Finally a reason to buy an OM-1 Mk2. It does have an advantage, at least for me.

This is the third and hopefully the last film on the differences between the OM-1 Mk1 and Mk2.
A watcher of my You tube channel pointed out a flaw with the OM-1 Mk1 that I was not aware of, but has almost certainly lost me pictures in the past.
When you zoom with the 150-400mm the camera will not take pictures, but it is not obvious this is happening. I zoom a lot and have sometimes wondered why I am some pictures missing. The Mk2 does not have this issue.
Mike Lane wildlife photography www.nature-photography.co.uk/

[@paulpugh6178]

The zoom deactivating shooting is a EUREKA moment… I have never noticed it doing birds but definitely been wondering why some ‘awesome’ dragonflies in flight pics never appeared on the card… I always put it down to the buffer maxing out but now I know… thanks Mike 👌 you are the best ambassador that isn’t one 🤣👍

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Its a hard thing to spot.

[@przybylskipawel]

@9:15 On Canon R5 and R7 cameras it is implemented with two AF-On buttons. One regular AF-On button and * button. AF-On button can be assigned to turn engage subject aquiring and tracking and * button can be set to mean spot autofocus without tracking. With such implementation (both separated from shutter release) it is MONUMENTALLY usefull. If your subject detection AF get lost you can immidiately force it to focus in the spot you are aiming.

[@hedleywrightphotography]

One of the few things I now miss having switched back to OM System from Canon. I’m now having to re-learn shutter button focus. There is a spare button (AE lock) on the OM-1 so I wish they would follow Canon.

[@tarjei99]

I use Canon. I have two AF buttons defined. One does spot AF, the second is subject detection. Spot AF is great when subject detection does not work or I want to focus on a specific area. Canon has improved on subject detection since I bought my R6.

[@marcel9568]

Thank you very much Mike, you explain things very well.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you think so!

[@Satmatrix]

An excellent summary of the issue Mike. Thanks for looking into it. I had only known about it for a few weeks before I mentioned it to you and can’t even fathom how many potential “keeper” pictures I have lost over the last two years. So glad you have the word out now to all of your audience and hopefully OM will have a solution with future Mk1 firmware updates. Thanks again. Doug

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks for the info Doug.

[@markwhitesell4491]

I have learned so much from you about how to use my OM-1 - you have quite literally improved my photo technique tremendously. Many thanks to you for that. And now, you've given me an important reason to upgrade to the mark2 because I run into the "won't focus during zoom" issue nearly every day that I'm shooting with my 150-600. Thank you again for making wonderful and useful videos.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you.

[@NikolayMatyushev]

Thanks a lot! Separate focus modes on two buttons are nice when you are taking photos of people in concerts for example, when you want to quickly change focus from faces to instruments or hands etc while shooting fast aperture lenses.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I guess so. Thanks.

[@GregBrammah]

How would you use it? Surely pressing the shutter button with that area mode assigned will refocus, therefore overriding the af-on back button focus, so the act of taking the shot will always be area based. Have I misunderstood this somehow?

[@KeithBauerAbq]

@@GregBrammah That is exactly the question that I have not been able to get an answer to, or understand. I would love to understand how this works in the real world. In the AF menu, page 1, 4th option. I have both options off for S-AF and C-AF so the camera won't focus based on half pressing the shutter.

[@johnpark8297]

Thank you Mike, another very helpful video. I didn’t know about this so thanks for highlighting and look forward to seeing more on your channel keep up the excellent work 👍

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brianlaunchbury4491]

There's a fundamental problem with manuals because they are written from the point of view of the engineers and designers of the device. Manuals are written to describe the functions of the device not how the device works in practice and how it should be used unfortunately that is the users job. I learnt this when I worked on car heater and air-conditioning systems. I wrote a manual entry describing how a new automatic control worked in practice and got slapped down and told how we wrote manuals, the resulting manual entry was useless to the end user!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

It is a problem with most manuals.

[@bobf711]

@@MikeLaneFRPS You'd think there would be a manual on how to write a manual they could refer to.

[@Raysnature]

Years ago I had a colleague who had been a technical writer and still did a bit as a side hustle, mostly manuals. It very much is an art form and definitely one with gone backwards in.

[@rogerhance5883]

I didnt know about that difference between the Om1 and the OM1mkII. Good video Mike.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I don't think many did.

[@tonyblake8841]

As almost purely shooting birds and more often than not with the 300 PRO my interest is more in the 50-200 f2.8 which was rumoured about a year ago. That zoom in more treed, shady spots would be an advantage over my 100-400. The upcoming OM-1 firmware update will be interesting. Thanks for the video Mike. 👍🏻

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks for watching.

[@cliftonwhittaker260]

Good disclosure, Mike. I'm not an Olympus owner nor contemplating becoming one, but I always watch your teaching techniques which I admire.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I appreciate that!

[@cryptographerchris4856]

Thanks for the info.

[@DirtDays-th]

Thank you

[@stevevickers2844]

Interesting I had never noticed the zoom phenomenon - thanks for pointing that out Mike.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Very welcome

[@macg33zr]

Great info Mike, thanks. I did not realise there was this zooming difference between the Mk1 and Mk2 - it may explain some lost shots when zooming out for framing / locating then zooming in again. I find the menu button change to allow it on the RHS bin button really useful. It means I can pull up the menu looking through the EVF using my right thumb to quickly change something without taking my eye away - on the Mk1 this is virtually impossible while hand holding a big lens!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Bassbarbie]

Fascinated to see the AF button options and the focus area priorities for bird detection. I have used the Canon R5 and had it set up so that I could move my thumb across to either use the subject detection across the whole frame on one back button or an alternative fixed focus area ( a point in my case) on a different back button. I found it great and have to work around this with my OM1 - by using a button on the front to switch subject detection on and off, and I have another set to a custom button for birds across the whole frame. I prefer the ergonomics of the R5, but it seems OM are giving us similar options. I am now tempted to upgrade to the OM1 ii

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

The ergonomics on Canon have always been good

[@narinthip3058]

Interesting about the zooming issue. I don't have that issue using OM1.1 with 40-150mm F2.8 or 12-40mm f2.8 lenses. But great to know it is the problem some other lenses. Thanks for sharing Mike.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@AkaiMiso]

I bought a mark 2 specifically for the menu button change. I operate the camera single handed 80% of the time.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Yes others have said they find it useful.

[@catrionathomson8981]

Would that it were so simple. My mark I will give 2 seconds worth of low sequential before it stops while zooming. All I have to do to get it going again is take my finger off the shutter release button and I’ll get another 2 seconds and then repeat. Useful to know but hardly a reason to rush out and spend £2200!

[@themarksmanABP]

Watching your videos makes me want to grab an OM-1 with the 40-150 2.8 and 300 F4 for BIF and wildlife. Light travel kit. The images are tack sharp with good AF. I think it would complement my sony setup really well

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I make too many mistakes when I use two systems.

[@themarksmanABP]

@@MikeLaneFRPS I've spent all day looking at various videos on this system. Which lens is the best 100-400 option for the system Mike, in your opinion?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

@@themarksmanABP I disliked the build and feel of the Leica 100-400 mk1. I have not seen the Mk2, but it looks similar. I much prefer to hold the OM 100-400m. Optically nothing in it.

[@brianchandler1365]

Hi Mike, interesting about the zoom issue. I have the mk1 and will keep it but i wonder about your thoughts about driving with only one gear. Do you consider the 100-400 zoom, not PRO to be as sharp generally as the 300 PRO. I find this to be pin sharp and have heard from some users that the zoom is not always so sharp. Your thoughts would be iteresting to hear. Great vid as always, thanks

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

It is not as good as the 300mm. There is a marginal difference, but the 150-400mm is as good as the 300mm.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I should have added that I would use the 100-400mm more than the 300mm if I had both. Zoom is too important.

[@Wairoakid]

Thanks Mike. I didn't know that but I never noticed it on my Mark I, I presume because I have a 40-150 Pro. I will pay closer attention.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@Jay19876]

Have you noticed if the AF subject tracking in video is different between the Mk1 and Mk2? I have heard it performs better but would like to see some confirmation of this.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Yes it is much improved. I discuss it in the two previous weeks films.

[@Jay19876]

@@MikeLaneFRPS I watched both of those and thought that was just for stills AF, not video. I will re-watch and see what you have to say :)

[@JonathanPinnock-mn3bm]

Thanks Mike. I find your videos very informative, helpful and unbiaised. In this specific video, I was intererested to see/hear your comment about not having to make separate changes to C1-4 when changing a particular setting because the change was made globally (i.e. for all modes). Are you aware please of anywhere that I can find which values have to be set & saved separately for each mode, and which are applied globally to all modes (or at least C1-4)? I emailed OM systems about this and didn't get much of a helpful reply I'm afraid.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I have come across the odd one, but long ago when I first set the camera up and sorry to say I can't recall what they were.

[@JonathanPinnock-mn3bm]

@@MikeLaneFRPS ok thanks

[@macg33zr]

If you download the OM-1 PDF manual for either Mk1 or Mk2 there is a section "Default Settings" near the end with a big table with all the settings organised by menu. For each setting there are 3 columns marked *1/2*/*3. In the first column *1 there is a tick if it can be set different in the custom settings. If there is no tick, it means the setting is global and not saved in the custom sets. The other 2 columns indicate what will restore each setting to defaults - either Initialise all Settings or Reset Shooting settings. For the OM-1 Mk2 manual this table is at page 510. If you go to page 543 for the Mk2 for example you'll see that "Menu operations by [bin]" doesn't have a tick in column 1 so it is global as Mike has found. For the Mk1 manual this table of settings is at page 311...all based on the PDF manual versions I have! I might print these pages off...

[@JonathanPinnock-mn3bm]

@@macg33zr thanks very much indeed for your answer. I have the Mk1. I'd seen that part of the manual but (for the Mk1 at least) just above the table it says "Can be added to (Assign)" so it wasn't obvious to me when perusing the manual that this meant what you've helpfully explained. I guess it might have something to do with the translation from Japanese to German and then from German to English. It would seem that there really aren't many non-videography settings on the Mk1 that don't have to be saved individually for the C1-C4 shooting modes. Incidentally, if there are at least 543 pages in the Mk2 manual cf. 342 in the Mk1 manual, maybe this is the major difference between Mk1 and Mk2 we've all been looking for 😉

[@ryantang8146]

Such a great discovery. I hope OM system can fix it because this really should not happen. Another thing I don’t understand about the OM-1 and OM-1 mark ii is that why is the black out free shooting is limited to a particular shutter speed ? Even the OM-1 mark ii still has that limitations ? Why ? The Z9 or Z8 does not have that. You can shoot black out free at any shutter speed ? Does anybody know the reason ?

[@kenwiberg6517]

before I watch..... the SCP has bird tracking options now - no need to enter the menu's to make changes

[@digibirder]

Yeah that was big for me

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Yes I have started to change it that way too.

[@rbrtschrdr]

Funnily, as a German, I have the habit of preferring the English menus because I tend to understand them better than the German ones! 😃

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Maybe the Japanese feel the same.

[@Wildridefilms]

Does the AF track subjects just as well while zooming on the OM1ii?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I can only tell you it now takes pictures while zooming. Measuring how well it tracks is always difficult and in one particular circumstance that does not occur that often impossible.

[@Swaggerlot]

Having just tried it on my 40-150 Pro I cannot find issue, so this must be a problem with the Mk 1 firmware update that OMDS produced for the 150-400, thus it is not an advantage of the Mk II, it is a Mk 1 bug.

[@cgn4512]

Never noticed this. I did some test with my OM-1 Mk1 and 12-100 f4. I tried zooming and shooting with the following settings. SH2 max 50fps, bird on, CA+TR MF, ISO Auto - No photos during zoom. SH2 max 25fps, bird on, CA+TR MF, ISO Auto - No photos during zoom. SH2 max 50fps, bird on, CA MF, ISO Auto - No photos during zoom. SH2 max 50fps, bird on, SA MF, ISO Auto - Photos during zoom. SH1, bird on, SA MF, ISO Auto - Photos during zoom. Sequential single silent, bird on, CA+TR MF, ISO Auto - Photos during zoom. The issue seems to be related to autofocus, so I tried above setting 1. by start zooming first then shooting 2. buy start shooting first then zooming. Result was the same. The issue is related to SH2 and CA only. A setting most useful for shooting birds ☹ But it is possible to zoom and shoot with CA and Sequential Singel …

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks for the info.

[@MorkusReX]

Nice! I tried it and it doesn't work with my OM-1 MK2 and the 300 Pro :) Kidding aside, I have a question. I am going on a few weeks vacation and I like to use Pro Capture 60FPS to get birds in various positions. Obviously this will fill my memory card quickly. Is there an easy way (like on Canon) to choose , let's say - 5 successful images to keep, and delete the rest of the 55 shots of that sequence in camera? I saw on my friend's R7 that he can do it, I was wondering if we have it too. Thanks!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Not that I am aware of, but it might be something that has passed me by as I never edit on the card. I could not see it when I looked in the menus.

[@MorkusReX]

@@MikeLaneFRPS Thank you

[@ImagesWithPassion]

This zooming thing has costed me also some good shots ... until i realized what i was doing ... OM1.1 V1.5. Not yet checked weather V1.6 is better ...

[@edwardrussell5413]

1.6 is a great improvement to the focus IMO

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

1.6 is the has the same issue.

[@ryantang8146]

I have noticed this problem before and thought maybe it is my user error and now finally it is confirmed that when you zoom, the OM-1 mark I does not take pictures. Is it a bug that can be fixed from OM system ?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Do Om ststems even know about it?

[@MikeC2K10]

Does this issue affect E-M1's or any other model by Olympus or OM System?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

No idea. Only just discovered it on the OM-1. I wonder if OM cameras know about it.

[@MrPetebuster1]

Still not sure its worth the upgrade if you can call it that? A new 30mp sensor would be an upgrade, How many years they been re labelling this 20mp ?

[@GaryPallett]

Thanks for highlighting this. Not noticed it so far, but I’m using 40-150 f/2.8 and 200 f/2.8. I wonder if this “fix” will make it into the firmware update for Mk1 coming out later this year… other menu options seem like something that could be provided as an upgrade too🤞

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you. I wonder if OM cameras know about it.

[@markstevens6682]

Seems it’s a great Macro camera…

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

So I am told.

[@iSirTaki]

C-AF Setting: Maybe if you have more than 1 bird on the screen u can choose the AF by going to the one in the middle 🤪

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Yes maybe, but there are other ways of doing that.

[@isotechimages.9130]

I can see how that would cause you to lose shots but it not much of a feature to decide on upgrading.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I wish the Mk2 offered a lot more.

[@isotechimages.9130]

@@MikeLaneFRPS Mike they are solid upgrades but not enough for their flagship camera you would expect a new sensor and processor allowing firmware upgrades over the next few years.

[@d-entrecasteaux]

@@isotechimages.9130 I agree with you. My biggest wish was for a faster processor to clear the card buffer faster and stickier/more stable C-AF in both stills and video. Everybody's needs are different. I'm glad Mike found a solid justification to upgrade.

[@BeatWeisskopf]

For bird photography, I usually use the AF-ON-Button for preselect a focus, as example to photograph a bird, which gets landing on a branch. After preselected the focus, I will capture the landing by manual focusing. With the OM-1, MkI, there was no option for disabling bird-detection by using the AF-ON-button. When I forgot to disabling bird-detection, before I tried to focus on the branch, the AF struggled, because he was searching a bird, which was not yet there. With the OM-1, MkII, this problem has been repaired. I'm very happy with this improvement, which was for me one of the most important changes in the new camera.

[@shortie8512]

End of the day, the OM-1ii is not much more than a very expensive firmware upgrade, and it is telling that it is already being discounted by OMS so soon after its launch, it would the sales are poor as a result of it being a very minor spec bump. There are differences between the cameras but few are worthy of dropping £2k+ on a new camera body if you already own an OM-1 especially when the majority of differences are software based and can easily be moved to the OM-1. The hardware changes are negligible in processing performance and most of the software updates are dependent on processing power, and as the CPU is absolutely identical (as is the sensor and the amount of data to process) there is little reason they can't be moved over to the OM-1. It is a pure commercial decision that OMS haven't brought the changes over to the original OM-1, but the reason why they say they are not doing so are disingenuous at best, and the launch of the OM-1ii has shown OMS to have a very loose relationship with honesty and following up on what they promise their customers. OMS are of course 100% entitled to do as they please, it's their product and up to them how they do or don't improve it, choose their product strategy etc, equally as consumers we're also entitled to choose to not buy their products and voice our discontent. I suspect the OM-1ii has cost OMS more customers than it gained as they have angered and upset a large section of their customers, and there's certainly little about the OM-1ii to make someone suddenly dump their and buy an OM-1ii or tip them over the edge if moving to OMS was something they were seriously considering, although the drop in price for the OM-1 could make a difference if cost was the one thing holding them back - that £600 saving would help in getting some good glass. None of this really affects me now, I have barely touched my OM-1 in a year, I use a Z8 all the time, my only use of my OM-1 was in torrential rain on Skomer Island as I knew it could handle it, my Z8 was only a couple of weeks old and didn't want to get it wet yet, but other than those couple of hours the rest of 2-3 days I was there the OM-1 sat in my camera and was extra weight for me to carry around.

[@richardfink7666]

If it didn`t affect you, you wouldn`t write something like this!

[@shortie8512]

@@richardfink7666 sorry, I didn't realise having an opinion on a camera and system I own was against the law.... what fun you must be at parties, assuming you actually get invited to any of course....

[@richardfink7666]

@@shortie8512 Nothing to do right now?🤣