Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Brings 5-Axis Stabilization at a Low Price Point
Olympus today announced the new OM-D E-M10 II, a new entry-level mirrorless camera that succeeds the original E-M10 and sits below the E-M1 and E-M5 lines. It’s a Micro Four Thirds camera that packs a 16.1-megapixel CMOS sensor with an ISO range of 200 to 25600 (expandable to 100 to 25600).
One of the main new features in the new camera is the in-body 5-axis image stabilization that’s now found across the entire OM-D lineup. The original E-M10 was launched with a less powerful 3-axis system, but now Olympus is allowing this entry-level camera to catch up with its higher-end siblings. 5-axis stabilization affords the equivalent of four shutter speed steps.
The design of the camera has also been updated, with a new “sophisticated feel” thanks to the metal dials and the leather textures on the grip. A thumb grip allows for stable one-handed shooting, and the physical interface has been revamped to make it easier to operate the camera while staring through the 100%-field-of-view, 2.36-million-dot, 1.23x-magnification electronic viewfinder.
While your eye is on the viewfinder, the camera’s new AF Targeting Pad lets you trace your thumb on the rear touchscreen to select your focus point. The camera’s Simulated Optical Viewfinder is designed for photographers who are used to optical viewfinders, offering greater dynamic range that more closely imitates what the human eye is able to see.
On the back of the camera is a 3-inch tilting LCD touchscreen with 1.04 million dots.
Other features of the OM-D E-M10 II include 8.5fps continuous shooting, RAW shooting, a pop-up flash, 1080p video recording, an intuitive touchscreen interface, creative shooting modes, 14 art filters, Live Bulb and Live Time features for capturing light painting, in-camera 4K time-lapse creation, and focus bracketing.
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 II will be available in the US in early September 2015 for $650 for the body only (in black or silver) and $800 when bundled with a 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 lens.
