OM-1 first impressions

[Tordan58]

Hi,

I just got my copy of the OM1. My first impression after a short field test is that it is amazing and truly delivers what I was hoping for. The camera is faster, the AF is snappy and accurate. Tried the Bird subject detection and tracking and it works indeed, it does find and does track the eye and the keeper rate seems high. Haven't tried BIF yet, that will be in a week's time latest as I will visit the Cranes site, hopefully before that. I will get back and post an update on this.

I have attached an uncropped photo that was taken this morning with the 300/F4 and the MC14 meaning F/5.6. The light was quite poor and called for ISO 2500, to honor shutter speed 1/500s or faster. Processed in LR and Topaz. Not too shabby. If anyone is interested I could share ORF/DNG/high res TIFF/JPG

The menu system is organized a bit differently, for the better. I think I managed to "move" most of my settings from the EM1.2/EM1.X to the OM1, including AF settings, ISO settings, AF limiter, and all the nice features, so now all cameras have almost identical customizations to the extent possible (the feature set differs so 100% is not achievable, but close enough for my use). It took me almost an hour but that was worth the time invested.

If you have money to spend on a camera body to help you elevate your bird photography the OM1 is a serious option to be considered.

Best wishes,
Tord

[blackfox]

Looking good

[Walti]

Go on - you know you want to! 😜😜😜

[Mazdaman]

Thanks for the feedback Tord I am still waiting for my OM-1 will pair nicely with my newly acquired 150-400 Please feedback after your visit to the cranes site always good to get real users feedback

[DerekC]

They look very good. There's a lot to like about the OM-1

[OM USer]

Glad you are liking the camera.

[blackfox]

Had a quick play with a friends OM
today probably get one later in the year

[Miketoll]

Tord once you have tried BIF I would be most interested in your opinion as whether it is best to just use Bird Ai with just C-AF or to use Bird Ai with C-AF + Tracking for BIF. I am hopeless at BIF, struggling to keep the subject in the viewfinder so every bit of assistance is needed.

[Tordan58]

Hi again,

Reviewing the ~100 photos of what were more or less static subjects, which I took using C-AF and bird detection, all of them in bursts of three to five, I notice that the AF accuracy is much more consistent than is the case with the EM1.X.

With the EM1.X, using C-AF+TR and bird detection mode, there will be focus shifts between frames, probably as the result of the AF continuously working back and forth while tracking what it recognizes as the subject to keep track of. As a result, perhaps 1/3 of the frames are focused as they should - on the head. Some will be a tad off, some totally off. The lesson learned from that behavior is to always shoot a burst (five is enough) to make sure at least one photo will be spot on and accept the waste.

With the OM-1, using C-AF + bird detection, shooting in the same way in bursts of three to five, the vast majority of the frames are spot on. A few would show a slight front or back focus shift, but far less pronounced than the EM1.X, and never totally off. A rough estimate for photos with correct focus is perhaps 80%.
On one occasion the AF failed and locked on a bud on a twig in the foreground, although the subject had a clear silhouette with head and eye clearly visible.

I will post an update once I have more data collected after using the camera in various field conditions, including more or less challenging BIF.


Cheers,
Tord

[RedRobin]

I am shooting mostly on the OM-1 + 150-400mm TC combo and am out here in Nazare Portugal shooting all day every day. I shan't post-process any images until I return at start of April but regarding that combo I feel strongly that it needs the HLD-10 Battery grip for lots of reasons. Yes, you can shoot without it but after getting used to an E-M1X it is frustrating.

I'm getting about 1,100 RAW images out of a full battery and although a good PD will instantly supply shooting power, being tethered with a cable outdoors is not much fun.

I rinse my OM-1 + 150-400mm under the shower every evening and just dry it down with a towel.

The OM-1 dials are awful compared with the M1X. They are far too 'sticky' and over recessed - Especially the front one. I usually shoot full Manual-mode so it's important. I have started shooting either Shutter or Aperture Priority to avoid the problem - I shall be talking to OMDS about this! I am not happy, but I like the rest of the camera.

[Tordan58]

Hi,

I have now used the OM1 during a visit to the Cranes site. I must say the camera produces excellent results on BIF and also on semi-static subjects, using the bird recognition mode. Still, I need to test various settings to find out what works best in various situations; C-AF + TR, S-AF, size of AF area, and sensitivity. I may post some photos later if anyone is interested. I got 800+ ORF and a few minutes 4k video out of a fully charged BLX1 and it was down to around 25%.

I also tend to agree the dials feel a bit on the small side after being used to the EM1.2/EM1X, but I would not call them awful. The clicks are very precise.

[pdk42]

From all I read and my own very brief experiments, the TR mode is still as useless as ever. OMDS should have removed it as an option. The "AI" tracking modes are very good though and they cover the main moving things most people photograph - i.e. people, planes, trains, car, animals, and birds.

[RedRobin]

C-AF + TR plus various AI Detections are working very well for me indeed. In fact this combo will find a camouflaged bird I can't easily spot at first in a very messy habitat, hence then allowing me to zoom in and shoot.

Tordan58 I think that my use of the word "awful" to describe a front dial that sticks and delays you changing setting (Aperture) to then result in losing the shot is very definitely awful to say the very least! My context is wildlife and/or surfer action. I shall be discussing this with OMDS on my return to England in April.

[Tordan58]

I will try without TR and see if it makes a difference to the better.