I had been without a camera for six months and it started to drive me slightly mad. I wasn’t really using my previous cameras so I sold them with the intention of buying a new replacement. Things went slightly wrong in two ways. Firstly I spent the money on other things and secondly I just couldn’t decide what I wanted. I knew that I was going to go for Olympus (probably the only brand I’ve never owned) but I wasn’t sure what.
Several months ago I went on a little trip around Cambridge with the CambMeetUp bloggers where we tested out the EPL-8 (read my review). I was convinced I was going to buy it but there were a couple of things that bothered me. It has become a bit of a blogger must have and in a way I find that off putting as I hate owning what everyone else has regardless of how good it is. I also wanted to make sure that it really was the best camera for what I wanted to be doing.
The other camera I was looking at was the OM-D E-M10 Mark II. It is quite similar to the EPL-8 in terms of specification but I needed help deciding. I asked on Twitter which would be the ideal choice for me and various people came back to me, including Campkins Cameras, saying that the E-M10 is considered to be the better camera. I think we all know I always like to have the best!
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II
I ordered the camera online from Campkins and I’ve had it about a month now. I ordered it with the kit lens (14-42mm) with the intention of buying a 45mm for outfit shots in a couple of months. However, I came across blogger discount codes on Twitter so I have now just ordered the lens. The camera has a setting, much like the EPL-8, which gives you the desired blurry background in images and this will be a lifesaver until the 45mm arrives for my outfit photos.
I’ve been using the camera for product and fashion shots and I couldn’t recommend it more. You can film with it but I think I’m going to keep it for photos and use my little Canon for filming to keep things separate.
Inside The Box
- Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II Camera
- M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ Lens
- Lens Cap LC-37B
- Rear Lens Cap LR-2
- USB Cable CB-USB6
- Shoulder Strap
- Olympus Viewer 3 CD ROM
- BLS-50 Li-ion Battery
- BCS-5 Li-ion Battery Charger
- Olympus 1 Year Warranty
Design
I love the compact design which makes it really easy to carry around with me for outfit shoots. Even though it is smaller than other cameras I am used to it is still incredibly versatile taking close up images and long range landscapes. I also really like how the camera looks with its classic style and metal dials. You can grip it firmly and it is comfortable to hold.
My favourite features have to be the touch screen which allows you to make sure that your images are in focus. For me the ultimate thing is that the camera has built in Wi-Fi. This means that I can transfer my photos straight to my phone to upload to social media.
I am 100% happy with this camera and I would definitely recommend it as a great alternative to the EPL-8. It is a little bit more expensive but it gives amazing results!