Let the images loose! Olympus E-M1 II First Shots, pricing, availability and more

posted Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at 12:59 AM EDT

It's not often we receive a sample of a camera after it's been announced and yet told we have to wait until a certain date to actually post images, but with the Olympus E-M1 Mark II, this was the case! Well, we're here to tell you that from what we've seen so far in the lab and out in the field, the wait seems well worth it.

So for anyone ready to dig into our lab test First Shots, just head to our E-M1 II Lab Samples page and begin your inspections there. We've also included a shot there showcasing the High Res shot mode, too, for those of you craving super-sharp detail. Next, make sure and see our Comparometer where you can view side-by-side lab images against the competition across the ISO range.

Olympus E-M1 II ISO 1600 Olympus E-M1

Not only does the Mark II version sport more resolution at 20mp, but also a better ratio of noise levels to detail here at ISO 1600, especially noticeable in the top left of the above 1:1 crop from our lab samples.

And for anyone wanting to "get their feet wet" with the camera out in the field (and we do mean out in the field since we're talking Iceland here) head directly to William Brawley's Olympus E-M1 II Field Test Part I and be prepared to be soaked with rain and real-world shooting experience aplenty!

Ready to tour Iceland with the E-M1 Mark II? Just click here!

Official pricing for the Olympus E-M1 Mark II is now set at US $1999 and CA $2499, with availability scheduled by the end of December. Make sure and click the "Best Prices" link below to secure your place in line with a pre-order from one of our trusted affiliates!

And most of all, stay tuned for much more to come on this intriguing camera in the days and weeks ahead.