E-M1 has 37 focus points in PDAF mode, but none of these points is cross. If I remember corect, all points are horizontal rows.
E-3 and E-5 have "only" 11 focus points, but all are cross.
The consequence is clear - in some situations E-M1 will have dificulties to find the focus, especially in low light.
The focus speed is visible improved on E-M1, if the focus-point size in PDAF mode is increased.
I am wonder if you, Ned, tried to increase the size of the focus point in PDAF. Because in this case I noticed big improvment in focus speed (I tested with 50-200 SWD in low-light).
It was told to me by an Olympus guy that E-M1 is still better than E-5 on C-AF. I believe that this is true, but probably only in day light where the lack of missing cross-focus-points do not have an major impact.
E-M1 still focuses better than E5 with some lenses, even in low-light. By example 50mm F/2 is faster on E-M1 than on E-5.
6.5 fps in C-AF mode is not bad at all. Is better than D800, D7000 and many other cameras.
And 50 pictures buffer can be found only in PRO cameras like D4.
As the first PDAF camera of Olympus, I think they made a very good job. As E-5 owner, I consider this camera as upgrade. When the time will come I will not hesitate to buy it.
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No way the EM-1 can focus better than the E-5 in C-AF mode. I don't care what anyone from Olympus may say about this. And I bet they don't shoot birds :-D