Olympus OM-D EM1 mk2 vs Lumix G9 Real World Hands On Comparison - But Which Is Best?

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[jasonwrites]

I own both, multiples in fact. I like the G9 more than the M1 Mk2 and Mk3. I love how the Olympus ones look, and the slightly smaller form factor does make a difference over the course of a long wedding day. But the G9 wins for me because of body detect, and its ease of use switching from something like face detect to manually moving the focus box around; the Mark 2 forces you to press a button and move a dial, the mark 3 forces you to press a button....whereas with the G9 if you bring it up to your eye and the face detect locks on to the wrong face, you just move the joystick and it automatically overrides the face/body/subject detect.

And the viewfinder on the G9 is substantially better too.

[jb]

I too am a big fan of M4/3 second hand. Having recently purchased a GX9 for US$355 with only 113 shutter count (w/12-32 kits lens, OEM grip, & battery) and the G81 for US$465 with only 4000 shutter count (w/12-60 kit lens, OEM battery/kit extension, and 2x batteries), I am very impressed with the capabilities of these two units at such bargain prices. I do a lot of hand held photos and occasionally video, mixing it up between modern AF and manual vintage lenses. Both are in mint condition and fit the bill perfectly for my use.

[markbarnes]

You many already know, the AFL/AEL button on the Olympus can be changed to function as the on/off making it a right hand operation. Great video…thanks!

[PrimalShutter]

I appreciate seeing the gear on hand, gives a nice idea of how they handle, lots of reviews lack that as just talking heads

[michaelgabes]

As you say, better camera is the one wich feels better in your hand. I have taken the Olympus, the panasonic (and the Fuji) in my hands and the one who glued in my hand was the EM1-MII. Because what i like, i often use! ...and thats all about! great video! thanks!

[jessekoskinen]

Great video. I use the Panasonic Lumix G9 with the Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f/2.8, mainly for wildlife photography. I have been very happy with it.

[peternicholson]

I had a G9 until about a year back and I must admit, I now wish I had kept hold of it. I went full frame with an old Sony A7 for better quality portrait shots with an 85mm on a full frame, but the G9 was an enjoyable camera for the long end stuff with a 70-300mm strapped on to it

[kennynvakehve]

You can move the power switch to the AEL/AFL 1/2 switch which will makes it a one hand power switch operation.

[keithspillett]

Very useful video. I've owned several olympus bodies over recent years, but there are two things that draw me to the lumix cameras every time. These are the menu system and the amazing touchscreen facilities.

[RonaldBrown]

I own the OM-D EM1 mk2, and it's been my go to camera for a few years now. I've never owned the G9 but I've been interested in it. Great comparison, and thanks for sharing.

[johnbradshaw]

Fantastic comparison! This is what attracted me to your channel, it's not about obsessing over specifications or technology, but down to earth user focused reviews and comment. And your ethos that what is important is what meets your needs and what works for you is (in my view) entirely valid and matches my own view. It's not about what is best (in any case a somewhat problematic concept - best in what way?) but what is right for a user. And I agree on the importance of a camera just feeling right. The importance of how a camera feels and whether we enjoy using it can't be overstated, but is lost in many reviews which focus on pixel count, sensor minutiae, esoteric features etc. The reason I love the M1X is how it feels, it is a perfect fit for my hands, I love the vertical grip and there is a feeling of solidity which is rare in modern cameras. Some may say 'so what? Does that matter for the pictures?', I'd say yes it does because put aside technical performance - a camera you love and which is a joy to use is likely to get more use and encourage you to use it and to push it to find out what you can do with it. Quite aside from the fact that something which is nice to use is, well, just nicer to use. Both the E-M1 ii and G9 are superb cameras. I view the Olympus - Lumix thing as like Apple - Windows, or Android - IPhone. They're different, and people used to one will feel much more comfortable sticking with it and find the other a bit awkward and strange. However, you soon get used to the differences and after an initial learning phase soon feel right at home with the other. A lot of reviews really dwell on menus, how light the shutter release is etc and make a big play of how terrible they might be, ignoring the fact that if most users give it a week or so they'll adjust and find it fine.

[whiplash]

I have a G9, and a OMD-5 MKIII, which has similar attributes to the OMD 1 MKII. The OM5 is very light, and a much less professional feeling camera. For me, the main difference is the lack of phase detect autofocus. While I agree with all your observations when I'm shooting with my Panasonic Leica 100-400, I get way more keepers when shooting birds with the Olympus. I also believe IBIS is a little better in the Olympus bodies, but the G9 is excellent, especially compared to my Sony A7II and A7c. (Of course, Sony autofocus blows away Panasonic or Olympus)

[hedydd]

How time flies! I’ve had the E-M1 MkII for over two years now and I’ve just ordered a used Lumix G9 to replace my old G6 and G7 cameras. For small/light cameras I have a GX80 and E-M10MkII but must say I will miss the G6 especially as it was my first M4/3 camera bought ten years ago. Will probably get it all finalised by the end of next week

[Brightsparks]

I have the same cameras having been an Olympus user for over a decade. Like you I have the EM1 mk i and mk ii and recently added the Lumix G9. I agree with your comments about the key differences as .the G9 excels with the large EVF and and high 3.9MP res, faster handling, better menus, higher video frame rates and rear joy stick control. G9 is larger camera and I often find I still grab the Olympus as the preferred camera as it is smaller and this was the original rationale for M43. Both great cameras with excellent range of lenses. Long live M43.

[Leptospirosi]

16:40 you can remap the power switch to any other switch on the camera on the Olympus, like the lever around the back button focus

[keithvlogs]

Thanks for that.... very very detailed... I can tell you actually used these cameras for a while and didnt just look at spec sheet ahaha

[jeffslade]

There is a wide eye-cup for Olympus, it may only be available from Japan. I have one on my E-M5ii.
The G9 allows me to put +/-EV on the Command Dial, the wheel on the back. So when shooting in Manual mode with Auto-ISO, I can fiddle the +/-EV as I like. I've not found another MFT camera that can do this. Neither GH4 nor E-M5ii can do this.
On Lumix we have for a long time been able to assign Metering Mode to a Fn button. On Olympus we have to go through the Menu, quickest from the SCP screen.
The Lumix Dual-IS needs a mention. Olympus has Synch-IS but it doesn't work on Lumix OIS lenses. For wildlife using the Leica 100-400 the Dual2 stabilises the monster lens so well during framing it can instantly grab an AF-Lock hand-held. The Body-IS on the E-M5ii is really only good for hand held framing up to a lighter weight 200mm lens after which is struggles a bit. The no-OIS Olympus 45mm is a telephoto and enjoys some Body-IS which e.g. GH4 cannot provide.
The E-M5ii is tiny compared to the G9 and GH4 but has great haptics. It will take a SDXC-II card. Regarding cards, big is good but faster is better. There is a warning in very small print in the manual that the sensor can overheat when shooting long video; it tinges magenta. I had to get a G7 as B-cam to the GH4 because the E-M5ii could not do that job. I can't really recommend the G7 other than it shoots good video (I shoot 1080p too). I've been using MFT for a long time. I'll choose the camera for expected purpose, I don't always want to lug a big brick about; the pocket size E-PL7 with PZ14-45 is even smaller than wife's GX7. There is no 'best' camera, they all have different jobs. I still use my cuddly G5, I traded the E-PL2 long ago.
Regarding the G5, reviewing the photo will appear blurred, low pixel count on EVF and LCD, but on computer screen perfectly sharp. Until the pixel count approaches that of a screen it will appear a trifle fuzzy; wifi can throw the pics onto a fondle slab for review.

[kemerthomson]

If buying either used, I would consider the fact that the G9 is still actively supported and even has another firmware upgrade on the way.

[sue.Hoo]

I’ve had a G9 for nearly three years, mainly for sports and wildlife paired with PL100-400. Got some great images from it, but sometimes disappointed with bif, so thinking it was due to contrast detect af I hired an Olympus EM1X expecting the combined phase and contrast af to be a big improvement....sadly not, although I did like the Bird Tracking af. The results were honestly no better than my G9 and I missed the top screen and simpler, more intuitive menus and general layout, but the biggest issue was the poor Olympus evf, I hadn’t realised how good the G9’s is. I look forward to the V2.4 upgrade.

[ste]

Great video. Had G9, but after 5 months, replaced it with EM1 mk2 due to better auto-focusing, especially in wildlife photography. Olympus is better in that department in my opinion.