I am not an OM-1 shooter, I shoot Nikon " most recently the Z9 which I have been shooting for a bit over a week, and the D850 and D500 which I have been shooting for years", in regards to the new OM-1 camera, it is worth it just for the viewfinder alone, the previous EVF viewfinders on Olympus systems have been OK, and it's the one improvement most Olympus users have been really happy about. The viewfinder improvement with all the other small improvements should make it a no brainer for anyone considering purchasing the new OM-1, from current Olympus owners to anyone new considering the Olympus system. I will give you a thumbs up for your smooth presentation.
This was a top notch review. I always come to your channel to get the straight talk because I value your logical approach to a review. Thanks for all the time you put into this work. It’s really appreciated. For now I am sticking with my em1-iii and will continue to work on my skills but will look for a used om1 in the next few years.
Another well balanced, accurate commentary: thank you. I swapped my EM1X and EM1 mark III for two OM1 bodies + a single battery grip and the new 40 - 150mm f4 lens. My birding/wildlife OM1 is set up in a similar way to your recommendation, but not exactly. I also use my MC14 all the time. My hit rate for BIF with this combination is really rather high so, given all the other improvements, I must say I do find the OM1 to be a WOW camera, even though I have previously owned a Sony A9 and A7R4. I imagine that there will be firmware upgrades to come, making the OM1 even better.
My apologizes, Mathieu. I failed to tell you how much I enjoyed your review. I have always relied on your unbiased reviews over the years and trust them over everything else out there. Keep up the excellent work.
Tank you for all the effort you put not just into the video but everything you do concerning equipment. The insides you provide are hard to find and very helpful not only for bird photographers but also for sports and action
Thank you! I'll share more feedback about sports with the next video (I still haven't finished going through all the images I took at the bike race lol)
Just come across your review and really appreciate how much effort you have put into it. I have watched so many reviews that leave me unimpressed. This was a different class. Many thanks.
hands down a superb camera so pleased ive got it..... BIF superb plane tracking brilliant compact well made people keep comparing it to camera 2-3 times its cost and yet it stands up to the comparison
"f/8 and be there," is what Weegee (Arthur Fellig) said when asked for his exposure data. I live in climate zone 2A, so, in winter, I often tuck my camera inside my parka, although I have shot northern lights at minus 40 with an M-10 III on tripod and it has functioned well. Last winter, I was at the Sax--Zim Bog in northern Minnesota and I tucked both a Leica 100-400 on M-5 III and 12-45 f/4 on M-10 III inside my coat at the same time. Sax-Zim is popular with owl photographers, and there were two Canon photographers there carrying huge telephoto lenses on monopods. I was much more mobile than them and able to shoot hand held, and that is why I stay with micro four-thirds. I do a lot of bird photography, and mobility is of high importance to me. I bought my first OM-1 48 years ago, and I would love to get the new OM-1, but I recently spent $14,000 on a new well, so no new camera for me this year.
Thanks Mathieu, I've had mine since early March and am super impressed. I've been using Oly/OM for 3yrs now, this itteration is what I have been hoping for. Like you I hope the firmware updates will do as you and I hope. It is up to OMDS not to drop the ball so fingers crossed.
Excellent review Matthieu, the best by far on RUclips. In regards to image quality it would seem that using “ETTR” expose to the right is still mandatory to get the least amount of noise. What would be a good comparison is do a +1,+2 EV on both the new OM-1 and the older EM1-lll and do a side by side comparison. This would show if there rally is any advantage in dynamic range with the new BSI sensor.
The advantage is less significant between the two M4/3 cameras, because the difference in highlight recovery is smaller (half a stop or even less than that).
Magnificent reviews, and detailed explanations. I would love to see a comparison between the OM System OM1 and its sister OM5. (Because although the OM5 shares the same sensor as the M1 Mark III, apparently there are changes in its performance thanks to the new OM5 firmware)
As always very good and detailed review. I remain curious about the OM system and as a current user of the A9ii with the 200-600 Sony for wildlife and BIF, I am often tempted to relook the OM system given the size and results that many photographers get with the OM system. But the key issue for me remains the low light results of the M43 vs FF. The 200-600 id very flexible and with a amazing A1 cost around the same price as the OM-1 plus the 150-400. As I shoot mostly mammals and big birds here in Africa, reach is not the major factor. In fact I prefer to shoot smaller birds in context and environment to include colour and contrast. For me tracking is essential where you have a big cat hunting at fast speed or a big raptor in flight. The Sony delivers every time, but I often travel and would love a smaller kit such as the OM-1 with the 100-400 or even the 300f4 and a landscape lens in a small bag. The only thing I found frustrating is understanding the controls of the OM system as it is very different. But have not spend enough time with the system to get over this "challange".
It can take some time to become familiar with a new system, but the OM-1's menu is much much better than previous cameras, so that is a plus. For the rest, I understand you reasoning perfectly. If you want to see what the system is capable of, I would recommend the 300mm Pro. I know it's not as versatile as a zoom, but the OM-1 + 300mm Pro show what the system is capable of in my opinion (perfect balance between quality and portability).
Many thanks for your video/analysis. It seems strange that you recommend the 300mm f4 when, according to your table of lenses, the PanaLeica 100-400 has a better keeper rate and in fact the best keeper rate of all lenses used. I’d be interested to know if you were using the Japanese or Chinese version of that lens. It’s a pity and probably due to the pandemic that you were not able to test the EM1 III with the same plethora of lenses.
I've been using om1 for 6 weeks, I took more than 300 000 photos (yes300 thousend, mainly motorsport, animal portraits, one wedding and some astrophotography) and i can't agree with a few things. 1)Buffer. With the correct settings (low iso processing-drive priority, no detail priority and is-drive priority) and the correct SD card, the results are much better. kingston react plus v90 300mb 10fps - NO LIMITS (I ended up with 800 images) 20fps 185-190 images, 25 fps 165-170 images. With the transcend 700s card - about 10% less, but the reeading time is much longer (about 10-12s vs 7.5-9 seconds with kingston). Not every card is equal, even if the specification says otherwise. 2)For autofocus in bird photography, check out the video of Mike Lane FRPS. He has a1 and om1 and has a completely different opinion. Remember that 80% of the 50 frames are more than 90% of the 20 frames. 3)Image quality. There is a real elephant in the room. It is worth comparing the image quality of the mechanical and electronic shutter. The electronic shutter gives much better results than the mechanical one. Canon r6/r5 and z9(compared to z7 with mechanical) is completely different story, IQ and DR are really suffering . OM1 is a quad pixel sensor,yes, but it's not only for af. Read noise is much lover and QE is much higher compared to old sensor. The difference in image quality is much greater. The OM-1 produces slightly more luma noise but much less chromatic (color) noise.This is a huge difference. Extracting details in shadow is incomparable, and cleaning up chromatic noise is very difficult,but luminance noise is very easy. A good way to test iso performance is astrophotography. Even though om1 generates more heat than m1miii(about 1-2 ⁰C) i needed 2.5 times less stacked shoots to get the same image. For m1miii 120-130, for om1 only 50. One more thing regarding autofocus. I had an r5 myself and tested the z9 and i'm sure that the om1 gave me better results in racing and wildlife photography. The Z9 was very close to the om1. 3)High res shoot and live nd now gives much better results. It is worth noting. In macro photography, the om1 is a real beast. If someone is using something else for macro photography then should buy the om1 immediately. You are absolutely right about om1 focusing on the foreground. Nikon behaves in a similar way. It seems to me that even the use of the frame center priority does not work at all! As for the busy background, om1 has no problems. For objects that move quickly towards you, you should use af sensitivity +1/2 (in this case, om1 is the most effective camera I've ever had), for panning 0 to -1.
1) It is possible to have better results with a faster SD card (mine is W 250MB/s). I didn't dig further because my results were already better than those found in the official specs. 2) I don't understand what do you mean by "80% of the 50 frames are more than 90% of the 20 frames." That it's not how I calculate the BIF keeper rate. 3) I didn't find any difference in IQ between mechanical and electronic shutter. Plus, I would struggle to understand the technical explanation behind something like that. Regarding the AF: I've been doing these tests for more than 6 years, I trust my method and the accuracy of the results. I'm not saying they are perfect, and of course it's not a lab test, so there can be variables if we want to nitpick, but they've been consistent throughout the years. I know Mike Lane's channel (and really like it) but I haven't watched his OM-1 video yet. High Res Shot and Live ND are not useful for bird photography, I'll talk about those in another video. As said in the video, I've tried all sorts of settings including different AF sensitivity levels.
Hi Mathieu, As always a solid, balanced review that will be appreciated by viewers. As you noted there are a lot of incremental upgrades with the OM-1 that many photographers will value. Tom
Great review., many thanks. Interesting to read of the AF issues you experienced. I hope Olympus are able to provide firmware updates as it is a great camera.
Since “WOW” is a marketing rather than a technical term, it seems to me that the OM-1 tested here pretty well against cameras that are far more expensive and don’t offer its compactness, ease-of-handling and computational features. Still waiting for mine to arrive, but I’ll look forward to your “best settings” video in the meantime.
It is not to say that the OM-1 is cheap. On the contrary, it is rather expensive in my humble opinion. Here in CH the body is more expensive than a Canon RS-6, a darn good full-framer. Nor is it compact. The body is bigger than an XT-4, which has a larger sensor. I myself have an OMD-E M1.3, but I am very much in doubt between the new OM-1 and a Canon RS-6, because I am frustrated about the noise levels indoors. But the latter would mean buying new, much heavier and more expensive lenses, of course. First world problems...
@@kirostar12 May I ask where you heard about that end-of-June date? Not that I doubt it; it’s been almost three months and I still don’t have mine. The G-6 seems like a fine camera. You should have no problem buying one; my camera store has four or five in stock.
Excellent and as usual thorough review - my main interest is bird photography so this entirely hits the spot. I was wondering if and when you would review this camera as I have always found your review very informative and you are always very balanced in your evaluations. Thanks again!
Useful video. I will have to come back to this when I eventually get my OM-1 camera which as you know has been on a preorder since 3 March. The video appears to be significantly improved. Just waiting for the ultimate video lens of 25 - 250mm f5.6 with internal zoom 😊
That is by far the best review I've ever seen. Well done! This camera seems like it was made for me. I always liked the IQ of the EM cameras but the AF leaves me wanting when shooting wildlife. The low weight and price makes this really hard to beat for what I like to do.
Very nice video! Just an impression from last weekend: Was on a small boat in full speed at the Irish coast while very shaky waves: I could do a lot of super sharp images with the OM-1! Bird detection on birds in flight (gannets, puffins, fulgars) was working fantastic even in these harsh conditions. Wouldn't have been possible with my good old Em1ii
Excellent review! Thanks! I'm also curious to see firmware updates to the OM-1 to fix a few minor issues and I also wish I could have slower fps settings while having no blackout. As of now 25fps is the "slowest" - but it will fill the card quite fast. 10/15/20 would also be nice, and maybe we could have a shutterspeed longer than 1/320 then?
Yes, I think that is a good idea. Plus I'm not sure why the blackout-free only works with SH1 and SH2, and not the normal burst at 20fps, since they're both with the electronic shutter.
I’ve had mine for a while now. I bought it at the same time as the 300 f/4 Pro. I have found the same as you have. Except I have noticed that what you say about the high ISO performance is true, I’ve also noticed that the type of color variations in the high ISO images is much more uniform and easier to correct in Lightroom. With the M1 III there were different color splotches, which I found impossible to fix rendering the image useless. While I have been able to get some nice images at 25600 which is astonishing to me. I notice that you set the focus sensitivity to +2, I have mine set to -2. I have been frustrated with twigs in front of the bird causing the camera to focus on the tree instead of the bird. I will try the +2, but I suspect you are using that to pick up on the bird quickly. In my experience the camera is super fast at picking up birds. Sometimes even before I have found them in the frame. Very nice review.
Yes the colours are better at high ISO on the OM-1. If you have obstacles in front of your subject, then a negative value for the AF sensitivity can help. If you have a clear view and the bird is really fast or moves erratically, then +1 or +2 can give you better results.
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons You’re welcome..👍 the overall performance, especially how it performs in low light and the dynamic range…cause the price of the om1 is almost close to a full frame?!.. basically the pros and cons… 🤷♂️
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons tout à fait, j' ai encore une E-m1 III et j' apprécie surtout la vitesse supérieure pour le high res. et le focus stacking. Sinon je suis vraiment d' accord avec tes observations.
Hi Matthieu, Without a doubt - the single review of the OM-1 that I was wanting and waiting for the most. Your effort, style of review and clarity of presentation are a credit to you and very much appreciated. For me, the bird detection is a revelation compared to my E.M1.3. I have only had the camera a short time and your level of trials is far ahead of mine already. I must admit that I was one of the people hoping the supposed 2-stops of ISO improvement meant I could now shoot 2 stops higher for the same level of noise. In reality, are OM Systems actually referring to the 2-stop increase in native ISO when making their claim? I must say that for wildlife photos so far, I find the noise is no less but better controlled in terms of the shape and pattern of the noise. I have taken multiple shots at 12800 that I found very usable that I would not have used even 6400 on the previous camera. I have not been able to try out the SH modes yet, but sounds like it may be worthwhile. I will look forward to your settings video in the future. Many thanks again and best wishes, Craig
Thank you very much Craig. I'm not sure what OM means exactly with the 2 stops improvement. It could be simply linked to the official specs. Also, I think in house tests from camera companies are often different from what we get in the real world.
I, too, was amazed by the bird Subject Detection but after it caused me to miss shots I discovered that it's a parlor trick that doesn't improve my images. If you need your gear to identify your subjects' eyes then you have some problems. As Robin Wong pointed out the bird detection really nails it when you're at the zoo!
Thank you Mathieu for a thorough test and evaluation of the OM-1. As I had hoped, my copy of the OM-1 locks on to birds with much higher frequency than the Em-1mkIII yielding more 'keepers'. Your testing bears this out as shown in your camera rankings at the 10:51 minute mark. My subjective testing agrees with your findings. As for noise, I have become a devotee of Topaz DeNoise to deal with that in low light shots. Thanks again for an objective look at the system. Cheers!
I have now shot over 10k images with the OM-1 and 300 PRO and have found it to be a very hit and miss combination when photographing birds, especially small ones flying within a few feet of a water’s surface. I can see the camera recognizes the bird by tracking it with the white box but, way too often when I release the shutter it focuses on everything but the bird. I can see the small green focus acquisition boxes light up all around the bird and ultimately It will even focus on small objects on the water such as a 1/2 inch diameter reed sticking a few inches out of the water a few feet from the bird or the water itself. It’s been very frustrating to say the least. I have tried everything and have not found a good setup. On the other hand on static birds, even small ones such as warblers, I’ve been having great success. I truly believe the focusing system needs to be improved.
Have you tried using a small AF Target (Cross or Small)? That should limit the area the camera focus on, and if you don't manage to keep the bird in the Target area at all time, the camera should still focus correctly as long as the bird is not far from it. You can also try a Custom Target, with a rectangular shape (horizontal) and offset it slightly upwards from the centre. These tips may not work all the time but it's worth trying, until they (hopefully) improve this via firmware.
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons I did try even down to a single point but as you know it does become more difficult to follow a bird. I thought I needed to be right on target with the small zones so, after reading your comment I will give that more of a workout. I did want to try a customized size also as you suggest so, I will use your suggestions. I also was wondering if turning off C_AF Center Priority would help unless that is just for initial acquisition. Thanks again for all of your excellent work, I know I speak for many when I say I really appreciate it.
C-AF Centre Priority forces the camera to prioritise the centre of the frame. The OM-1 will look elsewhere only if it can’t focus at the centre. It is different from the C-AF Centre Start setting that only works at the beginning (but is not available on the OM-1).
Great video, thanks. I own the previous model 1 Mark II, having some equipment of Olympus. One question: You never made a video of Canon M50 / I or II, right? Can you say, why? At holidays I like the M50 II to carry around. For me it is a very good compromise between compactness and picture quality. With this I first learned more about photography. Yes an Olympus OM 1 or a Sony 7 A4 or so on is on another level. But none other camera triggered sympathy so much to me. Simplicity is the keyword. And joy. Conclusion: it is not a matter of format. The camera which influences one with passion and fun is the right one.
I wrote an article on my website about the best lenses for the M50 I and II (and I tested all of them, the lenses I mean). I suppose I could have done something about the camera itself, but this being a one-man job, I often have to be selective about what I review. But I agree with you, it's a fun little camera.
Thank you. I will visit your site. I understand, what you've wrote. But this one man show is a great one, you do very goo job with passion. 📸 Yes, there are only 8 native lenses and some of other companys. I own the 11-22mm, the 32 f 1.4 and the 18-150mm. OK, not M system of Canon is artificial reduced. But for the purpose you can live with. And yes, Fuji or Sony do have more leading APSC, no question. For me it is only a question of sympathy and simplicity in using the M50: So perhaps you can say not the best technical but the most joyful is the "best" camera to make "good" photos. But OK for
Interesting that the claimed two stop improvement doesn't seem to be a thing. However value for money wise this has to be hands down the best wildlife photography camera and hopefully will improve with updates.
Very good review, well done. I'm not surprised the IQ is similar to older models. For several years now, most manufacturers are improving video specs, speed of shooting and AF performance, rather than IQ. I've compared RAWs from D750 and Z6 II, for example, and tbh - difference is similar to these shown in the video here, between the old 20MP sensor and the new BSI one. Yes, I can see it, but only when specifically looking for it, under great magnification or with serious boost in post. Otherwise - normally exposed pictures with usual corrections look pretty much identical.
@@markshirley01 I had both systems, but at present shoot only with the Nikon Z6 (full frame 24MP). Image quality ist much better, yout get more dynamic range, more lucent colours and better background separation. Because yes, the size of the sensor matters!
Top notch review, Matthieu, and I look forward the follow-ups. Hope you get a chance to use it with the 150-400, which it definitely performs better all round with.
I currently still use EM1 mark II and toying with an upgrade to the OM-D. Mostly street photography is what the camera is used for by capturing faces from a distance with the 75 mm prime lens. A possible reason to switch along with the extra video capacity that sports OM- log 400.
Thanks for the video. As this review was conducted with firmware 1.3 and we are now at 1.5 were any of your wish list items addressed. I’m new to the OM-1 system having had the camera for about a month with the OM 100-400 and as of a week ago, the 300 f4 PRO. Just working out my settings.
I think this is the best review of this camera on RUclips, and I think I've watched them all. Would you say that using tracking with subject detection also improves AF performance for stills as well as video? Does it make sense to leave tracking on whenever using subject detection?
Thank you for all your amazing work, Mathieu! When it comes to wildlife and bird photography, what would be your pick? - R6 with RF 100-500 f/4,5-7,1 L - EM-1 with M.Zuiko ED 300 f/4,0 PRO, or something completely different? As a beginner, I feel overwhelmed with all the information and options. I'm fully aware that one can't really go wrong with any of them, but your opinion would be very much appreciated!
I know, it's not easy to choose. I would probably go with the OM-1 and 300mm Pro. It has so much to offer, from the excellent AF to the impressive selection of drive speed. Image quality wise, the advantage for the R6 at high ISO would be reduced because of the smaller aperture of the RF lens. If I were to go the Canon route, I would rather choose the R5 (budget permitting) to take advantage of the higher megapixel sensor, which is always a nice plus for wildlife. But for a similar budget, I think the OM-1 has more to offer, especially couple with the 300mm Pro which is a lens I really like.
Hi Mathieu, first of all a big thank for all your work and honest reviews. Yesterday I had the chance to play with the OM-1 coupled to the Zuiko 150-400 and I have been very impressed. It was at the Photo Forum at Barcelona (yesterday was the last day) at the end of the day, meaning light conditions where poor inside and outside. The system focused very quickly and accurately on people’s faces around me or outside (through the windows of the building!). I will ask for a trail but the queue list is very long (meaning a lot of people want to try it). My question for today is : based on your experience, how would position the OM-1 vs the Fuji X-H2 (I own it) for wild life-BIF? Thank you
Hi Matheiu, can you do a comparison between the new G9II and OM1. The lower base ISO and the DRboost sensor tech might help reduce the image quality concerns of MFT. Also, the AF detection and tracking seem to have been much improved from the likes of even the S5II. I'm surprised Panasonic didn't send you one, as according to me, you're by far the best reviewer for BIF, which the camera seems to be very well specced for. Hoping for a review and comparison.
I am not a wildlife nor a sports photographer, but I would love to see the OM-1 enhancements in E-M5 type body. I hope OM System going forward will melt together the E-M5 and E-M10 into a single enthusiast type offering.
Love your videos. So in depth for newbies like myself. Great job. My question is- on my info screen I keep seeing a setting ‘FLK’ and I can’t figure out what this is and what it means. Could someone explain please? I would like to know the acronym and what it is saying that the camera is doing?
Mathieu, By default subject detection is not assigned but can easily be done. if you assign subject detection to a button you can quickly change the type of subject by holding the button and using the dial to scroll through subject types. Pro lenses have Function buttons that can be used for this purpose. I hope this helps!
Thank you but I already knew that. What I’m talking about in the video is to group everything in one category (animal) if they implement more data via firmware (assuming that’s the part of the video you’re referring to).
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons My mistake, I just went back and watched again. Yes, I see what you mean now. I usually move the camera so that the AF target area is on the new subject and then push the AF button again to acquire the new target. Thanks for the reply! It would be great to have a dial that quickly switched targets within the frame!
Fantastic review and amazing camera. I think the weight and size benefit in comparison to FF came a little short. I hope this amazing tech tripples down to the Em5 and Em10 models sometimes. So wonderful that Olympus is alife again !
Thanks for the informative review. I'd like to see is a comparison between full frame V.S. 4/3 ( lenses with the same focal length).. Then crop the full frame photo 100% V.S. 4/3 uncropped photo. As we know; 4/3 photos are already cropped 100%. And look at noise sharpness etc. Thanks
I purchased an EM-1X two months ago (mainly because my EM1 MK1, even with battery grip, has always felt way too light to work well with my 300/2.8), and an OM-1 one month ago. Will b interesting to see if I'll find the EM-1X good enough or if I'll end up getting one more OM-1, a battery grip, and possibly something I can attach to the OM-1 just to make it heavier, like a Jobu Designs hockey puck.
Thank you very much for this balanced review. The only problem is, I am even more in doubt now about what to do. I had almost made my mind up and was about to buy a Canon RS-6 as an additional camera for indoors shooting, as I have 1,5 big frustrations about my OMD-E M1.3: tracking and, to a lesser extent, noise levels. I find it very hard to shoot birds in flight and fast unpredictable action, and sometimes noise levels are quite high, even at lower ISO values. Noise can be managed quite well in Topaz Denoise, but the additional post-processing step remains cumbersome. But as I learn from your video that (bird) tracking has improved significantly, the choice is even harder. I can manage the noise, but the OM-1 is by no means a cheap camera. Where I live, the body is more expensive than the Canon RS-6. The latter would mean buying new heavier, more expensive lenses, of course. First world problems... :-)
I have not tested the O-M1 for indoor sports, but I think the R6 could deliver a better job there (AF and Tracking). And obviously the advantage of the larger sensor when it comes to high ISO and noise. But as you've already pointed out, the investment with camera + lenses is easily more important if you choose Canon.
Great review! Seems like there is some improvements which are not that significant, so I won't be spending 1000€ on this camera to replace my E-M1X (I got it for extremely cheap; 1200€). Lenses are way more important and I love my big and spaced out buttons on my M1X when using thick gloves.
A comprehensive, interesting and fascinating review. I am considering changing from a full frame Sony A7 R IV (65MP) to MFT. However, having seen your written review/comparison of the LUMIX G9 II with the OM 1, I am still unsure which of the two cameras to choose. Could you please let me have your advice on the best system, the newer G9 II or the OM 1?
Please touch on the face and eye tracking next in general shooting conditions. Although since it was not talked about, already tells me that nothing much has changed since E-M1 III or E-1X. R6 seems much better all rounder for shooting events since it can track almost anything even if it does not recognize the subject.
Yes I'm planning to test that, as well as check out other things like skin tones. But as for tracking alone (without any subject detection), I can already tell you that the R6 is much better.
amazing video. I've been eyeing the OM-1, unsure about it since its release. Every other review I'm seen feels more subjective. But this video gets down and dirty with the details.
When using AI + CAF + Tracking, the camera finds the subject and tries to focus wherever the subject is in the frame. When using AI + CAF (without Tracking) the camera finds the subject wherever the subject is in the frame, but only focuses using the focus points you have chosen. At least that’s what OMDS says. For E-M1x you only could use AI + CAF + Tracking.
Yes, that's what I explain in the video about the use of the AF Targets. However you can do the same on the E-M1X. A small Target will prioritise a bird over another.
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons Ok, English isn’t my first language, so perhaps I misunderstood you. But to activate AI on the E-M1x, you have to use both CAF and Tracking. For the OM-1 you can use either AI + CAF or AI + CAF and Tracking! At least that’s what OMDS says. If you haven’t, you should talk to Michael Guthmann at OMDS Germany. He knows everything about all Olympus and OMDS cameras.
You may be right about C-AF+Tracking for the E-M1X, but I clearly remember being able to prioritise a subject with the AF Target. Yes I know Michael very well!
In your AF tests, IMO the percentage of "in focus" shots is misleading when comparing to other cameras. The key component is "how many" shots "in focus" during a set time seems like a better judge than percentage. If the Sony A1 can get 100% of its 30 shots per second in focus and the OM-1 gets 80% of its 50 shots per second in focus, which has better performance? The OM-1 got 40 and the Sony only 30. Why don't you incorporate this into your results? Given that information, I find it amazing that a smaller $2200 camera is getting more shots than much more expensive, bigger FF cameras. Thank you for your time and effort in this review... really!
I've had this conversation more than once, and in my birds in flight article you can also see a ranking based on the frame rate (link below). However, I prefer the way I measure the percentage and I don't believe it is misleading, and the reason is this: you may end up with more keepers because camera A has a faster drive speed than camera B, but if camera B has a better AF, the chances of getting correct focus at the right moment are higher with camera B than camera A, despite the lower drive speed. Look at the moment where I talk about the OM-1 struggling with the bird near the water or grass: you can have the fastest fps in he world, but if the camera fails to get the image in focus where it matters the most, it just means you have more images to throw away. In other words, the A1 does 'only' 30fps in comparison to the OM-1's 50fps, but the A1 score is 98%/99%, and it doesn't struggle when the bird is catching something in the water. The link: mirrorlesscomparison.com/best/mirrorless-cameras-for-birds-in-flight/
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons This is what you say in your article:" it is almost impossible to assess with math and percentages if these cameras will deliver the usable images when it matters the most in a sequence (for example when a bird is pulling a fish out of the water). So the better the AF rate is, the higher your chances to capture the perfect shot are." It seems this almost discredits your own method of evaluation? It sounds fishy (pun intended) that OM-1 has a algorithm that prevents users from getting the precise moment of a bird catching a fish because that seems to be your whole argument. I trust your judgement, but I'm also confused in the logic.
The bird catching a fish is just an example, and I'm not saying that the OM-1 has an algorithm that prevents users from getting that shot. I think that is pretty clear in the video. I'm talking about a limitation of the camera (often focuses in the foreground) that hopefully can be fixed via firmware (I also encountered the problem with the motorbike race, and another user confirmed the same in the comments here). My point is that the better the AF is, the less chance you have to get out of focus images, and consequentially get them in a point of the sequence where the action is at its most interesting. Going back to your example: if the A1 gives me a 100% score at 30fps, I have 30 images, all in focus, and I can pick the one I prefer in the sequence. if the OM-1 gives me 40 images out of 50, yes I do have more keepers, but if the 10 images out of focus are in a point of the sequence where the bird's position/action matters the most, I'll probably move all those 50 images in the bin. Unfortunately, it's hard to predict every time where those 10 out of focus images will be. I have sequences with a few out of focus shots at the beginning and end, other where it's every other frame etc. I also have sequences that are perfect. (that is why I like to calculate my score with as many images as possible). The only time where the 'mistakes' where more consistent was with the bird close to the ground/water, hence why I pointed that out in my review.
Also, another point we could add is buffer. If I'm not mistaken, the A1 can hold 30fps at full speed for about 5 seconds. This means a total of 150 frames. The OM-1 does about 2 and half seconds at 50fps, so 125 frames. At this point, the advantage becomes clear: 150 frames, all in focus, for the Sony, 100 frames in focus for the OM.
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons I'd say this is more of an argument than the first one and follows a logic if you find most people would shoot continuously for 5 seconds. However in your review, the OM-1 is in SEVENTH position and completely ignores frame rate until the end of the article and no mention of it in this review. I'm not sure (using your second point about total number of shots in focus over a certain number of seconds) would mean the OM-1 is in SEVENTH position. Just so you know, I don't have the OM-1 and I don't intend on buying one as I don't even shoot birds in flight (find it rather pointless in fact). It was only the logic behind your categorical ratings that bothered me and made me want to learn more. Maybe it would make more sense to simply rate camera as "Pro" or "Amateur"? Is the OM-1 at "pro" level like the A1 or simply "amateur"? Also, maybe cost should also come into consideration? At $6500 (body only) the A1 is certainly a huge investment and better be the best. Let's not forget that if you find this the fairest way to rate each camera given all the variables, then so be it. After all, it's your channel and website, but I think you're going to continue to get this question more and more as your channel/website become more and more popular.
I know that a lot of people think this doesn't matter that much, and in many ways I agree but I would like to see a 43 megapixel om systems camera. I am very happy with my 20 megapixel E-M1 iii. But, if I bought the OM-1 and then an OM-1X (E-M1X ii) came out with 40+ megapixel, I would be willing to spend $3000+ for it. That being said, I think this is where OM needs to go. If they want to become one of the most sought after nature wildlife cameras, they will do 3 things to compete with Sony/Canon/Nikon: 1) Keep the similar performance to OM-1 (maybe 24 frames per second would suffice), 2) bump the megapixels to compete with the R5, and 3) put a big emphasis on video features. Look, I am extremely happy with what I have, but I want my investment to keep winning financially, and imagine how many people would prefer the lightweight portability of micro 4/3, but the detail and flexibility of having larger files for cropping, and higher res video and/or more video fidelity: i think this is the winning formula for OM, and micro 4/3 as a whole
It's just that you can't have everything in M43. If they made a 40 MPX super sensor in the M43, such small photosites would have a lot of trouble managing noise, and the M43 already has enough of a problem with noise.
I pre-ordered the R7 it's been over two months still waiting. I've got the 7dmk2 with the 100-400mkII I think I wish the R7 specs were like the X-H2s or OM-1. I've been close to quit waiting for the R7 and getting OM-1 and today I saw the price of the Fuji dropped to £2019 and in stock at e-infin. I'm really looking forward to your BIF tests with the R7 and X-H2s. I want one of these 3 cameras not a clue which is best yet for BIF/wildlife.
I have the R7 on pre-order and I'm planning a comparison with the OM-1. Not sure about the X-H2s, I'll probably have to wait until it is available to rent.
Comme toujours une vidéo clinique, précise qui réponds quasiment à toutes les questions, même celles que je me suis posé en cours de lecture Le choix avec le R6,R5,Z6 ou 7IV ce sera en définitive le prix, et l'encombrement car il me semble "au niveau" des autres mais rien de définitif pour un photographe semi-pro ou pro Tu shootes les oiseaux en vol soit en 1/2000,1/2500 ou 1/4000s, c'est pour les tests ou y a t'il une raison spécifique à cela ? (pour ma culture personnelle) À part ça, bravo et à la prochaine !
Pour la vitesse, ça dépends: je trouve que 1/2000s est un bon compromis la plupart du temps, c'est assez rapide pour "arrêter" le mouvement et ne pas avoir d'images qui sont légèrement floues à cause du mouvement. Si je choisis 1/4000s (ou plus rapide), c'est soit parce que il y a beaucoup de lumière, soit parce que les oiseaux sont plus rapides (comme les petits que j'ai photographié avec la fonction Pro Capture). Tu peux obtenir de bons résultats at 1/1000s aussi, tout dépend de la vitesse de l'oiseau et ton mouvement avec l'appareil aussi. Je préfère êtres plus sure de ce cote là pour faciliter mes tests.
Hmm, it's a very interesting question and not an easy one to answer. I think I would go with the OM-1. The AF is inferior but the difference is not too big. On the plus side, you get a much faster drive speed and superb image stabilisation. I really like the 300mm F4 Pro, and you get very sharp images with this lens on the OM-1. Plus, you have a lighter and more compact setup, and the F4 aperture compensates (for the most part) for the inferior high ISO performance, when compared to the Sony camera and lens specifically (f6.3). The A9 doesn't offer a lot more megapixel, and it doesn't have Eye for Birds unfortunately. If we're talking A9 II, it is also more expensive.
Great review and v much looking forward to yr settings guide to push me in the right direction. Am I right in thinking that you can use the IS on the lens as well as in the body of the camera at the same time? Logic says that you can but I thought I had heard somebody saying it’s an either/or situation. My OM1 arrived a few days ago and I am thrilled to bits with it although am having some software problems along the way, which no doubt will be sorted out, many thanks
With Olympus lenses like the 300mm Pro or the 12-100mm Pro, sensor and optical stabilisation work together (it is called Sync IS). With other lenses like the 100-400mm F5-6.3, you can combine one axis on the sensor (roll) with optical stabilisation (so a less advanced Sync IS in a way). With Panasonic lenses, you choose either sensor or optical stabilisation.
Thanks fr the informative video. Just watching both of your reviews as I am considering one. Just the reported issues with the AF in forums concerning me a bit. As far as substantial firmware updates, I fear those days are over. But I hope to be proven wrong.
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons Seems to be single AF. There are a number of people who have even returned their camera on the Mu-43 forum. A search there should show up the concerns
I think this looks a great all-round camera. Id love to get it with the 10-25 f1.7 from Panasonic. My work is hybrid social media and the fullframe 20-50 is my exact lens range. I just don't know if the AF would suffer using a Panasonic lens
In the video I show the results with Panasonic lenses too. Sure they are telephoto lenses, but in my experience, I never had issues with using Panasonic lenses on Olympus bodies.
Hello, Appreciate the review. Quick question: Does the autofocus performance improve with it set on Cluster Autofocus ( i.e., all targets selected- continuous autofocus set)? This is what I use on my EM1X and I have very high keeper rates even with the bird detection off. Granted, it is best with larger birds… Also, how about the size comparison with the EM1X? Quite honestly for a top professional camera the button layout (tactile feel) and space is disappointing to me, especially in vertical position with the grip on. I think they could have done better. For all the added horsepower and it’s limitations I don’t see a need to upgrade just yet, even with a better viewing experience…just my thoughts.
I've always had a better keeper rate with the 25-Target mode, even on the E-M1X. The find the OM-1 to be very good overall when it comes to ergonomics, and I personally prefer a smaller body so I may a bit biased, but I can understand the advantage of the E-M1X on this point.
Thanks a lot for such a good and honest review. As you know I sold my Sony a1 with all my lenses in favor of OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 with several other Olympus lenses.I am very satisfied with the optical quality of the lenses,but for BIF photography the AF of Sony far better than OM-1.All the problems which you mentioned in your video happened with me too.I think the OM CAF+tracking is one of the worst which I experienced.First time in my life I bought a camera without trying it before and it was a big mistake.I hope with a firmware update they can fix those problems and sooner is better.Other than this I am really enjoying the compactness,portability and good quality optics of the system.The IBIS is unbelievable compare to FF or MF.I am waiting for the DXO support for editing which will be update in June.
For BIF, don't use C-AF+Tracking on its own. Use it alongside Bird Subject Detection, or even better with the normal C-AF and the Large Target. The results will be much better (not A1 level, but not too far either). I'm finishing a video where I explain all this with more details.
As always an excellent in depth review Mathieu, having come from Olympus and now in my 3rd year with Sony I see nothing here to make me go back, a shame as I still love the Olympus form factor but it looks from this they still have some way to go for consistant results on this kind of subject...regards to you both..
I'm amazed at the TREMENDOUS amount of work that went into making this video! Thank you for that!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I am not an OM-1 shooter, I shoot Nikon " most recently the Z9 which I have been shooting for a bit over a week, and the D850 and D500 which I have been shooting for years", in regards to the new OM-1 camera, it is worth it just for the viewfinder alone, the previous EVF viewfinders on Olympus systems have been OK, and it's the one improvement most Olympus users have been really happy about. The viewfinder improvement with all the other small improvements should make it a no brainer for anyone considering purchasing the new OM-1, from current Olympus owners to anyone new considering the Olympus system.
I will give you a thumbs up for your smooth presentation.
This was a top notch review. I always come to your channel to get the straight talk because I value your logical approach to a review. Thanks for all the time you put into this work. It’s really appreciated. For now I am sticking with my em1-iii and will continue to work on my skills but will look for a used om1 in the next few years.
Thank you for the kind comment!
Another well balanced, accurate commentary: thank you. I swapped my EM1X and EM1 mark III for two OM1 bodies + a single battery grip and the new 40 - 150mm f4 lens. My birding/wildlife OM1 is set up in a similar way to your recommendation, but not exactly. I also use my MC14 all the time. My hit rate for BIF with this combination is really rather high so, given all the other improvements, I must say I do find the OM1 to be a WOW camera, even though I have previously owned a Sony A9 and A7R4. I imagine that there will be firmware upgrades to come, making the OM1 even better.
I'm using the MC-14 a lot too, the extra reach is always welcome.
My apologizes, Mathieu. I failed to tell you how much I enjoyed your review. I have always relied on your unbiased reviews over the years and trust them over everything else out there. Keep up the excellent work.
Thank you. I really appreciate that!
Tank you for all the effort you put not just into the video but everything you do concerning equipment.
The insides you provide are hard to find and very helpful not only for bird photographers but also for sports and action
Thank you! I'll share more feedback about sports with the next video (I still haven't finished going through all the images I took at the bike race lol)
Just come across your review and really appreciate how much effort you have put into it. I have watched so many reviews that leave me unimpressed. This was a different class. Many thanks.
Many thanks, I appreciate your kind words.
Best (honest) reviews on the market 👍🏻
Thank you, I appreciate that!
hands down a superb camera so pleased ive got it..... BIF superb plane tracking brilliant compact well made people keep comparing it to camera 2-3 times its cost and yet it stands up to the comparison
I agreed. Best bang for the bucks for BIF and related, if you compare OM-1 + 150-400 F4.5, compare to other setup from A/Z/C series.
"f/8 and be there," is what Weegee (Arthur Fellig) said when asked for his exposure data. I live in climate zone 2A, so, in winter, I often tuck my camera inside my parka, although I have shot northern lights at minus 40 with an M-10 III on tripod and it has functioned well. Last winter, I was at the Sax--Zim Bog in northern Minnesota and I tucked both a Leica 100-400 on M-5 III and 12-45 f/4 on M-10 III inside my coat at the same time. Sax-Zim is popular with owl photographers, and there were two Canon photographers there carrying huge telephoto lenses on monopods. I was much more mobile than them and able to shoot hand held, and that is why I stay with micro four-thirds. I do a lot of bird photography, and mobility is of high importance to me. I bought my first OM-1 48 years ago, and I would love to get the new OM-1, but I recently spent $14,000 on a new well, so no new camera for me this year.
14.000 on a well?
Thanks for the work dude. Your time deserves a good amount of positive reviews.
Thank you!
the best review ! thank you so much
Thanks Mathieu, I've had mine since early March and am super impressed. I've been using Oly/OM for 3yrs now, this itteration is what I have been hoping for. Like you I hope the firmware updates will do as you and I hope. It is up to OMDS not to drop the ball so fingers crossed.
Yep, let's hope they are reading us! ;-)
Excellent review Matthieu, the best by far on RUclips. In regards to image quality it would seem that using “ETTR” expose to the right is still mandatory to get the least amount of noise. What would be a good comparison is do a +1,+2 EV on both the new OM-1 and the older EM1-lll and do a side by side comparison. This would show if there rally is any advantage in dynamic range with the new BSI sensor.
The advantage is less significant between the two M4/3 cameras, because the difference in highlight recovery is smaller (half a stop or even less than that).
Magnificent reviews, and detailed explanations. I would love to see a comparison between the OM System OM1 and its sister OM5. (Because although the OM5 shares the same sensor as the M1 Mark III, apparently there are changes in its performance thanks to the new OM5 firmware)
Thank you for that. So far I have only done one update of the firmware so it's time to get back on top.
Fantastic review. This was a lot of work. Much appreciated.
Glad you enjoyed it!
As always very good and detailed review. I remain curious about the OM system and as a current user of the A9ii with the 200-600 Sony for wildlife and BIF, I am often tempted to relook the OM system given the size and results that many photographers get with the OM system. But the key issue for me remains the low light results of the M43 vs FF. The 200-600 id very flexible and with a amazing A1 cost around the same price as the OM-1 plus the 150-400. As I shoot mostly mammals and big birds here in Africa, reach is not the major factor. In fact I prefer to shoot smaller birds in context and environment to include colour and contrast. For me tracking is essential where you have a big cat hunting at fast speed or a big raptor in flight. The Sony delivers every time, but I often travel and would love a smaller kit such as the OM-1 with the 100-400 or even the 300f4 and a landscape lens in a small bag. The only thing I found frustrating is understanding the controls of the OM system as it is very different. But have not spend enough time with the system to get over this "challange".
It can take some time to become familiar with a new system, but the OM-1's menu is much much better than previous cameras, so that is a plus.
For the rest, I understand you reasoning perfectly. If you want to see what the system is capable of, I would recommend the 300mm Pro. I know it's not as versatile as a zoom, but the OM-1 + 300mm Pro show what the system is capable of in my opinion (perfect balance between quality and portability).
Many thanks for your video/analysis. It seems strange that you recommend the 300mm f4 when, according to your table of lenses, the PanaLeica 100-400 has a better keeper rate and in fact the best keeper rate of all lenses used. I’d be interested to know if you were using the Japanese or Chinese version of that lens.
It’s a pity and probably due to the pandemic that you were not able to test the EM1 III with the same plethora of lenses.
@Mathieu Gasquet, incredible, really by far the best review since the release of this OM1. AMAZING, CONGRATULATIONS.
thank you so much for your comment, really appreciate it.
I've been using om1 for 6 weeks, I took more than 300 000 photos (yes300 thousend, mainly motorsport, animal portraits, one wedding and some astrophotography) and i can't agree with a few things.
1)Buffer. With the correct settings (low iso processing-drive priority, no detail priority and is-drive priority) and the correct SD card, the results are much better. kingston react plus v90 300mb 10fps - NO LIMITS (I ended up with 800 images) 20fps 185-190 images, 25 fps 165-170 images. With the transcend 700s card - about 10% less, but the reeading time is much longer (about 10-12s vs 7.5-9 seconds with kingston). Not every card is equal, even if the specification says otherwise.
2)For autofocus in bird photography, check out the video of Mike Lane FRPS. He has a1 and om1 and has a completely different opinion. Remember that 80% of the 50 frames are more than 90% of the 20 frames.
3)Image quality. There is a real elephant in the room. It is worth comparing the image quality of the mechanical and electronic shutter. The electronic shutter gives much better results than the mechanical one. Canon r6/r5 and z9(compared to z7 with mechanical) is completely different story, IQ and DR are really suffering .
OM1 is a quad pixel sensor,yes, but it's not only for af. Read noise is much lover and QE is much higher compared to old sensor.
The difference in image quality is much greater. The OM-1 produces slightly more luma noise but much less chromatic (color) noise.This is a huge difference. Extracting details in shadow is incomparable, and cleaning up chromatic noise is very difficult,but luminance noise is very easy. A good way to test iso performance is astrophotography. Even though om1 generates more heat than m1miii(about 1-2 ⁰C) i needed 2.5 times less stacked shoots to get the same image. For m1miii 120-130, for om1 only 50.
One more thing regarding autofocus. I had an r5 myself and tested the z9 and i'm sure that the om1 gave me better results in racing and wildlife photography. The Z9 was very close to the om1.
3)High res shoot and live nd now gives much better results. It is worth noting. In macro photography, the om1 is a real beast. If someone is using something else for macro photography then should buy the om1 immediately.
You are absolutely right about om1 focusing on the foreground. Nikon behaves in a similar way. It seems to me that even the use of the frame center priority does not work at all! As for the busy background, om1 has no problems. For objects that move quickly towards you, you should use af sensitivity +1/2 (in this case, om1 is the most effective camera I've ever had), for panning 0 to -1.
1) It is possible to have better results with a faster SD card (mine is W 250MB/s). I didn't dig further because my results were already better than those found in the official specs.
2) I don't understand what do you mean by "80% of the 50 frames are more than 90% of the 20 frames." That it's not how I calculate the BIF keeper rate.
3) I didn't find any difference in IQ between mechanical and electronic shutter. Plus, I would struggle to understand the technical explanation behind something like that.
Regarding the AF: I've been doing these tests for more than 6 years, I trust my method and the accuracy of the results. I'm not saying they are perfect, and of course it's not a lab test, so there can be variables if we want to nitpick, but they've been consistent throughout the years. I know Mike Lane's channel (and really like it) but I haven't watched his OM-1 video yet.
High Res Shot and Live ND are not useful for bird photography, I'll talk about those in another video.
As said in the video, I've tried all sorts of settings including different AF sensitivity levels.
My goodness so much work!
Thank you, best real world review
Wow, thanks!
Hi Mathieu,
As always a solid, balanced review that will be appreciated by viewers. As you noted there are a lot of incremental upgrades with the OM-1 that many photographers will value.
Tom
Thank you Tom!
Great review., many thanks. Interesting to read of the AF issues you experienced. I hope Olympus are able to provide firmware updates as it is a great camera.
I hope so too!
Since “WOW” is a marketing rather than a technical term, it seems to me that the OM-1 tested here pretty well against cameras that are far more expensive and don’t offer its compactness, ease-of-handling and computational features. Still waiting for mine to arrive, but I’ll look forward to your “best settings” video in the meantime.
Thanks. I too think it does pretty well, and the most important thing is that it made the system more competitive. I hope your OM-1 will arrive soon.
I'm also waiting for mine to arrive. Hope it's really soon :)
It is not to say that the OM-1 is cheap. On the contrary, it is rather expensive in my humble opinion. Here in CH the body is more expensive than a Canon RS-6, a darn good full-framer. Nor is it compact. The body is bigger than an XT-4, which has a larger sensor. I myself have an OMD-E M1.3, but I am very much in doubt between the new OM-1 and a Canon RS-6, because I am frustrated about the noise levels indoors. But the latter would mean buying new, much heavier and more expensive lenses, of course. First world problems...
@@AnastasTarpanov The end of June is the earliest time. I can't wait so much. Will buy probably Panasonic GH6.
@@kirostar12 May I ask where you heard about that end-of-June date? Not that I doubt it; it’s been almost three months and I still don’t have mine.
The G-6 seems like a fine camera. You should have no problem buying one; my camera store has four or five in stock.
Really surprised with its highlight performance. Your review is substansial, thorough but easy to digest.
Thank you, that's nice to read. Sometimes I fear my videos are too long or too in-depth.
Excellent and as usual thorough review - my main interest is bird photography so this entirely hits the spot. I was wondering if and when you would review this camera as I have always found your review very informative and you are always very balanced in your evaluations. Thanks again!
Thanks for watching (and sorry for the wait!).
Useful video. I will have to come back to this when I eventually get my OM-1 camera which as you know has been on a preorder since 3 March. The video appears to be significantly improved. Just waiting for the ultimate video lens of 25 - 250mm f5.6 with internal zoom 😊
Amazingly thorough review, thank you so much! My EM1-iii serves me well, but this is very tempting.
That is by far the best review I've ever seen. Well done!
This camera seems like it was made for me. I always liked the IQ of the EM cameras but the AF leaves me wanting when shooting wildlife. The low weight and price makes this really hard to beat for what I like to do.
Thank you!! This is one of the best reviews I have seen for the OM1 camera and I have seen a lot of them.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Wonderfully comprehensive review - thank you. Low weight of system is also important.
Thanks for watching!
Great review and looking forward to your recommended settings 👍
Thanks for the in depth review, mate. Really appreciate the work you put in. 👍
Very nice video! Just an impression from last weekend: Was on a small boat in full speed at the Irish coast while very shaky waves: I could do a lot of super sharp images with the OM-1! Bird detection on birds in flight (gannets, puffins, fulgars) was working fantastic even in these harsh conditions. Wouldn't have been possible with my good old Em1ii
Great, thanks for the feedback! That's good to hear!
This is a very good review. Thank you.
Excellent review! Thanks! I'm also curious to see firmware updates to the OM-1 to fix a few minor issues and I also wish I could have slower fps settings while having no blackout. As of now 25fps is the "slowest" - but it will fill the card quite fast. 10/15/20 would also be nice, and maybe we could have a shutterspeed longer than 1/320 then?
Yes, I think that is a good idea. Plus I'm not sure why the blackout-free only works with SH1 and SH2, and not the normal burst at 20fps, since they're both with the electronic shutter.
I’ve had mine for a while now. I bought it at the same time as the 300 f/4 Pro. I have found the same as you have. Except I have noticed that what you say about the high ISO performance is true, I’ve also noticed that the type of color variations in the high ISO images is much more uniform and easier to correct in Lightroom. With the M1 III there were different color splotches, which I found impossible to fix rendering the image useless. While I have been able to get some nice images at 25600 which is astonishing to me.
I notice that you set the focus sensitivity to +2, I have mine set to -2. I have been frustrated with twigs in front of the bird causing the camera to focus on the tree instead of the bird. I will try the +2, but I suspect you are using that to pick up on the bird quickly. In my experience the camera is super fast at picking up birds. Sometimes even before I have found them in the frame.
Very nice review.
Yes the colours are better at high ISO on the OM-1.
If you have obstacles in front of your subject, then a negative value for the AF sensitivity can help. If you have a clear view and the bird is really fast or moves erratically, then +1 or +2 can give you better results.
Best review i‘ve ever seen about this cam! :-) Thanks a lot.
Thank you for this review. Very thorough and you hit all the right points.
Love your reviews, You've just earned yourself a Sub.... was bindging your vs series, and loved it....I hope you do one with the OM1 Vs the A7iv....🤔👌
Thanks for the sub! The OM-1 and A7 IV are quite different. What would you like to see in the comparison?
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons You’re welcome..👍 the overall performance, especially how it performs in low light and the dynamic range…cause the price of the om1 is almost close to a full frame?!.. basically the pros and cons… 🤷♂️
Ok. FYI, you can see a DR and high ISO comparison between the OM-1 and A7iv (and R6) in the video (from 20:30 approximately).
merci Mathieu, tu as bien expliqué et j' attends avec impatience ta prochaine "review" sur la OM 1 que j' utilise également depuis un mois.
Qu'en penses-tu? Tu es satisfait avec le OM-1?
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons tout à fait, j' ai encore une E-m1 III et j' apprécie surtout la vitesse supérieure pour le high res. et le focus stacking. Sinon je suis vraiment d' accord avec tes observations.
Thank you for the outstanding review. Answered my questions about this new camera.
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Matthieu,
Without a doubt - the single review of the OM-1 that I was wanting and waiting for the most. Your effort, style of review and clarity of presentation are a credit to you and very much appreciated.
For me, the bird detection is a revelation compared to my E.M1.3. I have only had the camera a short time and your level of trials is far ahead of mine already.
I must admit that I was one of the people hoping the supposed 2-stops of ISO improvement meant I could now shoot 2 stops higher for the same level of noise. In reality, are OM Systems actually referring to the 2-stop increase in native ISO when making their claim?
I must say that for wildlife photos so far, I find the noise is no less but better controlled in terms of the shape and pattern of the noise. I have taken multiple shots at 12800 that I found very usable that I would not have used even 6400 on the previous camera.
I have not been able to try out the SH modes yet, but sounds like it may be worthwhile. I will look forward to your settings video in the future.
Many thanks again and best wishes,
Craig
Thank you very much Craig.
I'm not sure what OM means exactly with the 2 stops improvement. It could be simply linked to the official specs. Also, I think in house tests from camera companies are often different from what we get in the real world.
I, too, was amazed by the bird Subject Detection but after it caused me to miss shots I discovered that it's a parlor trick that doesn't improve my images.
If you need your gear to identify your subjects' eyes then you have some problems.
As Robin Wong pointed out the bird detection really nails it when you're at the zoo!
Thank you Mathieu for a thorough test and evaluation of the OM-1. As I had hoped, my copy of the OM-1 locks on to birds with much higher frequency than the Em-1mkIII yielding more 'keepers'. Your testing bears this out as shown in your camera rankings at the 10:51 minute mark. My subjective testing agrees with your findings. As for noise, I have become a devotee of Topaz DeNoise to deal with that in low light shots. Thanks again for an objective look at the system. Cheers!
Thanks for the feedback. I've heard of Topaz softwares, I need to try them at some point.
I have now shot over 10k images with the OM-1 and 300 PRO and have found it to be a very hit and miss combination when photographing birds, especially small ones flying within a few feet of a water’s surface. I can see the camera recognizes the bird by tracking it with the white box but, way too often when I release the shutter it focuses on everything but the bird. I can see the small green focus acquisition boxes light up all around the bird and ultimately It will even focus on small objects on the water such as a 1/2 inch diameter reed sticking a few inches out of the water a few feet from the bird or the water itself. It’s been very frustrating to say the least. I have tried everything and have not found a good setup. On the other hand on static birds, even small ones such as warblers, I’ve been having great success. I truly believe the focusing system needs to be improved.
Have you tried using a small AF Target (Cross or Small)? That should limit the area the camera focus on, and if you don't manage to keep the bird in the Target area at all time, the camera should still focus correctly as long as the bird is not far from it.
You can also try a Custom Target, with a rectangular shape (horizontal) and offset it slightly upwards from the centre.
These tips may not work all the time but it's worth trying, until they (hopefully) improve this via firmware.
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons I did try even down to a single point but as you know it does become more difficult to follow a bird. I thought I needed to be right on target with the small zones so, after reading your comment I will give that more of a workout. I did want to try a customized size also as you suggest so, I will use your suggestions. I also was wondering if turning off C_AF Center Priority would help unless that is just for initial acquisition. Thanks again for all of your excellent work, I know I speak for many when I say I really appreciate it.
C-AF Centre Priority forces the camera to prioritise the centre of the frame. The OM-1 will look elsewhere only if it can’t focus at the centre. It is different from the C-AF Centre Start setting that only works at the beginning (but is not available on the OM-1).
Great video, thanks. I own the previous model 1 Mark II, having some equipment of Olympus.
One question:
You never made a video of Canon M50 / I or II, right?
Can you say, why?
At holidays I like the M50 II to carry around. For me it is a very good compromise between compactness and picture quality.
With this I first learned more about photography.
Yes an Olympus OM 1 or a Sony 7 A4 or so on is on another level.
But none other camera triggered sympathy so much to me. Simplicity is the keyword. And joy.
Conclusion:
it is not a matter of format.
The camera which influences one with passion and fun is the right one.
I wrote an article on my website about the best lenses for the M50 I and II (and I tested all of them, the lenses I mean). I suppose I could have done something about the camera itself, but this being a one-man job, I often have to be selective about what I review. But I agree with you, it's a fun little camera.
Thank you. I will visit your site. I understand, what you've wrote. But this one man show is a great one, you do very goo job with passion. 📸
Yes, there are only 8 native lenses and some of other companys.
I own the 11-22mm, the 32 f 1.4 and the 18-150mm.
OK, not M system of Canon is artificial reduced.
But for the purpose you can live with.
And yes, Fuji or Sony do have more leading APSC, no question.
For me it is only a question of sympathy and simplicity in using the M50:
So perhaps you can say not the best technical but the most joyful is the "best" camera to make "good" photos.
But OK for
Interesting that the claimed two stop improvement doesn't seem to be a thing. However value for money wise this has to be hands down the best wildlife photography camera and hopefully will improve with updates.
Yes you get a lot for the money.
Very good review, well done. I'm not surprised the IQ is similar to older models. For several years now, most manufacturers are improving video specs, speed of shooting and AF performance, rather than IQ. I've compared RAWs from D750 and Z6 II, for example, and tbh - difference is similar to these shown in the video here, between the old 20MP sensor and the new BSI one. Yes, I can see it, but only when specifically looking for it, under great magnification or with serious boost in post. Otherwise - normally exposed pictures with usual corrections look pretty much identical.
Hi - Im a D750 user - I took a miss on the Z6II because there is no video backup. How do you find the OM1 compared to your Nikon cameras.
@@markshirley01 I had both systems, but at present shoot only with the Nikon Z6 (full frame 24MP). Image quality ist much better, yout get more dynamic range, more lucent colours and better background separation. Because yes, the size of the sensor matters!
Top notch review, Matthieu, and I look forward the follow-ups. Hope you get a chance to use it with the 150-400, which it definitely performs better all round with.
It's hard to find a copy of the 150-400mm unfortunately.
Excelentes videos los tuyos,eres el mejor que hay en internet explicando y demostrando las cosas que dices,matrícula de honor.Saludos
Thanks!
Amazing work !
Thank you!
Fantastic, in-depth work, thank you so much.
Glad you liked it!
I currently still use EM1 mark II and toying with an upgrade to the OM-D. Mostly street photography is what the camera is used for by capturing faces from a distance with the 75 mm prime lens. A possible reason to switch along with the extra video capacity that sports OM- log 400.
Thanks for the video. As this review was conducted with firmware 1.3 and we are now at 1.5 were any of your wish list items addressed. I’m new to the OM-1 system having had the camera for about a month with the OM 100-400 and as of a week ago, the 300 f4 PRO. Just working out my settings.
I tested the later firmwares but not real change for birds in flight.
This was a great review. Really helpful, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
I think this is the best review of this camera on RUclips, and I think I've watched them all. Would you say that using tracking with subject detection also improves AF performance for stills as well as video? Does it make sense to leave tracking on whenever using subject detection?
Great camera. Glad to see that m43 got a Camera with Pro AF performance. Tired of all the lumix dfd crap...
Thank you for all your amazing work, Mathieu!
When it comes to wildlife and bird photography, what would be your pick?
- R6 with RF 100-500 f/4,5-7,1 L
- EM-1 with M.Zuiko ED 300 f/4,0 PRO, or something completely different?
As a beginner, I feel overwhelmed with all the information and options.
I'm fully aware that one can't really go wrong with any of them, but your opinion would be very much appreciated!
I know, it's not easy to choose.
I would probably go with the OM-1 and 300mm Pro. It has so much to offer, from the excellent AF to the impressive selection of drive speed. Image quality wise, the advantage for the R6 at high ISO would be reduced because of the smaller aperture of the RF lens.
If I were to go the Canon route, I would rather choose the R5 (budget permitting) to take advantage of the higher megapixel sensor, which is always a nice plus for wildlife.
But for a similar budget, I think the OM-1 has more to offer, especially couple with the 300mm Pro which is a lens I really like.
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons Thank you very much for your time and input!
Hi Mathieu, first of all a big thank for all your work and honest reviews. Yesterday I had the chance to play with the OM-1 coupled to the Zuiko 150-400 and I have been very impressed. It was at the Photo Forum at Barcelona (yesterday was the last day) at the end of the day, meaning light conditions where poor inside and outside. The system focused very quickly and accurately on people’s faces around me or outside (through the windows of the building!). I will ask for a trail but the queue list is very long (meaning a lot of people want to try it). My question for today is : based on your experience, how would position the OM-1 vs the Fuji X-H2 (I own it) for wild life-BIF? Thank you
Hi Matheiu, can you do a comparison between the new G9II and OM1. The lower base ISO and the DRboost sensor tech might help reduce the image quality concerns of MFT. Also, the AF detection and tracking seem to have been much improved from the likes of even the S5II. I'm surprised Panasonic didn't send you one, as according to me, you're by far the best reviewer for BIF, which the camera seems to be very well specced for. Hoping for a review and comparison.
I'm planning to do one, just need to find a way to get the G9 II ;-)
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons looking forward
Thank You for a unbiased review. Subscribed.
Thanks for the sub!
I was waiting for this one.
I am not a wildlife nor a sports photographer, but I would love to see the OM-1 enhancements in E-M5 type body. I hope OM System going forward will melt together the E-M5 and E-M10 into a single enthusiast type offering.
Спасибо за детальный обзор!👏👍
excellent review that answers all my questions about OM1 and whether I want to trade up from EM1 M3 on microfourthirds front.
Love your videos. So in depth for newbies like myself. Great job.
My question is- on my info screen I keep seeing a setting ‘FLK’ and I can’t figure out what this is and what it means. Could someone explain please? I would like to know the acronym and what it is saying that the camera is doing?
Mathieu, By default subject detection is not assigned but can easily be done. if you assign subject detection to a button you can quickly change the type of subject by holding the button and using the dial to scroll through subject types. Pro lenses have Function buttons that can be used for this purpose. I hope this helps!
Thank you but I already knew that. What I’m talking about in the video is to group everything in one category (animal) if they implement more data via firmware (assuming that’s the part of the video you’re referring to).
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons My mistake, I just went back and watched again. Yes, I see what you mean now. I usually move the camera so that the AF target area is on the new subject and then push the AF button again to acquire the new target. Thanks for the reply! It would be great to have a dial that quickly switched targets within the frame!
Superb review and efforts by you, thanks . Cheers
Many thanks!
Thank you for such an excellent and detailed review.
Mathieu as always a fundamentally good and honest review. Like it very much.
thank you Michael, really appreciate it!
Fantastic review and amazing camera. I think the weight and size benefit in comparison to FF came a little short. I hope this amazing tech tripples down to the Em5 and Em10 models sometimes. So wonderful that Olympus is alife again !
Thanks for the informative review. I'd like to see is a comparison between full frame V.S. 4/3 ( lenses with the same focal length).. Then crop the full frame photo 100% V.S. 4/3 uncropped photo. As we know; 4/3 photos are already cropped 100%. And look at noise sharpness etc. Thanks
I did something similar on my website here:
mirrorlesscomparison.com/olympus-vs-canon/full-frame-vs-micro-four-thirds-wildlife/
I purchased an EM-1X two months ago (mainly because my EM1 MK1, even with battery grip, has always felt way too light to work well with my 300/2.8), and an OM-1 one month ago. Will b interesting to see if I'll find the EM-1X good enough or if I'll end up getting one more OM-1, a battery grip, and possibly something I can attach to the OM-1 just to make it heavier, like a Jobu Designs hockey puck.
Did you find too many dif between em1x and om1?
Thanks for an excellent review.
Thank you very much for this balanced review. The only problem is, I am even more in doubt now about what to do. I had almost made my mind up and was about to buy a Canon RS-6 as an additional camera for indoors shooting, as I have 1,5 big frustrations about my OMD-E M1.3: tracking and, to a lesser extent, noise levels. I find it very hard to shoot birds in flight and fast unpredictable action, and sometimes noise levels are quite high, even at lower ISO values. Noise can be managed quite well in Topaz Denoise, but the additional post-processing step remains cumbersome. But as I learn from your video that (bird) tracking has improved significantly, the choice is even harder. I can manage the noise, but the OM-1 is by no means a cheap camera. Where I live, the body is more expensive than the Canon RS-6. The latter would mean buying new heavier, more expensive lenses, of course. First world problems... :-)
What do you mean exactly by indoor shooting? Events? Architecture? Portraits?
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons Sports events indoors and portraiture in difficult lighting circumstances, like parties and gigs.
I have not tested the O-M1 for indoor sports, but I think the R6 could deliver a better job there (AF and Tracking). And obviously the advantage of the larger sensor when it comes to high ISO and noise. But as you've already pointed out, the investment with camera + lenses is easily more important if you choose Canon.
Great review! Seems like there is some improvements which are not that significant, so I won't be spending 1000€ on this camera to replace my E-M1X (I got it for extremely cheap; 1200€). Lenses are way more important and I love my big and spaced out buttons on my M1X when using thick gloves.
A comprehensive, interesting and fascinating review. I am considering changing from a full frame Sony A7 R IV (65MP) to MFT. However, having seen your written review/comparison of the LUMIX G9 II with the OM 1, I am still unsure which of the two cameras to choose. Could you please let me have your advice on the best system, the newer G9 II or the OM 1?
Is it for photos mainly, or video, or both? And is it mainly for birds?
Hell yeah! What i was waiting for!
Excellent explanation. Thank you.
I don't have magenta problem in my model with 3 stops of shadow recovery, I love it more and more after 2 months !
Which software do you use?
Please touch on the face and eye tracking next in general shooting conditions. Although since it was not talked about, already tells me that nothing much has changed since E-M1 III or E-1X. R6 seems much better all rounder for shooting events since it can track almost anything even if it does not recognize the subject.
Yes I'm planning to test that, as well as check out other things like skin tones.
But as for tracking alone (without any subject detection), I can already tell you that the R6 is much better.
Thanks
thank you for the kind donation!
amazing video. I've been eyeing the OM-1, unsure about it since its release. Every other review I'm seen feels more subjective. But this video gets down and dirty with the details.
Impressive review, you got my subscription.
Awesome, thank you!
When using AI + CAF + Tracking, the camera finds the subject and tries to focus wherever the subject is in the frame. When using AI + CAF (without Tracking) the camera finds the subject wherever the subject is in the frame, but only focuses using the focus points you have chosen. At least that’s what OMDS says. For E-M1x you only could use AI + CAF + Tracking.
Yes, that's what I explain in the video about the use of the AF Targets.
However you can do the same on the E-M1X. A small Target will prioritise a bird over another.
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons Ok, English isn’t my first language, so perhaps I misunderstood you. But to activate AI on the E-M1x, you have to use both CAF and Tracking. For the OM-1 you can use either AI + CAF or AI + CAF and Tracking! At least that’s what OMDS says. If you haven’t, you should talk to Michael Guthmann at OMDS Germany. He knows everything about all Olympus and OMDS cameras.
You may be right about C-AF+Tracking for the E-M1X, but I clearly remember being able to prioritise a subject with the AF Target.
Yes I know Michael very well!
In your AF tests, IMO the percentage of "in focus" shots is misleading when comparing to other cameras. The key component is "how many" shots "in focus" during a set time seems like a better judge than percentage. If the Sony A1 can get 100% of its 30 shots per second in focus and the OM-1 gets 80% of its 50 shots per second in focus, which has better performance? The OM-1 got 40 and the Sony only 30. Why don't you incorporate this into your results? Given that information, I find it amazing that a smaller $2200 camera is getting more shots than much more expensive, bigger FF cameras. Thank you for your time and effort in this review... really!
I've had this conversation more than once, and in my birds in flight article you can also see a ranking based on the frame rate (link below).
However, I prefer the way I measure the percentage and I don't believe it is misleading, and the reason is this: you may end up with more keepers because camera A has a faster drive speed than camera B, but if camera B has a better AF, the chances of getting correct focus at the right moment are higher with camera B than camera A, despite the lower drive speed. Look at the moment where I talk about the OM-1 struggling with the bird near the water or grass: you can have the fastest fps in he world, but if the camera fails to get the image in focus where it matters the most, it just means you have more images to throw away.
In other words, the A1 does 'only' 30fps in comparison to the OM-1's 50fps, but the A1 score is 98%/99%, and it doesn't struggle when the bird is catching something in the water.
The link: mirrorlesscomparison.com/best/mirrorless-cameras-for-birds-in-flight/
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons This is what you say in your article:" it is almost impossible to assess with math and percentages if these cameras will deliver the usable images when it matters the most in a sequence (for example when a bird is pulling a fish out of the water). So the better the AF rate is, the higher your chances to capture the perfect shot are." It seems this almost discredits your own method of evaluation? It sounds fishy (pun intended) that OM-1 has a algorithm that prevents users from getting the precise moment of a bird catching a fish because that seems to be your whole argument. I trust your judgement, but I'm also confused in the logic.
The bird catching a fish is just an example, and I'm not saying that the OM-1 has an algorithm that prevents users from getting that shot. I think that is pretty clear in the video. I'm talking about a limitation of the camera (often focuses in the foreground) that hopefully can be fixed via firmware (I also encountered the problem with the motorbike race, and another user confirmed the same in the comments here).
My point is that the better the AF is, the less chance you have to get out of focus images, and consequentially get them in a point of the sequence where the action is at its most interesting.
Going back to your example: if the A1 gives me a 100% score at 30fps, I have 30 images, all in focus, and I can pick the one I prefer in the sequence. if the OM-1 gives me 40 images out of 50, yes I do have more keepers, but if the 10 images out of focus are in a point of the sequence where the bird's position/action matters the most, I'll probably move all those 50 images in the bin.
Unfortunately, it's hard to predict every time where those 10 out of focus images will be. I have sequences with a few out of focus shots at the beginning and end, other where it's every other frame etc. I also have sequences that are perfect. (that is why I like to calculate my score with as many images as possible). The only time where the 'mistakes' where more consistent was with the bird close to the ground/water, hence why I pointed that out in my review.
Also, another point we could add is buffer. If I'm not mistaken, the A1 can hold 30fps at full speed for about 5 seconds. This means a total of 150 frames. The OM-1 does about 2 and half seconds at 50fps, so 125 frames. At this point, the advantage becomes clear: 150 frames, all in focus, for the Sony, 100 frames in focus for the OM.
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons I'd say this is more of an argument than the first one and follows a logic if you find most people would shoot continuously for 5 seconds. However in your review, the OM-1 is in SEVENTH position and completely ignores frame rate until the end of the article and no mention of it in this review. I'm not sure (using your second point about total number of shots in focus over a certain number of seconds) would mean the OM-1 is in SEVENTH position. Just so you know, I don't have the OM-1 and I don't intend on buying one as I don't even shoot birds in flight (find it rather pointless in fact). It was only the logic behind your categorical ratings that bothered me and made me want to learn more. Maybe it would make more sense to simply rate camera as "Pro" or "Amateur"? Is the OM-1 at "pro" level like the A1 or simply "amateur"? Also, maybe cost should also come into consideration? At $6500 (body only) the A1 is certainly a huge investment and better be the best. Let's not forget that if you find this the fairest way to rate each camera given all the variables, then so be it. After all, it's your channel and website, but I think you're going to continue to get this question more and more as your channel/website become more and more popular.
I know that a lot of people think this doesn't matter that much, and in many ways I agree but I would like to see a 43 megapixel om systems camera. I am very happy with my 20 megapixel E-M1 iii. But, if I bought the OM-1 and then an OM-1X (E-M1X ii) came out with 40+ megapixel, I would be willing to spend $3000+ for it. That being said, I think this is where OM needs to go. If they want to become one of the most sought after nature wildlife cameras, they will do 3 things to compete with Sony/Canon/Nikon: 1) Keep the similar performance to OM-1 (maybe 24 frames per second would suffice), 2) bump the megapixels to compete with the R5, and 3) put a big emphasis on video features. Look, I am extremely happy with what I have, but I want my investment to keep winning financially, and imagine how many people would prefer the lightweight portability of micro 4/3, but the detail and flexibility of having larger files for cropping, and higher res video and/or more video fidelity: i think this is the winning formula for OM, and micro 4/3 as a whole
It's just that you can't have everything in M43. If they made a 40 MPX super sensor in the M43, such small photosites would have a lot of trouble managing noise, and the M43 already has enough of a problem with noise.
Excelente review. Recomendable.
Fantastic review
Great comparison, thanks you. Do you recommend the OM1 with Lumix 100-400mm lens?
I pre-ordered the R7 it's been over two months still waiting. I've got the 7dmk2 with the 100-400mkII I think I wish the R7 specs were like the X-H2s or OM-1. I've been close to quit waiting for the R7 and getting OM-1 and today I saw the price of the Fuji dropped to £2019 and in stock at e-infin. I'm really looking forward to your BIF tests with the R7 and X-H2s. I want one of these 3 cameras not a clue which is best yet for BIF/wildlife.
I’m waiting on my R7 pre-order too, I hope it will arrive soon!
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons I hope yours arrives too as I like your method of testing better than the waste of time reviews I see on youtube.
Would love to see a battle of the latest crop sensor cameras.
Fuji xh2, Canon r7 and om1
I have the R7 on pre-order and I'm planning a comparison with the OM-1. Not sure about the X-H2s, I'll probably have to wait until it is available to rent.
Comme toujours une vidéo clinique, précise qui réponds quasiment à toutes les questions, même celles que je me suis posé en cours de lecture
Le choix avec le R6,R5,Z6 ou 7IV ce sera en définitive le prix, et l'encombrement car il me semble "au niveau" des autres mais rien de définitif pour un photographe semi-pro ou pro
Tu shootes les oiseaux en vol soit en 1/2000,1/2500 ou 1/4000s, c'est pour les tests ou y a t'il une raison spécifique à cela ? (pour ma culture personnelle)
À part ça, bravo et à la prochaine !
Pour la vitesse, ça dépends: je trouve que 1/2000s est un bon compromis la plupart du temps, c'est assez rapide pour "arrêter" le mouvement et ne pas avoir d'images qui sont légèrement floues à cause du mouvement. Si je choisis 1/4000s (ou plus rapide), c'est soit parce que il y a beaucoup de lumière, soit parce que les oiseaux sont plus rapides (comme les petits que j'ai photographié avec la fonction Pro Capture).
Tu peux obtenir de bons résultats at 1/1000s aussi, tout dépend de la vitesse de l'oiseau et ton mouvement avec l'appareil aussi. Je préfère êtres plus sure de ce cote là pour faciliter mes tests.
Hi, nice reviews. I would like to ask you, would you rather take a9+200-600mm or om-1 +300mm f4 for BIF?
Hmm, it's a very interesting question and not an easy one to answer.
I think I would go with the OM-1. The AF is inferior but the difference is not too big. On the plus side, you get a much faster drive speed and superb image stabilisation. I really like the 300mm F4 Pro, and you get very sharp images with this lens on the OM-1. Plus, you have a lighter and more compact setup, and the F4 aperture compensates (for the most part) for the inferior high ISO performance, when compared to the Sony camera and lens specifically (f6.3).
The A9 doesn't offer a lot more megapixel, and it doesn't have Eye for Birds unfortunately. If we're talking A9 II, it is also more expensive.
Great review and v much looking forward to yr settings guide to push me in the right direction.
Am I right in thinking that you can use the IS on the lens as well as in the body of the camera at the same time? Logic says that you can but I thought I had heard somebody saying it’s an either/or situation.
My OM1 arrived a few days ago and I am thrilled to bits with it although am having some software problems along the way, which no doubt will be sorted out, many thanks
With Olympus lenses like the 300mm Pro or the 12-100mm Pro, sensor and optical stabilisation work together (it is called Sync IS). With other lenses like the 100-400mm F5-6.3, you can combine one axis on the sensor (roll) with optical stabilisation (so a less advanced Sync IS in a way).
With Panasonic lenses, you choose either sensor or optical stabilisation.
Thanks fr the informative video. Just watching both of your reviews as I am considering one.
Just the reported issues with the AF in forums concerning me a bit.
As far as substantial firmware updates, I fear those days are over. But I hope to be proven wrong.
What are the reported issues with the autofocus? The same I described in the video or different ones?
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons Seems to be single AF. There are a number of people who have even returned their camera on the Mu-43 forum. A search there should show up the concerns
@@marklaurendet1861 V1.3 Firmware fixes this I believe.
I think this looks a great all-round camera. Id love to get it with the 10-25 f1.7 from Panasonic. My work is hybrid social media and the fullframe 20-50 is my exact lens range. I just don't know if the AF would suffer using a Panasonic lens
In the video I show the results with Panasonic lenses too. Sure they are telephoto lenses, but in my experience, I never had issues with using Panasonic lenses on Olympus bodies.
exelent review indeed! thank you!
Hello,
Appreciate the review. Quick question:
Does the autofocus performance improve with it set on Cluster Autofocus ( i.e., all targets selected- continuous autofocus set)? This is what I use on my EM1X and I have very high keeper rates even with the bird detection off. Granted, it is best with larger birds…
Also, how about the size comparison with the EM1X? Quite honestly for a top professional camera the button layout (tactile feel) and space is disappointing to me, especially in vertical position with the grip on. I think they could have done better. For all the added horsepower and it’s limitations I don’t see a need to upgrade just yet, even with a better viewing experience…just my thoughts.
I've always had a better keeper rate with the 25-Target mode, even on the E-M1X.
The find the OM-1 to be very good overall when it comes to ergonomics, and I personally prefer a smaller body so I may a bit biased, but I can understand the advantage of the E-M1X on this point.
Thanks a lot for such a good and honest review. As you know I sold my Sony a1 with all my lenses in favor of OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 with several other Olympus lenses.I am very satisfied with the optical quality of the lenses,but for BIF photography the AF of Sony far better than OM-1.All the problems which you mentioned in your video happened with me too.I think the OM CAF+tracking is one of the worst which I experienced.First time in my life I bought a camera without trying it before and it was a big mistake.I hope with a firmware update they can fix those problems and sooner is better.Other than this I am really enjoying the compactness,portability and good quality optics of the system.The IBIS is unbelievable compare to FF or MF.I am waiting for the DXO support for editing which will be update in June.
For BIF, don't use C-AF+Tracking on its own. Use it alongside Bird Subject Detection, or even better with the normal C-AF and the Large Target. The results will be much better (not A1 level, but not too far either). I'm finishing a video where I explain all this with more details.
@@MathieuGasquetMirrorLessons Thanks a lot,it is not obvious what are you doing!!!
As always an excellent in depth review Mathieu, having come from Olympus and now in my 3rd year with Sony I see nothing here to make me go back, a shame as I still love the Olympus form factor but it looks from this they still have some way to go for consistant results on this kind of subject...regards to you both..