Has the Olympus OM-D E-M5 conquered the notorious rolling shutter video jello effect?

[Knight Palm]

My XZ-1 is using (EIS) Electronic Image Stabilization, and it's cropping the recorded image, due to the slack needed for correcting the frames to each other. I was supposing all PEN using EIS too, up until E-M5 showed up now with it's more advanced IBIS.

However, OIS in lenses are available from Panasonic, and probably soon from the Tamron/Sigma offerings as well. But the 5-axis IS seems very very robust from the polish tests, and it's a break through now when also available for video with say even the f/0.95 primes.

Ref:

Image stabilization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Image stabilization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Image stabilization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[JRJ]

It does look like the rolling shutter is reduced, but not "conquered" any more than other new DSLRs. It doesn't matter anyway, because the video specifications of the OM-D E-M5 are deplorable! It looks to be killer for stills, but Olympus has laid a pathetic egg when it comes to video. The 1080/30p output of the sensor is recorded in a useless interlaced format - 1080i (60 interlaced fields), rather than progressive. No 1080/30p, no 24p at all which filmmakers prefer. Olympus is using the relatively limited AVCHD format and even at that, recording at data rates below the optimum for that codec. Extremely poorly designed video. Such a waste of a great sensor and otherwise brilliant system design.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by JRJ

It does look like the rolling shutter is reduced, but not "conquered" any more than other new DSLRs. It doesn't matter anyway, because the video specifications of the OM-D E-M5 are deplorable! It looks to be killer for stills, but Olympus has laid a pathetic egg when it comes to video. The 1080/30p output of the sensor is recorded in a useless interlaced format - 1080i (60 interlaced fields), rather than progressive. No 1080/30p, no 24p at all which filmmakers prefer. Olympus is using the relatively limited AVCHD format and even at that, recording at data rates below the optimum for that codec. Extremely poorly designed video. Such a waste of a great sensor and otherwise brilliant system design.

I'm not a video expert, but isn't 1080 60i easily (and often automatically) converted to 30p? Interlaced simply means the field is split in half, so when joined up it's 30 frames per second progressive. Also, the E-M5 does not use AVCHD; for the E-M5 Olympus switched to MPEG4 AVC MOV format. I see very good quality video output from the E-M5, but as I said - I'm not a video expert.

Ian

[Knight Palm]

rather we would like to see 25p & 50i. Remember this is PAL territory. Haven't seen anybody using 24p either.
Instead 50p would have been great at 1280x720.

Actually the OM-D E-M5 delivers Full HD at best 20 Mbps in MOV(MPEG-4AVC/H.264), which is not that bad.

However, many do miss the AVCHD(2), seems Olympus avoided licensing it from Panasonic & Sony this time. The current PEN generation do actually use AVCHD, not the latest version 2.0 though.

MOV]
Full HD : 1920(H)x1080(V), 30p(29.97fps)
Recording 20Mbps(Fine) / 17Mbps(Normal), Aspect 16:9

HD : 1280(H)x720(V), 30p(29.97fps)
Recording 13Mbps(Fine) / 10Mbps(Normal), Aspect 16:9

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Knight Palm

rather we would like to see 25p & 50i. Remember this is PAL territory. Haven't seen anybody using 24p either.
Instead 50p would have been great at 1280x720.

Actually the OM-D E-M5 delivers Full HD at best 20 Mbps in MOV(MPEG-4AVC/H.264), which is not that bad.

However, many do miss the AVCHD(2), seems Olympus avoided licensing it from Panasonic & Sony this time. The current PEN generation do actually use AVCHD, not the latest version 2.0 though.

MOV]
Full HD : 1920(H)x1080(V), 30p(29.97fps)
Recording 20Mbps(Fine) / 17Mbps(Normal), Aspect 16:9

HD : 1280(H)x720(V), 30p(29.97fps)
Recording 13Mbps(Fine) / 10Mbps(Normal), Aspect 16:9

Mmmmmm... doesn't MPEG4 AVC format use the H.264 codec?

I, too, would like the option of 25/50Hz, but displays are now so flexible it hardly matters any more. The only potential problem is flicker under fluorescent lighting?

Ian

[Ian]

By the way, I got an answer from Olympus in Japan about cropping: it's not for electronic IS, it is to avoid vignetting by the sensor-shift IS system. The E-M5 is also cropped, but I didn't notice much of a difference.

Ian

[Robert Watcher]

Neither am I an video expert - - - but I'm learning.

When I first learned that the E-M5 had 1080p video I was excited and then immediately discouraged when I noticed on a spec sheet that stated 1080i 60 fps. Of course I was presuming that all other of the wonderful dlsr video cameras like the Canon Mk2 and Panasonic GH2 were providing 1080p 60 fps - - - but neither of these does, nor does the new Canon 5D mk III. They provide the same 1080i at 60fps. I believe that Sony is one of the few providing 1080p 60p with the a77 - but no-one is raving about the virtues of that camera over say the 5d for video - - - so it's not all in the numbers.

As you mentioned Ian, halving that provides for 1080p at 30fps. So the only thing missing in this regard is the 1080i50/1080p25 mode which is of more use in Europe possibly than other places in the world - and 24fps for using it for a more film like look.

[Robert Watcher]

Originally Posted by Ian

By the way, I got an answer from Olympus in Japan about cropping: it's not for electronic IS, it is to avoid vignetting by the sensor-shift IS system. The E-M5 is also cropped, but I didn't notice much of a difference.

Ian

I read that the Sony a77 is also cropped top and bottom as well as side to side due to the sensor based image stabilising system - - - so I can see that is to be expected with the E-M5 as well. This means that wide angle lenses will not be quite as wide as needed.

[Happy Birder]

Originally Posted by Ian

I made a small mistake that has been pointed out to me - the E-M5 video was shot at a slightly wider focal length and this gives the E-M5 a marginal advantage in the test.

There is a small difference in focal length, but not enough to make a big difference. But I intend to repeat the tests with IS on and off and I will make sure that the focal lengths are the same. Not sure if I have time today, maybe tomorrow evening (UK time). Watch this space.

Ian

UPDATE: As explained later in this thread the error was not zoom setting but the fact that the E-P3 crops the sensor so has a smaller field of view.

Hi Ian,

We are really waiting the video comparison with GH2, which with G3 (for SS – Static Subjects) are the best present m43 wildlife-birding bodies.

Is there any chance you could compare Oly 75-300 vs Panny 100-300 performance in E-M5 (300mm shots) and the same with GH2. And in both modes, IS off vs IS off.

BIF (birds In flight) videos and shots would tell the truth about new E-M5 world fastest AF, 3D C-AF and even about 5-axis IS, which we birders use to turn off for BIF tracking or just for high shutter speed shots, since we have learned that that improves the number of keepers. By the way, you have to use the smallest spot focusing option for it.

Thanks for your great job.

And thanks in advance for the requested comparison, which all wildlife, sports, outdoors and concerts observers are waiting for.

Ed

[M4/3]

Originally Posted by JRJ

the video specifications of the OM-D E-M5 are deplorable! It looks to be killer for stills, but Olympus has laid a pathetic egg when it comes to video. The 1080/30p output of the sensor is recorded in a useless interlaced format - 1080i (60 interlaced fields), rather than progressive. Olympus is using the relatively limited AVCHD format

The video specs of the OM-D E-M5 appear to me to be similar to the Canon DSLR's like to T3i, 60D, 7D, 5DMk2, etc; i.e 1080i recorded in .mov format. All the consumer and prosumer Canon camcorders also do only 1080 interlaced. Only Panasonic and Sony do 1080 progressive; i.e. the GH2 and Sony Nex5n.

So it appears to the video output of the OM-D E-M5 will match the good clarity of the Canon DSLRs and camcorders while at the same time delivering the signature Olympus colors that look so pleasing. The .mov recording is a benefit for most non-pro shooters because it's easier to play and edit especially for Macintosh users.

Even though I already have a 1080p Panasonic camcorder that delivers superb image sharpness and detail, it lacks the bright and vivid Olympus colors. So the main reason I will be ordering a OM-D E-M5 is for for shooting video in outdoor scenes where I want brighter and more vivid colors than my 1080p camcorder can deliver.