Don Kotlos

Hi,
I'd like to share this quick test video from Olympus OMD EM5 Mark II with 50mm f1.8 Nikon lens - I've done quick colour grading and please bare in mind that first 20 seconds were filmed without correct stabilisation settings. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJyxUNdk028
 
 

Here is another E-M5ii sample that somebody uploaded on Vimeo. 
Somebody uploaded another example from the E-M5ii: 
 

​I shoot manual, even with AF lenses, so I'm adjusting exposure via ISO and f-stop on just about every shot.  Sometimes I'll slow down the shutter too for a little exposure help.  Anyway, I'd like ISO and Shutter on the wheels, but there's plenty of customization options that make whatever you want to do kinda easy, if not ideal.  I've got my cam customized so I never have to take my eye off the EVF to make anything happen.
Not that I'm doing much now shooting-wise anyway, just farting around.  Here's a bunch of truly random overexposed handheld shots straight from the camera uploaded to YT with a 1980's 24mm 2.8 lens.  Some shots punched in with the 2x digital zoom.  Not that these images tell you much about the M5II (except it's got moiré and we all knew that) but people like looking at random footage for no good reason and analyzing it completely out of context, so here's some more:
 

​I totally agree, especially if you have a planed shot, or don't have an E-Mx camera. But it is important to keep in mind that even though IBIS is not replacement for professional equipment:
​Once you need to focus while you move, Nebula is next to useless. 
Once you have only a pocket to carry your camera, Nebula will be waiting at home for you. 
Once you need to shoot something now, well too late after all the time it takes to assemble and balance the Nebula. 
 

Putting video quality aside (which from what I see is better than the original E-M5), this is the best video tool I think Olympus has produced.
In addition to more frame rate options, there are more exposure and control options.  Focus peaking is available, works well, and is far more responsive than on any other Olympus camera I've used to date (Briefly owned the E-M1 and recently "test drove" an E-PL7). 
The rear screen is sharper and the touch implementation more responsive and accurate than previous Olympus cameras.  Regarding the EVF, I find it to be the sharpest of any Olympus version I've used (E-M5, E-M1, VF-4 accessory).  Andrew found it worse, perhaps a bad implementation on his unit? 
Add to that better stabilization, a mike input, and if the ability to add a headphone jack (for a price), it is clearly checks many of the boxes.
If the video quality is worse than the E-M1 perhaps its like getting the sides, but forgetting the main course.  I would guess when its all said and done we'll see the video quality will be a wash (if not better) than the E-M1, so more like getting chicken when you ordered the steak (apologies to vegetarians and vegans)
Either way nothing's perfect.  Pick your poison. 

Some disagree.... http://robinwong.blogspot.com.br/2015/03/olympus-om-d-e-m5-mark-ii-vs-e-m1-video.html

I look at this and start to care alot less about a bit of moire and aliasing. They are giving you a gimbal at sensor level... It is incredible. This opens up far more cinematic qualities than 4K. Camera movement counts for so much.
 
 
 

This is a grab from the Ninja Star. On the OMD5 you need to push the info button in order to make the signal clean, I forgot to do it, hence the "No Card" signal. But you can still see the quality. IS NO Bmcc but can be used. The lens is a Nikon AI Manual, open at f2, natural light. I will try to post a video later.

I don't know Andrew, I just got one today. Connects to my Atomos, no problem, shoots pretty clean video 422 clean HDMI out. So far the picture is lovely, takes fantastic stills (which is mostly what I got it for) Replaced my clunky 7D which served me well for 5 years. Its solid (metal solid) ,Yes its 1080, but 100% of my clients and shoots still in that area and where I make my money.  Won't replace my FS700 but Its a B camera with a Gimbal included for 999 USD, I believe its a winner. 

You're both taking Olympus' poor video performance as proof of the entire m4/3 system sucking. Ever tried the GH4? BlackMagic Pocket?

I think canon needs to achieve a much higher dynamic range now as well. I think that is a major factor in why arri dominated the oscars.
Another factor that makes the arri sensor look better is its ability to clearly distinguish colors variations. See this article comparing red dragon,epic and alexa. 
When shoot a chart with the red epic the vector scope shows the points with much more color smear than the alexa. A smeared color patch means that hues along that smear will all look the same. There won’t be much subtlety between hues.
http://www.dvinfo.net/article/ultra-hd/dragon-color-does-tungsten-or-daylight-make-a-difference.html
 

You could get a variable ND noa or a stepless aperture ring manual lens. Changing exposure during a shot using dials and shutter speed looks ugly anyway.

​Don't get me wrong, the nebula is a great product but it is not as convenient as IBIS. Even though nebula s smaller than a shoulder rig, it still is something that you will have to carry around in a large bag and assemble it with the camera before you shoot. That is a great way to miss the moment with children. And as the video illustrates there is no way to focus it while in use so you are limited to a large DoF and only if the light/camera allows it.  

​Well if you want usable video without a rig, the new E-M5ii will be the choice. 
I don't shoot professionally and a rig is not something I carry with me every day. Moreover, a rig does not make it easy to follow children around. Don't underestimate a perfectly usable video in a small run&gun camera. If you are a professional, think of it as a secondary camera which will get you shots that your main cam sitting on a rig will never be able to, most probably because it will not be with you all the time. 

I just hope E-M1 gets the video improvements because I would hate to sell it. Coupled with the 25/T0.95 is a joy to use.  

I interpret this post as a bit harsh, but maybe that's not your intension. I just like to think of EOSHD as a safe place to explore questions.

Yeah, the review didn't do for me as well. I really think the focus should had been simply on the user experience, camera feats, video feats, etc. and some touches about the design, look and feel as well. I mean, people know the difference between iOS and Android and there are better channels that cover that, I found the constant nagging quite distracting from the real point of doing a review of this phone in a page like EOSHD - maybe it should be simply called a camera because that's how Panasonic portraited it, they said it was a camera first, phone second and it that sense it seems that it's exacty that, they are not pretending to be something else.
 
As a side note, for the record, I own both Android and iOS - and I could care less about OS's bash or even brand hating, I just pick whatever suits me better. I really liked lollipop, it addresses most of my complains about the previous Android's lack of cohesive overall design, luckily this phone will get the update. Since Windows Phone brought some different ideas, it took a while but Android finally adjusted to it with Material Design, as for iOS, it's quite restrictive for my taste but the bad part is that it became quite boring looking lately, but yes, it does work, that's one of the best things about iOS, it works as it should - and also because it has the best creative apps.
 
And I don't get the feel that Panasonic was going for Apple's market at all, that take feels like a big misread about them. Based on what was said, I do think Panasonic should had refined the design better, at least the feel because I didn't dislike the look as much as Andrew did. But that said, I don't think Panasonic has that pretension of going after premium phone market or anything like that.
 
It just seem like Panasonic found a way to deliver the best camera and IQ in what can still be called a phone, much better than the QX nonsense. I do agree with a lot of the cons but the constant "something something Apple iPhone" became quite annoying and almost turned this into simple fanboyism, it made it hard to finish the read, it felt like those people from facebook complaining about life. I say that because at a point, everybody already got how much you prefer one or another, the constant reminder ends up working against it. Plus, I think that whoever feels like buying this phone, the list of pros is exactly what they actually would expect from this phone and in that sense, it's as expected. It clearly didn't worked out for Andrew, but I think maybe he had a too high of a expectation about this phone and maybe he wanted too much for this to be his all-in-one camera-phone and he ended up frustrated.
 
Despite the price tag, I don't think this is aimed to be a super premium phone, the price is due to the sensor and optics, that's quite obvious to miss, otherwise this would had been a $600 phone or less, so it's simply a great camera that can also be used as a phone. It's for those that use the phone for usual stuff and those that would rather have the better camera than the better phone. Sure, it would had been great to have both, but maybe next time. This camera-phone was never for me but I think there are photographers that would enjoy it, hopefully, enough people so they can make a better phone next time - but hopefully a better phone via firmware update.

Really this is your worse review yet.  
 
Half of what you wrote bashes Android.  I get some people dont like Android or vice versa, but I felt it wasnt really necessary to make the point so emphatically.  It just made you look like a huge Iphone fanboy. 
 
Anyhow, thanks for the review.  I think its a great concept.  I could really use something like this on my snowboarding adventures.  Have a phone for "emergencies" and having a nice camera too!

This review didn't really do it for me. All the comments about android are how I feel about iOS; particularly iOS 7 and 8 which look and feel so cheesy and unpolished. I suspect the final score would have been higher if the reviewer didn't have such an obvious apple bias.

It also has XAVC-S and S-LOG2!  http://www.sony.jp/ichigan/products/ILCE-7M2/speclist.html
 
I guess this is the EM1 update that I was waiting for.