Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

Price £1,849 (body only)

in rEcEnT years the digital camera industry has seen a move towards the use of ultra-fast image processors that can handle the increased data produced by high-resolution sensors and speedily process it, thereby enabling photographers to shoot extended bursts at high speed for longer than was previously possible. released early last year, the flagship oM- D E- M1 ii epitomises this new breed of camera in that it’s built for speed.

While the oM- D E- M1 ii’s 20.4MP sensor represents a step up from before, it’s the TruePic Viii image processor that really makes the oM- D E- M1 ii tick. This utilises two quad core processors, one of which is assigned to image processing duties while the other drives the aF system. This enables the oM- D E- M1 ii to shoot a burst at 18fps using the mechanical shutter while maintaining active aF. if you want to shoot faster, the electronic shutter can be employed to facilitate speeds of up to 60fps.

autofocus is another area where the oM- D E- M1 ii shines. Whereas the original oM- D E- M1 used a 37-point system, the E- M1 ii offers an advanced 121-point system that covers around 80% of the frame with phase- detection aF points, all of which are of the cross-type variety. Furthermore the oM- D benefits from built-in 5-axis image stabilisation technology, 4K video recording at up to 30fps along with twin sD card slots and built-in Wi- Fi. in terms of construction, the oM- D E- M1 ii benefits from durable magnesium alloy construction and is weather-sealed against dust and moisture.

Key features

Price £1,849 (body only) 20.4MP Four Thirds Live MOS sensor ISO 200-25,600 (expandable to ISO 64) 18fps continuous shooting 3in, 1.03m-dot vari-angle touchscreen LCD 4K video capture