The OM-1 is encourage – nearly fifty years after the advent of Olympus’ traditional SLR, the OM-1 title has made a shock return on the debut mirrorless camera from OM Digital Recommendations.
It might per chance well possibly per chance also simply enjoy the OM-1 title, nonetheless the unique Micro Four Thirds camera is basically a sequel to the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Model III from early 2020. This implies it lacks the standard styling of its trailblazing predecessor, nonetheless the unique OM-1 does bring hundreds of its maintain innovations.
Wait, aren’t Olympus cameras needless?
Sure, or so we notion. In June 2020, the corporate supplied its imaging division to an funding fund. That fund started a brand unique company, OM Digital Recommendations, which created a brand unique ‘OM System’ sub-sign for all of its unique cameras and lenses. That used to be the give up of Olympus cameras – till currently. For the explanation that current Olympus OM-1 SLR, launched encourage in 1972, is celebrating its 50th birthday this 300 and sixty five days, the unique owners had been in a position to exercise the Olympus sign on one final camera. This explains why the unique OM-1 has each and every the Olympus and OM System names on its physique. But here’s certainly the final ever Olympus-branded camera (we train).
Powered by a brand unique 20MP stacked BSI Are living MOS sensor and TruePix X engine, the OM System OM-1 takes Micro Four Thirds camera performance up a notch or two, and is mainly aimed in the direction of landscape, plants and fauna and macro photographers.
For the explanation that sensor is ‘stacked’, a chip invent that ensures hasty learn-out speeds, the OM-1 can shoot in blackout-free bursts of 50fps with precise autofocus (the usage of its digital shutter) and additionally data 4K/60p video with 10-bit 4:2:2 color depth internally.
A microscopic achilles’ heel of outdated E-M1 sequence cameras, autofocus performance, has additionally been given a gigantic toughen. The OM-1 has 1,053 allotment-detection autofocus factors and promises Quad Pixel AF, with application tracking for a ramification of matters from birds to motorbikes. There’s even AF tracking for trains and helicopters.
So what other treats does the unique Olympus, or reasonably OM System, OM-1 bring? Learn on to learn all about this thrilling mirrorless camera and our early thoughts on its potentialities.
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OM System OM-1 commence date and charge
The OM System OM-1 will be on hand to lift in early March for $2,199 / £1,999 / AU$3,299 physique-finest.
That’s a pretty gigantic soar up from the cost of the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Model III, which launched for $1,799.99 / £1,599.99 / AU$3,099, nonetheless the OM-1 does additionally inherit capabilities from the Olympus OM-D E-M1X (which had a commence mark of $2,999 / £2,799 / AU$3,499).
You are going to additionally be in a position to lift the OM System OM-1 with an M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II equipment lens. This bundle will value $2,799 / £2,499 and can simply additionally be on hand in early March (Australian availability is but to be confirmed nonetheless that is round AU$4,750).
Overall, this pricing is round what we anticipated for the OM System OM-1, despite the truth that it does put it in a doubtlessly no longer easy location between its closest opponents. The Fujifilm X-T4, as an instance, is currently finest $1,699 / £1,399 / AU$1,999 physique-finest, which is compelling value, despite its older tech.
Tubby-frame cameras adore the Canon EOS R6 ($2,499 / £2,499 / AU$3,999) additionally aren’t too grand pricier than the OM-1. Sensor dimension is now not always basically all the pieces, no doubt, nonetheless the OM-1’s performance desires to encourage up its claims if floating voters aren’t going to resolve a form of opponents (if they have not already).
OM System OM-1 invent
The OM System OM-1 is physically nearly linked to the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Model III, bar an upgraded digital viewfinder (EVF) and rear camouflage.
On legend of it lacks the E-M1X’s built-in battery grip, it is a microscopic, lightweight camera that weighs finest 599g (with out a lens). It be a little thicker than the E-M1 Model III at 72.7mm deep, nonetheless finest by a few millimeters.
The predominant control variations from its religious predecessor are its dials – reasonably than having these on the tip plate, you might per chance well well now procure them on the entrance and encourage of the camera. Here is a more primitive setup that’ll be comfortably familiar to mavens. There’s additionally a brand unique AF-On button on the encourage.
A huge improvement on the E-M1 Model III is the OM-1’s OLED EVF, which has a 5.76-million dot (or 1600×1200) resolution with a 1.65x magnification and 120fps refresh rate. On paper, this locations its viewfinder on a par with cameras adore the Canon EOS R5, and sooner than opponents adore the Fujifilm X-T4 and Canon EOS R6.
OM System OM-1: minimize to the dash
What is it? A next-gen Micro Four Thirds camera
How grand will it value? $2,199 / £1,999 / AU$3,299 physique-finest.
When will it be launched? Early March.
Olympus cameras has continuously been known for their toughness and here’s additionally one among the OM-1’s calling cards. It claims to be the arena’s finest IP53-rated camera, which procedure it is strongly immune to water splashes, mud and excessive frigid. Genuinely, OM Digital claims that the camera is entirely freezeproof, must restful you will must attain a timelapse in the Antarctic.
While the OM-1 sadly doesn’t enhance more moderen CFexpress cards, you might per chance well well procure two slots for UHS-II cards. OM Digital has additionally made a brand unique battery for the camera called the BLX-1, which is a colossal 2,280mAh affair that can per chance well shoot as a lot as 520 photos from a value. In theory, you ought in allege to get grand more than that out in the sphere, despite the truth that we will enjoy to place that to the take a look at.
OM System OM-1 autofocus and capabilities
The predominant to the OM System OM-1’s performance upgrades is the combo of its 20MP stacked BSI Are living MOS sensor and TruePix X processor. Collectively, these give it shooting vitality than in most respects trumps the upper, pricier E-M1X from 2019.
So what precisely can it attain? Olympus claims the OM-1’s burst shooting can hit a ambitious 50fps with precise tracking autofocus, must you use its digital shutter. Tell the mechanical shutter and it is restful the same outdated 18fps restrict, nonetheless it completely is additionally seemingly to hit 120fps with single AF focal level (when the usage of the machine’s pro zoom lenses).
Yet precise shooting speeds are finest enlighten you segment of the narrative through sports activities and plants and fauna performance.
As an instance, the OM-1’s buffer tops out at 96 raw data (when shooting at 50fps) and 92 raw data in 120fps mode. So that is under two seconds of burst shooting, or much less than a second in high fling, sooner than you might per chance well well scrutinize a foremost sluggish-down. In other words, you might per chance well well must restful be fluctuate cautious about must you hit that shutter.
The change gigantic component is autofocus. Recent Olympus cameras adore the E-M1X enjoy performed neatly on this department, nonetheless the OM-1 is promising to acquire this up a notch attributable to its sensor’s Quad Bayer invent. This implies each and every photosite is split into four, which supplies the OM-1 1,053 dreadful-kind autofocus factors across its total frame (a gigantic toughen from the E-M1X and E-M1 Model III).
Combine this with what OM Digital says are improved AI autofocus algorithms, for tracking birds, dogs, cats, autos and trains, and you’ve got got what must restful enlighten to be a extraordinarily highly efficient autofocus machine. The OM-1’s unique stacked sensor it appears to be like to be additionally brings superior low-gentle focusing (down to -8EV), alongside with an additional give up of dynamic fluctuate and even a two-give up improvement in noise performance.
Lastly, the OM-1 doubles down on what had been two primitive Olympus staples: highly efficient in-physique image stabilization (IBIS) and computational tricks. Like the E-M1X and E-M1 Model III, the camera physique promises to provide seven stops of stabilization (or eight stops when mixed with the nice lens). That’s no longer eclipses the competition, with the fat-frame Canon EOS R5 matching that maximum stabilization, nonetheless it completely does merit enhance some of the OM-1’s clever in-camera shooting tricks.
These contain some familiar favorites which had been given a enhance. As an instance, the Are living ND characteristic, a digital neutral density filter that helps you maintain lengthy exposures without desiring to screw on proper NDs, now goes as a lot as ND64 (round six stops). The Are living Composite characteristic, most incessantly historic for gentle painting, can now be historic handheld.
Smartphone-model processing is additionally on board with in-camera focal level stacking, which now stacks 15 photos in round 5 seconds for macro-model photos. The processing times for the High-Res Shot mode enjoy additionally been reduced, with 50MP handheld photos it appears to be like to be put together in 5 seconds. Tell a tripod, and that mode can additionally maintain 80MP photos, despite the truth that you might per chance well well must be very wary of circulation within your scene.
OM System OM-1 video
While the OM System OM-1 brings some video upgrades compared with outdated Olympus cameras, it is no longer going to be a video powerhouse that’ll effort the Panasonic GH6. Here is a camera designed for photographers who additionally shoot some video, reasonably than fat-time videographers.
The final note miss is a 4K/120p sluggish-mo mode, nonetheless the OM-1 can shoot uncropped 4K/60p video with 10-bit 4:2:2 color depth and autofocus. It’s seemingly you’ll per chance well additionally shoot sluggish circulation footage at 240p in 1080p resolution (with a microscopic slash), which could per chance well priceless for some b-roll footage or minimize scenes. The stacked sensor procedure that rolling shutter must restful, as OM Digital claims, be hugely reduced.
Whenever you happen to might per chance well well very neatly be ready to exercise an exterior note adore an Atomos Ninja, there is additionally a 12-bit ProRes raw video option, and OM Digital has additionally included an HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) recording option alongside its frequent OM-Log400 and Flat alternate options for color graders.
Reasonably a few microscopic annoyances adore a Micro HDMI port and 29-minute recording closing date might per chance well well additionally annoy filmmakers, nonetheless the OM-1 completely appears to be like more succesful than its religious predecessors through shooting video.
Diagnosis: grand of the OM-1 title?
The unique OM-1 might per chance well well section its title with the legendary 1970s movie camera, nonetheless in each and every other admire its a successor to the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Model III. And it improves on that camera in nearly each and every admire.
For trudge, that is to be anticipated, given it is been two years since the E-M1 Model III. But does the OM-1 enjoy ample to face out in the fiercely aggressive camera world of 2022? After all, its gigantic opponents enjoy all fled from the specter of smartphones by leaping onto the existence raft of fat-frame cameras.
On paper, the OM-1 is easily aggressive for a particular form of photographer, namely one who enjoys lengthy journeys into the colossal outside to shoot landscapes, plants and fauna and the occasional YouTube video. It be a camera that combines fling, weather-sealing and priceless in-camera processing tricks, all in a machine that is comparatively lightweight.
This implies it completely continues the spirit of the fresh OM-1, a microscopic camera that helped bring movie images to the plenty. But it completely’s a disgrace the camera lacks some capabilities adore a CFexpress card slot and 4K/120p video. And with no longer easy competition from the likes of the Fujifilm X-T4, Canon EOS R6 and (rapidly) Panasonic GH6, it’ll also simply fight to attract of us that aren’t already Olympus die-hards or Micro Four Thirds fans.
We’re completely staring at for finding out out its unique stacked sensor and burst shooting powers in a fat very rapidly, despite the truth that.
- Are trying our manual to the arena’s easiest cameras for images
Model is the Cameras Editor at TechRadar. Having worked in tech journalism for a ludicrous 17 years, Model is now making an try to ruin the arena file for the assortment of camera baggage hoarded by one person. He used to be previously Cameras Editor at Depended on Reports, Acting editor on Stuff.tv, as neatly as Aspects editor and Reports editor on Stuff magazine. As a freelancer, he’s contributed to titles including The Sunday Instances, FourFourTwo and Arena. And in a primitive existence, he additionally obtained the Day by day Telegraph’s Young Sportswriter of the 300 and sixty five days. But that used to be sooner than he discovered the odd joys of getting up at 4am for a record shoot in London’s Sq. Mile.
