I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
The E-M1 retains the retro design of the OM-D line, though it's bigger than the E-M5.
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Control freak
The E-M1 outdoes the E-M5 in the buttons-and-dials department. It also has a much better, deeper grip.
3 of 7 Lori Grunin/CNET
Programmable buttons
Olympus adds a couple of programmable buttons to the front of the camera body.
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Cleverly disguised
The control with buttons for the drive, autofocus, and metering modes looks like an old-fashioned film winder.
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Curves
Olympus keeps the curve manipulation tool it debuted in the E-M5. The E-M1 has a locked mode dial, and it adds a mode for the Photo Story feature, like the E-P5.
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Color adjustment
This hue/saturation color-correction tool doesn't do anything new, but I think it's one of the best interfaces I've seen for making the adjustments.
7 of 7 Lori Grunin/CNET
New battery grip
Unlike the E-M5's optional grip, the E-M1's vertical grip doesn't attach to the side of the camera. But the E-M1 doesn't need that, because it has a real grip itself. It does have the same convention of using two programmable function buttons rather than duplicating the same functions as found in the horizonal orientation.
