Best Olympus OM-D E-M1X Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020:

Without replacing the E-M1 Mark II , the OM-D E-M1X comes to cap the Olympus hybrid range. The newcomer is distinguished by its ergonomics, its reinforced protection against bad weather and its second processor which allows it to offer great responsiveness and unique features.

Presentation

True to form, Olympus continues to use the Micro 4/3 format and has naturally placed at the heart of its. E-M1X a sensor with the now classic definition of 20.4 Mpx. The firm thus sets itself apart from its historic partner. Panasonic, which for its part has unveiled the characteristics of its Lumix S1R equipped with a 24×36 sensor. This choice allows Olympus to offer a system that despite its weight gain and volume remains significantly more compact than the sports Nikon D5 or Canon EOS-1D X Mark II .

If we are referring to these two monsters in sports photography, it is because it is this niche that the Olympus OM-D E-M1X is targeting, and like the two aforementioned models, the newborn has a integrated vertical grip. It allows the device to offer a degree of tropicalization never reached on the range, including the remote control, microphone and headphone connectors. 

The device can literally be “showered” without risk. The grip incorporates two batteries which Olympus indicates that they give the E-M1X an autonomy of 870 views in normal mode and 2,580 in energy saving mode. The device benefits from a new, more efficient dustproof system that vibrates 30,000 times per second and a heat dissipation mechanism that gives it excellent endurance

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Another remarkable point, the Olympus OM-D E-M1X now includes two TruePic VIII processors. While it is surprising that Olympus did not develop a single new, more powerful processor, this addition nevertheless allows the device to offer more advanced functions than the E-M1 mark II, such as the high resolution mode. freehand or an even more efficient stabilization system whose brand indicates that it can compensate up to 7.5 EV. A neutral density filter function has been integrated with five possible settings from ND2 to ND32. 

The autofocus retains a hybrid detection by phase correlation and contrast on 121 points which now benefits from intelligent detection of the subject and parameter setting by group of 25 points in addition to the existing modes. His sensitivity has also been increased. The burst is still 18 fps with subject tracking and 60 fps without, but with a buffer whose capacity has been increased to 287 frames in Raw. Finally, note that the E-M1X has two slots for UHS-II memory cards and that a Bluetooth connection accompanies the Wi-Fi connection. It also has a GPS, a barometer, a compass and a thermometer.

Best Olympus OM-D E-M1X Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020

1. Olympus OM-D E-M1X

2. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Black Camera Body

3. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Camera Body Only, (Black)

Getting started

With its integrated grip, the Olympus OM-D E-M1X is impressive. Its size has been significantly revised upwards when compared to an E-M1 Mark II since it is more than 5 cm higher, 1 cm longer and a few millimeters thicker. Its weight is also much more important since it is 997 g. This is a notable difference for those who chose the Micro 4/3 for its compactness. But that remains very little compared to the approximately 1.5 kg of a Nikon D5 or a Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, all the more so as the objectives remain, them, much more compact and light.

In this category of sports devices, we will not fail to compare the OM-D E-M1X to the Sony A9 and its 95.6 x 126.9 x 63 mm and 673 g. Despite this overweight, the grip is excellent in horizontal as in vertical. Whatever position you take the device in, the keys easily fall under your fingers and stay in one place. We particularly appreciated the presence of the joystick to move the AF point with ease and speed and the spiky coating of the Iso button which avoids any confusion with another button. The Lock button on the back of the device allows you to deactivate certain buttons to prevent accidental manipulation. The C-Lock position offers customization of the keys to be locked.

Regulars of the brand will not fail to note that certain keys have been moved or modified compared to the E-M1 mark II. The wheel on top has been replaced by a wheel housed in the device, accessible directly by the thumb, whose handling is practical and above all much less source of error. 

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On the adjustment wheel which retains a central lock button, the Artistic filters and iAuto positions have been deleted in favor of a B mode which gives quick access to Live Composite, Live Bulb and Live Time. the bracketing meanwhile has a dedicated button placed alongside the motorization, autofocus and light measurement modes on the left shoulder of the device. Unfortunately, the space left on the top of the device was not used to place a secondary screen to recall the settings.

The screen, which can be rotated in all directions by means of a central hinge, has been extended to our great delight – so much have we enjoyed using it for horizontal and vertical shots. Its brightness is high and its definition of 1.04 Mpts offers good finesse. It is accompanied by an electronic viewfinder whose definition remains 2.36 Mpts. But which is accompanied by a new optical unit which now offers a magnification of 0.83x in 24×36. It is comfortable and has sufficient eye relief for spectacle wearers. 

On the other hand, we noted a sensitivity to flicker with different sources of lighting and difficulties to follow a moving subject with good fluidity. The eye sensor is a little sensitive and the flip-flop is sometimes inadvertent when aiming at the screen. Too bad no brand has followed Fujifilm which, on its X-T3 , proposes to deactivate this automatic flip-flop when the screen is tilted.

Reactivity

It is to sports photographers, and of all disciplines which require a great speed of reaction and high cadence of gusts, that Olympus OM-D E-M1X. It is therefore naturally on this criterion of reactivity that we expected from this device of prowess. And we must admit that it has largely lived up to our expectations. The two TruePic VIII processors combined with the 121-point hybrid autofocus with phase and contrast detection work wonders.

The startup of the device is almost instantaneous, but it mainly swallows the pixels with an appetite for ogre without the buffer showing any signs of weakness. It will however be necessary to use a fast card to regain control within a reasonable time after a series of photos. Our tests were carried out on an SDXC UHS-II card certified U3 and Class 10.

The autofocus has clearly improved in low light and offers reactivity equivalent to that of our tests in high light conditions. Measures which therefore confirm the statements of. Olympus which claims to have extended the sensitivity of the autofocus to -6 IL.

Our burst measurements are also excellent. If the camera does not quite reach the promise of 18 fps with AE / AF tracking from. Olympus, our measurements have shown results that are very close. In silent mode with electronic shutter and AF / AE lock, they were even higher than the 60 fps announced. The low speed burst mode allowed us to record more than 10 / s. The device also offers a Pro Capture mode which records up to 35 images in full definition before the release.

Image quality

The Olympus OM-D E-M1X retains a 4/3 “20MP sensor and, despite the addition of an additional processor, the results in high sensitivity are equivalent to those of the E-M1 II and lower to those observed on larger sensors. This does not prevent the production of superb images up to high sensitivities since it is around ISO 6,400 that we note a significant smoothing of the image leading to a loss of The detractors of the Micro 4/3 will have there all the arguments necessary to show the limits of the format, but recognize all the same that our observations are always made at 100% of the size of the pixels on the screen and that what we seems annoying theis often much less when in practice photographers produce images printed in magazines or in works whose size does not exceed A3.

Above all, it would be dishonest to judge the quality of the images of this camera solely on the criterion of the ISO rise, because it offers many interesting functions that we have been able to implement in the field with great success. First of all, the improvement of the stabilization system makes it possible to achieve real feats by photographing freehand at very low speeds.

This improvement in stabilization and processing speed has enabled Olympus to offer a high-definition freehand shooting mode automatically generating 50 Mpx files. We will not go into detail on this mode and we invite you to read the news lab that we have devoted to it.

Video

The video functions of the Olympus OM-D E-M1X are not to be outdone. The device allows recording in 4K. Cine at 4096 x 2160 px in 24p with a bit rate of 237 Mps, in 4K UHD 3 840 x 2160 px in 30p, 25p and 24p as well as in Full HD 60p and in a slow motion mode at. 120 fps in Full HD. However, it does not do as well as the Panasonic S1 and its 4K recording mode at 60p.

The improvement in stabilization is very significant here as it allows for freehand plans without any tremor. The latter can now be set on three different levels.

In practice, we have also seen the improvement of the autofocus and the monitoring of the subject which is done with good responsiveness and above all without picking up.

An OM400-log mode has also been added while display assistants are appearing. The watertightness of the device has been extended to the remote control, microphone and headphone connectors.

During our tests, we also appreciated the low sensitivity to the rolling shutter of the device.

Obviously, we would have liked to have had more time to test the device in different situations. But our usual test procedures have shown very clear progress compared to the previous ones.

STRONG POINTS

• Pleasant handling.
• Integrated grip.
• Extensive tropicalization.
• Personalization of the device and menu.
• Excellent stabilization.
• Good autofocus tracking.
• Excellent responsiveness.
• High gust.
• Pro Capture mode.
• Freehand high definition mode.
• Live ND mode.
• C4K and UHD video.
• 1080 video at 120 fps.
• OM400-log mode.
• Fast USB-C charging.

WEAK POINTS

• Dimensions.
• Complex settings.
• Viewfinder lacking in fluidity.
• Limited dynamics.
• High sensitivity quality lower than large sensors.

CONCLUSION

The Olympus OM-D E-M1X is impressive, first of all, by its unusual dimensions in the Micro. 4/3 range, but also by its manufacturing and its exemplary reactivity. The brand keeps its promises and the device is the fastest and most efficient it has ever manufactured. Its place is obviously at the heart of sports competitions, but we also really liked to prevail on less uneven terrain where we had the leisure to experience its amazing stabilization, its high definition freehand mode and its integrated ND filters. But these prowess come at a price that many photographers are sure to compare to that of models equipped with large sensors. So it’s always the same catchphrase. 

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