Olympus E5 - My first test images

PeterD-2009

I received my E5 yesterday and decided to see how it performed. These images were produced to check ISO performance, colour reproduction and sharpness straight out of the camera (no post processing). I have a difficulty in that Adobe have not yet released a version of RAW converter so I could not use Lightroom for this test.
These images were uploaded to Olympus Viewer 2 (shipped with the E5). The RAW files were merely saved as High Quality jpg alongside the jpg files from the camera. This is the best way I can think of to show you comparisons between jpg and RAW output from the camera.

ISO 200

jpg Output file

RAW output file converted to jpg

ISO 1600

jpg Output file

RAW output file converted to jpg

ISO 3200

jpg Output file

RAW output file converted to jpg

I have deliberately kept the sizes down to extra large to save people time.
If you want the oiginal size images, you can select them from my website by selecting O from the popout when hovering over a image.

More to come later. __________________
Kind regards

Peter
www.imageinuk.com

Eclipsed

It's hard for me to tell without comparing to a camera I know well, but it looks pretty good. What are your impressions?

PeterD-2009

Eclipsed wrote: »

It's hard for me to tell without comparing to a camera I know well, but it looks pretty good. What are your impressions?

Thanks for your comments.
I am very impressed with this performance. Olympus have tackled the area I needed for wildlife photography. Noise at ISO above 800 was something I would use only in an emergency. It seems that I can at least double the ISO which will make a big difference when using long lenses. Sharpness, straight from the camera is good and colour reproduction likewise (you will have to take my word for the last comment). I usually only shoot in RAW format so I was especially pleased with the comparison images. Looks like a good job done and I am glad I purchased it.
I shall be trying out the Sigma 150 Macro and the Sigma 50-500 and shall post the results here.

ziggy53

Congratulations on the new camera.

I agree that ISO 1600 is very nice and that ISO 3200 is probably OK for simple subjects and small print sizes. The noise levels are not too bad at ISO 3200 but fine detail is lacking from what looks like heavy noise reduction. Different RAW conversion software can make a big difference so the situation may improve with better versions of software.

PeterD-2009

ziggy53 wrote: »

Congratulations on the new camera.

I agree that ISO 1600 is very nice and that ISO 3200 is probably OK for simple subjects and small print sizes. The noise levels are not too bad at ISO 3200 but fine detail is lacking from what looks like heavy noise reduction. Different RAW conversion software can make a big difference so the situation may improve with better versions of software.

Thank you ziggy.
I have been very pleased with the E3 over the last three years but this is a marked improvement.

fldspringer

ziggy53 wrote: »

Congratulations on the new camera.

I agree that ISO 1600 is very nice and that ISO 3200 is probably OK for simple subjects and small print sizes. The noise levels are not too bad at ISO 3200 but fine detail is lacking from what looks like heavy noise reduction. Different RAW conversion software can make a big difference so the situation may improve with better versions of software.

Here's ISO3200 with no noise reduction (Jpeg because Lightroom doesn't support it yet)

PeterD-2009

fldspringer wrote: »

Here's ISO3200 with no noise reduction (Jpeg because Lightroom doesn't support it yet)

Thanks Greg. Great image at ISO 3200. I have not tried this ISO as I thought that it probably was not worth trying. I note that your image is a crop too.
I shall be out today to take more test images. Olympus have really got their act together. What do you think of the camera?

fldspringer

PeterD-2009 wrote: »

Thanks Greg. Great image at ISO 3200. I have not tried this ISO as I thought that it probably was not worth trying. I note that your image is a crop too.
I shall be out today to take more test images. Olympus have really got their act together. What do you think of the camera?

Actually, its full frame as shot with the 300mm f2.8/EC-14 converter.

I got one of the first batch from B&H and got a day and a half of shooting before I pulled a stupid human trick. The camera with the 300mm attached rolled off my backpack from the back seat of the car. The camera didn't survive.

Thanks to some substancial help from Olympus service, they made it possible to get a replacement at a hefty discount even though they were under no obligation to do so. That camera arrived yesterday and I'll get it out this weekend.

A couple more from the camera before the damage. I have to reserve judgement because I shot it only with some pretty crappy light.

300mm/ec-14 and ISO2000 (also full frame)



Another ISO2000 (also uncropped)



This is with the 50-200 at 182mm f3.5 and ISO250



and a crop



Its important to stress that this is a poor test of the camera. Lighting was very heavy overcast and the camera got wet both days I shot with it. I set the camera to auto ISO with the upper limit set to 3200. I never allowed my E-3 to choose the ISO, and 800 was as far as I felt comfortable with. The E-5 does much better there, and it focused the 50 macro positvely in some terrible interior lighting.

Like I said, I'll get the new camera out this weekend, and I'll hope for some better light.

ziggy53

Sorry to hear about the E-5 mishap but I am extremely pleased with Olympus helping you out. clap

PeterD-2009

fldspringer wrote: »

Actually, its full frame as shot with the 300mm f2.8/EC-14 converter.

I got one of the first batch from B&H and got a day and a half of shooting before I pulled a stupid human trick. The camera with the 300mm attached rolled off my backpack from the back seat of the car. The camera didn't survive.

Its important to stress that this is a poor test of the camera. Lighting was very heavy overcast and the camera got wet both days I shot with it. I set the camera to auto ISO with the upper limit set to 3200. I never allowed my E-3 to choose the ISO, and 800 was as far as I felt comfortable with. The E-5 does much better there, and it focused the 50 macro positvely in some terrible interior lighting.

Like I said, I'll get the new camera out this weekend, and I'll hope for some better light.

Hi Greg
I too am sorry to hear about your mishap - It happens. I dropped my Sigma 50-500 and ruined it. I paid for the repair but found it still faulty. Sigma returned the lens to the factory in Japan for the repair (foc) and loaned me a replacement lens for the time it was away (6 months).

I had the same experience with my E3. ISO 800 being tops only when it was essential to capture something special. I have used auto ISO in the past but gave that up. I may well be inclined to try again with the E5:D.

I hope you get the opportunity to get some really good shots over the weekend.

ziggy53 wrote: »

Sorry to hear about the E-5 mishap but I am extremely pleased with Olympus helping you out. clap

Hi ziggy
When I first purchased my E3 it had a problem and Olympus UK loaned me a camera until mine was sorted out. That, plus the experience I have had with Sigma (see above) shows that these companies put the customer first. A welcome change from normal retail experience where you have nothing until your repair is completed.

fldspringer

ziggy53 wrote: »

Sorry to hear about the E-5 mishap but I am extremely pleased with Olympus helping you out. clap

I've had camera equipment for many years and have never had an accident with any of it. You only have to get stupid once, and it can happen very quickly. I was lucky it was the camera body and not the 300mm that hit first. The camera is built like a tank, but when there is an 8 lb lens on it, something has to give.

The Oly service people were great. What they did made it possible to get the replacement camera now instead of kicking myself everytime I picked up the old one knowing if I wasn't a dumbass, I'd be shooting the E-5.

Hats off to Oly service. They helped more than they may know!

fldspringer

PeterD-2009 wrote: »

Hi Greg
I too am sorry to hear about your mishap - It happens. I dropped my Sigma 50-500 and ruined it. I paid for the repair but found it still faulty. Sigma returned the lens to the factory in Japan for the repair (foc) and loaned me a replacement lens for the time it was away (6 months).

I had the same experience with my E3. ISO 800 being tops only when it was essential to capture something special. I have used auto ISO in the past but gave that up. I may well be inclined to try again with the E5:D.

I hope you get the opportunity to get some really good shots over the weekend.

.

By far, the best feature of the E-5 is it mounts some excellent Zuiko glass. I've got some good ones and the last thing I want to do is to build up another system.

Second best feature is the dumpping to XD and going SD. I thought compact flash wound be my main card, but SD is really nice to pop into the laptop. Its nice to be able to choose.

I have alot of opinions yet to be formed, but I thought the E-3 was a nice camera, and the E-5 improves lots of things. I'm sure I'll love it.

PeterD-2009

fldspringer wrote: »

By far, the best feature of the E-5 is it mounts some excellent Zuiko glass. I've got some good ones and the last thing I want to do is to build up another system.

Second best feature is the dumpping to XD and going SD. I thought compact flash wound be my main card, but SD is really nice to pop into the laptop. Its nice to be able to choose.

I have alot of opinions yet to be formed, but I thought the E-3 was a nice camera, and the E-5 improves lots of things. I'm sure I'll love it.

Good morning Greg

Did you get your replacement E5? I hope so.

It seems the first batch sold quickly in the UK and dealers are awaiting the second batch.

PeterD-2009

Olympus E5 Test Images
I have updated my site to include a series of PRACTICAL tests of the E5 with different lenses etc. These are based on the direct jpg output as the RAW file converter program is not yet available from Adobe:cry.

The list is as follows:
E5 with Zuiko Digital 12-60mm lens (Images shown on this thread)
E5 with Sigma 50-500 lens
E5 with Zuiko Digital 70-300 lens
E5 with Sigma 150 macro lens
E5 Video
E5 Night shoot

These are not technical tests but purely some practical examples to give you a 'feel' for this camera. I look forward to getting the RAW file converter to better appreciate the camera performance. Although the camera ships with such a program, it is an Olympus offering which does not output .dng files.

The link is here >> http://www.imageinuk.com/Test-Images/Olympus-E5-Tests/14609316_v3e24

Wicked_Dark

Threads like these make me wish I had the cash for an E-5. I mean, I love my E-30, but even perfection can sometimes be improved upon.

Internaut

Wicked_Dark wrote: »

Threads like these make me wish I had the cash for an E-5. I mean, I love my E-30, but even perfection can sometimes be improved upon.

From what I've seen so far, it seems to be quite an improvement. Remember, in terms of raw out of the camera IQ, the E-30 is good, the E-620 is slightly better, the E-P1 better still, and so on. In total, we have five generations of incremental improvements from the E-30 to the E-5 (and six from the E-3). There's a lot to like.

fldspringer

PeterD-2009 wrote: »

Good morning Greg

Did you get your replacement E5? I hope so.

It seems the first batch sold quickly in the UK and dealers are awaiting the second batch.

Its here!

I shot for the first time last weekend, and I had better light than I did with the first one. I posted a few in the wildlife forum and I choose a few, some my be duplicates.

(P.S. I cheated and used the 300mm f2.8)











The 300mm and the E-5 enjoy each other's company

fldspringer

More anyone?

Debashis_A_ghosh

Although I do not have an Oly DSLR...I like the bird shots in this thread. Thanks for sharing. Its interesting to read up brands I ahve not yet had the opportunity to use.

PeterD-2009

Good morning Greg and all others that have responded on this thread.

Thank you all for replying to this thread.

Those are really great bird shots Greg. Thank you for posting them. The weather in the UK has been simply appalling but soon things should change soon(I hope). Your images show the great improvement to the Olympus DSLR performance.

fldspringer

PeterD-2009 wrote: »

Your images show the great improvement to the Olympus DSLR performance.

Sometimes I like to argue for the sake of argueing.

I love my E-5 so far, but don't take too much away from its predecessors. I consider my E-3 to be a fine camera also.

I took these just to make sure the big 300mm survived the fall.
E-3/300mm/EC-14





And a few others by the ol' E-3 just for good measure.

E-3/300mm/EC-20






35-100 at f2


I guess my point is the biggest factor in getting pics is to shoot. The latest and greatest is nice (ISO3200) but the old one still works too. Its a great time to do photography!!!

PeterD-2009

fldspringer wrote: »

Sometimes I like to argue for the sake of argueing.

I love my E-5 so far, but don't take too much away from its predecessors. I consider my E-3 to be a fine camera also.


I guess my point is the biggest factor in getting pics is to shoot. The latest and greatest is nice (ISO3200) but the old one still works too. Its a great time to do photography!!!

A very good point you make which I have to agree with. I am keeping my E3 for macro work and backup. The loser I am afraid is the good old E500 which was my entry into dslr. Its going to a good home though, a shared resource for my children. Despite its age, it produces some great images - which is why I upgraded to the E3 in the first place.

fldspringer

C-AF and Sequential Test from this afternoon
As posted on another site. Smug isn't in sequence so I'll just link to the site I originally posted on.

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/olympus-dslr/180299-e-5-c-af.html#post1168780

PeterD-2009

fldspringer wrote: »

As posted on another site. Smug isn't in sequence so I'll just link to the site I originally posted on.

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/olympus-dslr/180299-e-5-c-af.html#post1168780

Well, you know what they say..........great minds think alike.

Great series there Greg. It just so happens I posted a sequential series myself using a Herring Gull as the model. I have included the camera settings I used - took a while to create the page but what the hell - its great fun:D.

Link here > http://peterd-2009.smugmug.com/Test-Images/E5-Sequential-Shooting/14738585_TaEJP

Its part of my E5 test section and I was about to post it here when I saw your entry, We seem to be getting a comprehensive set of test images with both of our postings.

ziggy53

Thanks folks.

david-low

Eclipsed wrote: »

It's hard for me to tell without comparing to a camera I know well,

If you know, can you assure you won't be bias?

Eclipsed

david-low wrote: »

If you know, can you assure you won't be bias?

I am not biased. A camera is a camera. Comparing two cameras is a way for me to assess performance based on something I'm used to. For example, you could tell me that a d700 for example has great iso performance, but unless I have something to gauge that against I can't understand how it actually performs. That is why I like comparisons.

dirtfan21

This makes me want to go out and get the E-5.. I wonder what this camera can do with sports? Im a sports shooter and use the E-500 (2) or E-520 for my events. I do mostly Dirt Track Racing. So a plus for me would be the weather proof on the E-5. My E-520 shutter is about to go out I have over 67,000 and counting. So there for I am looking for a new body. E-30, E-3 or the new E-5.

Is there a E-5 owner that shoots sports, if so I would like to see some sports Pictures...

Thank you for all the have gave there work to see this new camera work... Awesome

PeterD-2009

dirtfan21 wrote: »

This makes me want to go out and get the E-5.. I wonder what this camera can do with sports? Im a sports shooter and use the E-500 (2) or E-520 for my events. I do mostly Dirt Track Racing. So a plus for me would be the weather proof on the E-5. My E-520 shutter is about to go out I have over 67,000 and counting. So there for I am looking for a new body. E-30, E-3 or the new E-5.

Is there a E-5 owner that shoots sports, if so I would like to see some sports Pictures...

Thank you for all the have gave there work to see this new camera work... Awesome

I am pleased that the images that Greg and I have posted on here have been useful. May I suggest that the E5 should be preferred to the E3 not only for the ISO performance and IQ but also for the video function. Both IMHO should be ideal for the type of photography you are interested in.

I have just posted a video I took today that might interest you. Not sport but it does show you the capability.

The link is here > http://peterd-2009.smugmug.com/Test-Images/Video-2/14783278_GDaeM

I recorded this using centre weighted exposure mode but should have used ESP. It was hand-held using the ZD 12-60 lens and the cameras internal microphone.

Comments etc as always are welcome.

fldspringer

dirtfan21 wrote: »

This makes me want to go out and get the E-5.. I wonder what this camera can do with sports? Im a sports shooter and use the E-500 (2) or E-520 for my events. I do mostly Dirt Track Racing. So a plus for me would be the weather proof on the E-5. My E-520 shutter is about to go out I have over 67,000 and counting. So there for I am looking for a new body. E-30, E-3 or the new E-5.

Is there a E-5 owner that shoots sports, if so I would like to see some sports Pictures...

Thank you for all the have gave there work to see this new camera work... Awesome

Some would have to do with what lenses you currently own.

A link to someone who does this.

http://forum.fourthirdsphoto.com/showthread.php?t=61872

And I'll show one of the series I previously had linked to.

These were with the 50-200 SWD wide open at f3.5 to narrow the DOF so focus would be more critical. Also worth mentioning is these were JPEGs straight from the camera. The C-AF was single center point and the frame rate was 5 FPS. I have the E-3 also and this performance is better than the E-3 could do, and most certainly quite a step up from what your E520 would accomplish.