Olympus announces OM-D E-M5 weather-sealed Micro Four Thirds camera preview

Olympus builds upon the 40-year legacy of the OM SLR film camera series and marks the beginning of the new digital imaging era with the launch of the Olympus E-M5, the first of the new Olympus OM-D (OM Digital) Series of Micro Four Thirds™ products. It combines outstanding features found in the Olympus E-System DSLR line with those of the compact Olympus PEN® Series to meet the requirements of discerning photographers who demand more performance and portability from their interchangeable-lens cameras. A built-in 120-fps (frames-per-second) refresh rate, high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with outstanding image quality, eye detect and intuitive functionality that enables real-time viewing of shooting conditions A 16.1-megapixel Live MOS Sensor and TruePic™ VI image-processing engine for superior image quality and high sensitivity

Superior Image Quality

The Olympus E-M5 uses a new 16.1 megapixel High-Speed Live MOS Sensor offering improved performance and exceptional clarity and speed in all aspects of image capture. Olympus’ TruePic VI image-processing engine dramatically improves image quality in low-light environments.
Unprecedented 5-axis image stabilization
While some technology has attempted to correct for camera blur by building the Image Stabilization mechanism into the lens, the Olympus E-M5 IS mechanism is incorporated into the camera body itself so that all lenses mounted on the body can take advantage of this sophisticated technology, whether shooting stills or HD video.

Blazing Speed

Focus and shoot faster with record-breaking autofocus speed and imaging processing. The Olympus E-M5 employs the FAST (Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology) AF system, introduced in the PEN E-P3, but with even greater speed. The Olympus E-M5 features a 3.0-inch tilting OLED touch-screen to enable photographers to get up high or down low for any shot. The Olympus E-M5 employs internal seals extensively and, when the new M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-50 mm f3.5-6.3 EZ lens is attached, this combination delivers an integrated dustproof and splashproof camera system.

 New Lenses and Accessories for Every Shooting Challenge

The MMF-3 Four Thirds mount adapter is designed for mounting a Four Thirds Standard-compliant lens on a Micro Four Thirds Standard-compliant camera body. The Olympus E-M5 is compatible with all Micro Four Thirds-compliant lenses, including two new lenses that Olympus will introduce later this year: the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f1.8 and the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 60mm f2.8 macro. The E-M5 is the most advanced, enthusiast-oriented Olympus Micro Four Thirds camera to date with a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, a new 15.93 million image pixel "Live MOS" sensor, a built-in 1.44 million dot electronic viewfinder, an improved 5-axis in-body image stabilization system, and the ability to shoot at 9fps.

A new 15.93 million image pixel Live MOS (N-MOS) Four Thirds format sensor with a 17.3 x 13mm image area. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 
12-50mm f3.5-6.3 EZ is the only weather-sealed Micro Four Thirds lens to date, but Olympus also announced a new weather-sealed Micro Four Thirds body to Four Thirds lens adapter, called the MMF-3, which would allow the many weather-sealed standard Four Thirds mount Olympus lenses to be used with the E-M5.

A new 1.44 million dot built-in electronic viewfinder with a 120fps refresh rate, 1.15X magnification (equivalent to .58X on a 35mm full-frame camera), and 18mm eye relief. JPEG buffer depth at top frame rate is 17 frames.)
A new 5-axis in-body image stabilization system that corrects for five kinds of camera movement: vertical shift, horizontal shift, rotary movement (roll), pitch, and yaw. Olympus also announced new accessories, including two new Micro Four Thirds lenses. The HLD-6 Power Battery Grip, a two-piece grip. The previously mentioned MMF-3 weather-sealed Micro Four Thirds body to Four Thirds lens mount adapter.