Real-World Review; 12 Months with the OM-1

The OM-1 is OM System's flagship model, but just how good is this Micro Four-Thirds camera? Matty Graham has spent a year using this mirrorless beast and gives his real-world opinion of the OM-1's stills and video capabilities.
#om1 #omsystem #photography #photographyreviews #camera #camerareview #cameratest #microfourthirds #video #birdphotography #examplefootage #exampleimages #examplephotos

[@estraume]

I went to see the current volcano outside Reykjavik, Iceland this weekend. I brought my OM-1 with the 12-40/2.8 and the Pan-Leica 100-400. 1.9 kg (4.2 lb) of camera gear. The portability is the may reason why switched to Micro 4/3 ten years ago.

[@Poupoulou]

3:47 in review mode, you can easily switch which card you are viewing images/movies from by long pressing the review button and moving the front wheel :)

[@JezdziecBezNicka]

It's an ideal camera for any type of outdoor shooting. Come to think of it - it's great for *any* type of shooting. I've shot birds, parties, studio shoots, events - without an issue.

[@adventuresinaperture]

Thanks for the comment and stay tuned as there's more OM-1 content coming very soon!

[@ilmatanela1816]

More OM/Olympus content! Liked and subscribed 😊

[@mariangroeneveld7401]

Thanks that is very helpful!

[@osjerick]

Wow, those images are beautiful!

[@adventuresinaperture]

Many thanks, more OM-system content to come!

[@kbruff2010]

Once again thank you

[@Jgatti41]

I can never wrap my mind around people saying if you shoot in a studio get a full frame camera. Shooting wedding or events that need high iso? Yes I get that. But with good light ( like in a studio) I have gotten excellent results. ( edit) Not sure why but that statement about " if you want to do portraits get a higher MP ff " has just been echoing in my mind and bothering me. There was a time when just about every pro photographer I knew shot with a NIkon D700. Raved about it. loved that camera. It was 12mp. None of them said " oh I wish it were 16, or 20, or 60, 100mp". I had left Olympus for Sony. Bought an A7IV. Great but very boring camera. Never trusted it in the rain and I recently did a beach shot I never would have ever considered using my Sony for. I was at times waist deep and laying down in lake Michigan shooting a model friend. Never would have even considered taking my Sony into that water. You know the saying, the best camera is the one you have with you? :)

[@gordon3988]

A great review! A bit off topic, but how do you feel about the OM5. It appeals to me largely for its size and weight. I do a lot,of hiking and do about 60% video. OM1 would be overkill, though tempting…especially now that the version ii is out and you may see some OM1s for sale as a result.

[@LiquidCylinders]

How did you find the 100-400 regarding stabilization? Is the image quality good? What configuration would you use with the OM1 and that lens to take surf photos from the shore? Generally in these cases the surfer is about 30-40 meters away and you always shoot at +1/1000 SS. Tyvm, nice video.

[@kamilrakowski23]

My two words about the video. I photograph and film motorcycles and cars. Car detection is not so necessary but motorcycle rider(helmet) detection is amazing. If you're filming action, you should know that in video mode the om-1 has the lowest rolling shutter of any camera available (including the nikkon z9 and sony a1). Plus one more thing. Om system pro lenses don't have any focus breathing and the 17, 25, 45mm 1.2 and 12-40 2.8 are the same size. You don't have to set up the gimbal every time you change the lens. This is absolutely amazing for me. Ps.You're right about the slow motion video. I shoot a sequence of 120 fps photos and put them together in a video. From one burst (about 100 frames) you can get a video sequence of almost 4 seconds(24fps). Why don't we get 4k 120 fps? It's only 8mpx 10bit, not 20mpx 12 bit as in photo mode.

[@adventuresinaperture]

Here's hoping for a firmware upgrade soon!

[@DennisJacobsenWildlife]

Great review and i agree with out its a great system for sure!

[@adventuresinaperture]

Thanks Dennis, more OM-1 content to come shortly!

[@Lordvader330]

Great review. I also got mine on week one. Its been great to work with.

[@adventuresinaperture]

Really appreciate that. I have more OM System content coming soon

[@formermpc10]

Give it time ..

[@godsinbox]

The Pro lenses makes your photography come alive. Really cant understand enthusiasts talking about anything less.

[@cjk1943]

❤I love the video

[@adventuresinaperture]

Many thanks for commenting - more content every week so stay tuned and subscribe please :)

[@MarcoPi-pq5kg]

I've got om-1 recently, it has some other potential to achieve via firmware, but it is a great camera. I use 12-40 and 12-200 for now, but i am considering exploring new lenses... hope you post some otther content about!

[@adventuresinaperture]

Thanks for the comment, more OM content on the way and we'll cover 12-40mm lens for sure!

[@RoderickJMacdonald]

Consider testing the digital teleconverter. It’s not just “cropping in”. You might like the results as long as you have reasonable lighting.

[@user-nr9su8dl3v]

Hello Matty: How large a print do you feel comfortable making from OM-1 captures?

[@adventuresinaperture]

Depends on whether you've captured a standard image or used the High Res mode - I have a huge print from my Iceland trip that was taken with the High Res mode. In theory the standard file should be good for up to A3 in size :)

[@garzapedroa]

if it is Made in JAPAN i´ll buy it

[@andymok7945]

It took OM to make a proper battery grip. Olympus did not have the joystick to make it easy to change the focus point. I have owned several Canon dSLR and always bought the grip. I use it mostly for wildlife photography and quite a bit less money than others where you are looking at $5300.00 just for the camera. No regrets in switching to and staying with the MFT system.

[@trojanhman8136]

I am new to photography and have a question in relation to the speed of lenses. I should have looked this up but the F2.4 or was it 2.8 lens isn't considered fast. is there an equation you apply to this figure to get equivalence with 35mm full frame lenses? My understanding is that the small sensor size gives you that long telephoto but you lose the wide end? lastly, here in Australia, the price is about $3000 without a lens. It seem to me that this camera has some very nice attributes but also some severe limitations. If the price was substantially cheaper or if the sensor went to the cropped 35mm size, I think the manufacturer would sell more of this camera.

[@adventuresinaperture]

Thanks for the comment - not sure about the price implications of Aus as I'm based in the UK. I'd say f/2.8 is fast, but will be different to f/2.8 on a full-frame camera. Essentially, every camera has compromises, so you just have to pick the right one for your photography needs. If that's long lens work for wildlife, the OM-1 is a good option. More OM Content is coming soon so stay tuned :)

[@trojanhman8136]

@@adventuresinaperture I was looking through the system after your video. I can see it is exactly what I want for a particular project, if I am ever going to do that, but academically I can see this would fit a specific use. That means I would need another system for another use.

[@TheSannaeriksson]

​@@trojanhman8136What another use? Why isn't the OM1 good for that? 🙂

[@wizard6207]

Would the OM-1 be a good camera to use for macro work ? In particular, insects.

[@adventuresinaperture]

The new macro lens from OM System is definitely worth looking at - there's a great macro shooter called Geraint Radford, who is worth looking up

[@josech]

Went from Canon 5D to OM1 and never looked back. The 5D it’s a great camera, Im sure so the R5 is, but lenses are way less expensive, weight and size are awesome, and since I live in the tropics, being able to keep shooting even under heavy rain it’s something I’m not wiling to let go.

[@adventuresinaperture]

Sounds like the right camera for your environment!

[@mmadmic]

I love MFT, converted to FT and MFT since the Olympus E-3, but not sure the x2 sensor factor is always a benefit, indeed for long focal is a clear plus but when it's question of wide angle lenses of fisheyes, I prefer to work with an FF camera. But it's imho, the only real drawback of MFT, the rest are just pros, size, resolution, lens mounts compatibility, IBIS, ... Even noise is not really a problem with modern PP software.

[@adventuresinaperture]

Thanks for the comment, have you tried the Olympus 8-25mm?

[@mmadmic]

@@adventuresinaperture Not yet, it's on my wish list ;)

[@stephenholmes1735]

Hi I’m from northeast had Om-1 from day one are u moving to the Nikon z8 how do u compare the 2

[@adventuresinaperture]

I use multiple systems, but sticking with OM-1 for wildlife photography :)

[@stephenholmes1735]

@@adventuresinaperture love mine

[@stephenholmes1735]

Is the z8 faster focusing than Om-1

[@adventuresinaperture]

The Z 8 is fast, but I wouldn't say faster and is twice the price. If I'm honest, given the choice, I'd still pick my OM-1

[@angelisone]

dump the m4/3 ratios and get m3/2 ratio. then double the resolution to 40meg. if they can do that, then they are going into the history book like the 4/3, dslr 1/1 & dslr reduction sensor cameras.

[@motebike]

I had it. It's a good camera, but no 4.2.2 internally was a big mistake

[@adventuresinaperture]

I wish OM System would realise more people want to use the OM-1 for video!

[@motebike]

@@adventuresinaperture I know. They can easily add the extra specs as a firmware, as the camera is powerful enough.Maybe they did it on purpose so people can buy the 'next' version.

[@Richard.Cabeza]

What ever they come out with next I'll most likely be buying it. I'm hoping it's a significant upgrade in technology/features. Still using my GH5, but I don't use the amazing video features and capabilities that it has. At the time I bought it, the reviews, fit and menu system of the Olympus OMD-1.2 didn't suit me.

[@adventuresinaperture]

Thanks for the comment, hopefully OM System will keep up with new products - I'd like to see a faster 300mm

[@invertebratist]

Hoping for 300mm F2.8 TC 2.0x IS PRO... or 800mm F8 TC 1.4X IS PRO...

[@joshua-pn3ue]

Please build full frame om system.

[@adventuresinaperture]

Bigger sensor means bigger bodies and bigger (and more expensive lenses)...

[@evolvingphotons]

I've used all the E-M1s and the OM-1 is a noticeable step up, it covers every genre I want to shoot. For me the biggest improvement was being able to use my Panasonic 200 and 100-400 with ProCapture when shooting wildlife. However, at 120fps the buffer isn't large enough, so a firmware update to either allow external SSD or being able to RAID the SD cards might give enough data bandwidth to not drop frames or shoot more than 0.5 seconds. It's as close to the perfect camera for my uses as I can find.

[@adventuresinaperture]

Thanks for the comment - much appreciated and more OM content is coming soon!

[@formermpc10]

I recommend the EM1.2 or EM1.3 and not the OM-1.

[@TheSannaeriksson]

​@@formermpc10I would say they are all great cameras... but I like my OM1 most and yes I have them all + the Em1X.

[@user-hu5er7ew5v]

How about ZV-E10? Just bought one and whole set filters from Kase store. Want to learn more skill.

[@thinkingape7655]

Dear OM Solutions, we need larger aperture zoom lenses as a serious option. Also, the E-M1X has lots of buttons, however an extremely limited UI, which prohibits the user from actually customizing the darn thing. The OM-1 is nearly perfect, just needs a tad more refinement in the AF department. Now build a actual 35mm equivalent F/4 - F/5.6 telephoto zoom and earn your customers back. Yes it’ll be much bigger, but that’s physics.

[@adventuresinaperture]

Thanks for the comment. I agree; the E-M1X feels lightyears away from the OM-1!

[@tntytube]

Yeah, some f/2.0 lenses in the range of 200mm, 250mm or 300mm are really needed. An f/2.8 will be the same as the existing Pana 200mm f/2.8, and not much different from the 300/4 or 150-400/4.5. Hope one of the 2 coming lenses will be f/2.0 instead of f/2.8.

[@TheSannaeriksson]

​@@adventuresinapertureI love and use them both. 😉

[@knofi7052]

I am convinced that most smaller camera systems will die out in the next 5 to 15 years because of ever-improving smartphone cameras. The development can already be seen, as the sales areas for camera systems are already becoming smaller and smaller in many technic-markets. What will probably remain for a longer time are extremely expensive and high-quality full and medium format systems for professional photographers.

[@theflyingdutchman7127]

maybe it's time for a triple stacked censor.👍

[@godsinbox]

great idea, the third layer could actually deliver good video autofocus.