Olympus EPM2:

It’s also built like a toy…  This makes it an unpleasant tool to use for me.  Hard to grip and feels cheap.  The menus are also setup w/o many options by default and the rear wheel is even turned off from default as well.  Yes you simply turn these on your first time through the settings but it’s clear they’re aiming this at the P&S crowd not people coming to this from their DSLRs.  They’ve probably also got a very nice EP5 coming that will fix this and I know the EPL5 is “better” but it really just adds a flip up LCD I don’t need for $100 more.  Beyond not liking the feel of the camera nor being able to hold it well olympus has the same awesome sensor from the OMD in a much smaller/cheaper package.  It’s still got IS (but not as good, but remember the GX1 has no IS) as well.  The AF on this camera is amazingly fast as well, especially with the 17mm.  And the body is tiny, almost as small as the NEX5r width and height wise and smaller depth (thanks to it’s terrible grip).  IQ is amazing.  The negatives here would be no in camera sweep panos but it does offer great FPS (8) and in camera raw processing (no preview, it just converts to your current JPEG settings).  Overall Olympus is the winner if you’re looking for a MFT camera, I just really wish olympus had put this camera into the shell of the GX1.  It’s clear they want professionals or serious amateurs to go to their OMD or upcoming ep5 instead of this, but I think anyone who buys this camera would appreciate them making it easier to hold…

I will say having processed all the files for this review the EPM2 (OMD sensor) is better than the GX1.  The GX1 is good/great/good enough, but the EPM2 is better at 3200 and 6400.  I will say there’s something about the fuji files that make them easier/better/more fun to process?  That could be that it’s Auto ISO cuts it off at 3200 though.  You’ll notice a lot more EPM2 and X100 files in their galleries though and that’s because they’re by far the better cameras for what/how I shoot.

Pros: Great IQ and easy to use, auto ISO that works, MFT has great lenses at this point (very matured finally), in camera RAW processing, EyeFi support, 8fps, In body IS, capacitance touch screen with touch focus, quick access menu via hitting “ok” from shooting screen.

Cons: Built like a toy, terrible grip w/o easy options to improve it, tiny buttons, no in camera pano, menus have the advanced goodies off by default, you always have to go past the PASM/scene mode controls to get to the settings, the rear wheel is off by default.

I will say, a lot of my reservations on build and grip DO go away if you buy a EPL5 with the EP3 grip.  It’s built a bit better built and the ep3 grip makes it easy to hold.  It’s $100 more but also comes with a flip out LCD.  I do NOT like the “looks” of it though, it’s even worse than the EPM2 honestly, but it’s more functional and having played with a friends now I’d probably go that route over the EPM2 if I was choosing now.  But neither gets remotely close to the build quality or grip of the GX1.  The OMD gets close but it’s still not ideal grip wise until you add the RRS grip and plate…