Wanted Olympus OMD EM-5 Mkii or OMD EM-1 MK ii Set up

[SRWOwl]

Looking to buy a OMD EM-5 Mkii or OMD EM-1 mkii set up. Does anyone have one they're looking to part with?

Thank you!

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I have an EM-5 MKII, complete with housing, flat port, dome port, 14-42 lens, 60 lens, 8-18 lens, and two flashes. Bought the whole setup, used it a few times, and decided I really don't like it. I could consider selling it. But, full disclosure, I think Olympus should never have bundled this particular model and sold it as an underwater camera. There is a hardware and a software reason … both of which were known to them, neither of which amounts to anything more than an inconvenience for the above-water user, but either of which will result in a complete failure of the camera underwater … which means on any given dive you might have to just clip the camera off and not use it until you can get it out of the housing and address the problem. Even that wouldn't be noteworthy if it weren't for how often it happens.

In other words, I'll sell this setup, but only to someone who knows about these "features" and decides it's not as important to them as it is to me. And neither Olympus, nor any of the underwater photo businesses who sell this system is going to mention it.

… Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[deeper thoughts]

I have an EM-5 MKII, complete with housing, flat port, dome port, 14-42 lens, 60 lens, 8-18 lens, and two flashes. Bought the whole setup, used it a few times, and decided I really don't like it. I could consider selling it. But, full disclosure, I think Olympus should never have bundled this particular model and sold it as an underwater camera. There is a hardware and a software reason … both of which were known to them, neither of which amounts to anything more than an inconvenience for the above-water user, but either of which will result in a complete failure of the camera underwater … which means on any given dive you might have to just clip the camera off and not use it until you can get it out of the housing and address the problem. Even that wouldn't be noteworthy if it weren't for how often it happens.

In other words, I'll sell this setup, but only to someone who knows about these "features" and decides it's not as important to them as it is to me. And neither Olympus, nor any of the underwater photo businesses who sell this system is going to mention it.

… Bob (Grateful Diver)

Nice to share that. Can you say what the issue is ?
Thnx

 

[guruboy]

Looking to buy a OMD EM-5 Mkii or OMD EM-1 mkii set up. Does anyone have one they're looking to part with?

Thank you!

I think I have a OMD EM5 Mk1 system I would sell

 

[Amy B-G]

I have an EM-5 MKII, complete with housing, flat port, dome port, 14-42 lens, 60 lens, 8-18 lens, and two flashes. Bought the whole setup, used it a few times, and decided I really don't like it. I could consider selling it. But, full disclosure, I think Olympus should never have bundled this particular model and sold it as an underwater camera. There is a hardware and a software reason … both of which were known to them, neither of which amounts to anything more than an inconvenience for the above-water user, but either of which will result in a complete failure of the camera underwater … which means on any given dive you might have to just clip the camera off and not use it until you can get it out of the housing and address the problem. Even that wouldn't be noteworthy if it weren't for how often it happens.

In other words, I'll sell this setup, but only to someone who knows about these "features" and decides it's not as important to them as it is to me. And neither Olympus, nor any of the underwater photo businesses who sell this system is going to mention it.

… Bob (Grateful Diver)

I'm curious as well what issues exist since I have this system also but just starting to use underwater.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

This is the info I received from the publisher of an underwater photography magazine on the subject …

The only chronic known-issue that I'm aware of is the flash. It's just not that hearty and a few have even been DOA. Olympus is aware of this and great about facilitating warranty repair/replacements, but it's still annoying.

There's also a shooting mode lock issue that some people first describe as, "buttons not working." There's a simple workaround if that occurs.

Certain EM5 Mk II bodies suffer from a bug that locks the shooting mode. In most circumstances it seems to be associated with the high sequential shooting feature. That mode gets locked in the menu and the camera will not allow you to switch back to other shooting modes while also limiting full functionality.

If a customer inquires about this, the simplest solution is to perform a factory reset.

To do this:

Press [MENU] button
- Select “Reset/Myset” in Shooting Menu 1
- Highlight “Reset” and then press >
- Select “Full” and press OK
- Select “Yes” and Press OK

As far as the flash goes, my guess is that the average EM5 MkII user isn't using the flash and Olympus is okay with it being a 1-in-1,000 (pure guestimate) issue. It's likely that I see a larger percentage of flash failures simply because underwater shooters are more likely to utilize the flash than land-based shooters. At the end of the day, though, it's simply a cheap kit flash on a mid-range camera. Asking Olympus to make it better would be like complaining that the kit lens doesn't produce nice bokeh when zoomed in fully. It's true, but that's just a characteristic of the price point. Want better performance? Spend more.

The safest bet for insurance on that once-in-a-lifetime dive trip is to have a backup. If someone has purchased the EM5MkII Bundle and has the Olympus housing, they'll need to get an exact replacement which is the FL-LM3 Flash (note: only works with EM5MkII).

I tried using the Nauticam Olympus Mini Flash Trigger in the Olympus housing, but there's a ridge on the inside of the Olympus housing that prevents the trigger/camera from seating all the way. It's possible that you may be able to shave this ridge down, but with voiding the housing warranty and the cost of the Nauticam Trigger, it makes more sense just to buy a second Olympus FL-LM3 Flash if you have the Olympus housing. The FL-LM3 is currently $80 on Olympus's site and $70 on B&H.

All in all it's still a great mid-range camera and certainly an admirable performer... for that price point. The known issues are annoying, but that's the compromise of economics. Reliability and ruggedness factor into what makes flagship systems like the A7RIII and D850 standout, not just their impressive resolutions and imaging specs. The same goes for choosing a housing by a dedicated underwater equipment manufacturer like Nauticam, versus one that was shopped out by Olympus. Not that there's, anything wrong with the Olympus housing per se, but it does limit you to having to rely on a not-always-reliable flash if you want strobes.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Oh, and with all of this out there, the OP has decided to purchase the kit … I think he got a sweet deal, given the full disclosure of the known issues described above.

… Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[deeper thoughts]

Thnx for sharing

 

[Darren Faudoa]

I have a setup that I am looking to sell. Camera, extra battery, Olympus housing, standard lens. Everything works great. looking to downsize.