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* Please note I went AGAINST the advise of OM Digital Solutions by processing through Adobe in the early stages of development.
The new OM-1: OM Digital Solutions new and long awaited flagship camera is here. Was it worth the wait? In my opinion…. ABSOLUTELY. I’m not one for wordy reviews because at the end of the day, as a photographer we care about one thing above all else: the resulting images. I’ll try and cover the most important aspects of this new camera to help you decide whether it’s right for you!
I eagerly anticipated this camera, but at the same time had slight concerns that with such a big build up it could fail to meet expectations. Everyone will have their own perceptions on what constitutes a ‘wow’ camera but for me, lower light performance, IQ, AF speed and accuracy are key things. It’s fair to say these have been well and truly met.
Autofocus
I’ve definitely been guilty of giving the team at Olympus / OM Digital Solutions a headache now and then, mostly due to the fact that my advice with previous cameras was to NOT use the tracking modes. Whilst they definitely could perform under the right conditions, I didn’t trust it enough when it was important that I 100% achieved the shot. When I finally got my hands on this camera, it was the first thing I wanted to test.
OM System OM-1 | 150-400mm @ 150mm (TC not engaged) | 1/1000th, ISO 200, f/4.5
Pro-capture testing.
OM System OM-1 | 150-400mm @ 150mm (TC not engaged) | 1/5000th, ISO 80, f/9
So the simple question is, is the autofocus notably improved from the EM1mk3 / EM1X?
ABSOLUTELY.
It’s significantly faster, more accurate and whilst historically I would shoot C-AF without tracking, I barely took the tracking modes off on the OM-1. Bird AF finds the eye, locks on and keeps it locked, and this included through branches, foliage and messy backgrounds. Did it miss the odd shot? Sure, nothing is perfect, but the keeper rate was substantial.
On a side note, I did test the ‘canid and feline’ tracking modes. Whilst in the UK we have very few wild subjects that can fall under this category, I still found that it could pick up the eye on things like Mountain Hares. I think this would need to be tested more in the wider world and couldn’t be relied on fully with subjects that differ substantially from the mode but it’s still impressive.
High ISO / Low light performance
Wildlife photographers often find themselves shooting in less than optimal lighting conditions. Historically with the EM1X / EM1mk3 I’d cap my ISO at 3200 (unless it was absolutely necessary to push it further) and opt for a risky, slower shutter speed to expose my image. I really wanted to see if the claims were true that we could see a notable improvement in high ISO.
* Please note I went AGAINST the advise of OM Digital Solutions by processing through Adobe in the early stages of development.
No noise reduction or sharpening applied in post-processing. RAW images converted to JPEG.
OM System OM-1 | 150-400mm + 1.4X TC @ 700mm (TC engaged) | 1/200th, ISO 4000, f/8
100% crop, no PP sharpening or noise reduction.
OM System OM-1 | 150-400mm @ 500mm (TC engaged) | 1/500th, ISO 6400, f/6.3
100% crop, no PP sharpening or noise reduction.
I think you’ll agree that the improvement to high ISO shooting is noticeable. These images have NO noise reduction, NO sharpening… My mind was genuinely blown when I saw the improvement. Typically my post-processing will involve noise reduction when necessary with Topaz Denoise and having tested numerous, high ISO images, any ‘niggling’ noise is cleaned up beautifully with no loss of quality.
ISO 25600 comparison between OM-1 & EM1X
Notice the improvement with the OM-1 with less artefacts, a higher and more natural colour palette & dynamic range and a greater degree of detail.
(best viewed on desktop)
Other snippets of note
– Blackout free shooting is a BIG feature for me and something I’ve been borderline harassing OM System to implement for a long time!
– I’ve put my old equipment through literal hell.. the cameras have been frozen, soaked, caked in sand, *accidentally* dunked in the sea, bumped, bruised and beaten. Despite this, they continue to perform admirably. Having EVEN MORE weather sealing means this camera will withstand so much more abuse. A camera is a tool after all…
– I was perhaps ignorant in so much that I was happy with the previous viewfinder on the EM1X / EM1 mk3. It’s one of those cases where I didn’t know or realise I needed it until it was given to me. The new viewfinder is notably clearer, more responsive and seems to cause less of a strain on my eyes.
– FINALLY with my limited experience of video, I can now achieve 4k 60fps for my slow-motion clips!
OM System OM-1 | 150-400mm @ 400mm (TC not engaged) | 1/1250th, ISO 500, f/4.5
OM System OM-1 | 150-400mm @ 316mm (TC not engaged) | 1/400th, ISO 500, f/4.5
So I guess the real question is… Is this camera worth upgrading to or investing in? My response is absolutely.
This is now my first shooter and preferred camera within the range and replaces the EM1X, which is sadly relegated to second shooter status. It has reached and arguably exceeded my expectations and defiantly shows that the brand is here to stay.
I will be running workshops on the new OM-1 to get your camera fully primed and ready.
OM-1 | 150-400mm @ 293mm (1.25x TC engaged) | 1/400th, ISO 4000, f/5.6
OM System OM-1 | 150-400mm + 1.4x TC @ 485mm (TC not engaged) | 1/1000th, ISO 800, f/6.3
Please note that whilst I am an OM System Ambassador, I was not asked or paid to write this review. My thoughts and opinions are ALWAYS my own.
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