UPDATE: OLYMPUS MAY RAISE PIXEL COUNT IN FUTURE CSC
Among key differences between the original E-M10 and the new E-M10 Mark II is the more nostalgic appearance of the updated version, which Olympus suggests is ‘luxurious’ and a ‘design statement in itself’.
The two control dials and mode dial now sit on the right side of the camera to improve handling, while the use of a ‘retro-styled’ on/off switch has been borrowed from Olympus cameras of the past and moved to the top-plate for easier access, away from the back panel on the original E-M10.
‘No matter which side of the camera you’re standing, the eye is immediately drawn to the dials, with their glinting chrome and milled edges,’ said the firm in a statement.
Due out in mid-September, in silver or black versions (priced £549.99 body only), the 16.1-million-pixel E-M10 Mark II also features a ‘simulated’ OVF – designed to show a brighter foreground when subjects are backlit, for example.
Aimed squarely at photo enthusiasts, the E-M10 Mark II will also be launched in various lens kits.
The E-M10 Mark II now incorporates a higher 2.36-million-dot-resolution OLED EVF monitor, which is an increase from 1.44 million dots.
The newcomer’s 5-axis image stabilisation is claimed to deliver 4 stops of extra shutter speed, compared to 3 stops on the E-M10.
Weighing 342g (body only), the E-M10 Mark II also now incorporates a 4K timelapse video mode (HD-only on the E-M10).
Olympus claims to have improved continuous AF, while a new ‘AF targeting pad’ is designed to allow the user, when using the EVF, to double-tap the LCD screen and use their finger to focus, so they should be able to quickly see exactly where the focusing point is.
The frame rate has been increased slightly to 8.5 frames per second (from 8fps) and touchscreen lag has been improved to enable faster selection of the AF point, according to Olympus.
Other features include a tiltable, 3in LCD touchscreen, built-in flash, 14 art filters, 81-area AF and built-in Wi-Fi.
The E-M10 Mark II features a 120fps slow-motion movie function, and a movie-clip mode. On the latter, an Olympus Europe spokesperson told Amateur Photographer: ‘The movie-clip function is for shooting small video moments, anything up to 16 seconds.
‘Files are stored in camera and can be moved/swapped around in camera to create movie stories/films, allowing the user to record little sections in no particular order.’
