The new Olympus O-MD E-M5 upgrades the sensor to 16 megapixels and includes a built-in electronic viewfinder, both firsts for an Olympus-badged MFT camera. The Olympus E-M5 offers exposure bracketing, white balance bracketing and flash bracketing. The camera comes bundled with FL-LM2 electronic flash and is equally compatible with all other Olympus TTL flashes.

The olympus EM5 autofocus system is identical to that of the Olympus PEN E-P3, but the sensor readout has been doubled to 240 frames per second, which should help to increase its performance. The camera can shoot images at 4.2 frames per second with continuous autofocus and a very impressive 9 frames per second without changing focus.

The Olympus OMD EM5 contains an impressive array of Art Filters, Effect Filters and Color Modes. The offers exposure bracketing, white balance bracketing and flash bracketing.The camera comes bundled with FL-LM2 electronic flash and is equally compatible with all other TTL flashes.

The E-M5 features a delightfully retro design, similar to the other Micro Four Third cameras from Olympus. Olympus claims that the E-M5 is the world’s first camera to feature 5-axis image stabilization and has the world’s fastest autofocusing system.

Olympus’s new OM-D E-M5 camera represents Olympus’s bid to recapture the buzz it created when film was king and Olympus OM series cameras were the cat’s meow in the world of lightweight, compact SLRs. Based on the photos and spec sheets that accompanied the announcement of the new camera, Olympus just might be onto something.

The new OM-D E-M5 has the look and features one would expect of a pro DSLR, complete with an optional battery grip with a secondary shutter-release button for comfortable camera handling when the camera is held vertically.

The optional battery grip also adds power for extended shooting times. To validate its rugged looks the new camera features equally rugged construction, including multiple seals around all body panels and button openings, making it impervious to dust and moisture. The same dust and moisture barriers can similarly be found on the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ zoom lens, the E-M5’s optional battery grip and FL-600R accessory flash.

Evoking the classic design of the original OM Series introduced 40 years ago, and transforming it for the modern age, the Olympus OM-D Series is a new and entirely unique Micro Four Thirds camera system. 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.

Featuring an integrated 1.44 megapixel electronic viewfinder and 16 megapixel LiveMOS image sensor, the OM-D E-M5 is the world’s fastest auto-focusing camera and is equipped with the world’s first five-axis image stabiliser integrated into its weather-proof alloy body.

The OM-D series heralds a new technological epoch in interchangeable lens digital cameras, as conventional digital SLR camera designs come to an evolutionary end in user experience and portability. With its high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) and real-time digital interface, the Olympus E-M5 immerses the photographer fully into the creative process through a genuine WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) experience. Exposure, colour and filter effects are seen live, not after the picture has been taken.
Using FAST-AF (Frequency Accelerated Sensor Technology Auto Focus), that combines the high drive speed of the new LiveMos sensor, the latest MSC (Movie & Stills Compatible) lens technology, and a very short release lag, the E-M5 is the world’s fastest autofocusing camera. 3D subject tracking is a new feature in continuous AF mode for enhanced focusing accuracy of moving subjects.

Olympus has also developed world’s first five-axis image stabilisation (IS) system. In addition to the standard two-axis camera pitch/yaw movement detection and compensation, the system in the E-M5 is also capable of detecting vertical and horizontal translational movement, and roll along the lens axis. IS compensation is effective up to a maximum of -5 EV. With a newly designed mechanism for shifting the sensor, the effects of IS can be seen live through the electronic viewfinder in both still shooting and recording video.

The OM-D E-M5 Features:

• Built-in 120-fps refresh rate, 1,440,000-pixel electronic viewfinder (EVF) with eye detect and real-time viewing of shooting conditions
• 16.1-megapixel 4/3 type Live MOS Sensor and TruePic VI image-processing engine
• The world’s first 5-axis image stabilizer to compensate for multi-directional camera shake during both still photography and HD moviemaking
• 60 seconds – 1/4000 second Shutter Speed
• The world’s fastest autofocusing system (FAST AF) plus new 3D AF tracking
• Up to 9 frames-per-second sequential shooting
• ISO 200-25,600 range
• Lightweight magnesium alloy body that is enhanced with the same dustproof and splashproof durability of the Olympus E-5 DSLR
• 1080i HD .AVI video in the MOV format,
• Tilting 3.0-inch 610,000-pixel OLED capacitive touch-screen with Touch Shutter, Touch AF and other touch control
• New Creative Modes like Key Line for highlighting edges to look like a painting, Dramatic Tone II and Cross Process II
• New Movie Effects: One Shot Echo, for a semi-transparent frame and Multi Echo, for a multi-motion trail effect