My kit for stills has been settled for a while now, robotic even.

I take out an EM1 mk2 with a long lens (by needs), EM10 mk2 with a wide (I prefer the flip up screen for the wide angle) and an old EM5 mk1 with a fast prime (I like how they handle noise). I can duplicate this, so I regularly rotate cameras and feel confident in my depth.

The EM1x is my big event, low light and sports specialist, the Pen F and Pen mini are my personal cameras and a couple of the rougher old EM5 mk1’s are used for “hack” work around home-most of my boring blog images.

The EM1x usually goes out on its own or with one of the EM1’s and the Em10/wide angle depending on the sport.

So, my best and most durable camera only gets an outing a dozen or so times a year. It is a resource that I would struggle to justify replacing, so nursing it makes some sense, but really, it is an unwarranted luxury to hold it back.

Video on the other hand opens up some new horizons.

The EM1x has a few benefits over the EM1 mk2’s and the G9;

• It can use auto ISO in manual, something the Mk2’s cannot.

• Very stable touch control AF performance, that ideally suits its likely best-use scenario.

• Probably the best in camera stabiliser on the market currently (MIS-1) and is noticeably better than the G9’s for movement (the G9 has very good static stabilising and is set up for that).

• Added heft for even better stability.

• Nothing better to do most of the time.

• Can shoot 200mbs All-i 1080p. After some light testing, down sized C4K is still better, but All-i has advantages over the IPB format the G9 uses especially for busy subjects and fast movement. To be honest, this is OSMO territory, but filtering and longer lenses are problematic there.

• Nicer looking colour (no green caste) and possibly slightly higher sharpness than the EM1 mk2. In Natural with contrast turned down or Flat profile, it can be matched reasonably to the other two cameras.

The Canvate cage with a 197mm extension column can fit it (I hope) and that cage’s blocky look may be softened slightly by the EM1x’s bulk.

My setup for this camera, purely as a run and gun option is the following;

• Manual with top dials in position 1 for F-stop and ISO, or position 2 for White Balance and Shutter. Both ISO and WB have auto options that are reliable, but can be switched out instantly if needed.

• The camera is in MIS-1 (sensor and electronic stabilising), slightly cropping the 17mm lens to about an ideal 20mm (40mm). This has a slight effect on 4k, less on 1080, but 4k is still ahead.

• Auto ISO, which with Exp Comp handles exposure smoothly.

• Touch AF (with the MF clutch option on some lenses). This is smooth, accurate and fast, ideal for fast movement and focus transition shots.

This is effectively the polar opposite of the G9’s settings. The AF and stabiliser on the G9 were known to be good, but not as reliable. The G9 with the new handle is much better for static shooting (static IS makes it even better), but for top handle following, the EM1x is superior. I want to be able to pick up an optional camera and just go, no thought, no fiddle and this is how this is set up.

If I need it for sport or similar, it can be easily removed and a Custom setting selected to suit the event in mind, changing its personality completely.

The fast 17mm has several benefits of its own. The long transition Bokeh this lens boasts helps with focus transitions, which in turn makes the f1.8 aperture very useable. The extra two stops it has over the 12-40 makes this the low light action lens. The lens ends up being roughly a 40mm equivalent with MIS-1 activated, which is perfect. If I want wider, I will use MIS-2 and get a wider lens with lower stability needs.

After a few test clips it looks like the MIS-1 mode is troubling C4k quality slightly, so I will use C4k in MIS-2 (sensor only), All-i 1080 in MIS-1 as it is smoother. I have also switched to Flat mode in All-i as it is gentler and more open (Pana like), and processes easily if needed. This camera will not do as much work as the Pana, so a little post if needed will be fine.