Olympus doesn't stand by the OMD EM5's ability to keep out water or sand

I sent off the camera to Olympus, and after having to chase them for information on the progress, I was told I had misused the camera.

"Olympus Customer Support Centre has advised that the fault has been caused by misuse (sand ingress/liquid ingress/impact damage...) Please, see attached pictures. [low res]

As you will appreciate, the Olympus warranty is not ‘unconditional’, and therefore faults caused by misuse cannot be covered under the defect in manufacture warranty.  I therefore enclose a quotation for the cost of the repair"

"The BARRIER requires attention - £397.32"

Three low res images that I don't see related to the shutter malfunction, a very short explanation and a demand for £397.32.

Have I misused this camera? I would appreciate your comments.

OMD EM5 with broken Image Stabilisation

These photos aren't the wrong way around! The first is with 5 axis stabilisation OFF:

This is with 5 axis stabilisation ON:

An intermittent problem that comes and goes with battery removal.

OMD EM5 and lens flare with 7-14mm Panasonic lens

Some examples of lens flare when using the OMD EM5 with the Panasonic 7-14mm lens

OMD EM5 banding with Panasonic 20mm lens

An example of the OMD EM5 introducing banding into a night shot at f1.7, ruining the photo (look at the sky)

Death of the OMD EM5

The trip that finished the EM5 was my tour around Scotland by motorbike. I hang the camera around my neck and leave it in the mode I want, switched off. Then when I wish to take a photo I grab the body with my left hand, take the lens cover off and stick it in the tankbag, flick the power on with my thumb, frame the scene by guesstimate, and use my index finger to press the shutter button. 80mph winds as the camera is exposed.

I was using the EM5 with the 12-50mm lens when wet, the 7-14mm when dry and clear, and the 20mm at night. Here are the photos.

Shutter starts to malfunction. This isn't user error.

Shutter then stays shut.

Starts to work again...

Shuts off, can't be reliably unfrozen. Battery removal sometimes works. Sometimes only time resolves the problem.

OMD EM5 and snow

Here's where the problems started, now in mid-March . A mystery lockup requiring the battery to be removed whilst I was leading some bikers around the Cotswolds. Happened a few times. Also steaming on the inside of the lens. Using the 12-50mm lens.

Cold weather and the OMD EM5

Next was my trip to the Elefantentreffen motorcycle rally down in Bavaria, Germany. Famous for scenes like this:

Thankfully I only had around -5, and far less snow. I only took the weather sealed 12-50mm lens, and only used the camera on the last day. The camera performed flawlessly.

Olympus OMD EM5 doesn't like sand

I took to the sidelines of stage 8 of the Dakar Rally. Here's me using the camera with the Panasonic 7-14mm unsealed lens (which works fine):



I would say in total this camera spent 2 days in areas where there was sand. Never used on a beach, never  used into the wind, never changing lenses in these conditions. I did not expect this to be an issue with the unsealed Panasonic 7-14mm, and certainly didn't expect to cause problems from the camera body.

Olympus mentioned "sand ingress" as a contributing factor to the rejection of warranty of my camera. This half day at the Dakar and a previous day waiting for the rally are the only times this camera has ever seen sand.

Iguazu falls with an EM5

I flew to South America to be a tourist for three weeks. Here's the OMD being used with the weather sealed lens at Iguazu falls. It's a waterfall, there's water spray in the air and you'll see it on the lens. No problems from this encounter.

Here's the OMD EM5 being used with the Panasonic 7-14mm lens further away:



Here are some photos I took too.

Happy days, this camera is working great in just the kind of places I like to visit.

Olympus OMD EM5 gets broken

I had always wanted a DSLR, but thought they were too large and too fragile for someone who travels frequently. 

After watching this video, I bought an Olympus OMD EM5 in December 2012 - finally a camera that was compact, took DSLR quality pictures, and could put up with getting a little dirty.

By April 2013 the Olympus OMD EM-5 that I bought was no longer functioning and was sent to be repaired. I was accused by Olympus of "sand ingress/liquid ingress/impact damage" and a bill for £400.

Here are the scenarios I entered into with the OMD EM5, and hopefully provide some insight into the real world resilience of this camera and Olympus's attitude towards their product.