Why I Got an OM System OM-1 - The Merits of MicroFourThirds

By purchasing an OM System OM-1, I got back into MicroFourThirds. In this video I’d like to share my personal OM-D origin story as well as why the OM-1 is the perfect addition to my beloved Nikon D800.
.
Video Content:
0:00 My OM-D Story
2:17 Size and Weight
3:36 User Experience Versus Convenience
6:14 Connectivity
7:45 Performance and Versatility
8:38 Final Thoughts
.
Written Article:
www.thomaseisl.photography/blog/why-i-got-an-om-system-om-1
.
Instagram: thomaseisl.photography
Website: www.thomaseisl.photography/
Facebook: thomaseisl.photography/
.
🎥 Sony ZV-1 & Olympus OM-D M5
.
Special thanks to @ForsgardPeter, @TheNarrowbandChannel and @MikeLaneFRPS for their OM System OM-1 videos, which helped me to make an informed buying decision.
.
#OMSystem #OM-1 #MicroFourThirds #Olympus #ThomasEisl #ThomasEislPhotography
@OMSYSTEMCameras

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Please consider supporting the channel, donate a cup of coffee ☕ ko-fi.com/thomaseislphotography

[@dalebuckwalter50]

My first digital camera was an Olympus 3030 (3 megapixels) which I purchased in August of 2000. I have owned many Olympus cameras since. My last purchase was an OM-1 and, at age 82, should last me the rest of my life.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

First and foremost - thanks for sharing your OM/Olympus Story! One thing is for sure, the OM-1 is definitely worth the money and as far as capabilities go, this model will suffice (at least for me). Who knows, Dale - maybe you will upgrade in 10 years to the next OM camera - I myself intend on using the OM-1 as long as possible, I am really fond of this camera. Thanks again for the comment, Dale!

[@bradmiller9993]

Dude! That was my first digital camera! Even now, looking back at those files, I'm impressed by that little 3 megapixel camera. Stunning !

[@robinrhodin]

Interestingly, I flipped around many brands and styles of cameras, and ended up right where you did, with Nikon DSLRs and M43. I'm mostly just a hobbyist, but I feel they complement each other perfectly, and do very different jobs, so the combo is extremely versatile. They are, as you've said, really hard to compare, being such different tools. Great channel by the way, lots of good info, and delivered clearly and to the point. Much appreciated!

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

I'm glad to read that! Thank you very much for the kind comment, I'm happy that you like the content, that is very encouraging!

[@CHfondue]

I bought the OM System OM-5 this week. These last years I’ve been exclusively using an iPhone as my only camera. I miss the control over my photos and the image sharpness I had from my previous Ricoh GR II. The fantastic in-camera stabilization, weather sealing, combined with light weight and great lenses are the main reasons I acquired this camera. With the 12-100mm f/4 IS Pro lens, I have a great travel combo.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Nice - the OM-5 is truly impressive - with the new lens of yours a great travel combo indeed! Thanks for sharing!

[@stevenbudd3725]

Hi Thomas. I'm a Topcon SLR film shooter - RE Super and Super D bodies, with Topcor RE Auto 35mm f2.8, 50mm GN f1.8, 58mm f1.4 and 100mm f2.8 lenses. In tandem with that, I love my Leica M3 double stroke and Leica IIIf Red Dial. For digital, I've settled on the Canon 5D III, together with the Sigma SD Quattro H, as I like Foveon sensor photography too. Together, these cover the different photography types I engage in. I'm very glad to discover your channel - simple good sense and clear, unambiguous viewpoints that tally with my own thoughts. Top stuff!

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thanks for sharing! Great to have an analog shooter on the channel as well! I would really like to get the Quattro H at some point for studio work, great specialist tool. Great to have you on the channel!

[@BlueDogTabby]

Thanks for all your work on this.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Many thanks!

[@ak4good]

Just discovered your channel. Appreciate your clear and direct communication without the hyped up fluff of many "influencer" style channels. Must say though I'm suprised to hear you say Olympus and now OM have "nailed" the smartphone app. For one it is not stable (the new OM update to the app is giving me "unable to find SD card" error on Pixel 8 with EM-5 III), and the Google Play store is full of reports of connectivity issues with the OM-1. I'm still able to pair the EM-5.3 with the Pixel 8 and use the remote shutter functionality, but not transfer pictures. Not a huge loss as image transfer was always extremely slow and only transferred JPG, not RAW. Also the app offers no option to delete images. Also requires me to pair the camera all over if I want to use my second E-M5 (or the EM-10 I also have). Most importantly though the remote shooting functionality is very limited compared with the Panasonic app I use.

[@ForsgardPeter]

Great to hear! Welcome back!

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thanks Peter for taking the time and stopping by! Much appreciated, so awesome to see Mr. M43 himself visiting my channel.

[@scottlester8128]

I’ve just discovered your and subscribed. I’m impressed with your practical/knowledgeable approach. I use a Panasonic G9 & GH3 for part time work. I’ve photographed dogs, events, photos for the local zoo. Sometimes consider full frame, I’m reluctant . My set up a couple of Leicas covering 12-60, the 42.5 f1.2, 25mm prime and a telephoto are enough. Olympus cameras and lenses look great I hope to get one sometime but was gifted a Panasonic originally which became my comfort zone. Looking forward to more of your videos

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much Scott for sharing and subscribing! Welcome to the channel, great to have you! The G9 and the GH3 are very capable cameras. I've used the G9 for a while and it is absolutely fantastic, especially with those lenses of yours!

[@sc7_14]

love using my OM1. Glad to have found your channel. Subscribed! :)

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much and welcome aboard! The OM-1 is such a great camera, can't emphasize that enough.

[@rickb5500]

Responding to your question on what system I use. I have an EM1 mk1 which does a great job. I started out on Olympus in 1976, with a Trip 35, moved up to an OM10 in 1983. Tried a Fuji bridge camera, was not impressed. Brought a second hand Nikon d70s and took that to Europe on holiday in 2016. Great camera great shots. Who says you need lots of megapixels to get a good photo. I moved up to a Nikon D5300 and took that to the USA and Canada on holidays. It was great. I went back to Olympus after reading about mirrorless and got an EM5 mk1, that sold me. I brought the EM1 because I love the feel of it and being able to customize it. Still love the Nikon, but prefer to use the EM1 due to size.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Awesome camera journey, Rick! Thanks for sharing that. It is great to have both a DSLR and a mirrorless camera, right!

[@PaintedCloudsStudio]

Very good and objective comparison. Thanks! I have the OM-1 myself and agree with your assessment of it. Happy shooting :)

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much - I very much appreciate it! In an upcoming video, I'll do a direct comparison of my D800 and OM-1 kit. The OM-1 is such a great camera that I use it more and more every day. Thanks again and welcome to the channel - and happy shooting 🙂

[@adamdagosto570]

I'm with you. I maintain two systems (actually 3). I use the D810 and Olympus PEN-F and OM-1. For a very long time I tried to get out of two systems. I just can't do it. Everytime I think I'm going to drop Nikon, I find another reason to keep it. Dropping Olympus has not crossed my mind. Too good, too light, too easy. Too many features I cannot live without! My other system is large format. I don't use it a ton, but can't bring myself to part with it. Similar to the D810, everytime I use my large format, I say to myself I'll never get rid of it. And then it sits for a while. There's no perfect system. So, collect them all and have fun. That's easy for me...I'm not a pro shooter. I just love to screw around and see what magic I might create from time to time.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Agreed! And it is perfectly fine to have three different systems. An artist does not have to limit himself/herself to one brush. Thanks for sharing that!

[@jfvaf]

i own an OM1 and a Nikon D850. I love both. The D850 for studio and low light events. The OM1 for long days outside shooting, and travelling. The new sensor of OM1 is really good comparing to the previous sensor of the EM1 MkIII. The low light performance is now enough to get great results in events with bad light. In a combo with the excellent 40-150 f2.8 pro it offers a discreet and powerful system that outperforms many heavy gears for event portraiture. Il love the OM1 more and more.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

I agree, the OM-1 is just very good, and I feel very confident when shooting with it to get the job done. And on top of that, it is really fun to use. Thanks for sharing your experiences, much appreciated!

[@AlpacoFilms]

Congrats on the purchase! I’m loving mine for certain aspects and find other aspects a bit dissatisfying. However the experience overall is positive with me. Can’t wait to see what you discover about the camera! Subbed with a bell!

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you for your kind words and subscription - both very much appreciated! I am working on some in-depth OM-1 videos about optimizing AF, low light performance and other stuff - I hope they will be worth the notification for you. Thanks again and welcome to the channel!

[@paulheather3727]

Hi, very muched enjoyed your video. And, from the comments can see that may photographers have arrived at the same place. I have been with Nikon for many years, migrating from an F80 using film through the D70, D7000, D500 and finally the D850 acquiring lots of F mount glass along the way. I added mirrorless for the size initially but now appreciate the computational extras and wildlife focusing ability which has led me on a trip through the EM10, PEN F, EM5 Mk iii and finally the OM1. Is a great time to be into photography. Will probably re acquire a Nikon film camera again soon just for the sheer joy of shooting! Keep the videos coming!

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Hey Paul! Thank you very much for sharing - the D850 is still one of the best stills camera. However, I am completely with you, having a camera like the OM-1 makes a lot of sense and can really ads a lot. I agree regarding the computational features, they make a lot of sense. Btw, you should get an F6 hehe Cheers, hope to hear from you again!

[@simonhickie7589]

Hi Thomas and greetings from the UK! Very balanced comparison. I used Nikon SLRs and DSLRs from the late 1990s to about 2021. I have also run M4/3 cameras alongside my Nikons more or less since the original Panasonic G1 came out. I finally sold the last of my Nikon gear last year for one simple reason - weight! I have mobility issues, so a lightweight system is essential. I replaced my D750 with an EM1ii in 2020 but kept my D7200 for another year for sports shooting. However, I've found that my EM1ii is more than capable for sports shooting with the Panasonic 100-300mm. My day to day photography is typically with the EM1ii and 12-40mm f2.8 pro. I've just bought a used EM1iii to make sports shooting a little easier with the joystick for AF point positioning. Live ND, hand held hires and some of the other computational features may also come in handy. I'm sure an OM-1 will find its way into my camera bag in a couple of year's time, although I tend to buy used and a couple of generations older than current models. Final thoughts. A friend has just bought a D700. The rendering is excellent. However, two things struck me - the weight and the relative dimness of the optical viewfinder even with an f1.8 lens. I also prefer the wider distribution of AF points on the EM1ii. So on balance, tempting as it is, I'll not be returning to the Nikon ecosystem.

[@michaelknibbs]

Thomas, it’s so nice to hear a rational argument for different formats. I’m so tired of the religiosity that surrounds our hobby or profession. I’ve shot both formats and enjoyed the results of both, and been frustrated by the limitations or characteristics of each. Today, I’ve returned to MFT with an OM1 and an OM5 with a suite of pro lenses. I’m mostly an outdoors photographer who shoots wildlife and landscapes. And the weight difference (lenses mostly) is telling in the field. I sometimes miss the creamy bokeh of my shorter focal length FF Canon lenses, but don’t miss the 200mm and longer glass in my bag. Life is series of choices, I respect anyone who makes different ones - after all, it’s not my choice. Great content, keep it coming.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much! Could not agree more with what you've stated. Also, these "photography religions" are not really evidence- but believe-based, the latter being driven by marketing, it seems. Be that as it may, your kit is perfect for what you do. Love my OM-5 btw, excellent camera! Thanks again for the thoughtful contribution and the positive feedback! Best, Thomas 📸

[@mistergiovanni7183]

I like that you don't need to badmouth an FF to explain certain advantages of the M43. And the M43 is a format that allows you to work professionally. Sure, it doesn't allow big crops but knowing how to compose there would be no reason to be making crops. I have a D700 and those 12 MPX are still enough to work with and the constellation of F lenses is endless, cheap and of tremendous quality. But, the OM1, EM5 or the new OM5 I would love as a travel camera. I see from the comments that other Nikon users, like you, can live in harmony with both systems. Thank you very much Thomas.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Every system and format has its merits - just look at your D700, it is a legendary camera and rightly so. In the hands of a true photographer, this is a no nonsense professional imaging beast. I completely agree in regards of value for money and quality - in a future video, I'll be comparing my D800 kit in detail to my OM-1 kit and these factors will be discussed as well. Thank you for this very special comment - I appreciate this feedback and your thoughts on the merits of FX and MFT.

[@kch7435]

2:20 to 2:54: Exactly what I think and why I also use a pair of OM-D-Cameras alongside my D800 & D800E. Great video, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you for watching and sharing of your setup here in the comment section. We have a very similar taste when it comes to gear and photography, have to check your IG as I probably missed a lot of recent posts. Great to have you on the channel, your input is much appreciated!

[@stephenroberts7828]

Gr8 vidThomas and well stated.I use both Oly and Nikon for for personal and professional and couldnt be happier

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Great to hear! Both are very good systems and have their unique benefits. Thank you for the comment!

[@qphase49]

Currently using an Olympus E-M1X and an OM Systems O-M5 and love them both.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

I've been thinking about getting the OM-5 - very capable camera! The M1X is pretty much legendary!! Thanks for sharing

[@rogerdad5845]

I use an EM-1. It's customizable, it's convenient for the travel I do and it has plenty of lens choices.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

The E-M1 is a great classic - and I think the tilt screen is very good for stills photography. Thanks for the comment and welcome to the channel!

[@spikeboydell]

Thoughtful video Thomas and greetings Sydney. I use a Canon 1DX2 for all the reasons you value your Nikons… however the OM1 also appeals for all the reasons you outline, especially in terms of weight! I look forward to seeing your results with it. Love your work.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much for sharing your current setup - and thank you very much for your kind words. Much appreciated, really!

[@charlescamp1819]

Thanks again for the practical insights. I’m shooting a Canon R3 and purchased the Sigma 150-600 Sport for shooting wildlife in our twice-per-year sojourn to Montana. We’ve hiked several hundred miles there over the past few years, and that lens has been with me for exactly ZERO of those miles (just too heavy). On the other hand, I recently had the opportunity to hold an Oly 150-400 TC 1.25, and I seriously thought it was a non-functional mock-up. The weight and “balance” were unbelievable. The only thing holding me back from switching is the R3’s autofocus - simply amazing. That said, the only birds I’m shooting are in my backyard since I don’t want to lug all that gear with me. I’m getting close now to ditching it all for “smaller and lighter”.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thanks for sharing. The good news: the OM-1s AF is outstanding. You have to get used to it, as it is different than that of the R3, but it is at least as good as what you have now.

[@supergeodotca]

I switched to digital in 2001 with a Nikon Coolpix e950 2 megabyte sensor, then a Nikon D70s, then a D700 and in 2017 to a Olympus em5 mk ii. Now I am considering an OM-1. Your videos have inspired me so much. Thank you very Thomas

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much, that is great to read. The OM-1 is definitely worth considering. There are incredible deals on the model and it is a very capable, professional tool. Best, Thomas 📸

[@janvangastel6763]

I use the OM-1. I use it for macrophotography, landscape photography and bird photography. Especially for photographing birds in flight with a long lens (100-400 Panasonic-Leica) its a very fine camera: lightweight with very accurate and fast autofocus.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Yes, it is a very capable system! Thanks for sharing!

[@stehlealexander]

Great video 💪🏻👍🏻

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you 🙌

[@kjl6138]

Great videos! I shoot the Olympus PEN-F , and am praying OM System creates the PEN-F II !

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Yes, the Pen F is very very cool - A true classic, very capable. Thank you for the kind words!

[@jfm2301]

I'm a hobbyist shooter. In 2018 I moved from FF Nikon to MFT (D750 to E-M1ii). Main reasons were - size/weight and lower cost of longer reach. Loving my OM-1, but ironically the longest reach(150-400 f/4.5) is still out of reach!

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

For telephoto lenses, well - you can't get better than MFT! The size/weight difference is just so drastic. Thanks for sharing your personal camera journey!

[@Treydmusicmedia]

Thank you for what you do! You are an excellent communicator! I started shooting pictures for US National park scientists researching the natural environment. I was issued a variety of government Nikon cameras, each one rising in its ability and cost. I rose to using a Nikon D5500 with a mixed-brand kit of a macro, standard short zoom, and a 70-200 zoom (105-300 APSC). I still use this kit with much satisfaction. However, in 2018 I found myself in the need of a personal kit due to increased non-government opportunities. Faced with a limited budget, I chose the Olympus E-M5 Mkii, 60mm macro, 12-40mm f2.8 short zoom, 40-150mm slow medium zoom (a mere $50), and a slow 75-300mm long telephoto. I use this kit to this day. There was only one reason why I chose the M43 format: given my budget, the Olympus was the only camera that shot a programmable focus stack and bracket in RAW. I'm always shooting in a windy environment and deep focus plant shots were not possible on the Nikon. Thus I can do a better job for both myself and the government. Thank you for your time!

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much for sharing this very interesting journey of yours - I am convinced that even without budget considerations, MFT is a great choice. The financial aspect is a huge bonus, as you've stated! I'm glad that it helps you to get the job done ✅ Best wishes to the US 🇺🇸

[@Treydmusicmedia]

@@ThomasEisl.Photography Thank you for responding! One day soon I will retire and most likely give up the Nikon D5500 kit. Do I want a better lowlight kit? I have fallen prey to shooting birds and they are most active in the early morning and late evenings. I also have tried shooting the Milky Way and a few very rare moments of the Northern Lights in Upper Michigan. The results often are less than satisfactory. An OM-1 and a fine photo editor could do the trick...... If I choose the full-frame route, I am used to Nikon products, but will do a proper research on the issue. With all due respect, I suspect that I might favor the mirrorless choices....Cheers!

[@michaelrasmussen3347]

Hi Thomas, I have an extensive collection of Nikon DSLR and SLR + one Z5. The great thing about Nikon DSLR and SLR is that I can use the same lenses on both systems (and with the FTZ also on their mirrorless) which is a huge bonus that Canon does not give you. Apart from that I also have long history with Pentax (a lot of DSLR and SLR) since at the time I started my photo journey in the late 1970 where I simply could not afford Nikon then a much cheaper but equal in quality was Pentax. Especially the Pentax-M series lenses is of superb quality, sharpness and outstanding image quality. What really makes Pentax DSLR's apart from other brands is that the all come with IBIS which means cheaper and smaller and lighter lenses but good image quality.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Hey Michael, Thank you for sharing what is "in your camera bag(s)" - I've got a Pentax story as well, as I've almost got a K1 when it was released. But back then, it was not viable from a financial perspective, unfortunately. And yes, adapting lenses from F to Z is a great option, especially if they are AF-S lenses! Thanks again for the comment!

[@mxyptlk]

Another superb and clearly explained video... first rate clear content 🙏🏻 Currently using a Canon R7. Outstanding capable camera for my needs. Getting weary of carrying big / heavy lenses about though so therefore I am on the verge of committing to a OM-1 and Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f4 IS PRO Lens for a lightweight set up....Thank you 'Thomas...

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much! The Canon R-series is very capable, great setup. You will, however, save size and weight with the OM-1, as you've stated yourself. Thanks for the kind comment.

[@bradmiller9993]

I've been using M43 (Panasonic G9) for years, and really love the size/weight savings, and have never felt undergunned in the resolution department. However, you are spot on with the 'user experience' thought train; I just ordered myself a D810 because I miss the tremendous battery life and optical viewfinder of the old days. Plus you've convinced me to collect some AF-D lenses to use with it. This will be fun. Thanks !

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Awesome, welcome back to the F Mount - there is room for both MFT and F in our camera bags! Thanks for sharing that 🙂

[@Swaggerlot]

Having progressed through EM-10, EM-5 and now OM-1, I have to say the OM-1 is quite incredible. Not just for the functionality, but also the ergonomics, new menus etc. Definitely a firm 'wow' factor.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Completely agree - it is this wow factor that made it my most used camera, by far. I bring it to every job, every party, every trip. It is really outstanding and inspiring.

[@davebellamy4867]

I'm glad that you like the 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO. This lens changed my experience of M43 photography, along with the 75mm f/1.8. I photographed a concert by a famous guitarist using two EM10 Mark ii cameras plus these lenses. I took other lenses by mistake but didn't need them. The combination fitted in a tiny Olympus camera kit bag. It was easy even for a newbie like me to get some decent shots, helped by the fact that I knew the music and had seen the show a few weeks previously.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you for sharing that - I cannot agree more, M43 cameras with high end lenses are a real game changer and bring out the full capabilities of the platform. Congratulations on your successful shoot, concert photography is one of the most demanding situations, that's impressive!

[@tripsvietnam]

Me too, after tried 12-40 Pro with Panasonic GX8,l’ll change my gears to M43 system with OM-1 today!

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

@@tripsvietnam wow, great! I'm looking forward to hear about your experiences with the OM-1!

[@pafflechien5136]

A little hello from France and thanks for your video. I started photography with a bridge Lumix FZ300 after two month I got the photography virus and I quickely reached the limit of the bridge. Two month later I bought myself a Lumix G80 + Lumix 14-140mm f3.5-5.6, it was a very versatile combination and I took some very nice pictures. Then I bought myself my first prime lens, the cheap ( but not bad ) Lumix 25mm f1.7, I was amazed with sharpness and the depth of field, even if it ( only ) was a m4/3 bokeh, it was nice to me. During the confinement I wanted to take some birds picture so I bought myself the compact Lumix 100-300mm F4 - 5.6 and I discovered another world :D. During the same year I wanted to buy myself a another m4/3 camera to let the 100-300mm always on a camera body, so I decided to buy myself the OM-D E-M 5 Mark II to discover the Olympus world with the Live Bulb, Live Time, live composite and High Resolution pictures. I felt in love with look, the feeling in hand and for the color science ! Later I decided to improve my pictures quality with a pro lens so I bought myself the zuiko 12-40mm f2.8, what a lens, it feel so strong, so smooth in zooming and the MF clutch, what an invention ! Now we are soon in 2023 and I bought myself another second hand, the OM-D E-M 1 Mark III for christmas, the Handheld high resolution mode is a jewel ! I noticed a better noize reduction from my E-M 5 mark II maybe one stop better into high ISO. I do longer hesitate to shoot at 6400 ISO and when there is too noise I recently invest into the software DXO pure raw², this software is just great. I previously had Topaz Gigapixel that also denoise raw picture but it just does not compare to DXO Pure raw². From what I heard and what I see into your video, the OM-1 seems even better into high ISO, this is really nice, noise seems to be less and less a "problem" for m4/3. Micro 4/3 is more than enought for what I do and I'm not ready as an amateur to switch to a bigger and heavier system. I do like the fact that there is many lens on that system. I do also learn with time to take benefits of have a natural bigger depth of field, this last day I have been taking pictures of a train modelism, the sharp area is so small when we want to shoot some specifics details ! I think i will have to give a try on the in body focus stacking :P I will keep an eye on your channel, good continuation !

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Bonjour and thank you very much for sharing this in-depth explanation of your camera journey - I agree that low light situations are not an issue any more with M43. Thanks to Handheld HighRes shot, the OM-1 is also able to push into high res territory. As you've illustrated, the lenses are truly what make the M43 so special - very compact, yet very capable. I would not hesitate to recommend m43 for professional work, although I can also recommend DSLRs for professional work in 2022/2023. Thanks for following along, I very much appreciate your feedback and I'm looking forward to reading from you in the future! Merci et amicalement, Thomas 📸

[@chrispatmore8944]

Towards the end of the pandemic lockdown in 2021 I decided that it was time to finally move onto mirrorless, and the technology had sufficiently advanced to make it worthwhile. My Canon DSLR had also passed its recommended shutter activations limit, and bits were starting to fall off the body too. I also wanted a smaller, lighter system because carrying about a big bag of cameras and lenses was starting to wear on my not-so-young body, especially the neck and shoulders. The Canon R6 had just been released and the body was smaller than my current 6D, and 20MP was plenty for my needs. It wasn't cheap, but it was just about affordable. But the lenses, even using the ones I had, were still big and heavy. And the new RF glass was super expensive and even heavier. Having shot Olympus since the 1970s, I started looking at their cameras again, and watching way too many KZbin videos. So I took the plunge and bought a used EM-1 in great condition for £250, along with a couple of used f/1.8 primes. First time handling it , it felt quite small after the 6D, but it felt right, just like my old OM-1. I was a bit concerned it wouldn't be any good in low light, because I shoot live music, but it managed to deliver images that were not significantly noisier than the 6D. After a couple of more gig shoots I decided to go all in and get an EM-1ii and some more primes. It was nice to come back from gigs without my body aching. Even more impressive was, for what the R6 body would cost I was able to buy a new EM-1ii and four primes. Since then I have added an EM-1iii two f/2.8 Pro zooms and the 100-400mm zoom, as well as the Leica 9mm f/1.8, plus the 30mm and 60mm macros. I don't carry all of that kit with me in one go, but I could easily fit it in my backpack. And no one has noticed I no longer shoot "full-frame". My back and my pocket are both thankful for the switchover. Next on the purchase list, the OM-1, not because I really need it, but to close the circle. I can't see myself going back to a 35mm sensor. If I really need high megapixels I'd go to a Fujifilm GFX, which also shoots in 4:3 ratio.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Dear Chris, thank you very much for sharing your story and your incredibly valuable experiences here! I very much appreciate that, and I'm sure many other photographers here do so as well! The OM-1 will be a great step up, it really is a special camera that deserves the prestigious name it was was given. Only M43 can give you the combination of true portability with professional image quality, in many ways it is a sweet spot for digital photography 📸. Thanks again for illustrating that and I hope I'll read from you soon about your experiences with the OM-1, if you decide to "pull the trigger"! Best wishes!

[@1957PLATO]

I am a hobby photographer who shot with the Canon 5diii. A fine camera but so big and heavy that I left. It at home too often.. some 6 years ago I switched to m4/3 and I have found the fun in photography again. Currently have 3 Olympus and.a Lumix with a whole collection of small primes and 2 zooms. Wherever I go, I always have a camera with me now.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

You've underlined a fundamental point when it comes to cameras: you should be able to bring them with you! Even in professional environments, having a small capable camera is just so much more fun! Thanks for sharing that!

[@karewenger1343]

I like Your videos. They are very informative. I'am learning more every time i watch one of Your videos. I am agree about Your opinion about the OVF and EVF. I like the OM-1. I use the Eos M series cameras when I want i tiny size.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you! That is so great to hear! And yes, the eos m series is super nice, great cameras!

[@sierragold]

I have two systems: a GFX Fuji medium format and also an OM system OM-1. These cover all of my needs. In addition, I also used to have a Nikon mirrorless full frame system, but the OM-1 has been so good that I sold all that gear off very soon after getting the OM-1.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much for sharing your experiences. With those two systems, you can definitely get every job done. I also have a DMF system, in my case a Pentax 645Z. Although the OM-1 is definitely my most used camera since I purchased it. Best, Thomas

[@DAVY793]

Been through all of them along the way, some I grew to like others I didn't. I ended up with the EM1 Mk3 and nearly loved it but the problem was shooting birds in flight and nailing it every time. Yes, some of the new Canon R's can do that but since I have all the OM lenses it would be expensive to change, especially since they brought out the OM1 which I love and have custom programmed it for my bird photography. I love my 300mm pro but the 40-150mm f2.8 plus a couple of converters can shoot the majority of what I need and be used for other types of photography as well. Pre-focus is a time saver and enable stunning shots to be captured that used to take hours of patience and setting up. Sold all my other gear except my Lumix Gx80 which fits in my pocket and still uses the OM lenses. Your information much appreciated.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

David, I am convinced that the OM-1 is one of the best wildlife cameras currently available. It is a very sensible choice. Thank you for sharing, your input is also very much appreciated!

[@artsilva]

I agree with everything you said. I too am a Nikon shooter since 1978. I got a taste of mirrorless with the fuji X system for the last ten years and recently the Z5 both which I will sell off, so I decided last summer to go back to the trusty DSLR and got the D850, maybe looking for a backup like a used D810 or the capable D780 at 24Mp. Selling off all my Fuji gear is going to leave a hole in my collection and I am looking into the Olympus system for outdoor hikes and general photography with a pro of f/2.8 zooms or just have a 12-100 for those long hikes. I will keep my X-Pro2 and a couple early primes for that "fuji look" and feel when I ever need but like you, a workhorse pro system like the Nikon DSLRs and a MFT system should be all one needs to cover everything.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much for sharing your invaluable experiences. Having both systems is really a good idea in my opinion. Fuji is really nice, I agree! Great lenses, unique cameras. The OM-1 / OM lineup is really different, it is more of a "get the job done" camera than a camera that will also provide style and unique user experience with dials and such. Btw, the 12-100 is spectacular, if f/4 is fine for you. Pretty amazing lens!

[@artsilva]

@@ThomasEisl.Photography I've been considering the 12-100 f4 with the E-M5 III as a perfect hiking/backpacking minimalist and lightweight setup.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Yes, sounds great!

[@vicpico1]

Hi! I am a Nikon shooter since 1980. Nikon lenses is one of the best lenses around. I am now, using a Fuji X system for daily use and street photography , because of its small factor, very handy and practical, for travelling around, being small & light. I can also adapt my Nikon lenses, in manual mode. Thanks for sharing.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Yes, I agree - Nikon lenses are truly awesome! The Fuji X system is also very appealing, I've used the X100V extensively and I think that you are right, the balance between form factor/size and performance is very good. Thank you for sharing your setup!

[@ghas4151]

The most important thing for me is the ergonomics and then autofocus. Nowadays image quality is good enough whatever camera brand you go for. The skill of the photographer is vastly more important than “image quality”.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Yes, I agree 💯 - and both the AF and the ergonomics are superb on the OM-1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@IanCassanova]

I have a soft spot Olympus. I have had a couple in the past and like them very much, low light shooting was the only issue for me as I had to push the ISO up more than I would have liked other than that I would be still using the system. I will enjoy watching your journey with the camera.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you for sharing that - maybe my latest video will "massage" the soft spot of yours even more - it is about LL shooting with small sensor cameras. Thanks for following along!

[@KimHojbergJensen]

I am surprised! I recently found your channel through searching for videos about the D800 I recently bought 😊 However I also have Olympus E-M1 mk 2 and E-P5. I had Nikon for many years and from the D750 I moved to the Z6. I realized, as you say, that the lenses for the Z6 are very large, and also very expensive. So my "system" is Nikon DSLR and film (D700, D800, F4, F6) and Olympus when I like it to be smaller.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Ahhh, that is truly an interesting coincidence! Also, great selection of F-mount cameras right there. Regarding your MFT kit, I worked with the M1II a lot, it is a great camera, even by today's standards - the E-P5 is a true classic and used prices were pretty stable over the last few years. Makes sense to have a smaller kit when you don't want to carry the "big guys". Thank you for your comment and welcome to the channel!

[@anthonyjames7106]

Hi Thomas...cool video and I agree with you completely. My personal setup consists of Nikon full frame and APS-C DSLRs for photography and time lapse duties and Micro Four Thirds camera bodies and lenses for video work... I just picked up a Panasonic GH6 + Leica 9mm f1.7 combo recently and video IQ is stellar. The combination of class leading IBIS along with fast sensor readout also provides a very pleasing image with respect to reduced rolling shutter artifacts. I also use my Nikon F-mount lenses on the M43 cameras via adapters and speed boosters. Having a bunch of Full Frame Nikon F-mount lenses that I can use on APS-C and M43 bodies makes for a very versatile setup 👌

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you for sharing that, Anthony! So awesome to see someone using a similar setup with the same thoughts behind it. The Leica 9mm is really outstanding, I got one as well and it is pretty much perfect. It also pairs nicely with the OM-1. Thanks again for the comment, much appreciated.

[@patrickdunson8828]

Just found your channel. Great video and I agree with your points. I shoot Nikon (Z 6 ii & D 500) and MFT (Olympus EM 1 ii). Mostly, I do sports and the full frame on the Z 6 ii with a Sigma 120-300 on a monopod works great in stadiums with low amounts of night lighting. I keep the Olympus with the 12-40 2.8 PRO on a sling for team shots before the match and candids at halftime and the end. Thankfully our stadium has good lighting and I can use the Olympus with the 40-150 2.8 PRO and the 75mm 1.8 for shots of practice. It's also great for doing spur of the moment short videos for the team. And being much smaller and lighter, it makes it is easier to shoot when laying on the ground. I love both systems. Thanks again for the video.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Welcome to the channel Patrick and thanks for your detailed comment. I can totally relate to your workflow and use cases - we are on the same page here. Your gear choices are also very sensible, and the Z6II (I had the Z7II for a month) as well as the D500 more than capable enough of getting the job done. Also, having worked with the M1II, I'd still consider it a very good, portable camera for many applications. Thanks again, I appreciate your feedback and that you've shared your setup, input like this is invaluable. Cheers

[@tudorpalela4729]

Hello Thomas! Greetings from Romania! I have Olympus and I love the small lens, the top stabilization, the features like: live composite, pro capture, focus stacking, pro res mode etc.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Yes, the feature set in OM System cameras and Olympus cameras is really impressive, I love that as well! Thanks for sharing the love and welcome to the channel!

[@agylub]

The tethering software works faultlessly. Excellent for high volume product photography. Video combined with face recognition works extremely well. I also use D850s and Olympus. Horses for courses.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Great connectivity --> once you have it, you won't ever want to live without it! Thanks for the comment and sharing your setup!

[@SimonFitzclarence]

Thanks again Thomas for your incredibly detailed and thoughtful analysis. I love my om-1 and I wont be stepping into DSLR territory as my arms and body will complain about the weight. The real key is light, composition and creativity which will always rule over megapixel wars and dynamic range envy. Just get out their and shoot , don't get bitter just get better. mine and tiger woods's moto

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Agreed a 100% - it is not about the best you can get, but the best that you will bring and that will actually get the job done!

[@WalmyrBuzatto]

I got into amateur photography back in the 60's/70's with 35mm cameras (Canonet QL17 and Minolta SRT303B). Had many different point&shoot cameras in the 80's and 90's, APS film, Super8, etc, and then digital (I have a huge pile of old cameras here). When I started scuba diving, I choose MFT for size and portability, mostly, starting with a Panasonic GF1, later GX1, then Olympus E-M5 with that very practical 12-50 zoom with macro capability. Now I, too, have the OM-1, the f/2.8 Pro zooms, the 300mm f/4.0 prime and some other less used lenses. Doing mostly family, landscape, street and bird photography, still considering if I should invest in the 150-400 Pro for birds... Love the OMD system for its many computational photography features, size and weight, not to speak of the quality of its lenses. I don't miss the 'looking-through-the-lens' feature of DSLR's. This was the only way to frame and compose with analog cameras, but the removal of the mirror was a big plus, in my opinion: less chance for mechanical problems, less vibration and less cost. By the way, with improving electronics even the mechanical shutter can be eliminated, as Nikon has just proven with the Z9, correct? When I want to hear the sound of a mirror slap, I get my old Minolta or a Hasselblad 500CM that I purchased lately just for the fun of it. For everything else, my OM-1 fills all my needs. Congratulations for your videos, I'm picking up with all of them, one or two a day. Much to learn, thanks for making them available!

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

The 12-50 is an underrated lens - it is especially well suited for diving, as you've said! Many thanks for your kind feedback and your great contribution. I personally really like to use a DSLR from time to time, but as you've said: mirrorless has many powerful features, so you definitely do not "need" a mirror in 2023. Regarding the mechanical shutter - maybe you've watched my video on the OM-1 shutter already, I cover that implicitly. Even with very fast readout speeds like with the Z9, I think today a mechanical shutter is still ""nice to have".The speed of the physical curtains is so fast that you cannot get any banding effects no matter what (almost). With the OM, you can shoot the E-Shutter 99% of all the time, even though the readout speed is a bit slower than that of the Z9. In any case, we will definitely see more e-shutter-only cameras in the future, I'm sure. Many thanks again for the great contribution and sharing of your personal camera history!

[@Zaphandyman]

I am currently using an Olympus OM-D E-M5 , only because I can not at this time afford a Fuji, or Nikon, Or any other modern camera, and lenses... I do have a growing collection of vintage slr's , and rangefinders, but like the Olympus, I got them at a very good price point.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

The E-M5 is very capable and absolutely unbeatable in terms of price! Nice piece of kit, you can do a lot if you know how to use it!

[@Gebhardt5265]

I agree- the Olympus/OM system smartphone app doesn’t get enough recognition for how well it works. At least compared to the Fuji and Nikon versions that I’ve used, it blows them away in stability, reliability, speed, and convenience.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Yes, I've had the same experiences with other apps - the OM app is also very stable when pairing older camera models, love that. Thanks for sharing your experiences and underlining my point!

[@simonpayne7994]

In my analog days I had the best SLR I could afford. This was not very much, seeing I invested all my money in lenses. Several primes, a Tamron zoom up to 300mm, a very lightweight f/8 500mm mirror lens along with a 2x converter to get up to 1000mm. At the other end, I had a fish-eye just for the fun of it and a set of macro rings. Today the limiting factor is how much I can carry. This being a Sony RX10iv and my only lens, apart from the zoom lens firmly flanged to the camera, is a rather heavy 3 diopter thing to screw onto the front to get a bit more macro. Oh yes, flash. Well that is a special subject on its own accord. I never did use anything in-built near the optical axis. Anyway, MFT is definitely a good thing -- just as Thomas says. It is a real pity that it is not really catching on. Those damn' Smartphones are simply swamping everything.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Agreed!

[@al_in_philly5832]

I'm currently shooting with an OM-1, but have owned both an Olympus E-M5 and E-M1 Mkii. My primary shooting is street photography--often at night. That has me carrying my camera in my hand for hours on end. Obviously, the weight reduction (camera body & lens) is critical for me, but so is the stealthiness afforded by the size of m-43 cameras. Even in low light situations, m-43 cameras like the OM-1 come through, as fast f/1.2 lenses abound (I have 3), and can be additionally useful given the longer DoF that the smaller sensors create. Though, if I were to be doing much portrait or sports photography, I'd opt for an FF camera, but given my particular focus, m-43 has been a perfect match for my needs.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much for your comment - you've made very important points. One of them being that f/1.2 lenses on MFT are perfectly useable wide open. FF lenses with these apertures are very "particular", especially when shooting moving subjects (or street photography). Regarding portrait photography, yes - FF offers more "choice" in terms of achievable looks. For sports (fashion shows in my case, which are very similar) - The OM-1 gets more and more time "stage time" as it is super capable in terms of AF if configured correctly (video soon). Thank you for sharing your setup!

[@DETROIT12345678933]

Love my OM-1. Perfect for yellow stone trip.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Yes, it is an awesome travel camera! In an upcoming video, I'll talk about the portability aspect compared to my D800 kit. Welcome to the channel, fellow OM shooter 😉

[@chawenhalo0089]

I chose a Nikon DF. a) full frame no crop factor complications (I am a total newbie) b) photo camera only (if I wanted to shoot videos, I'd get a video camera) benefits weight, size, complications. c) simple Physical buttons for A, S and ISO. d) full access to Nikkor's 400 strong lenses dating back from 1959 (good fast glass is effing expensive new or old for a new amateur. e) the DF looks, feel and build quality are fabulous IMHO. f) I wanted low light performance because I didn't want to get into tripods and speed lights (not until I master the basics and toy anyway). Nearly went for a D700, but the DF was just too nice an object. No regrets, I'm blown away by some my keepers and even more surprised that I did it 100% (I haven't figured out A , S or P mode yet) it's always in Manual Mode with either auto ISO on or off. All in basic RAW. I still need to understand what I'm doing in prod lol.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Excellent choice, the Df is absolutely fantastic for exactly the reasons you've outlined! Had one for a few year, loved it. Excellent value for money and a lot of fun. Best Thomas 📸

[@chippietom]

I started in late 70s and later with OLYMPUS Film cameras. OM-1, OM1n, OM2sp, OM10, with Zuiko lenses. Also with the auto extension tube 65-115 macro tube. Olympus flashes, cables for TTL photography. It seemed natural to me to go for an Olympus E-M5 mk1, E-M10 mk2, E-M5 mk2, and just recently theE-M5 mkiii. Which I love too. Regards, Tom.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Hello Tom! Thank you for sharing your personal "OM Story". My first serious camera was an OM-2N loaded with Ilford XP2. Btw, great selection of cameras - compact, versatile and capable!

[@chippietom]

@@ThomasEisl.Photography hi Thomas, thank you for the kind words. I’ve always had a love of Olympus. I see the quality of the OM-1 photos are outstanding. Being a pensioner OM-1 is not an expense I can currently justify, but one day perhaps. In the meantime, I shall enjoy my 60mm f2.8 macro lens.

[@GerKortenbach]

Regarding your question: I am at present using the OM-1 and the OM-D E-M1 MkIII. The reason is that I am standardized on Olympus / OM System for approximately 50 years. Starting with OM-2n and OM-2sp because they were very innovative cameras. Later followed by Olympus FT cameras E-300, E-1, E-3 and E-5 because they were the first cameras and lenses specially designed for digital photography. Later followed by the Olympus MFT camera's E-M1, EM1 MkII and E-M1 MkIII which brings us to the OM-1.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much for answering! I'm convinced that the FourThirds standard still is the gold standard for digital photography. It provides the perfect balance between size, weight and image quality. Thanks again and welcome to the channel!

[@caskraker]

Since going digital in 2004 I never considered DSLR. Mirrors are just obsolete in a digital camera. It took a while before the big dino manufacturers understood. After using several fixed lens compacts like the LX3 and LX5 I switched to MFT with the small Oly PM-2. When the PEN-F came I was completely convinced. Together with my girl I have 3 PEN-F bodies, the third just in case something happens to one of the others. A collection of non pro primes, mostly wide angle and Olympus, give us all the flexibility we want. From 7.5mm all the way up to 75mm. The sensor size is just right. Bigger would increase weight and force us to use tripods (which we hate). Smaller…. Well that does not exist in serious cameras. The aspect ratio is another big plus. I always thought 3:2 is a strange format. Shooting 1:1 or close to it is often so much nicer, composition wise. A 3:2 sensor looses many pixels doing that.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you for sharing your setup in detail and your thoughts on the wider topic! I also find that the 43 has a great aspect ratio that offers perfect flexibility!

[@balazsdud]

I've been using a Lumix GX80 kit since 2016 with a couple of small primes and zooms. As a hobbyist, I'm happy with its performance, M4/3 gives me the best balance of overall size/weight, image quality and cost. Previously, I used Minolta/Sony A-mount DSLRs with APS-C size sensor.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much for sharing that! Yes, M43 is a compelling package. I really liked Minolta as a brand and their products! Especially the Maxxum 9!

[@HotGates]

Great channel with great content, Mainly as a wildlife shooter I have a Canon R3, Canon R7 (Switched back to Canon from Nikon Z9) and just purchased the OM-1 with the M. Zuiko 300f4 Pro and I got to admit I'm loving it so far that 300 f4 pro lens is crazy sharp, I'll probably add a couple more lenses for the 0M-1 like the 90mm Macro and the 12-100f4;)

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

You've got two great setups there - Canon is killing it with the R series, much like OM with the OM-1. Many things are similar - like less resolution (which I appreciate a lot!). Great to hear that you also like the OM, the lenses you plan on getting are all excellent! Keep me updated - thanks for the comment and the kind words!

[@chepo1956]

Hello from Puerto Rico and new subscriber. I also have the OM System, OM-1. I'm not a professional, but occasionally I have made some side money with my camera. Nevertheless, I do appreciate the quality and feature set of the OM-1. There is no perfect camera out there, but the kit I have (12-40, 7-14 and 75-300) get the job done. I love my OM-1 and I still have an old OM4-ti film camera.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Hello and welcome to the channel - thanks for subscribing! Yes, the feature set of the OM-1 really sticks out. Also, you are completely right - there is no perfect camera that suits every photographer and situation. I'd say that the OM-4Ti is almost perfect when it comes to film cameras. The exposure metering system is just very neat! Cheers to Puerto Rico!

[@florianbauzl2747]

Thanks for this great comparison without any "ideological" tendency in one or the other direction. As you ask: I am by no means a professional photographer. And I love shouting film. So currently my main kit is a Zenza Bronica S2A from arround 1970. Why? Because the body reminds me of an old Italian coffee house coffee machine ;-) and it offers interchangeable backs like a Haselblad at a fraction of the price. I use Nikkor prime lenes: 75mm, 50mm and 150mm. As my back does not like schlepping this onto the mountains I also got me the smallest medium format film camera that I could find. It's nice to my back but I struggle with composing through the tiny view finder.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much for your kind words Florian and thanks for sharing your setup! Bronicas are awesome, and the lenses are fantastic, great setup! I also use the OM-1 to create high quality scans of medium format negatives, I will share the workflow here on KZbin in the future. The camera has some interesting features for camera scanning, it is pretty efficient in that regard! Thanks again!

[@MrGohunter]

For my professional use, I use Fujifilm X-T4, but for my "holiday camera" I use a Panasonic GX80, which is so light and portable. I used to think that my Fujifilm X-T4 and lenses were "light kit", but the GX80 is just so much lighter". OK, so IQ is not as great, but it is way more than I actually need for holiday snaps.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much for sharing, Gordon! The difference in IQ that you are seing might be because you are using "lesser" lenses with the Panasonic. If you have not, you should try the Leica DG primes for the system. The results are outstanding. Thanks for the comment and all the best 📸

[@rreichar1]

Nice video! You have gained another subscriber. I currently use a mirrorless Canon R6 plus APS-C R7 plus the OM-1. Before that I had my favorite camera of all time the Panasonic G9. I have kept the G9 because it is such a great camera. I mostly shoot birds and wildlife. I was an event photographer in a past life but I was shooting weddings and gradually moved into the videography side of that. I was injured in an accident in 2004 and I retired form that job as I felt it would be a while before I could carry around my heavy Canon Pro video cameras all day. I had another job anyway so my life got easier without the photography and videography work. But I do enjoy doing those things for friends and family. I also shoot birds as a hobby. The OM-1 truly shines as a bird camera because of the great AF and small lens size. I went mirrorless very early on. My last DSLR was stolen out of my office around 2012 so I have been mirrorless since then. I am trying to decide on a single system and I am thinking that it will be M43s. I am in my 60s now and my right shoulder gets inexplicably sore at times so the size of the OM-1 with a PL 100-400mm lens is a compelling combination for birds. I have only continued to use Canon gear because I love the RF 100-500mm Canon lens. It is easily the sharpest zoom that I have used. I do worry a bit that OM Systems might leave the market. They have no footprint in the US at all. I will probably sell my Canon bodies and lenses at some point which will allow me to buy more M43s glass.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you very much Rod - welcome to the channel! The G9 is a very good camera - I've shot with it as well. The ergonomics are very pleasing. Regarding your career, switching from earning money to creating for the sake of it means more freedom of expression. Yes, OM lacks market presence at the moment, but I think that the OM-1 can be a game changer. This camera is really very special and ultra-capable. By shooting with it and telling people about it, photographers like us can contribute to brand awareness. Unfortunately, I've never really tried Canon, but I've heard many good things, similar to what you stated. OM has very compelling telephoto options as well (although I don't own them at the moment). Thanks again for sharing that, sorry for the delayed reply!

[@popiemac4579]

I agree. The OM-1 has no footprint in the US and that concerns me. The camera stores are absolutely no help because no one is familiar with this system even thou I purchased locally. I still have my Nikon DSLR D850 but only the 500mm lens. I’m in my 60s and it’s a heavy beast for birding. I don’t see myself going M4T for my birding though.

[@rreichar1]

@@popiemac4579 Since I wrote that I have indeed sold or traded all of my Canon gear. I have been birding exclusively with the OM-1 for several weeks and I am very pleased with the results. I have mostly been shooting with the 300mm F4 which is a crazy sharp lens. I have been using it with both tele converters. I guess if OM Systems goes belly up I will be a bit worried. Maybe that will just put more of the gear on the used market for me to acquire.

[@popiemac4579]

@@rreichar1 the 300 is a great lens. I don’t own it but when I see other’s pictures I can easily guess it was taken with the 300. Only time I guess wrong is if it was taken with the 150-400 which is out of my league $$

[@InFerrumVeritas]

Currently shooting an OM-1 because M43 lets me carry three zooms (7-14, 12-40, 100-400) and 3-4 primes in a bag the size of a lunch box. I can't think of a better dedicated camera to travel with. Your recent videos have been incredible resources for understanding the technological upgrades in this over the decade old PEN I upgraded from.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Absolutely agree! And let's be honest, only if your gear is actually portable you will bring it. Size and weight is super important. Thank you very much for your kind words - I'm glad that you like the videos!

[@dianes6245]

I just got an Oly EM-10. But I also have a Cannon 5d with the 24-105 F4 lens and a prime. I wanted to get into m4/3 inexpensively to see what it could do. An OM-1 might come later if I am happy with it.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thanks for sharing! The M10 is a fine camera for many things, the OM-1 is however on another level - a totally different camera in many ways!

[@TITAOSTEIN]

I’m in the same boat! I’m using the OM-1 (and the em1iii), the GH6 (for video), but keeping my Nikon D7200 for specific jobs. Right now I’m very interested in the Nikon Z9.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Awesome - great to hear! The Z9 is awesome, the only thing I find unfortunate is that AF-D lenses do not autofocus on Z mount and I really like those lenses as I've mentioned in a previous video. Can't have it all haha. Thanks for the comment and sharing your setup!

[@pervertt]

Owner of an OMD EM1 which I've had for several years now. It is kitted with a Zuiko 12-40 f/2.8 which almost never leaves the camera. The combo is the closest in size and weight to a film SLR that I cut my photographic teeth on. I've never owned a DSLR and frankly cannot see the point of having one. Years ago, I picked up a Canon zoom for a DSLR - I think it was a 24-70 f/2.8. It was so big and heavy that I said no way I would carry something like this around on my overseas trips. And I agree with you on file sizes and the folly of storing photos taken with a 36 mega pixel camera.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thanks for sharing your experiences! Size and weight is mostly sensor format dependant - that is why MFT is so awesome. Great weight-performance ratio. Your combo is great, the E-M1 and the 12-40 just get the job done!

[@eamedvedev]

My first camera was the D3000. Later I bought a D7000. But the size of the lenses for bird photography was large. I couldn't take them to work to photograph birds during lunch. Two years ago I decided to try the m4/3 and was amazed by the compactness of the camera with a telephoto lens. Now I have a Nikon D7000, Nikon z6 and Olympus E-M1 MII. They complement each other perfectly in different scenarios.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Great choice of equipment - I agree, different systems have different strengths and having a compact setup can really set you free, especially when traveling or moving around in general. M43 is really versatile in these situations! Thanks for sharing your camera story!

[@lucertola123456]

Guten MorgenThomas, thanks for your reviews, really appreciating your language and knowledge. I am considering buying my first camera and I really like the OM System OM-1 for its price, weight and quality. Could you suggest a lens to use so that I will have a sort of compact and lightweight system to use? Many thanks, best wishes, Dani

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Hey Dani! Thanks for the kind words! The OM-1 is an outstanding choice as a first, professional camera. Regarding the lens, if you want a general purpose, professional lens that you will buy at some point anyways, I would recommend the 12-40 PRO. Especially if you are not sure about the exact focal length you want, this is the one to get. If you can specify what you plan to shoot mostly, I gladly offer another recommendation. All the best, Thomas

[@skl31]

Interesting video love to use my Olympus OMD EM10 Mk2 as well as my Canon full frame and APS-C cameras, micro 4/3 is a great system

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thanks, great to hear!

[@peterwilborn3233]

I also love the combination of a Nikon DLSR and Olympus Micro 4/3s.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Ha, great to read! Best of both worlds I'd say!

[@ValiRossi]

I have a Nikon D810 with Tamron F2.8 zooms. I also have an Olympus EM1 Mkii with the 12-40 F2.8 Pro. They are perfect together.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thank you for sharing your setup, it seems that we have pretty similar preferences. The E-M1II is great, and the D810 as well! Thanks and welcome to the channel!

[@jonbarnard7186]

I have a Nikon Z system and an OM1 system. If I had to choose one, it would be the Olympus/OM system. But then I owned the original OM1 in the 70s. So there may be some sentiment there.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Both are great systems - interestingly, I also had both but ended up with the OM-1 and f-mount. Thanks for sharing that!

[@RyougiVector]

I'm an Olympus shooter through and through. I'm not yet doing paid photography gigs, but I'm pretty confident that I could do any of them since I regularly use a lot, if not all, of the pro M.Zuiko glass from before 2019, and the E-M1ii and E-M1X are fine enough bodies that I will run into the ground before I upgrade them.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

I've worked with the E-M1II a lot, it is an awesome camera - and so is the E-M1X. You are right, these cameras are more than enough to get a professional assignment done! Thanks for sharing your setup and welcome to the channel!

[@acrummey85]

I currently use Olympus m4/3 and APS-C Sony. I prefer the Olympus cameras because they handle so much better than the Sony a6000 series cameras and give image quality that is more than enough for my uses.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thanks for sharing that! Handling is indeed the most important aspect of any camera.

[@metalmick99]

I'm on my first real foray into M43, and so far I'm liking it a great deal. I bought an OM-1 and lenses mainly for portability but I'm finding - like many others - that the OM-1 is a very enjoyable to use. So many are commenting on its image quality and how inferior it is to full-frame. I'm not seeing a huge difference, but I am getting shots that I wouldn't have got with my Fujifilm, plus the OM-1 offers excellent weather-sealing, which is important if I'm near the ocean. I am reminded of Matti Sulanto's words and he's right: the camera is independent of my compositions.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thanks for the comment and welcome to the OM-1 fanclub 😉 As you've stated, I am also not seeing a meaningful difference, especially at low ISO settings. Thanks to the new imaging pipeline, even ultra - LowLight is doable with the OM-1. I'm using this camera a lot and I'm very happy with it. As you've said, it gets the shots and is a joy to use. I've got some in -depth videos on the OM-1, maybe you'll find them helpful. Thanks again!

[@metalmick99]

@@ThomasEisl.Photography thanks for the welcome, Thomas! I'll look through your video library for those clips. I've seen the one you did regarding ISO ranges and found it fascinating. I'm hopeful that OM Systems will continue to develop the platform - I think that the two cameras they have released so far would have been in development when they first took over. And of course those staff responsible will likely have stayed with OMS.

[@exif6839]

Hallo Thomas, Greetings from the Weststeiermark 😅 What kind of RAW-Converter do you use or recommend? I’m using C1 for the RAW files of the OM-1 and also the E-M1X I own too. The last with the 300/4 and the OM-1 with the 12-100/4 most of the time.. And for portraits sometimes the 42,5/1,2 panaleica. For my efforts this is the perfect solution.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Hallo! For processing OM-1 files, I'm using OM Workspace whenever possible - it is a little bit clunky compared to my usual main raw converter ON1, but it applies just the perfect amount of color correction, sharpening and noise reduction. The JPG output - at least to me - seems to be a lot better. I'll talk about that in future videos. Thanks for sharing your setup - great choice of lenses and camera. For my work, I don't need such long focal lengths, but they are sure awesome if you want the reach! Also, in my next video I'll be comparing my main setup in the DSLR world with my equivalent MFT setup. Welcome to the channel und viele Grüße aus Wien!

[@etritrakaj]

I totally agree with you, M43 and specially the new OM-1 is superb! Btw: you have to do something for better sound quality in your videos, this issue should be improved.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thanks for the feedback! What exactly is the issue regarding sound?

[@grantrobertdavies]

Nice video man :) I use micro 4/3rds (LUMIX) but come from a Nikon DSLR background - Both great systems, but I’m using micro 4/3rds for all my pro work and KZbin theses day - Nikons are just a bit too heavy and bulky for me and my back theses days lol :) Thanks again, Great video and information

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Hey Grant, Thank you so much for dropping by, I've just checked your channel - subscribed. Regarding the weight, yes, I'm getting there as well. I feel like I could skip gym when going all-in on M43 haha. Panasonic is awesome as well, and I've used a G9 in the past as well. Now, I have some of these awesome Panasonic Leica lenses, it is just awesome how Panasonic and OM System together offer probably the most complete lens ecosystem. Thanks again and welcome to the channel!

[@grantrobertdavies]

@@ThomasEisl.Photography Yes mate great systems and very versatile indeed :) But as we both say in our videos - Not too take anything away from DSLR's and Nikon, they still produce awesome results too - I think its important that photographers bounce back and forth and incorporate a mixed bag in their toolkit :) Thanks for the Sub and I'll be seeing you around :)

[@jameskellam2980]

You do not need to justify your choice to the pixel peepers. Does om1 do what you need? Are you happy? If so, enjoy you new camera!

[@parsonstj]

As someone who shoots nature and wildlife predominantly, M4/3 is a no-brainer, and I love the image quality and advanced features of the OM1. If I'm sacrificing something in terms of resolution and low light performance, I don't feel it as I'm delighted with the results and taking this system into the environments I do would be a total pain with a full frame DSLR. Also, the cost of very long pro lenses for Olympus is vastly less than something that would be comparable in full frame format. Going a step further, I just got an iPhone 14, and for a camera that is always with me, I have been astonished at the quality of results.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Agree completely, Thomas! Thanks for sharing that - I am confident to shoot every demanding commercial assignment with the OM-1, even at ISO 12.800. It is just that good. So I would definitely not worry about that! Thanks for the comment and welcome to the OM-1 club :-)

[@zaharib]

Hiya Thomas! Another great video as always! I have been using a Lumix mft camera for 4 years now. In many ways it’s great but after seeing some photos I took on an old dx Nikon dslr… I much prefer the colors from the Nikon. There is nothing wrong with the Lumix colors… but something about the Nikon colors just looks more real 😊 By the way… I went on a bus trip for some hours today to meet someone who had a 35mm f2 af-d lens for sale with it’s box for a good price. The roadside deal went great and now I own it! Most af-d lenses here in Malaysia look like they have been in a war zone or have fungus or both. So I am thrilled that I have slowly started building a collection of small af-d primes. Now looking for a 50mm 😊 How good is face tracking autofocus in video with the OM-1 Thomas? And what lenses are you using with it now? 😊

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Hey there! Color perception is very individual, and it is very important to use the one system that gives you results that you appreciate the most! Congratulations on your AF-D 35mm f/2, out of the trio, this was also the first one that I purchased (new) back then, and I still love to work with it. Good luck finding the 50, it is quite common, so I hope you can find one without fungus and other issues. Regarding the OM-1: I'm planning on recording a series of videos on this camera, with two AF masterclasses. While the AF seems to be pretty straightfoward and high performance straight out of the box, it can be improved significantly. If every setting is correct, face tracking is pretty much infaliable in my experience. The OM-1 is really impressive. In my next video, I'm sharing what is in my OM-1 kit compared to my Nikon kit stay tuned :-) Thank you for your continued support of the channel, I truly appreciate that!

[@idahomountainlover754]

@@ThomasEisl.Photography 😊😊

[@mikafoxx2717]

With relatively big hands, I feel like the 5D classic and a plastic 50mm is light and compact, and cheap enough not to worry about. Part of me wants a 1d series cam because of how nice the roommates D2xs handles.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Thanks for sharing! One reason why I like the OM-1 is why it has a sufficiently big grip, compared to some other bodies.

[@josgeusens4637]

I'm using an Olympus E-M10III, mainly with the fantastic 12-40/2.8 for most 'normal' pictures. This jewel also does a fantastic job for astrophotography from the moon and sun because my 600 mm + 1.4x converter lets me fill the 16 megapixels and the pixel density is higher, so the resulting details are higher compared to my full frame. I have used it to photograph the comet early this year. The Nikkor 180 mm at 2.8 gave me a short exposure time and a huge amount of detail in comparison to the same lens on the Nikon camera, for which I would need a 290 mm f/2.8 for the same result. Such lens would cost me thousands of euros, while I paid 250 for the 180 mm Nikkor and 35 for the adapter. The E-M10 also does a fantastic job for 4k film, but I'm not a professional, so that may count. Needless to say that an MFT sensor is superb for macro photography too. Besides that, I use a Nikon D750 and D600 because of the images a full frame camera gives me. The depth of field is very different and everything feels more 3D. The gain in noise compared to the Olympus is negligible because DxO Photo Lab kills it while preserving color and contrast. At ISO 3200 they do not differ a whole lot actually. My absolute favorite lens on the Nikon system is the 180 mm f/2.8 AI manual focus lens. The compression, the depth of field and the bokeh is remarkable, but the most remarkable is the lack of chromatic aberrations. At 2.8 there is no need to correct for purple fringing and that is a gem to me. Not only for portraits. I also have a bunch of OM-System lenses that I cannot use on either camera. Therefore I own an old but very decent Canon 5D which does the job for all my native lenses, including the Yashinon 50 mm f/1.7 from my early photo experiences way back in the late 70's. While my very positive experience with Olympus' OM system was the reason to buy an Olympus E-3, the small sensor size could not do my 24 mm Zuiko any right. Alas. The E-3 however was my workhorse for years (until the shutter broke) along with the 14-54 and 50-200 mm zoom lenses. I've stood in the pouring rain with that gear and fell ill for a few days because of the cold, but it did absolutely nothing to the camera or lenses. My friends who used Nikon and Canon at that time, praised the sturdiness of the E-3 more than once. I could go on for a while, starting with my Yashica TL-Electro, but I guess I made my point.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Many thanks for sharing that - your story clearly shows that a creative is drawn to many tools in their career, and that is a good thing. Btw, the E-3 was a great camera (and still is, if it works).

[@jimblues21]

OM1, I love mine

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

It is a fantastic camera 📸

[@johnehman8685]

Thank you for your videos. I’m glad I found your channel! I reluctantly moved from film to digital, giving up my old Cannon F1n for the original Olympus EM5, and I was instantly impressed by everything about the Olympus experience. I continue to shoot with two EM1ii bodies, using especially the 75mm f/1.8, 12mm f/2, and 75-150mm f/2.8. While I am occasionally nostalgic for a reflex camera, I so very much enjoy my Olympus gear,, which always performs exceptionally. I will upgrade to the OM1, but at the moment I am still very content with my existing set-up.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

The E-M1II is fantastic and I've used it for quite some time. When you make the "leap" to the OM-1, you will be really surprised by the difference. I rarely recommend getting newer gear, but the OM-1 is really an outstanding camera. Remember when the E-M1II came out? It was like a new age for mirrorless cameras. With the OM-1, it is quite the same! Thank you for your kind words, and welcome to the channel!

[@rossthefiddler5890]

For digital I started with Olympus DSLRs then got the E-M5 (I have the 14-54 II DSLR lens attached to it at the moment). It had to have a built in EVF & it was the first with a more capable sensor (from Sony). The E-M1 & E-M1 II followed & now I have the OM-1 (& I still have them all).

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

The E-series DSLRs were great cameras. I've recently started using the E-300 with the cheap kit lens, great camera still and lots of fun. I wonder how the E-M5 AF performs with the 14-54 lens!

[@rossthefiddler5890]

@@ThomasEisl.Photography The lens focus is reliable but a little slow so no good for chasing grandkids around.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Haha 😆 thought so! Should be a lot better on the OM-1!

[@oscarhagelberg7895]

OM-D E-M1 mkI with sharp lenses. If I need more dynamic range I use HDR. If I need more pixels I stich panorama or use Super resolution in LR.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Awesome - great camera, a legend. And yeah, with it, you can get everything done. Thanks for dropping by!

[@ebreckpo6563]

Every camera system has it's pros and cons and serves different purposes. I like the Olympus m43 system for macro work (greater depth of field) or if I want a compact system especially when using longer lenses.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Absolutely - what I find quite amazing is that cameras have gotten so good that even one camera system like M43 can fill multiple roles. Thanks for taking the time to comment!

[@Analogbrain]

The camera is not just a box to put the lens on, it's about the experience, what works for you. I mostly use for digital, Canon 5d mark ii, it's a very sturdy camera with great colors, it's full frame and have a nice optical viewfinder, and I can shoot all day without any battery issues. And Sony A7r, it allows me to adapt almost all of my vintage glass in full frame as they were built for, it's got high resolution, but it runs out of batteries quickly. For analog, I use most frequently Canon AE-1 Program and F-1. Great glass, excellent viewfinders and all controls are where they should be.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Absolutely! Thanks for the comment and sharing your kit, Kalle - again, it seems that we both have the same perspective on gear. The OM-1 is, just like your A7R, a very convenient camera. Every system has its merits. Thank you for your continued support of the channel!

[@HansBaier]

I use the PenF. What keeps me from full frame is the weird aspect ratio. 4:3 is so much nicer. And the colors are great so I hardly ever use raw, which saves me a lot of time editing

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Yes, the colors are also an important reason why I got the OM-1, I'll talk about that in a future video! Thanks for sharing your MFT camera of choice - the Pen F is truly fantastic and very capable! Also, thanks for visiting my channel, much appreciated 👋 nice to see a long time insta friend on here!

[@HansBaier]

I also use the Lumix G7 for video. I got the PenF afterwards because I wanted an upgrade for photography.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Ah, I remember!

[@Spock105]

Shoot with Nikon D700 & D850 & Fuji X-pro2 & Olympus XZ-1. Total of 23 lenses . The X-pro I use the most . I've been thinkin' of goin' to M4/3 for travel , but then again I've seen some Fuji cameras like the X100/200 and they are as small as the Olympus ones , so I don't see the point to opt for M4/3 at the moment . Though I will check all options on lenses and if there are more options for M4/3 for 1.2,1.1 or 0.95 lenses compared to APS-c Fuji....then it could sway me around. In analogue time , I had the OM1 , OM2n , OM4 and Canon A1.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Cool, thank you very much for sharing!

[@dustinhecker3986]

I have the MFT system, using the OM-1 now. Why? I've been using Olympus since the original OM-1, love the lenses and technology, and the price to value ratio is quite good. And I love to bring my camera when we travel, even if look for a day, and I would feel really dorky bringing an even bigger camera with me. I have toyed with getting a FF set-up for indoor pictures of family and friends. Low light performance being the only real limitation I've seen with the system. But I can't justify the cost of another camera and set of lenses.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

All in all, the OM System / M43 is really capable. I always like to compare it to older professional cameras and really, the OM-1 and other M43 are perfectly capable of delivering professional results. I like to add some flash light in those really dark situations if I really want to keep the ISO low. Thanks for sharing that, Dustin!

[@theosolberg]

When I started with DSLR's, my choice was Nikon. I have used Nikon DSLR's for quite some years. One of my main subjects is concert photography. Shooting rock concerts, I had no issues with the DSLR's. Shooting initimate concerts is another matter, when you hear the mirror and shutter, annoying audience as well as artists. And the "silent mode" is not really silent. That was the main reason for me to start looking into mirrorless cameras. At that point, Nikon could not provide me with lenses that I would like to use for concert shoots. After having seen many reviews of mirrorless cameras on KZbin, I decided to take a risk with Olympus gear and bought the OM-D EM-1 II with the M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 Pro and the M.Zuiko 40-150mm f2.8 Pro. I was impressed and not much later I added the OM-D EM-1 III to my gear. Olympus became my go to gear for most of my shoots. I was happy with the image quality and the gear was so much lighter to carry around, certainly at events that would take a whole day. And at intimate shows I can be really silent! Later I also added the M.Zuiko 150-400mm f4.5 Pro to my gear and recently the OM-1.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

Many thanks for sharing your personal photo Gear journey - I really appreciate that - very valuable! Do you still have your Nikon F Mount gear?

[@theosolberg]

@@ThomasEisl.Photography Yes, I still have my Nikon gear, although I rarely use it anymore. I have lent some of my Nikon gear to my daughter, already for a while now.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

@theosolberg Same here, the small system is just very compelling

[@r51234x]

Hi great video. It is soo hard to find a screen protector that can allow the camera to close fully with screen facing in. Do you have any advice. I had am a1 for years and was tired of these massive lenses for what I do so my screen was always facing outward. So is it ok to leave the screen facing outward on the om1 or is it a functional thing that the screen must face in when powered down and stored.

[@ThomasEisl.Photography]

I use a screen protector as well and therefore I just leave the screen facing outwards, as it is protected. There is no functional reason facing it inwards, except protection. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of a screen protector that is "thin enough". Thanks for the kind words!

[@r51234x]

@@ThomasEisl.Photography thank you for the reply