JLM grip for the OMD E-M5

JLM Grip on the OMD E-M5 with Olympus 14-150mm attached

Ever since I bought my Olympus E-M5, I’ve kept my ears and eyes open for a new grip to make the camera more comfortable to hold.  Olympus designed the rear of the camera almost perfectly with the rubber thumb stop on the back, but the front grip leaves a bit to be desired.  Olympus knew this and released a clever two part grip (HLD-6) that adds a 2nd shutter button and command dial in ‘landscape’ mode and then the full controls when you add the ‘Portrait’ part of the grip.  I’ve been considering this grip since I first got the camera, but it’s expensive and a bit overkill for what I want, as I probably would not use the ‘Portrait’ portion of the grip all that often.

Enter a custom made grip by a guy named John who happens to own a machine shop in Brooklyn and also is a camera enthusiast.  I first saw his grip on the mu-4/3 user forum when he announced that they were available for purchase.  I was a fan at first sight, but wanted to wait until a few slight changes were made, which he promised.  Sure enough, in late July, he revealed the updated grip and my money was sent.  A few days later, the grip arrived.

Basic grip – half length and the included parts
Bottom of the grip. Notice the strap cutout and the centered tripod hole.

The grip is a work of art.  The machining is spectacular and fits perfectly on the E-M5. The bottom is shaped to fit an Arca style quick release.  A cutout with a pin is built into the grip so a strap can be attached. There is a new hole for a tripod plate mount (or sling strap like a BlackRapid) that is centered with the lens.  Best of all, the battery and memory card doors can be opened freely with the grip still attached.  This is a huge benefit as once the grip is installed, there is never really a need to remove it.  I was very impressed that the grip even utilizes the small pin hole on the bottom of the camera next to the battery door to stop any rotation of the grip.  With this pin, the grip is locked into place and I haven’t experienced any movement between it and the camera at all.

The battery door can be opened easily with the grip still attached
Top view with Panasonic 20mm attached

Previously, holding the E-M5 with a longer lens was a bit awkward.  It never felt totally secure in my hand and I always had to be totally sure of my grip.  Adding the JLM grip has made a world of difference.  My fingers curl around the front of it and provide a solid hold on the body.  It has completed my E-M5.  The grip adds so much to the handling of the camera, but doesn’t add too much mass.  With the grip attached, the E-M5 still fits nicely in a Domke F-5xb bag.

Side view

There are numerous finishing touches that round out the grip.  The strap pin has a cutout so if you attach it to a Arca-style plate, the strap can be left attached without interfering with the tripod.  The strap pin is removable as well.

Front view with a Panasonic 20mm attached

Overall, the grip is a bit expensive ($145 shipped), but I think it is worth every penny.  As of now, the grip won’t be leaving the camera any time soon.  If you want to know more about the grip or contact the creator, go this forum thread and continue reading here.

Disclaimer: I bought the grip with my own money and will make no money writing this review.  I wrote it simply because I think it’s an awesome product and many E-M5 owners would appreciate it.  On a side note, all the pictures of the E-M5 were taken with a simple Canon D10 point and shoot that was set to fire it’s flash to trigger a slaved speedlight with a small softbox set up.  I’m happy with the results.

6 thoughts on “JLM grip for the OMD E-M5”

  1. I am a step behind…in that I am considering the OM-D, as my ‘walkabout’ / ‘pocketable’ camera to take everywhere – my 5DII is too big and heavy – but am concerned about the ‘fit’ in my very large hands. I tried the Nex 7 which is a much better ‘fit’ in my hands than the Olympus. However an accessory grip may level the field a little. Without being able to try out the different grips side-by-side can anyone else with large hands comment on the Olympus grip vs this one or any other.
    Thanks

    1. I’ve never held a Nex camera, so I can’t comment on that. The E-M5 with the Olympus HLD-6 grip might be a good option for you, as it appears to give you an even bigger place to grip. I seriously considered the Nex-7 as well, but ultimately, the micro 4/3 lens selection won me over and the lenses can be made smaller than Nex lenses.

  2. Does the half base plate seem stable, or would a full length base plate be better? I’m trying to decide between the two.

    1. The half length base plate feels very stable when the camera is sitting on a table. Even with a flash unit on top, the camera doesn’t wobble around at all. Personally, I don’t feel the need for the full length plate unless you were getting the L-Plate to go with it.

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