Olympus E-M1 MKII vs. Olympus E-M1X - Which one is BETTER?

Olympus E-M1 MKII vs. Olympus E-M1X - Which one is BETTER?

The new firmware for Olympus OM-D E-M1 MKII has a ton of new features. Is it now better than the Olympus E-M1X. In this video, I try to find out!


Disclaimer: I am an Olympus Visionary. I make all my content with mirrorless Olympus micro four-thirds gear.

Links to my Olympus gear (disclaimer: using these links when doing purchases, you support this channel. You pay the same price and I get a few bucks to finance this channel.)

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This video was made with the following gear:

Camera:
Olympus OM-D E-M1X
Olympus OM-D E-M1 MKII

Lens:
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f2.8 Pro:

Microphone:
Rode Video Mic Pro

Light:
Dörr flexible LED light

Memory card:
Sandisk Extreme Pro 64GB

Tripod:
JOBY GorillaPod

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Links to my accounts all around the web:



#Olympus #PeterForsgard

(disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links. Using these links when doing purchases, you support this channel. You pay the same price and I get a few bucks to finance this channel.)

[DaveyWilsonTV]

No, Firmware 3.0 did not suddenly make E-M1 Mark II as good as E-M1X, although I own both these cameras and love them both!

E-M1X AF performance is still much more consistent & reliable because it benefits from a dual quad core processor dedicated solely to AF calculations, plus a host of additional customizations including user generated AF tracking patterns and custom AF tracking patterns per camera orientation (vertical or horizontal).

Then there's the video features. E-M1X offers FHD 120P video whereas the best E-M1 Mark II can do is 60P.

Most importantly (and most overlooked) is shutter lag (speed of AF focus lock to shot) in which not only is E-M1X faster than E-M1 Mark II, but it even rivals Canon 1Dx Mark II and Nikon D5 on that front. Reduced shutter lag can make the difference between getting the shot & not when covering real world scenarios like sports & news where every split second counts.

Furthermore, the newly designed shutter in E-M1X is rated for double the life of that of the shutter in E-M1 Mark II (400K vs 200K).

If anyone isn't covering sports/news, E-M1 Mark II is still a great choice that Firmware 3.0 made even better, but E-M1X remains in an entirely different performance class.

[JoeMustang]

Thanks for this comparison. I have both cameras but never used the E-M1ii for video after I got the E-M1X. Now I can use both for video. And I can take just the 1ii without a grip if I want to cut down on the weight and size of my equipment for hiking. I have the best of both bodies available to me now, but I will be sticking with these two and may have to skip the E-M5ii update. I spent all of my update money on the 1X. But Olympus came through with the software update for the 1ii, just like they did with the original E-M1. I'm happy.

[wcgdenmasterken]

I bought the EM1X when they had early promotional pricing (I paid $2500 US) before the upgrade, the selling point for me was the top-of-the-market weather sealing, stabilization and computational A.I. I shoot sports in all weather, handheld, both video and stills, and I also shoot landscapes all weather. The ability to take landscape shots, even waterfalls, without dragging around a tripod is huge to me. I LOVE the way Olympus upgrades their cameras, adding free new features like they did with the MKII... but that's also a selling point of the 1X, with it's dual processors and expanded capabilities, there's so much more they can expand with future firmware updates... more & better object tracking, more computational and AI features, etc.


I think having an 1X and a MKII in the bag is a killer combo for features and redundancy.

[tedbowling]

Great channel! Thanks for your honest and informative assessments. I must say that you and all of the Olympus Visionaries area great.

[jorgen]

Great! Though I am not a PRO, I had been thinking a bit about buying the X after your excellent video some time back, but will now upgrade my E-M1 to a E-M1 II. I never do video so none of the comments below sway me.

[sylvainhimmo]

OMD-EM1X versus OMD-EM1 mark II
Strong
points
1. Dual TruePic VIII processor to double the processing power
2. 5 axis image stabilization up to 7 stops instead of 5.5 for the EM1 mark II
3. Possibility to create a customized menu 'My menu's
4. 2 SD UHS-II slots instead of 1 SD UHS-II + 1 SD UHS-I
5. Intelligent subject autofocus tracking for car, train, plane and much more to come most likely animal tracking and bird in flight
6. USB battery charging capability
7. Integrated electronic Live ND filter for stills up to 5 stops
8. Handheld hi-res mode 50 Mpx
9. Best Weather sealed pro camera on market even more with integrated battery grip and embedded front and rear dials (even with external mic attached!)
10. Anti flicker shooting to match the light
11. Improved Sonic wave filter to remove dust in the sensor of the camera
12. EVF 120p (progressive) instead of 120 Hz (interlaced) with higher magnification 0.83x (EM1x) vs 0.71x (EM1 mark II)
13. Camera can be used without any battery by using the optional DC jack
14. Built-in Geotagging with GPS, compass, manometer, temperature sensor
15. Video in Full HD at max 120 fps instead of 60 fps
16. Bluetooth connection for better power management
17. 12 customizing buttons on em1x instead of 9 on em1 with pre-set ISO, WB, exposure compensation, BKT, memory card
18. Quick access to Live Bulb, Live Time and Live Composite mode using the dial at “B” position
19. No more added red tint while pushing the shadow in post (this is a huge improvement on the sensor, might be fix in V3.0 though)
20. Bigger buffer depth (ex 143 raw at 15 fps on em1x vs 102 raw on em1 mark II)
21. Addition of a joystick on the back of the camera which can be used to change the focus point during video.


Weak
points
1. No fully automated mode on the right dial
2. No Art mode on the right dial
3. Camera is bigger and heavier (can’t remove the integrated battery grip)
4. Too big and heavy for vlogging
5. Less effective for casual shooting (cause of size and weight) and draw to much attention


Summary: OMD-EM1x might be best used by professional in extreme condition while the EM1 mark II might be best used for casual shootings and vlogging, both of them deliver awesome pictures and videos. Overall, it is the same sensor with the same menus and options!


Thank you so much for sharing this video!

[gregs]

There are still many other features that differentiate the E-M1X: USB Charging & External power options, My Menus, Built in GPS, Larger EVF, Larger Buffer, 2x UHS-II Slots, Custom Auto Focus points, 2x Joystick Controls, Faster startup and just faster overall.

[mikeosinski]

This is the video I been looking for, thank you. I wanted to get the EM1X but switching from Sony and with a small budget I couldn't. I wanted top lenses so I went with EM1MARK2 and battery grip and a set of lenses. But still in the back of my mind I felt that I wish I could have got the EM1X. Now I feel I made a good choice, on a top notch camera not just a older design that is on the way out. Thanks for this, cant wait to see more on this topic. 👍👍

[aengusmacnaughton]

Not an Olympus owner (yet -- I have two vintage Olympus 35mm SLR cameras in the mail coming to me) -- I have the Panasonic G85 and love it -- but wow, great job for Olympus to update the older camera to almost the exact same modern specs and features as the newer one (I can't keep the Olympus model numbers straight!) -- and I was really thinking to myself, as you were nearing the end of the video -- the differences are pretty narrow now between the two cameras -- and then you mentioned the price. Uh -- nothing narrow about that difference! Thank you for going over all of the updates, matching and not-quite matching features and *NOT* just pointing out what *YOU* would get, but letting it sink in to your audience and let them decide!

[Jawsjawsjawsrg]

I'm going to buy me a EM-1X in 5 years when the price tag comes down to $900. Till then I will sell my photos to make that money up.

[AnastasTarpanov]

Peter, also something else that I saw now - for video on the E-M1 II you can't control the speed and sensitivity. A couple of days ago I shot a series of interviews with E-M1X + 25mm f/1.2 PRO wide open and it was amazing to be able to control this. Part of the videos was with kids and it was great to have the flexibility to adapt the video AF to your needs.

[NoMastersNoMistress]

The EM1x is probably the ultimate sports shooting camera, thanks to Olympus making the far cheaper, sharper and more compact extreme telephoto lenses. I was pretty shocked that people could be so thick about that when it was announced. I'd really love to shoot martial arts or equestrian sports but there's no way in hell I'd pay to lug a D5 or 1Dx and those monstrous lenses around!

[sib]

Sorry there are big points you „forgot“ to tell: usp at the X is the joystick. You can move the focus Point during video! What other camera can do that?

[terrywbreedlove]

I just added the EM1X to my EM1.2 kit. Shooting birds with the 300mm and 40-150 mm lenses primarily . Both cameras updated to the latest firmware. The EM1X is so much better with quicker AF and the bird tracking is a gem. I find the battery life on the EM1.2 is way better than the EM1x so it is a good thing the big boy holds two batteries.

[astcell]

This is EXACTLY the video I wanted to see. The II is HALF the price of the X right now. Decision made! Now I need lens reviews :D

[fungsweewong]

One little thing still causing nuisance is the EVF auto switch which will cutoff the backscreen display when ur finger hovering over the EVF. I should prefer it to be ONLY DISABLED after PLAYBACK button is pressed. Sometimes u need to show the results of photos/videos using the finger to point on the backscreen display, it stupidity turnoff the display. PLEASE give ur comment!

[AnastasTarpanov]

I love my E-M1 II and with the new update is an amazing camera, but the E-M1X feels so good in the hand, really amazing camera, for everything with long lenses is an absolutely stunning camera!

[bpcs]

Thanks Peter... you missed a few little advantages for the X that others have pointed out, but for me, I can now enjoy the EM1.2 without a battery grip... I take the X if I am going out with the 300 Pro and the ungripped EM1.2 for other work. That makes the EM1.2 a great second or "B" camera. For those who have neither... price is a big factor. The X is hard to justify if it swallows someone's budget vs the same as an EM1.2 with a couple Pro lenses they also want!
Keep up the good work!

[exif]

No question. Both have their advantages and so I have both. E-M1X with 300/4 and E.M1mk2 with 12-100/4 😁 most of the time.

[tizio]

The current pricing, about 2200 vs 1300 in the UK (no longer 3300 vs 1200) makes the M1X a lot more interesting in comparison, especially when you consider the cost of the extra battery grip/holder for the E-M1.