hand held but the HDR i think struggles to get the image sharp and whilst the ND is a bit of fun am not entirely sure it works completely. One thing i do suggest particularly for lightroom users is to use Denoise Ai .

[@ridealongwithrandy]

Don't forget the X, and the EM5mkiii, both of which I use, same sensor there too. Cheers!

[@paulmcwilliams8641]

If you put the camera into Pro Capture mode it will refuse to go into C AF.

[@georgelpons]

Can the olympus choose the focus point with the command dials (like with the canon dslrs), where one is for horizontal and the other for vertical movement?

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

Yes, easily with the 4 buttons around the ‘ok’ button or by making the touchscreen active and touching the focus point

[@georgelpons]

@@ThatMicro43Guy So not also with the dials? I mean with the 70d i had the option of the directional buttons and touch screen + the focus selector button and then the dials, with the 90d it got the joystick back and kept the other 3 methods.

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

@@georgelpons I’m not aware of a way to use the dials on the olympus

[@georgelpons]

@@ThatMicro43Guy I will most likely stil give om or olympus a shot. Only wondered that only canon dslrs seem to make you able to use the 2 dials for focus point selection. Got so used in the 11 years i used the 70d to it, that i stil use it from time to time on the 90d (even when she has the stick for it). Fuji xt series doesnt have it either, if any mirrorless has it, i dont know, fear not, as its usefulness was great for optical viewfinder, as the screen was only useable with liveview.

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

@@georgelpons there is so much available on the mirrorless cameras over the DSLRs that you’ll soon get used to new ways. The AF is so much faster on the M43 cameras compared to my old 80d that you’ll be amazed

[@Derek-n2d]

The colours are much better on Olympus.

[@kennynvake4hve584]

Which one you like better, the E m 1 mark ii, or the Panasonic G9?

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

Very difficult to say as they each have things not note the other doesn’t. But it must go to the Olympus overall. I had a think about which one I would be happiest to sell first and that was the G9

[@zweitervorhang]

You've said it in a follow up video but here it is for those who watch chronologically :-) keystone compensation can be toggled with an assigned button between "setting mode where you can set the options" and "apply the settings and exit", but Keystone remains on (as seen in the main menu) and prevents certain other settings. Turn it off completely in the main menu or (to be confirmed) by long-pressing the keystone button (whichever is assigned to it )

[@yetidodger6650]

just waiting for mine to turn up £450.

[@timothykieper]

It is easy to get lost in the alphabet soup of these naming systems. Even worse now that OM systems has recycled the Mark 1 and Mark 5 designations. I did about 20 hours of research and finally bought the E-M1 Mk2 for a decent price in the used market. Not the main reason for purchase, but I thought it had live ND, of course does not. Also, seems there is a short list of Olympus lenses that are capable of capturing/creating automatic focus stacking ? I am somewhat experienced at photography, but currently on my 5th hour on menu tutorials. Perhaps it will all make sense soon ??

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

@@timothykieper yes, it can be confusing but honestly, you have not bought a bad camera just an older one. It is still in many people’s opinion, myself included, one of the best M43 cameras ever made. Yes, you don’t have live ND but the built in ND of the later cameras doesn’t do everything a real ND filter will do (try taking controlling light for shallow DOF in a studio with mixed strobe/ constant lighting, it don’t work like a real ND filter). Don’t forget that you can still use a normal ND filter on that camera to full effect for a lot less cost over the newer bodies with it built in. That money could go toward one of the pro lenses. Yes, the stacking options are limited to certain lenses but those lenses are some of the real “must have” lenses of the Olympus/OMDS line up. The 12-40mm 2.8, the 12-100mm f4, unbelievable quality (see my previous reviews of both) and worthwhile buys. Indeed, I regularly preach that the lens is much more important than the body. Plus the synchro Image Stabilisation will work an absolute dream too. Yes, the menus are not the best but certainly not the worst on the market either. Give it time. I actually opted for the EM1 mk2 over the mk3 as I didn’t perceive a big enough jump in features over the mk2. It’s still a brilliant camera which can deliver far more than most photographers are capable of utilising to the max Best of luck and if you really get stuck leave a comment of what’s wrong, there are some mighty experienced users and subscribers on here who will happily help you out

[@timothykieper]

@@ThatMicro43Guy Thanks, much appreciated. Certainly a good camera. And for now I am having fun adapting some vintage lenses while researching the Pro lens options. Currently shooting with a 40mm F2 pancake lens with some interesting results.

[@timothykieper]

Sorry to be a pest. Looked everywhere. But no "My Menu" option on this camera ?

[@patrickvanreeth7355]

Just a small general observation : whenever you move in the frame, the overall light intensity changes (aperture priority I presume 🤔) ... Perhaps putting the vlogging camera in manual mode would stop it from 'correcting exposure' when e.g. you block the backlight from the windows behind you 😎 Looking forward to the next episodes (y)

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

It was filmed on my iPad hence the pulsing I’m afraid.

[@patrickvanreeth7355]

@@ThatMicro43Guy Google tells me even iPads have a settings menu in their foto app... You only have to learn it once and it will be there for you (and your viewers) forever - not trying to troll you here - just pointing out something I thought you overlooked 🙂 And yes, the 'smarter' cameras tend to get, the harder it gets to make them do what we want them to 😏 Best of luck !

[@c0ldc0ne]

How good is it in 2022? Just as good as it was in 2021. What’s with this shtick of tacking “in [current year]” onto every video title?