OM Digital OM-1 Assessment: The Finest Micro 4 Thirds Digicam Ever Made

I’ve been an Olympus and Micro 4 Thirds consumer since I bought a used E-M5 in 2016. I really like Olympus, and like many others was unhappy to listen to the information when the corporate’s picture division got here to an finish. There was loads of hypothesis and anxiousness over what JIP would do with the enterprise, however the rebranding to OM Digital inspired confidence. Since then, I’ve eagerly awaited the brand new firm’s first digicam. And now we now have it: the OM System OM-1.

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Particular due to Lensrentals for offering a number of the lenses used on this overview. The corporate’s full listing of accessible gear, each for rental and on the market, might be perused on its website.

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I’ve shot north of 150,000 frames throughout the E-M5 Mark III, E-M1, E-M1 Mark II, and Pen F — and this doesn’t embrace some shorter-term use of quite a few Panasonic our bodies in addition to the Olympus E-M1 Mark III and E-M1X. Over these previous six years, I’ve all the time used Olympus cameras alongside Nikon full-frame, each of which have their very own strengths and weaknesses, therefore the rationale I personal each programs. Evidently, I’ve loads of expertise with Olympus cameras.

The OM Digital Options (OMDS) OM-1 oddly retains the “Olympus” branding on the entrance and, even stranger, will probably be the final OM System digicam to take action, which makes it a bit complicated as to what we should always name the digicam. Is it an Olympus? Regardless of prominently displaying the trademark identify, evidently it’s simply the “OM System OM-1.” It’s a reasonably clunky and awkward branding that evokes the picture of a pc software program firm reasonably than a digicam producer. The OM-1 is a direct nod to the unique Olympus OM collection of 35mm SLRs and the enormously extra simplified identify is a welcome change — the previous “OM-D E-M Mark so and so” was simply cumbrous and inelegant. And I suppose the “Olympus” branding serves as a pleasant little farewell to that historic collection.

Let’s get the headline specs out of the best way: 20.4MP BSI 4 Thirds stacked Quad Bayer CMOS sensor with out an AA filter, quad pixel AF with 1,093 cross-type focus factors protecting the whole sensor, as much as 50 fps RAW with steady AF/AE in blackout-free silent sequential mode and 120 frames per second (FPS) RAW with AF/AE locked, 5.76 million-dot OLED EVF with 0.83x magnification (full-frame equal), five-axis in-body picture stabilization (IBIS) with as much as eight-stops of picture stabilization, improved IP53 score with mud, splash, and freezeproof sealing, inner DCI 4K/UHD 10-bit 4:2:0 as much as 60 FPS, FHD H.264 as much as 240 FPS or H.265 as much as 200 FPS, and DCI 4K/UHD4K 12-bit 4:4:4 ProRes RAW output.

Different computational options are in fact carried over and, in some instances, improved from prior Olympus fashions — handheld excessive decision, in-camera focus stacking as much as 15 pictures (or 999 with out in-camera compositing), publicity bracketing, Dwell Composite, Dwell ND, Dwell Bulb, and Starry Sky AF. Dwell ND has been elevated from ND32 (5 stops) to ND64 (six stops). Excessive-resolution shot processing is now 2.5 instances quicker and the TruePic X processor affords 4 instances processing pace and 60 instances computational energy.

IBIS has been improved from 7.5 stops (with a suitable IS lens) to eight stops. With out an IS lens, it stays the identical at seven stops, although the IBIS unit is 10% lighter in addition to quicker, which means we should always see improved hit-rates.

Design and Construct High quality

The final design of the OM-1 is a comparatively recognized amount. Should you’ve dealt with the E-M1 Mark III — and even the E-M1 Mark II — the brand new OM-1 might be very straightforward to adapt to as the final physique design stays unchanged, with many of the identical buttons and dials in the identical areas. There’s a brand new, very welcome AF ON button and the entrance and rear command dials are actually recessed into the digicam physique reasonably than positioned on the highest panel — I discover this to be extra pure and comfy, however both approach, it’s very straightforward to adapt to for legacy Olympus customers.

Whereas it’s not a very dramatic change, the grip is now deeper and a bit taller. In doing so, OMDS has created what I consider is the proper grip so far as mirrorless cameras go (not counting these with built-in vertical grips just like the Canon R3 or Nikon Z9). It’s tall sufficient now that every one my fingers can match, wherewith most different cameras my pinky all the time finally ends up cradling the underside of the digicam. It’s additionally deep sufficient that more often than not I discovered myself simply carrying it round one-handed — even with bigger lenses — and by no means discovered myself with a cramped hand afterward. Fairly merely, the dealing with is as good as I’ve ever used with a mirrorless digicam.

We now have a considerably increased decision OLED viewfinder: 5.76 million-dots with a 0.83x FF-equivalent magnification and 120hz refresh fee, up from the two.36M dot OLED/LCD* within the E-M1 Mark III and E-M1X. The E-M1 viewfinders all the time lagged the nicest Panasonic EVFs (not to mention these in full-frame cameras), however we lastly have one which’s simply pretty much as good, if not higher. Shade, distinction, and readability are all glorious, with just about no discernible lag.

*There’s some confusion on whether or not the prior Olympus fashions used OLED or LCD — the Olympus web site specifies OLED, however different web sites and distributors point out an LCD viewfinder.

I actually need to see a firmware replace that implements the power to make use of the EVF solely (with auto eye-sensor) however nonetheless permits the rear LCD for use for menu and playback. That is one thing that nobody appears to get proper apart from Nikon — the “Prioritize Viewfinder” setting within the Z cameras is strictly what I’d prefer to see each mirrorless producer supply. It permits the EVF to stay off till it’s raised to your eye (thus saving battery), and the LCD monitor is used solely for menu/playback — similar to a DSLR. Not solely is that this extraordinarily fluid in use, nevertheless it’s additionally an enormous motive that I can get hundreds of pictures out of a single cost on these cameras.

An Up to date Menu

Sony menus have lengthy taken successful for poor design, and there’s some validity in these complaints. However (and I say this as a years-long Olympus consumer), Olympus menus have lengthy been in want of an overhaul. Frankly, they’re a multitude. Or reasonably, they have been.

OMDS has utterly redesigned the menu with the OM-1 and it was one of many first issues (clearly) that I seen in regards to the digicam — and boy do I find it irresistible.

The format is now horizontal as a substitute of vertical, which is the alternative of what I’m used to with my Nikon cameras, nevertheless it works very effectively for me. The reorganization is logical, straightforward to grasp, and straightforward to adapt to, and nothing appears to be buried in a cryptic, labyrinthian maze anymore. The digicam will even inform you why some objects are greyed out if they’re, which is good as a result of different cameras would reasonably go away it to you to determine like a sport of Pictionary.

You’ll be able to navigate the topmost predominant tabs utilizing the entrance management dial, then shift by means of the submenus with both the rear command dial or the four-way directional pad. It’s remarkably straightforward to adapt to and really fast to make use of when you do. Including (or eradicating) your most used capabilities to the My Menu tabs is as straightforward as holding down the Document button for a couple of second — this lets you put them in no matter order you need.

The Tremendous Management Panel nonetheless exists, however with no actual tangible variations that I can see. Whereas many individuals love that panel, it actually must be customizable so we will have one thing just like the Fast Menu of the Nikons or the Q menu of Fujifilm cameras. My Menu is nice, nevertheless it nonetheless requires you to menu dive and scroll by means of tabs. I’d actually love to have the ability to customise the Tremendous Management Panel — I don’t want instantaneous entry to half of the settings in there, however there’s no strategy to change them with settings that I do need fast entry to.

It might be good to get a firmware replace that brings this new menu system to older cameras just like the E-M1 Mark III, E-M1X, and E-M5 Mark III, however there may be not telling if that is truly doable. Sony, for instance, wasn’t in a position to do it with its improved menus, so perhaps it’s tougher to do than it sounds.

Whereas the menu is best, it’s not with out its flaws. One of many largest modifications OMDS must implement within the menu is one which has endlessly plagued each Olympus menu because the authentic E-M5: the Auto ISO choices suck.

They’re horrible. Right here we now have the most effective IBIS of any digicam on this planet, and but our auto ISO choices are both “auto” (which defaults to 1/full-frame equal focal size) or a single chosen shutter pace.

Say we now have a 25mm lens on the digicam. Our two selections are: set to auto (1/50 second) or decide no matter shutter pace we would like. The primary possibility means we’re losing the most effective picture stabilization on the market and the second possibility means we should change that setting each time we alter a lens — to not point out it’s additionally utterly ineffective with zoom lenses. Do you set it for the extensive finish or the lengthy finish? It may solely be one among them! It’s truly fairly insane {that a} decade later, these are nonetheless our solely choices.

That is one among my largest gripes with Olympus (and now OMDS) cameras, and it truly ends in me altering the best way I shoot due to it — I’ll usually go into shutter precedence mode simply use slower speeds and make use of the digicam’s superb IBIS.

A New Quad Pixel Stacked Sensor

Replace 03/31/2022: A earlier model of this overview referred to the OM-1’s sensor as “Quad Bayer.” This isn’t precisely appropriate, although the know-how relies on the Quad Bayer sensor. “Quad Bayer” is Sony Semiconductor’s identify for a Bayer sample sensor with 2×2 pixel blocks of every R, G, or B coloration, all 4 pixels of which have their very own microlens. The OM-1’s sensor options the identical underlying know-how, however with one microlens per 4-pixel sq.. This know-how is named 2×2 OCL (On-Chip Lens) by Sony Semiconductor.

With the OM-1, we now have a sensor that’s each backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor and stacked. The previous ought to afford some light-gathering enchancment, whereas the latter offers us some unbelievable pace, although normally on the expense of some dynamic vary. That is the primary time we’ve seen both of those options inside a Micro 4 Thirds digicam, not to mention without delay. All of that is very welcome on condition that these options have been obtainable in full-frame cameras for the higher half of a decade.

Let’s begin with what I want had been totally different: The bottom ISO continues to be 200 — I hoped to see a base ISO of 100, to get us a bit nearer to bridging the hole between Micro 4 Thirds and APS-C or full-frame on the lowest ISOs. We’re nonetheless at round 20 megapixels, which, whereas I do know was a disappointment to many, is completely high-quality by me. Maybe I might have favored to see a bump to 24 megapixels, the precise linear distinction between 20 and 24 megapixels could be very small (about 11%).

The sensor is exclusive in one other approach: it’s the primary quad pixel sensor to hit the market in a big sensor (>1 inch) digicam — although there’s some proof the Sony Alpha 7s III makes use of a quad Bayer sensor (although not quad pixel AF). Should you’re questioning why this issues, I’ll briefly clarify what a quad pixel sensor is.

Briefly, the sensor itself truly has about 80 million pixels, with one microlens per 2×2 pixel cluster. In the long run, these 4 pixels are then mixed into one, giving us roughly 20 million pixels within the ultimate picture. The largest apparent profit within the case of the OM-1 is the “quad pixel AF.” These additional pixels might be devoted to capturing 100% of the phase-detection knowledge. The standard method is to dedicate a sure variety of pixels throughout the sensor to autofocus and masks them off; this normally ends in lower than 5% of that knowledge being captured. Quad pixel AF basically permits each pixel to contribute to autofocus, thus enhancing accuracy at each location because it now has twin cross-type focus factors — as a result of a single line AF level can solely seize focus in a single dimension, having factors that may detect focus in horizontal, vertical, and diagonal axes ends in excessive precision and pace.

Promised Efficiency

The OM-1 is able to 50 frames per second RAW with full-time autofocus and autoexposure, or 120 frames per second RAW with AF and AE locked — each utilizing the silent digital shutter. This implies the sensor readout is someplace round eight milliseconds or about 1/125 of a second. Whereas that’s a lot quicker than most cameras available on the market, it’s nonetheless bested by the full-frame Sony Alpha 1 (1/200 readout), the shutterless Nikon Z9 (1/270 readout), and even the a lot older Sony Alpha 9 (1/160).

It’s disappointing to see a readout pace that’s half of what some full-frame sensors are able to, nevertheless, that is little question a results of the digicam needing to learn out an enormous 80 million pixels. Irrespective of the rationale, it’s quick sufficient for 99.9% of photographer’s wants, however some sports activities or wildlife customers may even see some readout distortion relying on the kind and pace of their topic (for instance, a golf membership in the course of a swing).

I used to be additionally hoping to see an enchancment with the mechanical shutter. We’re nonetheless at 10 frames per second with AF/AE — Canon has been able to 20 frames per second because the 1DX Mark III, and the OM-1’s focal aircraft shutter solely has to traverse about half the gap of that sensor. If the digital shutter readout have been quick sufficient, this wouldn’t trouble me — nevertheless it isn’t, so it does.

One of many new spotlight options within the OM-1 is the AI topic detection modes. There are actually choices for automobiles and bikes, trains, airplanes/helicopters, birds, and canines/cats. We’ve seen options like these in lots of current Sony cameras, together with the Canon R3 and R5, in addition to the Nikon Z9. However the query is, how effectively do they work?

Actual World Capturing Expertise

Let me be upfront and trustworthy from the get: I don’t think about myself a wildlife photographer, although I like to shoot wildlife when my time permits, and I’m definitely not a seasoned photographer for birds-in-flight. I discovered pretty rapidly how a lot talent and expertise is required to rapidly observe the flight path of quick, erratic little birds — in any case, the digicam stands no probability in the event you can’t even get them within the body.

So, how effectively does the digicam carry out? The brief reply: extraordinarily effectively. It may rapidly decide up on birds within the body usually earlier than I can spot them. It tracks them with gorgeous precision (if you’ll be able to sustain with the chook, that’s — I’m nonetheless engaged on that half) and whereas it’s going to often soar from the chook to one thing within the foreground or background, it’s going to snap again to the chook by the following body. Contemplating I used to be taking pictures at 25 and generally 50 frames per second, this implies an enormous keeper fee.

The largest situation I found is that the digicam has issues with branches in the event that they’re in entrance of your topic. It actually needs to give attention to these branches as a substitute of the chook (or no matter it might be). I perceive why — we’re speaking about animals of very, very related luminance values and of very related coloration (normally), however the most effective choices from Sony, Canon, and Nikon are nonetheless a step forward right here. As soon as it locks on, although, it’ll keep locked on. However I did miss a good variety of pictures as a result of it was extra within the branches between the topic and the digicam.

It’s value noting that efficiency is determined by the lens you employ. Whereas the completely phenomenal Olympus 100-400/5-6.3 IS carried out spectacularly (particularly with the main focus limiter engaged), the less expensive Olympus 75-300/4.8-6.7 II can’t sustain as effectively with the digicam’s insane body charges and AF skills. It’s nonetheless a stellar performer — and also you received’t discover a 600mm equal lens in a tinier package deal — however I assume it’s additionally lower than half the value of the 100-400 for a motive. It’s truly fairly spectacular what number of lenses are able to maintaining with 25 frames per second on condition that they have been by no means designed with that in thoughts.

The Professional Seize modes are extremely helpful when you get used to using them correctly. For these unfamiliar with the characteristic, the digicam will repeatedly report photographs to the buffer so long as you have got the shutter half-pressed, after which when you press the shutter, it’s going to write a pre-determined variety of photographs from earlier than you pressed the shutter button, in addition to some frames after you launch the button. The quantity earlier than and/or after is totally as much as the consumer; I set mine to solely report earlier than frames and none after. This was very useful as I used to be watching a duck that might dive underwater and I had no concept when it could resurface. I might preserve focus locked on that time and as soon as the duck resurfaced, hit the shutter button, which might then save the set variety of frames from earlier than I hit the shutter. In essence, it lets you seize the motion with out understanding precisely when that motion will happen.

With this Professional Seize mode, your buffer depth doesn’t take successful — I don’t know if there’s some type of ancillary flash reminiscence that’s used particularly for these photographs or what, however both approach, it has no impact on what number of frames you’ll be able to shoot when you press the shutter button. It’s not an acceptable characteristic for a lot of conditions, however when employed appropriately, there’s actually nothing else that may do what it does with such simplicity and ease.

On the subject of the buffer. It’s… small at solely about 90 RAW frames (and surprisingly additionally 90 RAW + JPEG frames). As you may guess, at its most pace of fifty fps (with AF and AE, that’s), this implies about two seconds of taking pictures will fill it to capability.

As soon as the buffer fills, it takes 27 seconds to completely write all 90 RAW photographs — that is utilizing a SanDisk Excessive Professional UHS-II V90 300 MB/s card (128GB). Should you shoot RAW + JPEG, it’s going to take 38 seconds to utterly empty the buffer. I used a ProGrade V60 SD card alongside the V90 — there’s no discernible distinction in use, however I’m additionally not a button masher.

Replace 04/01/2022: The buffer check was carried out with “Element Precedence” enabled. When set to “Drive Precedence,” the buffer will clear totally in eight seconds to the identical SanDisk V90 card.”

This brings me to one thing else I want had been carried out in a different way: even the quickest V90 UHS-II SD playing cards aren’t adequate for this sort of pace. The digicam actually wants at the least one CFexpress card slot — it definitely appears sufficiently big that it might match a CFexpress Sort B and a UHS-II SD slot, however even when that isn’t the case, OMDS might have gone the Sony route with two CFexpress Sort A/UHS-II SD combo slots. Positive, CFexpress Sort A playing cards are nonetheless very costly, however at the least the choice can be there for individuals who actually need it, and simply ignored for individuals who don’t.

RAW Picture High quality

OMDS made an enormous splash with the announcement of the OM-1, notably with claims of two stops of noise enchancment and an additional cease of dynamic vary. Then, in fact, we discovered the sensor was not solely stacked but in addition BSI. Suffice to say, there was fairly a little bit of back-and-forth all through web boards as as to whether the OM-1 would ship on these guarantees.

So, does it? That is determined by the way you have a look at it, however for my part, no. There are undoubtedly quite a few enhancements in IQ, and whereas none of them are main, they add as much as a noticeably cleaner, extra malleable file. Quantifying a sensor’s dynamic vary (DR) isn’t a easy matter — not solely is there may be loads of subjectivity as to the place you outline acceptable thresholds, however a single quantity says nothing of extra particular capabilities.

Shade, whereas not majorly totally different, is best, which is to say it’s practically excellent. It’s finest described as “pure”; recordsdata are rendered with a really pleasing, true-to-life tonal high quality that I very a lot recognize. Most recordsdata required solely minor HSL changes, minor curves, and generally dodging and burning, and that was it — that’s very uncommon for me.

Shadow and particularly spotlight roll-off appears to be improved as effectively, in a approach that very properly replicates the precise scene. The sensor responds very effectively to ETTR, however I additionally see much less coloration shift and banding current with pushed shadows — likewise with dodged shadows and midtones. In essence, noise, whereas current, is unoffensive and largely monochromatic — no matter OMDS has carried out so far as chroma noise is commendable.

So, is it two stops higher in low-light with an additional cease of DR? In JPEGs (extra on that under), sure. In RAW, I’d put it at extra like one cease of excessive ISO efficiency and presumably one additional cease of DR, however it might be extra like half a cease. It’s very near what OMDS claims, although, and nonetheless mightily spectacular on condition that we’re speaking a couple of stacked sensor.

Out-of-Digicam JPEGs

As I discussed, Olympus cameras have lengthy had a number of the finest coloration on the market from any producer. Hasselblad might be the one one whose coloration I might think about excellent, however Olympus cameras have all the time been what I might name “extraordinarily nice.” OMDS, nevertheless, has introduced that up one other notch with the OM-1 — personally, I’d fee the colour as “excellent minus.” It’s not as impartial as Hasselblad’s, however the OM-1’s colours are nonetheless phenomenally correct with a reasonably pleasing heat to them.

Olympus all the time had a number of the most interesting straight out of digicam JPEGs of any producer. The OM-D cameras definitely have probably the most in depth controls to fine-tune your personal JPEG presets: curves, HSL changes, and really exact incremental changes for sharpness and noise discount. The colour creator wheel additionally permits for exceptionally exact white steadiness, in addition to the power to successfully add “filters” to black and white photographs (e.g. to make use of crimson to darken a blue sky: drop saturation to zero and shift the hue).

The “Pure” profile, which sits someplace between “Vivid” and “Muted,” is my favourite and practically excellent as it’s. All I did have been some slight changes to sharpness and noise discount and left it at that. The outcome? The OM-1 has the most effective out-of-camera JPEGs I’ve ever seen from any producer.

The OM-1’s JPEGs retain crisp element with minimal compression, well-balanced distinction and saturation, and, in fact, outstandingly nice colours. I feel there’s some type of AI-centric noise discount happening right here too — even with noise discount set comparatively excessive, there’s a minimal hit in high-quality element. Much more impressively, with noise discount dialed down, excessive ISOs show remarkably little chroma noise and nearly no perceptible coloration shift.

Computational Images

If there’s one factor that’s set Olympus cameras aside from the pack, it’s the computational options that the corporate packed into its cameras. OMDS continues this custom in high-quality style with the OM-1, retaining all the identical nice options, besides with enhancements. Because of the brand new TruePic X Twin Quad Core processor, the OM-1 touts 4 instances the processing pace and 60 instances the computational skills of its predecessors.

Handheld Excessive Decision Mode

Carried over from the E-M1X and E-M1 Mark III is a 50-megapixel handheld high-resolution (HHHR) shot mode. Spec sheets promise 2.5 instances the processing pace with HHHR, in addition to improved picture high quality. HHHR works by exploiting the facility of the OM-1’s class-leading IBIS to shift the sensor in live performance with the pure micro-movements of our fingers — it’s the identical concept because the sensor-shift high-resolution supplied by many different producers, besides with out the tripod (I ought to be aware Pentax additionally affords this in its Okay-1 Mark II as does Panasonic in its new GH6).

The specified results of any sensor-shift high-resolution mode is superior coloration (on account of full-color sampling at every photosite), no moiré, diminished noise, no false coloration, and, in fact, elevated decision/element.

With the E-M1 fashions, I discovered HHHR to be hit or miss. More often than not it resulted in what appeared extra like an AI upscale; there have been by no means 50 true megapixels of element.

Nonetheless, the OM-1 not solely offers us quicker processing — it takes about 4 to 5 seconds now as a substitute of 12 to fifteen — however the outcomes are considerably higher. The recordsdata seem to resolve on par with the Nikon Z7 however with superior coloration, much less noise, and no aliasing in addition. Bear in mind, outcomes do rely in your shot self-discipline, topic, and focal size (longer focal lengths require steadier fingers), however both approach, the method is faster than earlier than, with superior outcomes.

Sadly, each tripod high-resolution and HHHR lack the distinctive movement correction processing of the Panasonic GH6 and S1 cameras — I’d like to see this launched by way of firmware since, in response to OMDS, the digicam isn’t totally exploiting its computational processing skills, so there’s loads of room for such enhancements.

Dwell ND

Dwell ND is one among my favourite options. Say you need to blur the motion of a waterfall, however oops! You left your ND filters at dwelling. No downside. Go into the menu, activate Dwell ND, select your power — which is now ND2 to ND64 (one to 6 stops) — and set your shutter pace (you should be in both shutter precedence or handbook). The digicam will then take a collection of fast pictures over the set time period and mix them in-camera. You’re nonetheless successfully capturing the progressive movement over that given time period, however with out the drawback of extreme mild gathering.

Not solely does the OM-1 do all of this in-camera and mix it right into a single RAW file, however it’s going to additionally preview the impact for you on the LCD display/EVF.

Focus Stacking

Whereas not distinctive to Olympus or the OM-1, in-camera focus stacking is extremely easy. Many different cameras will focus bracket however require you to mix the photographs in submit. With the OM-1, you’ll be able to mix as much as 15 photographs within the digicam — the consumer defines the main focus level, and the digicam will regularly shift the main focus ahead to extend the depth of discipline, one thing that might in any other case require a tilt-shift lens. In case your work requires greater than 15 pictures, the OM-1 will focus bracket as much as 999 pictures that you could then mix in your pc.

Video

I received’t get an excessive amount of into video as a result of we at PetaPixel focus extra on images, plus the video components alone might be a whole overview unto themselves.

I did, nevertheless, shoot some footage with my Olympus 12-40/2.8 Professional, and I used to be very impressed with what I noticed. Capturing in DCI 4K, 10-bit H.265, with OM-Log400, yields extraordinarily versatile recordsdata. Noise discount and sharpening aren’t overdone, and there’s a wholesome quantity of dynamic vary on faucet. You’ll be able to dig into the noise ground with out horrible coloration shifts or banding — the recordsdata are simply very malleable. OM-Log400’s base sensitivity is ISO 400. You’ll be able to go all the way down to ISO 200, however you’ll take successful in spotlight latitude

Shade can also be phenomenal, as it’s for stills. Whereas Panasonic could have higher video output and positively higher video options in-camera, I all the time discovered the pinkish hue of Panasonic recordsdata to necessitate loads of work in submit. OM-1 video merely offers us what it does with stills: pure and managed colours. Because of the quick readout of the stacked sensor, there may be additionally minimal rolling shutter — it’s on par with the most effective non-global shutter cinema cameras on this regard.

OMDS has thrown loads of nice video options into this digicam and when mixed with its class-leading IBIS and usually glorious (although not constantly pretty much as good as the most effective FF cameras) topic monitoring, you have got a really full package deal right here for lots of makes use of. Would I exploit it for my cinema work? Unlikely — I exploit devoted cinema cameras with handbook focus lenses. Would I exploit it for documentary or some run-and-gun work the place stabilization and AF monitoring are useful? Completely. As a lot as we attempt to shoot in managed environments, generally low-budget indie work means you need to do what you’ll be able to with what little you have got.

I don’t do vlogging, nevertheless it’s definitely an important contender for such work — sensible stabilization, good topic monitoring, and maybe most significantly, small and reasonably priced lenses. It makes for a really compelling vlogging package deal.

It might be good to see shutter angles (although at the least there’s a 1/forty eighth as a substitute of simply 1/50), false coloration, an open gate mode, and a cleaner separation between picture and video modes like what some others have (lastly) began doing. Proper now, there are just a few fundamental settings below the Video tab, however the rest is about up in the identical place as it’s for stills inside the menu. Till then, you’ll be able to all the time dedicate one of many C1 by means of C4 settings to video.

One other situation is that whereas the digicam affords 12-bit ProRes RAW output, we’re caught with a horrible micro-HDMI port. With such bold video specs, it’s a disgrace to not see a full HDMI port — particularly given what number of different cameras of comparable measurement are managing to squeeze it in there. Or, even higher, OMDS might strike a take care of Blackmagic Design to incorporate an inner 4K DCI BRAW — theoretically, this ought to be obtainable by way of firmware.

The Finest Micro 4 Thirds Digicam Ever Made

Should you’re a fan of Micro 4 Thirds, or particularly Olympus, the $2,200 OM-1 affords a powerhouse of unbelievable options, nice picture high quality, tank-like development, and phenomenal dealing with. The redesigned menus, improved ergonomics, a number of the finest coloration obtainable in any digicam, and all the opposite little enhancements make this a digicam value critical consideration.

It’s the most effective Micro 4 Thirds digicam ever made and some of the succesful cameras in any format. Pace is unparalleled whereas picture high quality is stellar, with distinctive tonality, dynamic vary, and gorgeously pure colours.

Whereas it might not flip any of the diehard anti-Micro 4 Thirds crowd, it ought to completely be thought-about by any critical wildlife or sports activities shooters or anybody else in search of a small, reasonably priced, powerhouse package deal. Getting this sort of efficiency in one other digicam would value you over twice as a lot, and your lenses can be at the least two to 3 instances the dimensions and weight for equal focal lengths.

This can be a nice digicam, with even better potential by way of firmware updates, and I can’t wait to see what OMDS brings us subsequent.

Are There Options?

Positive, relying on what’s vital to you. Is there the rest that may do 50 frames per second with full autofocus and autoexposure? No. However perhaps that’s approach an excessive amount of for you. The closest analogs by way of options can be the Olympus E-M1 Mark III and Olympus E-M1X — these even have lots of the identical AI-type options like handheld high-resolution, Dwell Bulb, Dwell ND, and many others. They’re additionally extremely well-built, if not fairly as much as the identical IP53 certification because the OM-1.

From Panasonic, the closest competitor might be the Panasonic G9 or maybe the brand new Panasonic GH6, although the latter is definitely geared towards video customers above all regardless of what Panasonic says. The Panasonic G9 continues to be a superb and really succesful digicam, with improbable ergonomics, nevertheless it does lack a few of these AI and computational options which have all the time made Olympus cameras extraordinarily distinctive — and it merely can’t compete with the OM-1 in both pace or autofocus monitoring. Or coloration. Have I discussed how nice the colours are from this digicam?

Ought to You Purchase It?

Completely, sure. Should you’re a sports activities or wildlife photographer, the mix of pace, sturdiness, and the diminutive measurement of the lens (in comparison with APS-C or full-frame) makes the OM Digital Solutions OM System OM-1 among the finest cameras available on the market. Should you do slower work, like landscapes, and have already got one of many more moderen E-M1 fashions, it’s possible you’ll need to wait to see what OM Digital comes up with subsequent.