Panasonic G9 II vs OM System OM-1: Which is the GREATEST Micro 4/3 camera?!

[@sane7798]

1:35 I just found out that in panasonic bodies you can lock your settings/dial functions by assigning 'operation lock' to fn button!

[@castielvargastv7931]

I dont really understand the bad dynamic range talk about the g9 and gh6. I always was happy with my gh5 dynamic range in photos even tough it always could be better of course. I edited full frame photos as well and i dont see. Much difference in dynamic range. Do i miss something?

[@marcusvaldes]

The fact that the Oly is his Every Day Carry is telling.

[@johnehman8685]

Thanks - great analysis of two fine cameras! Because I do concentrate on photography, I prefer the OM1, and I very much prefer the way it feels to use, like a tool that’s an extension of my hand. Completely satisfied with image quality.

[@formerlydave]

i wish OM System would give us some solid video firmware updates! it’s SOOOO close. i feel like if they added features like the G9ii in the OM-1 it would be the clear winner

[@ShadyGabe]

Agreed. I use it as my primary camera for personal projects and would love it if had better video capabilities.

[@jonbarnard7186]

Well that isn't going to happen. Even the OM1 Mk II doesn't have a video improvement. OM certainly isn't going to put it in the Mk I (or give the Mark I any other features for that matter.) Shame really.

[@j16m02]

Wow! Cudos to Panasonic for getting phase detect right on their first attempt. Impressive! I think I'll stick with my OM-1 for now, since I'm mainly a stills/wildlife guy, and I really love the ergonomics of the OM-1. It just feels good!

[@muzzadventures]

Kudos to Pana indeed. As a long time Olympus shooter I'm baffled how they just .. did it. Whereas Oly/M has been on it for a decade and in this time they've achieved the same level. Should be way ahead.

[@HokKan]

@@muzzadventures maybe Panasonic has more R&D monies from selling their FF cameras. Olympus was poor and corrupt. A team with talent, but held back by budget and poor leadership.

[@GrenlandUnderVann]

It most certainly is not Pansonics first camera with PDAF. And prototypes have been running at least since 2021.

[@jonathanscherer8567]

The ergonomics are very good. While I prefer the menu system of Panasonic, and even Fuji as far as the X-H2S is concerned, the overall feel and enjoyability of use goes to the OM-1. The main thing that feels inconvenient is the location of the menu button, which also serves as a "back" button. This should be located over by the selection buttons/pad. This is how most cameras do it. Otherwise, you need to use two hands to navigate menus, which seems awkward, especially in tense moments while out shooting. I also appreciate the sensor for the EVF being moved to the top on the G9ii. That's a brilliant idea, one which I hope other manufacturers will pick up. When it comes down to it, I'm primarily a stills shooter as well. The video modes on the OM-1 may be a bit to be desired, but they work in the instance when you need them. I've actually found the modes using 8-bit and photo profiles to be overly sharp. Where the settings work well for the photo profiles, they aren't implemented the same way when used in video. I'd rather not have to go in and manually change sharpness and contrast to improve this each time I want to shoot video. So here's hoping this is something OMDS can fix with a firmware update. I don't shoot in log as I don't do video enough to want to mess with color grading. I just need something quick out of camera that works in a pinch. Then again, I'm willing to bet OM Systems is working on a major firmware update to help them compete with Panasonic and their new G9ii. I do have to give them some credit for putting out 5 updates since the camera's release, and working to improve the cross-pixel PDAF. PDAF might've been something the company had experience with, however, the OM-1 uses a very different type of sensor that no doubt requires starting from scratch, just about. I'm sure the math is some crazy stuff. So here's appreciation to the engineers and software developers. I know it can't be easy ironing this out. I have no doubt it can be improved further with time. I eagerly await firmware version 2.0.

[@gregfeeler6910]

@@muzzadventures No disrespect to Panasonic, but it's always easier to "copy" (i.e. implement) something after someone else has done it. Again, not taking away anything from Panasonic but they were way behind in their autofocus so really had no choice but to come out with a highly competent technology.

[@thedarkslide]

4:31 Don't forget to mention the BIG CAVEAT: the max frames per seconds is only available with a handful of Olympus lenses. On the vast majority of Olympus lenses and all Panasonic lenses, this frame rate is not available on the OM1.

[@DarioCanadaPhotography]

Why ruin a video with minor detais? Let the buyer find out the hard way! He just gave image quality to the camera that had the mushiest image!

[@gregfeeler6910]

@@DarioCanadaPhotography Wow - that's some statement - or should I say cheap shot?

[@gregfeeler6910]

People are assuming that because Panasonic hasn't published a lit of high frame rate compatible lenses that means any lens will work. That's not logical because the lens has to keep up with the fast focus demand and most won't. It's not the camera body that's the limitation - it's the lens. Remember, testing a lens' focus speed is a standard part of lens reviews.

[@thedarkslide]

@@gregfeeler6910Olympus forcefully disables the high frame rates on lenses not in their list - so even if a Panasonic lens could catch up with the focus (and let's face it, the highest frames don't even DO auto-focus and are STILL disabled), you won't be able to use it on an OM1. That's a bit shoddy. The G9II will let you shoot the high frame rates no issues whatsoever with any lens - if the lens cannot keep up with auto-focus, so what. You miss a frame or two. Clearly, Panasonic has the better and more honest approach here.

[@paulcrisp8423]

@@thedarkslide Absolutely agree, my Pana Leica 200 f2.8 & 100-400 are capable of 240FPS focusing, but OM Systems deliberately restricts them to 25FPS on my OM-1 and doesn’t allow them to work in ProCapture mode. This is really poor customer service and should be rectified in a firmware update.

[@jeffbronson3696]

A note on the G9s buffer: while the buffer is larger, the readout to the sd card is significantly slower than the OM1 as detailed in Duade Paton’s wildlife review. So basically, on the G9, you can do one huge burst of shots, but then you’ll have to wait quite a while before you can burst again. OM1’s buffer is smaller but readout is so much faster, so you can do many shorter bursts

[@HokKan]

Well Emily did a buffer test comparing the two and found that they cleared the buffer in about the same time. But she is Lumix ambassador and also a woman so interpret that as you'd like.

[@HokKan]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/baK6aq2pfNKNe68si=HeiHLgRZam-_G0Lc 9:25

[@haploguy]

200*25MP = 5000MP of data vs 140*20MP = 2800MP of data, almost 2x. Also, SD cards can have or cannot have a small DRAM buffer on chip so if the SD card on chip DRAM buffer is full the process is slowed down significantly. A fair comparison would be Panasonic in medium resolution, to have the same data rate. On Panasonic you can also use an ssd.

[@kevinharding9361]

Watch the Duade Paton’s wildlife review referenced above. He gives all the stats on screen. It's no good having a larger, deeper buffer (8GB he calculates) if it takes 53 secs to clear (Duade's timing) and you miss a ton of action. The OM1 may be smaller but it clears in 9 secs (ref. Duade). So unless you are planning to shoot 200 RAW bursts the OM buffer is a far better for most of us that shoot in small bursts. @@HokKan

[@HokKan]

@@kevinharding9361 yeah I saw his review. The G9II start time is also very alarming. I'm going to miss a ton of shots just waiting for the camera to turn on. Basically forced to leave it in sleep mode and drain battery or accidentally wake it up as I trek around.

[@hrksv1855]

With the panasonic G9M2, you can lock the control elements using the F1 button and you can even choose which elements you want to lock. That's why it never happened to me that I accidentally moved, for example, the aperture or the shutter angle during video

[@gordon3988]

You could have started the video with ‘There’s no dogs in this competition’; both are nice cameras. Sounds like the clear winner for video was the G9ii and for the photographer the OM1, but both would work well enough for most for either. Sounds largely like the whole OM vs Panny lines; with Panny more video focused and OM (Olympus) more for photography; with Panny being slightly better for the hybrid folks and the OM for the outdoors shooter (specifically identified in their corporate business approach). On the lens side I get a similar impression, but perhaps less pronounced. Great choices either way; for me I would lean more towards smaller kit, but both are fairly big cameras and systems given some of the APSC options out there too. . Fun video guys!

[@ZakWilson]

The Panasonic's burst rate advantage isn't slight; the OM-1 can only do 50 FPS with a few of the Olympus Pro lenses, while the G9 II can do 60 with any autofocus lens.

[@HokKan]

I shoot with OM-1 with lenses that support 50 FPS and I almost never use it. The slower 25 FPS is far more useful. 50 is too excessive for large majority of cases and it just becomes an annoyance to cull through hundreds and thousands of images that look more or less the same. For slower more useful burst rates, the OM-1 has blackout free 25 FPS, while the G9II offers 20 FPS. I don't think I'd ever use 60 - 20 would be my go-to option.

[@eelco6587]

Same here it is really frustrating to look through 100's of photo's that are nearly identical@@HokKan

[@przybylskipawel]

@@HokKan But you have the options in case you need it. Pro wildlife shooters appreciate 50fps very often. Of Course G9 II would benefit from having 30 and 40fps aside from 60fps, but I hope it will be added someday!

[@HokKan]

@@przybylskipawel I'd rather the option of 25 over 20. That is more useful to me than the difference of 60 over 50.

[@toddysurcharge771]

@@HokKanso what YOU need is what matters in a statistical comparison showing one is better than the other. Quite a self centered view you got there. I’m sure if you stopped taking mediocre photos the world would be just fine.

[@BrownieX001]

This should be a fun video. Edit: this was a fun video.

[@GrenlandUnderVann]

going to the dentist is more fun.

[@niccollsvideo]

@@GrenlandUnderVannYour dentist is admittedly hilarious though.

[@gregfeeler6910]

Great review, guys! This is the most balanced and comprehensive comparison review of these two great cameras I've seen. I am SOOOOO glad you are both still doing your thing!

[@snappychappy]

Battery life on the G9 2 isn't really an issue as you can carry a spare or use a battery grip or even power the camera from a power bank.

[@pwx8460]

Hilarious. All the rants already about "I see better resolution with ... ". Really, with a KZbin video?!

[@camillebrenes]

Chris/Jordan, really enjoyed the video on this one. Would have been nice to see some discussion about the menu system navigation and more discussion of ergonomics on both cameras. Those seem to be very important on a daily/practical scale. Also the G9II does shoot dual gain HDR single and continuous shots too, which should (theoretically) improve stills images, correct? I didn't see that mentioned. Either way I think it's a toss up with these two and comes down to preferences. The G9II may not have a weather sealed rating but I feel pretty confident using it just like my EM1X based on Panasonic's language about its weather sealing. Definitely prefer Oly's pro lenses for bad weather work though, no doubt. The 12-100 f/4 Pro would make an excellent choice for the G9II for stills or video.

[@camerascanfly]

Would have been nice to mention that higher burst speeds on the OM1 are only possible with certain OM/Olympus pro lenses which is quite a bit stupid ... for me the G9 II is the clear winner in that regard even though it is a bit slower writing the buffer to the SD card (that wasn't mentioned too) - I guess its a tie ...

[@SketchTurnerZero]

"which is quite a bit stupid" how the h it's stupid? You do realize that the speed of shooting depends not only on the camera but also on the lens, right?

[@gregfeeler6910]

Check out my post above. The OM-1 will support a whole list of lenses at 50fps mode - I know because I tested them. It's unfortunate when people start repeating things that are not true.

[@robertmills4591]

That's because those lenses are capable of focusing fast enough between frames. No point building software compatibility if the hardware is going to limit you.

[@michaeldensley6175]

Really appreciate your videos and reviews.

[@otameal]

8:00 Looks like the G9II is resolving more detail, though this could just be a function of the respective lenses. Would be nice to have comparisons using the same MFT lens on both bodies, ideally a sharp prime. 9:10 G9II seems to have more color noise, but better color preservation in those lifted shadows. Jordan's eyes are almost colorless in the OM-1 shot.

[@Methodical51]

Don't even bother, people get fooled by these biased reviews all the time

[@defensedad]

My workhorse is still my Olympus EM-1 Mark II with my Panasonic Lumix 35-100 f2.8. It's a very versatile combination for my uses.

[@jaysimoes3705]

Mine too, also with the 12-35 and 100-400 PL which football etc is really great.

[@flicker_freak]

How's the weather sealing on that combo? Any experiences?

[@defensedad]

@flicker_freak I honestly don't shoot in adverse conditions much other than a light sprinkle once in a while or heavy morning dew so I really can't speak to that. I just find it's a combination that suits my needs a lot.

[@IvanAgram]

yup... I have Mark II also... I LOVE it! Just bought 12-40 Pro 2.8 for 500 eur and I am astonished how good it performs... Just an awesome best buy second hand camera/lens.

[@haploguy]

9:11 surely you jest :)) seems like an obvious G9II win for me. The OM1 is muddied out. Also, on photography you have: IQ and burst rate You should also have for video: IQ and high fps I can give OM1 battery life and viewfinder, but the OM1 is too small for my hands. So all in all 2 for OM1 (battery, vf), 5 for G9II (stills IQ, stills burst, VQ, video high fps, AF) with handling a personal preference.

[@Martin.Christopher]

Let's say it loud for the viewers in the back row, "if you were worried that OM's sponsorship of the podcast would taint their reviews and objectiveness--WATCH THIS VIDEO." That is all... and well, great video!

[@Elmex_1]

I say that they should remove the high iso test from this video, that area in particular sits unwell with me, because I see more detail in G9II in that comparison. More noise too yes, but at least Jordan still has some color in his eyes.

[@JoeS5263]

I feel that you really wanted the OM-1 to win. The fact that you enjoy it is not in the list. Anyway, as a Lumix G9 user waiting for a G9-II so all my lenses will work, I may be biased the other way.

[@d-entrecasteaux]

Being MFT, both cameras would be suitable for wildlife photography and video. It would have been good to see a comparison between the two with this in mind. Specifically, I would like to see how well the G9II does with 4K 120p autofocus for birds in flight. The OM1 C-AF is not able to follow birds in flight for video and for me this is a huge difference between the cameras. But it's still unclear how good the G9II autofocus with 4K120p is with birds in flight. Haven't found anyone on KZbin that has tested this.

[@Elmex_1]

Tony Northup did "ultimate wildlife" comparison of different systems/cameras for wildlife, and found Fuji and Canons to fare better than MFT. He seems to give R7 praise on some G9II vs R7 video, and I generally agree, the new RF lenses for Canon system seem to offer wide coverage, from 700g, to 1.3kg, to 2kg (all within 400-500-800 tele range I think). If I were starting anew, that current RF lens line-up/diversity looks very enticing.

[@MultiPaldo]

Sorry guys but I don't see this less noise and better details on om1 on this photo U show...

[@lsh-zi2lc]

I had an 0m1m2 and traded for the g92, way less noise with the g92.

[@brandonsmith3151]

The one thing I would have liked to hear more about was how they compare in terms of rolling shutter when using the electronic shutter. The OM should be better on paper, but is it the case that both are so fast that it simply doesn’t matter? If so, does that imply that stacked sensors do not provide meaningful benefit at this sensor size/resolution?

[@Wildridefilms]

You're looking at 1/80s on the G9ii vs 1/125s on the OM1. Both very fast, but the OM1 is 50% faster. And panning skew is corrected in camera on the G9ii I believe.

[@laurentyarp514]

Thank you for this review. As a G9 and OM-1 owner I have a personal preferrence but so has everybody here. Get whatever camera you like this is good for M43. I am happy the system as such good cameras to showcase.

[@aiseurnae5976]

On the DR comparison, the G9II looks sharper, and it not because of the little bump of resolution. The OM-1 looks like there are some internal noise reduction.

Holding 2 OM-1's yet I'm considering to purchase a G9ii soon maybe in order to fill the gaps, a.o. video features, a 2nd app for receiving the GPS signal (as only 1 per app is connecting), increased resolution and better matching ("washing") lenses of Panasonic (IS, etc.) plus eventually better tracking and AF capabilities - the more grain in DR can be compensated well by using the right NR software like e.g. DXO...

[@karlrichards]

I only wished you'd mention the diabolical power switch on the OM1 but mention the dial on the G9ii which can be locked with a button. 😅

[@peteroehmig845]

I own the OM-1 and the S5. The mode dial on both needs no locking mechanism. Both are hard to turn accidentally. The OM-1 power switch is just something to get used to. You can keep the camera on most of the time without any power drain. The S5 on the other hand eats the battery much faster, you want to turn it of between shots. Had the S5II for some time, the dial on the top back is really an annoyance. This is much better on the original S5.

[@busydadscooking001]

Particularly surprised to see dynamic range better on the OM sensor. In my eyes, Olympus photos get colors a lot closer to what I want straight out of the box, but I'm sure there are situations in which the Lumix treatment would also be better. I feel my older Olympus (not an om1) inspires me more to go out and use it, but that's a very personal thing. And my Lumix is way better for video ...

[@martin_the_artist_]

I'm suprised too, Richard Wong's G9ii video came to the opposite conclusion - the G9ii was vastly superior in shadow recovery in his RAW testing.

[@choozzzzchoochoo]

I'm guessing the OM1's baked-in noise reduction deceived them. The OM1 shot showed quite aggresive smearing and bandings on Jordan's coat, indicating the sensor being pushed to the limit.

[@gregfeeler6910]

I think far too many people are memorized by the 5 extra MP of the Lumix sensor over the OM-1. OMDS selected the stacked sensor in the OM-1 because it's of the newest generation of advanced sensors being used in commercial products, and has many advantages which are not as commonly talked about as resolution. However, let's say that the edge goes to the G9II sensor - I doubt that most of use could tell a deference and that difference would be essentially moot in real world use. Both cameras are damn fine.

[@busydadscooking001]

@@gregfeeler6910 good point. If they put that sensor in an om5 it will make my next camera buy very tough. For the moment I aspire no farther into modernity than the m5ii, which people seem to adore and hang on to. Obviously my uses are just personal inspiration, nothing professional.

[@gregfeeler6910]

@@busydadscooking001 The last couple of years I've had a bad case of GAS (Gear Accusation Syndrome) which has been a lot of (expensive) fun, and I've found some things I really like, but the biggest improvement in my photography has come from taking more pictures, critiquing my own work and getting feedback from others, and watch videos on how to use the features of my gear. Your E-M5 Mk II is great camera. Enjoy it!

[@artistjoh]

So, same as every year for more than a decade, Olympus cameras are really likeable stills cameras, but Panasonic makes the best hybrid cameras that are superb for video while doing good stills as well. In other news, scientists say that the sky is blue, and water is wet. And that we all hate that mismanagement and money laundering greed by the Olympus Corp board put the future of Olympus Imaging in such a precarious position. We all want a strong future for Olympus cameras. However, the Olympus focus on stills means that I will always choose Lumix, and especially the G9 series.

[@nightdonutstudio]

I think we need to deep dive into G9II image quality. I have read a lot in Chinese social media. It can shoot 16bit raw by enable dr boost. it is a feature you need turn on which in GH6 it only apply to video but now it can apply to raw photo as well. From what I saw some comparsion the shadow is much clean when raised up. And under certain situations it will be disabled. I read like use High burst and shutter slower than 1/15s. These info may not be 100% correct. But certainly there are some intellgent tricks behind G9II and quite complicated whether it is enabled or disabled.

[@nightdonutstudio]

​@mipmipmipmipmipFrom Chinese community's test, it is 16bit thanks to the DGO technology or Panasonic call it DR boost. It apply to raw photo now. But when in situation it is not enabled, the raw is back to 12bit. This needs more test to prove when American reviewers got hands on the final production.

[@ak4good]

I'm also curious about this

[@aiseurnae5976]

I'm not 100% sure but I think many people mix up I-dynamic and DR BOOST. DR BOOST is always activated in photo. But you can also activate I-dynamic to lift shadows, but it is something you can do in your raws in post.

[@PhotoVideoTechOz]

@@aiseurnae5976it auto activated in photo, but not available in SH burst modes or below 1/15 based on Panasonics specs.

[@torokkrisztian7359]

According to Richard Wong, the image quality of the Lumix G9II is better than that of the OM 1, so where is the truth?

[@HokKan]

BUY ONE TO FIND OUT THAT'S HOW THEY GET YOU THEY PURPOSELY POST CONTRADICTORY RESULTS TO MAKE YOU HAVE TO BUY ONE TO GET THE REAL ANSWER

[@ChrisC1377]

As hobbyist and on my way to upgrade from Fuji x-t3, it seems that these M4/3 cameras are a very interesting alternative... Thanks for videos.

[@Geert890]

You'll regret it if you like Fuji colors or image quality

[@Elmex_1]

I'd say wait for more tests. While the G9II seems to show promise, I think the ultimate test will be the dpreview's studio scene. I know G9II will have good detail, as this video shows the low light, the lowlight scene G9II has good detail. But question is if there's good improvement in high ISO noise (which this vid failed to demonstrate), which only the DPreview studio scene will be show (indoor light/lightbulb symbol , raw , 6400 ISO , and compare to other MFT cameras). It's the method I've always used to determine if sensor has improved, and I've found it to be very good test for this.

[@ChrisC1377]

Thanks for your advice, for me buying new stuff is always a very long journey. So I'm going to wait. Have a nice day

[@ChrisC1377]

@@Geert890My first choice was the x-s20 and for me, the Fuji Color Science isn't a deal-breaker compare to the stab, auto-focus problems. I always love my x-t3, my 16-80 and my 90mm, but it was for me a real investment, a lot of money... And Fuji isn't able to offer only their last simulations to their ancient customers , only that ! And not so ancient ! And as I can see all around, it seems that Lumix, Olympus and all the others brands colors science are not so terrible. But I'm going to wait for a firmware update that could change my mind. Sorry for my English...

[@leovanlierop4580]

My X-T3 always feels superior to my M43 gear, no contest in one on one comparison. But my M43 gear is a bit old. They might have closed the gap a bit.

[@ThePaddlefoot]

Careful Chris, your Olympus bias is showing. You failed to mention that OIS sync works with all Panasonic lenses, but only on Olympus Pro lenses.

[@HokKan]

You mean Lumix biased? He gave the advantage of high res mode to the G9II. The HHHR only takes 5 seconds to process on the OM-1, vs 10+ seconds on the G9II. He also didn't mention how the G9II's HHHR is much softer than tripod Mode's 100MP HR, but it still consumes the much larger space required for a 100MP file. The HHHR on both cameras produce virtually identical results, but processing takes much longer on the G9II, and the file sizes eat up way more card space.

[@clausmannsperger4432]

The Pana ist too big and ugly. Love my Om-1 Queen.

[@andy_elliott]

Noise levels and lack of dynamic range put me off the G9ii I almost ordered. Pity, but I’ll wait to see more test results. If OM System provided ‘proper’ video options then the OM1 would be a fairly complete camera. I prefer the OM1 to my A1 - heed Chris - it’s just so enjoyable to shoot with!

[@TerryD23]

Looking to buy an OM1 too altho this G9/2 has my attention. Let's see what the new Om1 v2 offers.

[@narinthip3058]

Nice balance review guys. I own 2 x OM-1 but expect G9II to outperform OM-1 since it is almost two years older. About the frame rate and buffer, I believe G9II in high frame rate mode, should you hit the buffer, you will need for it to be fully cleared before you can shoot again. Unlike OM-1, you can continue to keep shooting but at much lower frame rate and in most cases, it is still ok at 10 FPS. May be this will be fixed in later FW for the G9II. But it is the same issue since the first G9. Wish OMDS can improve OM-1 video AF capabilities. Currently it isn't good enough.

[@vladimirkarphotography]

I had the om1 and sold it as the front and back dials did not move anymore after a year.. AF problems and honestly i prefer the frond dials of the previous versions or the g9 II !

[@log0log]

in DR test Panasonic, despite some color noise, has much better color details and sharper image in the shadows

[@Geert890]

They both look like shit compared to anything with a bigger sensor

[@A.P.1821]

I highly doubt it.

[@hernano221]

only by starting you can see: 1.- 00:10 Why you put 12-60mm F2.8 Leica vs 12-100 Zuiko?... much fair 12-40mm F2.8 ver.II ...right? | 2.- 00:47 "is my EVC" ...this already reflects favoritism | 1:16 the video just starts, he drops a comment a short favorable comment and immediately the attacks G9II... with this we can already understand the "final result" of this "informative video" | 1:25 he presents as "A BIG MISTAKE" a simple spinning wheel... so... are the photographers ares such id1_ 0_ ts that they can't control fingers because "accidentally"... he is creating drama where it doesn't exist + in contrast... he complains about the top wheel (selector) not having "a lock"... so... it confirms the photographers are id1_ 0_ ts and can't control a hard rotating selector either... wow!!! what a profound analysis!!!... Surely this vid is full of complaints... favoritism and little child dramas... both cameras are very good and both cameras can generate money and pay the bills... dont allow contaminated by a pr3_sumptu0_ us guy... not worth it, do not put that words of a petulant in your head...

[@DrFrankRink]

I'm a bit fearful that OM Systems won't be around for the long term, considering the snail-like pace they have demonstrated in developing new cameras/lenses. In view of that, I sold the excellent functioning OM-1 and Olympus lenses (other than the outstanding 90mm macro) and have pre-ordered a G9II. I have also acquired a stable of Panasonic/Pan-Leica lenses. Despite the cross-compatibility with Olympus lenses, I like the idea of synching the G9II with Panasonic lenses, and believe that I will achieve maximum stability going that route.

[@HokKan]

How long do you think they will be around here for?

[@eelco6587]

The future of photography is very unsure, for larger brands as well. As long as the market is not stabilizing Canon, Nikon and Sony also have to find ways to downsize their production and maximise profits. OM-System recently invested in new lens research facility. Before the G9II announcement everyone was worried Panasonic quit M4/3. Before S5II the L-Mount as well. Note that OM is rebranding all the Olympus gear and also took a long time to restructure internally. I see more and more brands starting fishing in M4/3 territory so my guess is that they do this because of shrinking demand in their current fishing territory.

[@furiousdoe7779]

Nonsense ,,,with the 150-400mm lens they have opened the road to better and lighter cameras for birders and safari fans.

[@gregfeeler6910]

@@eelco6587 Spot on. It's often easier for smaller and more nimble companies to survive than giant ones mired in bureaucracy.

[@IvanAgram]

@@gregfeeler6910 finally some sense.

[@tomsviewphotographyadventu2514]

Despite shooing Nikon for years... I watched the entire video because.. it's Jordan and Chris! :-)

[@tomlew55]

I have the Olympus M1 MKII and the menu system drives me nuts, so I prefer the Lumix menus. I "upgraded" from a Lumix GX85 which I find myself using more than the Olympus which is collecting dust. I own Nikon f mount and Z mount gear which is what I primarily shoot with. I chose MFT for low profile, like street photography, or lugging around for long distances The larger MFT bodies aren't exactly appealing to me, but the lenses definitely make up for it.

[@ak4good]

Size is also a critical factor for me. I tested the original G9 but size was a deal breaker, so went with GX85. CDAF was a problem so in a couple of years moved to E-M5 III, it delivers there, but I do prefer the GX85 menu and body style. If Panasonic came out with a PDAF GX85 replacement, I would be very tempted! Anyway, happy to see MFT continue to live on! Love the smaller form factor (watching FF get smaller though so MFT need to keep improving in body computational features to stay ahead).

[@shlork3936]

OM-1 has a new improved menu system.

[@ak4good]

@@shlork3936 Does the OM-5 also have the new menu?

[@bIoodypingu]

@@ak4good Nope. That's why the OM5 is such a joke of a product. It's quite literally a rebranded EM5.3.

[@ak4good]

@@bIoodypingu Yah that was a weird release. Hope OM completes the transition and starts releasing compelling products soon. 🤞

[@JoeMustang99]

By Monday, I'll have one of each, and I expect to be very happy with both. OM-1 primarily for stills, G9ii primarily for video, backups for each other. Nice comparison video, well done.

[@sbeckmesser]

I've been saving up for a G9M2. But then the DJI Pocket 3 showed up. Bought one immediately. Full attention on it for a while. Then, maybe, back to the G9M2. In the meantime, for stills I'm pretty satisfied with my OM-1.

[@chadkelley]

Unfortunately no G9II tomorrow. It was delayed till next Monday… 😢

[@StrangelyIronic]

First, I REALLY wish someone with a review copy of the G9ii would have shown if it has the same xpan style image size/crop built in like the S5 does. There is one thing worth pointing out when it comes to mixing lenses on bodies. To get the best top in features for Olympus/OM like the preshot or whatever, you need the pro lenses. Panasonic bodies are agnostic, everything but dual ibis works regardless of the lens. Oh, and if you’re looking for straight out of camera jpegs, the lut thing with the G9ii may be worth exploring (I find Olympus colors to rival even my foveon stuff, but it’s worth considering). Worth pointing out too that if you’re looking for a body asap, the OM-1 can be found used in great condition for around 1409-1500 usd, so 400+ savings. The MSRP on the G9ii is lower, so maybe when used bodies pop up they’ll also be a bit cheaper in that aspect.

[@janwedek]

You also have way more Lumix lenses in all price ranges that will give you Dual IS

[@ericmenu5408]

I don’t like Olympus cameras ergonomics and menu system, OM-1 included, so I will probably take this G9II one day. For the dynamic and noise comparison, I’m surprised by your results as Richard Wong has the opposite conclusion (G9II better than OM-1), and he added images to demonstrate it well.

[@HokKan]

Yeah I'm curious how they are reading the raw files. The results are indeed very different.

[@Cubeforc3]

I stuck around with my old Olympus OM-D EM10 for ages but I never felt comfortable with the menus. In the end I've picked up a used GX85 which isn't perfect but because I can easily find my way around I'm enjoying shooting with it more.

[@bradleyeid9260]

Thanks for this video. Hoping to see a OM-1, G9 II versus S5 II show-down soon. How many stops of dynamic range and low-light performance does the S5II really have over the best MFT cameras. My most used lenses are not the sharpest. Likewise my most used camera is the heaviest. I favor the equipment that makes the photography experience the most enjoyable for me. A big part of that comes from how the equipment feels in my hand. There is no substitute for handling a camera and lens before making a purchase decision.

[@essiturbo]

Than look the hybrid shooter test "you tube"between g9II and S5II.Nice Test...

[@bradleyeid9260]

@@essiturbo Good suggestion and a nice video. I watched that video a while ago. Hybrid Shooter did not answer my questions nor did convince that full frame is worth the extra weight. I do not need shallow depth of field or the "cinematic look."

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

When it comes to actually working with equipment, it is not the color or the looks that count but the ergonomics, which is a feature that is difficult to describe other than it must feel right for you when you hold it.

[@ts7071]

I do wish OMS would improve the tracking and the face/eye detect. Their animal af tracking is great, but people face/eye needs some work.

[@andresgonzalezcerda7635]

One G9 II on OM1 body is too much to ask?

[@lelanddyer9461]

PENTAX CAMEO!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Veedy]

I have both Oly and Panny.... have to say, i'm also a Panny fan :)

[@jameshenry6855]

Suprised you didn't do a review of the menu systems. That's an important field. Also the in camera tools offered by both? All I heard was high res mode.

[@SMGJohn]

Olympus have more user friendly menu systems and always have, Panasonic is far more indepth with tons of features most people wont use.

[@paulplus3830]

That's news to me. I always heard the opposite. Maybe you're used to Olympus. When I wanted to get into MFT, I went into a store and asked the guy to change ISO on the Olympus. And he couldn't do it. Maybe he was not skilled, but no matter how unskilled you are, you will always find what you're looking for in a Lumix. So I went with a Pana. @@SMGJohn

[@samohara5187]

@@SMGJohn Hard disagree. I sold my EM1 Mk2 partly because the menu was a maze compared to the Lumix bodies.

[@SMGJohn]

@@samohara5187 Really? I own both including the old EM-1 Mark 1, and I have no issues with their menu systems, the Mark 1 is, old but so were Panasonic ones at the time, OM-1 is vastly different to the old EM-1 Mark 1 however.

[@jaysimoes3705]

@@SMGJohn ? I use both systems, but the Panasonic is so much more logical, welll arranged even after 7yrs of using my Oly EM1.2 I still hate the menusystem. Always not to dive if some less frequent used settings are needed. I recently bought and LX100II and what a breeze it is. first I love the control on the cam but that menu system is just super easy. But it is probably also up to ones taste. So people should try to figure that one out for themselves.

[@sparkleglitch13]

Is there a reason the Olympus sponsorship is not disclosed? I have no issue them doing reviews or comparisons I just wish it was clearly stated when a sponsor is in the mix

[@jameshenry6855]

Yeah I was thinking that myself. They mention that their podcast is sponsored by Olympus but I think they should be upfront in their other videos as it is a possible conflict of interests.

[@RyougiVector]

As they've said in one of their podcasts, Jaren is the one who interfaces with OM Systems, so that shouldn't be an issue.

[@HokKan]

I thought OM System only sponsors their podcast. Do they also sponsor every single video now? When did they make this change?

[@RyougiVector]

@@HokKan it's only their podcast that they sponsor

[@HokKan]

@@RyougiVector but he just said that PetaPixel isn't disclosing the sponsorship here. Doesn't that mean that this review video is sponsored by OM System? Unless he is lying...

[@andrewdavies2109]

Well ok. Nice video, but really is the om-1 that much different to the en5 or em iii? For video, yes, but for stills no. an omd em5 iii (used) i😅s so close, and so cheap, do you you really want to pay three to four times the price for the two?

[@photoman3579]

Nothing in the G9 ll interests me, I'll be staying with Olympus !

[@markpronger1009]

Thanks guys great review. Great that Micro 4/3 has 2 strong brands ( competition always good ). I have OM1 mainly for Birds/ wildlife. Loving it great for hiking with and weather sealing. Also loving the podcast ; i think Canadians are like us Aussies, just a little bit quirky boardering on Nut jobs! Love it!

[@roscosart1888]

Heavily biased. G9ii wins in ibis.

[@KiinaSu]

In terms of lenses, lens IS is more important the longer your range. I mean Panasonic doesn't even turn it on on short focal lengths. So if you got the money Olympus has an advantage because they can offer the 150-400. If your on a budget it's a bit of a wash. The 100-400 from Panasonic seems to have worse optics but the Olympus 100-400 has worse stabilization. A bit shorter on the range Panasonic has the advantage of the 50-200 with IS instead of the Olympus 40-150 options.

[@spamboli]

if the G9II was based off the old G9 body - i would have bought it already - that body had incredible ergos - the new one? VERY disappointing

[@Misigun99]

I agree, it's the victim of cost saving.

[@allencrider]

I want OM Systems t make a cinema camera out of their stacked sensor.

[@elbeethrie5140]

thas OM Visionsce! 🎥.

[@UnconventionalReasoning]

The video feature which seems to be more and more useful is full-sensor readout. The GH6/G9II allows a 4K *vertical* crop in the 5.7K full-sensor mode.

[@JoJoOnTheMove]

I thought on my S5iiX this would be the case, but I found out this is more a influencers thing than really useful. 6K opengate is 4:2:0, while 6K ProRes is 4:2:2. I Prefer to get a vertical crop (which I honestly hate, but might be necessary) from the ProRes, the end quality is better, even when you have to crop more.

[@Wildridefilms]

@@JoJoOnTheMove 6k 4:2:0 is very similar colour resolution to 4k 4:2:2 once you downsample.

[@JoJoOnTheMove]

@@Wildridefilms I agree, buts that's why I prefer than ProRes, much less taxing on my PC and better quality.

[@audreyburns100]

I will never get tired of the “Jordan running” test

[@d-entrecasteaux]

Coming from Canon, Olympus lens zoom and focus rings rotate the same. Nikon and Sony user muscle memory match the LUMIX lenses.

[@luissalazar2021]

You 2 guys are doing great job, thanks for sharing, I appreciate y’all being a old man, OM 1 will be my second camera

[@takoyako]

The Pentax K1II cameo (with the "new" FA 50mm) is the best part lol Panasonic made a good all-around camera this time. Hope to see a refresh of G95 and G100 too with same PDAF.

[@FelipeArthurCarvalho]

The image quality of Lumix on the noise comparation is better

[@FelipeArthurCarvalho]

9:11

From what I can identify from the quick takes squeezed in, there are more details retained on the G9ii but also more grain..., so, up to you...

[@Wildridefilms]

That's what I thought too, but it might just be sharper due to the higher resolution 😊

[@HokKan]

There is so much more color noise.

[@DS-pb1hh]

Well done:-)! Thanks!

[@floyd101954]

Thank you for this very honest and unbiased comparison. I was very close to getting the G9 II until I saw your reviews. I’m not a Videographer ( my video shooting is family and some travel) so the benefits of the G II over the OM1 don’t matter to me. The deal breaker for me with the Lumix is the poorer Dynamic Range and Noise at ISO 800 and below. As a photographer this is a very typical ISO range. It just makes no sense to have a larger sensor with poorer performance in this area. Add to this I was disappointed that Panasonic went to the larger S5 series form factor and got away from the benefit of true M4/3. I had the S5 II and sold it for that reason as well as a few other reasons I won’t go into. Then add to this the shorter battery life, even for photography and for me the OM System is the clear winner. I use my cameras for a lot of photography during my wife and my travels (now that we can all travel again) so form factor, weight, size and battery capacity are all important to me. I just ordered my OM1.

[@vasilisdurden2622]

I think the conclusion on image quality is a little unfair. First things first, judging image quality based mainly on super under exposed images is a little misleading. Secondly, from the measurements available online, it seems that G9 ii has its maximum dynamic range on iso 200 and not 100. And lastly, even in the samples of this video G9 ii seems to have more colour noise than OM-1, the Olympus camera shows noticeable banding which - in conjunction with lower resolution - has nearly the same results in quality.

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

And when it comes to the latest technologies in video or audio electronic equipment we tend to be obsessed with technical perfection - forgetting to compare it to the human's ability to actually hear or see that difference when it comes to listening or viewing the reproduction of the captured digital files. Today's technologies are way above frequency levels that our ears are able to hear, and in the case of photography, levels of resolution that we are able to reproduce as a visual picture.

[@Oilcruzer]

Great cameras. Put either in your hand. That’s what made me choose the Lumix. Larger hands.

[@JensMHA]

Spent the last year migrating from Lumix to Olympus, after being with Lumix since 2015. As a stills guy I dont have much regrets in that decision. Both brands has made some rather odd decisions over the last years, which for me makes no sense. For lumix, the less than stellar featured G100 and for Olympus, the OM-5 which would have been a fine to very fine camera if released before the OM-1, but when released 10 months after makes no proper sense.

[@christill]

I agree with the review. I have an OM-1 and I love it, as a stills shooter. The handling is perfect for me, and I really like all the OM computational features. The G9II is great as well for video especially. But having the experience I’ve had, I would buy the OM-1 again. If I didn’t know what I know now, I’d probably buy the G9II though. So I’m glad I got the OM-1 before the G9 came out.

[@iancarne2529]

It may just come down to price. In the UK the g9 11 is £350 cheaper than the OM 1, and give it 6 months and Panasonic will be tempting many of us with cash back offers. (Hopefully. Just look at the s5 mk2 offers at the moment)

[@FierceSleepingDog]

Two great cameras that will keep MFT viable moving forward. Video, stills, and hybrid shooters have excellent choices to choose from. Well done Panasonic and OM Systems.

[@Elmex_1]

Well, while I agree both G9II and OM-1 are great cameras, I think OM System should start to be more vocal, give some news what they're planning, maybe say "next camera 1-2 years from now" or whatever, just to boost some confidence. That 90mm macro looks really really good food insect photogaphy (probably some reverse lens setups will be easier too thanks to its longer than 120equiv reach), but body wise I'm unsure how long away are they from releasing new body. For wildlife, more than 20mp would be nice, and any high iso improvements are more than welcome.

[@SMGJohn]

OM-1 suffers from those awful orange GH5 colours in video, really weird that Olympus did not solve this.

[@photonspark]

Really hope Jip keeps the Olympus legacy going with future improvements all round to the very good OM1 and OM5,as well as lens updates where needed. If not, imagine if Dji could buy OM System. That other gear channel discussed Dji possibly getting more into cameras, obviously more video, but they would do well with stills too. Dji is a very focused and progressive company.. But, Japanese engineers would never work for Chinese masters, so wouldn't bet on a proper transfer of IP. Just daydreaming..

[@stathorinoakenshield6331]

Displays should be a draw and the quality point was given backwards, WTF? The quality is so much better in the G9 it is not even close. Even in the Raised exposure shot the quality and noise on the OM-D is obviously worse. Even the lens category could go to panasonic since you dont need to spend so much $$$ as olympus to get the 2-3 lenses that will give you sync IS.

[@carboncut]

You guys covered adapted EF lenses on m43 very well a few years back. We are hoping you will revisit Metabones adapters on the G9 II with PDAF. For m43 I use GH5s bodies with the EM1X and this allows for a great balance of options using adapted glass for video and photo, however the main transition has been to L-mount where adapted EF lenses are very useful for video, but still limited using the MC-21 only. The main interest in investing in another m43 body would be to make full use of the two primary Speedbooster products from Metabones with PDAF since many of us invested in these for the GH5 body series, and Olympus/OM can only make use of one of these due to shutter-curtain contact with the XL variant while Panasonic allows for this. A little nudge for Metabones to update their firmware might come from your re-review of speedboosters and adapters on the G9 II, so 'Please' let us know what to expect and this might be different from the OM-1 experience using the same.

[@SMGJohn]

G9II works very well with the speedboosters, there multiple tests on KZbin and no issues, it tracks impeccable.

[@Wildridefilms]

​@@SMGJohnwhere? I couldn't find any. Please attach a link

[@carboncut]

Thanks John, I will have to look harder then, though I suspect we are talking about different products and/or technology. I only subscribe to a few channels and have been following C&J from TCSTV times, and there is a history there for Jordan and Chris to give context. @@SMGJohn

[@HokKan]

​@@Wildridefilmslook up the G9II video using speed booster with 400/2.8

[@HokKan]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3u7eGlpnbimnsUsi=z5E5B29bTz-xaFZU

[@BrownieX001]

Hopefully people don't assume you have a bias for the OM system. Your statement on the podcast was good enough for me. But maybe others need it in writing on the website

[@Benjamin_Jehne]

I just see two extremly big cameras with a tiny sensor, instead of two compact bodies optimized to the small sensor with a max of power. This is everything mFT never meant to be. The Panasonic is a joke. What a monstrosity. Thats a camera with clown shows. I hope both companies will wake up and jump on the small and stylish camera train again, instead of just building ugly cameras for some niche costumers.

[@sambennett5203]

I've been on the fence about upgrading my two E-M1 Mark IIIs to a couple of OM-1s, or one G9II for telephoto and one S5II for wide/normal work. Even though I've been using OMD for ages, I think this has convinced me to go with Lumix. Thanks for the great analysis, as always!

[@FPVwineUK]

If you don't need PDAF I strongly recommend the original S5. I love mine, and they're dirt cheap 2nd hand, plenty of features and compared to many others in FF.

[@sambennett5203]

Sadly I do need PDAF since you're right - it's crazy how cheap S5's are on the used market right now. 😳

[@FPVwineUK]

@@sambennett5203 YEP! It's a monster of a camera, if you don't mind shooting manual! I have loved mine. I will upgrade to the S5 IIx when it comes down in price, I think. Too expensive rn.

[@AxelPironio]

I love you guys but please forget the Plena unit of weight measurement, please stick to the Noct :)

[@AdminTechnopedia]

Still leaning to Lumix path of life, as Olympus (now OM system) leaning to become famous "fast food sushi" Hope they both still give a kick back to FF sensor junkie out there 😅

[@janwedek]

So… how does dynamic range compare *above* 800 ISO? For BIF, it’s extremely rare that I’m at base ISO anyway. Does it lag behind at higher ISOs too?

[@ilanhoward]

I would choose the GM1 as winner.

[@fktygglbtchbtch1384]

Back to cameras...yay! :) Too much OM plug by Chris however.

[@blueredtan2872]

What's really annoing is the cross compatibility between a Pana body with Oly lens or vice versa has never been perfect. So at the end of the day the deciding factor is what lens you need to get the most out of and you're forced to use the same brand body. For me the OM-1 should be better, but my most used lenses are the 10-25/F1.7 and 50-200mm/F2.8-4.0 so I'm going G9 II. Still it should be a huge upgrade from my current G9.

[@Elmex_1]

Yes, the cross compatibility between pana/oly and oly/pana is big headache, they should really just make it all work, dual IS should work with other brand's lenses as well!

[@DuyTran-hy2kx]

I think DR comparison need to be compared with Highlight Recovery beside pushing shadows. Some sensor are more intended to saving more highlight data

[@id5video]

Which camera handles skin tones best and has better out of camera color?

[@eelco6587]

Hi Chris, Were you able to test the G9II with the 150-400? I am really curious about this combination for wildlife.

[@niccollsvideo]

I haven’t yet. I certainly could, I imagine it would work just fine. Lens IS and IBiS in sync is great but it’s not the best all end all. The improvement is generally quite small and fast shutter speeds are important regardless of any stabilization

[@ericaceous1652]

@@niccollsvideo "I certainly could" - please do, if you can find the time :)

[@davidfleet]

I have both and in my experience so far the G9ii works well with the 150-400mm but the OM1 and mark ii acquire focus faster with that lens. I’m going to be testing this out further this year. The G9ii is quick enough to make it good for video which is why I bought it.

[@eelco6587]

​ @DavidFleet Yeah I agree, owning the same setup 😀. The S-AF on the G9II is even quicker than the S-AF of the OM-1 II I think. Even with the 2X converter the S-AF doesn't slow down much on the G9II. The OM-1 excells in the C-AF speed in my experience as well. This fall I will participate in a bird photography course. OMS is expected to provide some lenses including the 150-400. I will bring both G9II and OM-1II and my own 150-400mm so hopefully I can test them next to each other without swapping the lens.

[@zequiel4725]

I would choose the g9 ii for the better video capabilities, and i preffer the hand held high res mode and extra 5 mpx than a little bit more dynamic range.

[@earlteigrob9211]

For stills, OM beats Pana in the nuance and detail. The stills features in Panasonics are very Video centric where OM is very stills centric. For example, Focus stacking on Panasonic is done by recording a video and then extracting frames. OM uses raw files. I would not go back to Panasonic after shotting OM, even though it may be a bit more clucky in some ways. (but getting less clucky in every release)

[@bigdspeedshop]

And winner of the tallest midget contest is....

[@RedSinter]

So, if you dislike video and prefer a camera that is more stills oriented the go Olympus if you are Video Cevteic then go Panasonic.

[@julibaum1881]

I have just sent back the OM 1 because I didn't like the handling of the OM1... I hate the locking mechanism, the wheels for apature and shutterspeed are pretty weired to me... pretty much the total opposite what you guys liked better on the OM1 than on the G9II. I obviously haven't had the chance to use the G9II yet but hope to get one as soon as it itlis released. I started to like the MFT System from a technical perspective but the handling must be good, too

[@cutecoots]

Until now it's the g9 ii and I love mine ❤😊

[@FierceSleepingDog]

Great review. Brand fanboys will be pissed, but I think this is a great review. Honest and straight forward. Two great cameras and now we are getting into the finer details. I'm a stills photographer and love my OM-1. If I were into creating videos I'd go get a G9ii.

[@gregfeeler6910]

I'd call myself something of an Olympus fanboy, but much more I'm an MFT fanboy and it takes both OMDS and Panasonic to keep this format alive, relevant, and growing, so a win for either brand is a win for both and especially for MFT enthusiasts. And, yes, this is a great review and the first I've seen that address the image quality differences between these two cameras. Too many people are mesmerized by sensor MP count and don't understand all the other qualities - especially dynamic range - which are as much or more important then simple resolution.