PRESS RELEASE: Olympus announces new Firmware for E-M1 and E-M5II!

DOWNLOAD YOUR NEXT CAMERA: OLYMPUS UNVEILS TWO POWERFUL FIRMWARE UPDATES
WITH ADVANCED MACRO SHOOTING AND VIDEO CAPABILITIES FOR THE OM-D®

New Performance Updates for the OM-D E-M1, E-M5 Mark II and Lenses Demonstrate Olympus’ Ongoing Commitment to Enhance the Existing Lineup

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CENTER VALLEY, Pa., September 15, 2015 — Today, Olympus announces a series of firmware upgrades that significantly enhance the performance of the OM-D line for professional and amateur shooters alike, including Version 4.0 for Olympus OM-D E-M1®, Version 2.0 for OM-D E-M5 Mark II updates to M.ZUIKO® PRO and PREMIUM lenses as well as Advanced Olympus Capture Version 1.1 and OI.Share® Version 2.6. The updates, which will be available in late November 2015, are highlighted by new macro shooting modes, advanced video performance and other capabilities found on the recently announced OM-D E-M10 Mark II.

Version 4.0 for OM-D E-M1: Breathtaking Macro Images

Focus Stacking Mode, exclusive to Version 4.0 for OM-D E-M1, expands the expressive power of macro photography and brings out the true performance of M.ZUIKO PRO lenses. In Focus Stacking Mode, a single press of the shutter captures eight RAW or JPEG shots with varying focal positions and automatically composites them into a single JPEG file for a macro shot with incredible depth of field.

Users can also take their macro photography a step further with Focus Bracketing Mode, which captures up to 999 shots with varying focal positions. Third-party photo-editing software can be used to merge the files into one breathtaking image that reveals the details of any subject, from the small, like a bloom of a rose or an exotic insect, to a large depth of field in a telephoto landscape.

Enhanced Customization and Control

The firmware upgrade also give users more support and ease of use when capturing professional-quality images. The new simulated optical viewfinder (S-OVF) delivers a view similar to that of the naked eye, just like an optical viewfinder. Exposure compensation and white balance are purposely not shown so users who are more familiar with the optical viewfinder in their traditional DSLR cameras can use the OM-D in the exact same way until they become more comfortable with the benefits of an electronic viewfinder.

Advanced Focus Peaking adjusts settings and turns Focus Peaking on or off at a moment’s notice while shooting in Live View. And, just like the Advanced Focus Peaking already on the OM-D E-M5 Mark II, OM-D E-M1 users can now select the desired intensity level (low, standard or high) and color (black, white, red or yellow) for consistently sharp images during shooting.

Menu Cursor Position Memory further enhances customization by automatically returning to the last menu setting used , meaning less time navigating menus and more time is spent capturing moments. Anti-Shock Mode is now easier than ever and automatically switches to the mechanical shutter at speeds 1/320 and faster. And when users are shooting in quiet situations, Silent Mode eliminates all camera sounds for completely silent shooting, perfect for a piano recital or wedding ceremony with shutter speeds up to an amazing 1/16000th sec.

Innovative Movie Functions

Advanced movie capabilities include the ability to easily synchronize PCM audio and video recording when using the Olympus® LS-100. A Slate Tone can now be added to make it simple to perfectly synchronize audio and video during the editing process. Users can further optimize their 1080p Full HD Video with additional features, including Movie Image Stabilization with five-axis optical IS and digital IS, 24p/25p frame rate, movie record start with a release cable, support for time code setting and, finally, a movie info display that shows histogram, level gauge, audio level and time code.

Version 2.0 for E-M5 Mark II: Enhanced Video Power

In addition to many of the updates in Version 4.0 for E-M1, including Focus Bracketing and S-OVF, Version 2.0 firmware upgrade for E-M5 Mark II further enhances the camera’s ability to capture crisp, clear video with no need for additional editing software. Movie-Exclusive Picture Mode Flat provides for post-production color grading by lowering the contrast to minimize blown-out highlights and loss of detail in shadows. Additionally, new 4K Time Lapse Movie captures up to 999 images automatically and combines them in-camera into a stunning 4K file.

Tethered Shooting Gets Easier

Advanced Olympus Capture Version 1.1 makes tethered shooting in-studio even easier for both still images and video by allowing the user to customize the camera’s display and layout for quick and easy access to the most frequently used functions. Direct PC makes image transfer four times faster by saving images directly to a computer without having to record to an SD card. Features like Keystone Compensation can be utilized from a computer as well by simply connecting the computer and camera body.

More Advancements for the OM-D System

The latest firmware for the M.ZUIKO PRO and PREMIUM lenses will also be released and will include aperture drive, which has been improved for smooth exposure control even when shooting movies with sudden changes in brightness. The update also gives the shooter the convenience of disabling the MF Clutch and Snapshot Focus even at the MF Clutch position.

Finally, the new Version 2.6 update for the OI.Share app for Android® and Apple® is available now and enables Live Comp to be viewed in real time. Now users can make adjustments to their settings and monitor the progress of the image as it develops right on their smartphone or tablet.

Bottom line: New upgrades on the Olympus E-M1:

• Focus Stacking
• Focus Bracketing
• Silent Mode
• 4K Time Lapse movie
• Live Composite on OI.Share
• Advanced Focus Peaking (with 4 colors)
• S-OVF (Simulated OVF)
• MF Clutch Disable
• 24 & 25p Movie Frame Rate’s
• 5-axis IS for Movie
• Movie Time Code Setting
• Movie Slate Tone
• Movie info Display
• Advanced Olympus Capture

U.S. Availability

The Olympus Version 4.0 for Olympus OM-D E-M1, Version 2.0 for OM-D E-M5 Mark II and Olympus Capture Version 1.1 will be available in late November 2015.

To find out more about the firmware updates, visit the Olympus website at www.getolympus.com/upgrade.

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16 Comments

  1. I love my EM-1 and EM-5 mii. both quality cameras. Neither one of them focus track though. I’m glad I held on to my core Canon equipment. I’ve just purchased the 7D mii and it works like a dream (for focus tracking)

  2. Are there any details on how the EM-1 will sync with the LS-100? Will there be the capability that when I push the record button on my EM-1, the LS-100 automatically starts recording, and when I stop recording on the EM-1, the LS-100 stops, too?

  3. Will the macro and video features work with the standard zoom 12mm – 50mm macro zoom that has auto quiet zooming for video. Looking at lens elements and lens features this is NOT A KIT LENS! It HaS outstanding features. I also use the Oly f2.8 pro zoom and Pan/Leica 25 mm 1.4 lens. On two bodies: EM1 and OMD10.

    Bob G chicago
    A food and brochure cover photographer

  4. I applaud Olympus for what they have done here but … as I have the OMD-EM10 MK1, I find that what I crave most is ‘Silent Mode’ . Any chance they might add this to a firmware update shortly?

  5. I have to disagree with Peter, because what Olympus are doing, is incrementally improving the functionality of an existing body, rather than like other manufacturers,who demand customers cough up for a ‘New’ model (which are for all intents and purposes the same as the model they already have) purely to access features, which can be added to the model they already have. Olympus have realised that many customers prefer keeping what they are already producing, until such time as they can deliver a significant and meaningful improvement over what they are already producing, (eg, a 50% increase in the Mp count) which comes out in 2 years hence, instead of let’s say, two additional models, each with only 25% improvements in Mp power, over the same period of time. Cameras manufacturers don’t need to follow the lead set by Smartphone makers, in introducing new models every 6 months, with marginal or only cosmetic enhancements on them!

  6. Alas, I now shoot with a EM-1 and I feel more and more like a fanboy each time Olympus release new features with their updates. To me, that is a clear statement: We care about our products and are proud of them. We also care about our customers and wish to inspire loyalty to our brand and bring them satisfaction.
    Well, that is how I feel so it clearly works on me! I will be at my favourite camerastore eagerly awaiting the new EM-2 when it is released and I just can´t wait to see what innovations Olympus will bring to the table. Of course, many companies apply this strategy these days and those who shoot with Fuji cameras, Samsung and other brands are almost getting spoiled. There might even come a day in the near future where people will enter into a system partly because of how well the company caters for their products after the sale.
    I love shooting with my Olympus cameras and lenses. It makes me happy. My friends have both Fuji, Canon and Sony cameras and all of them are equally pleased. Brand loyalty will get more and more important and Olympus is doing a great job here to ensure it. Well done!

    /Stefan

  7. It is a shame that Olympus do not try to update the beutiful original EM-5. That camera let me discover m43 and it is still a beutiful little picture machine.

    /Stefan

    • Focus stacking takes several shots of the same, 16 mp image with differing points of focus. It’s primarily use din macro photography to maximized depth of field and sharpness.

      Hi-rez mode shifts the sensor to create a single 40 mp image.

  8. Very shortsighted move from Olympus. With focus bracketing and silent mode I will have everything I’ve ever wanted on my E-M1 and therefore will never feel the need to buy a new camera from them again. 🙂

    • I think it’s the opposite. They show you that they still care about their 2 year old cameras and invest into making it better rather than giving you the feeling that you’ve bought an old brick. I think during the last photokina they gave a few interviews where they’ve explained their thoughts behind this new strategy. They stand behind their products and want them to be long lasting products.

      As a customer we can decide to buy the E-M5/E-M1 with long support including feature updates or the E-M10 that only gets bugfix updates but is cheaper.

    • This makes me feel really good about being an Olympus shooter. Fuji and Oly are both really good about keeping cameras updated, and Sony is starting to improve as well. Good times.

      The Em1 has become a feature-laden performance monster at this point. Can’t wait to see what the EM1 II will bring considering how brilliant the EM1 has become.

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