(Review) Street photography with the Olympus OM-D EM-5
I'm no pro, just a very passionate enthusiast. I dunno too much about pixel peeing, so my impressions are based on normal usage in common situations - streeting, architecture, urbanscapes, landscapes and family&friends photography. YMMV
This review was originally posted on my blog. Reproduced here for the sharing with the PM community.
I enjoy taking photos on the street. Candid, unassuming photographs of people i see on the street. Sometimes, i stalk these people for a little while, if i find them particularly interesting. Follow them around for a bit, hoping to catch them in that "decisive moment" when interesting transforms into art. It doesn't always happen, but that's part of the fun.
The camera you choose to take with you to the street does have a direct impact on the ease or difficulty in how all of this is achieved. Generally, larger is worse, smaller is better. A large camera (say, a full frame DSLR) attracts a lot of attention due to it's obvious size -- point the camera at someone and odds on you'll be noticed; being noticed will almost certainly affect the behaviour of the subject. A smaller camera reduces the risk of being noticed, and also often provides additional mobility to take photos from unconventional angles. Plus the fact that streeting = walking, and walking around with 5-10kgs of gear gets tiring very quickly. Smaller = lighter.
How does the OM-D fare as a street camera? Very well. We've already covered how well it handles in High ISO/low-light scenarios. A lot of street shots, those in the evenings, can be done in very low-light settings. How about the 5-axis image stabilization? It works great here. While streeting, you're moving a lot, your subject is probably moving as well and chances of motion blur can sometimes be high. This is mitigated somewhat by the built-in IS.
And finally, the tilt-screen. In 3 of the 5 photos below, the photos were taken by swiveling the screen upwards 90 degrees and looking directly downward into the camera to get the photo, almost like how you would should with a top-down viewing medium format camera. Being able to see the subject without even looking into his direction is what this feature allows you to do; and it works great in reducing the chances you'll be noticed, thus adding to the level of candidness in the shot.
The following photos we taken with a mix of lenses: Olympus 45mm f/1.8 and the Panasonic 14mm f2.5. Click on them for the larger version.
1.
Angel in white by aizuddindanian, on Flickr
Street angel.
2.
Always open by aizuddindanian, on Flickr
Always open.
3.
Thank you, come again by aizuddindanian, on Flickr
Thank you, come again. Down the hatch.
4.
Leaning to exist by aizuddindanian, on Flickr
Leaning to exhale.
5.
A chance meeting by aizuddindanian, on Flickr
A boy meets man.
SEE ALSO, other Olympus OM-D Posts here on PM:
Lens Choices: http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/...mpus-OM-D-EM-5
First Impressions: http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/...mpus-OM-D-EM-5
Low-Light Performance: http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/...mpus-OM-D-EM-5
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by noordin
Bookmarks