New OM-1 (1 Viewer)

[C B Allen]

Picked up my new OM-1 from WEX just before closing on Tuesday and managed a couple of hours out on Wednesday afternoon.

What can I say? Just blown away - I don't care that the pixel peepers will say it's not much different from the previous models as I was happy with the quality of (well taken) pics on the 1.2 & 1.3. In practice I find it takes long enough to handle 20mp files let alone bigger and in reality how many of us print bigger than A3? (for me I'm happy if it looks good to use for Twitter or eBird and at most to view on a 27 inch 4K monitor for my own enjoyment).

The 3 big things I'd hoped for: better AF, bird detection that really works & a major EVF upgrade are all delivered. I'm sure it'll take a while to optimise all the settings but just on a basic set up I'm more than happy that for a 1st attempt 300+ of 350 (BIF) Gull shots were rock solid - tracking birds flying past, towards & away using the 300mm + 1.4TC was near faultless.

Just looking forward to getting back out there and learning how to get the best out of this beast

 

[opticoholic]

Thanks for that quick initial report, Chris! I also have mine but I haven't been out to test it yet. I'm really busy these days with my job and no vacation any time soon. But I will share my experiences eventually here, and I'll be interested to hear more about how it goes for you.
Dave

 

[opticoholic]

Here's another report with lots of bird examples...

Some of the photos look a little over-saturated for my tastes, and a few of the shots at very high ISO look a little rough (some have no processing applied yet), but nonetheless some very nice photos ...better than I can usually do! I liked the action shot of the tits shot at 1/8000 sec. And nice that you can watch it at 4K.

Dave

 

[Steve Babbs]

It's well worth keeping an eye of the OM/Olympus website for money off offers. The 60mm macro has a good deal at the moment as does the 2x converter. When I bought my TG-6 it was considerably cheaper through the Olympus website than any other site.

 

[WildPhotographer]

I have been using the OM-1 since last week - first a demo body and then my own, with a 300mm f/4 lens and the MC14 converter.

First up, the viewfinder is gorgeous and nearly double the resolution of the E-M1 III and X . Tracking is dramatically improved and is now very reliable (check my Instagram to see regular updates) - I tracked a Herring Gull coming towards me in low light with the converter on and had 65 out of 67 frames in perfect focus, ISO 3200 1/1250sec. At this moment the only thing that caches AF out is a small branch in front of a perched bird which prevents Eye detect locking on.




Noise levels are improved over the previous models, by around 1-1.5 stops. Although noise levels are slightly higher than my Canon R6 (full frame) at the same ISO, the Olympus lenses are smaller, faster and a fraction of the price, so I think is is fair to say that it effectively equals that camera for practical use. Battery life is looking like it will be circa 1000 frames, so another significant improvement over the E-M1 III and X.


L-T Duck, taken today ay 800 iso.

I had my question marks before purchase, but the OM-1 is superb and I have decided to sell one EOS R6 body and the RF100-500mm lens (advert to go in for sale section shortly).

For anyone interested in help with their new camera, OM-systems in the UK have confirmed they are happy for me to offer training on the OM-1.

 

[rka]

I have been using the OM-1 since last week - first a demo body and then my own, with a 300mm f/4 lens and the MC14 converter.

First up, the viewfinder is gorgeous and nearly double the resolution of the E-M1 III and X . Tracking is dramatically improved and is now very reliable (check my Instagram to see regular updates) - I tracked a Herring Gull coming towards me in low light with the converter on and had 65 out of 67 frames in perfect focus, ISO 3200 1/1250sec. At this moment the only thing that caches AF out is a small branch in front of a perched bird which prevents Eye detect locking on

Noise levels are improved over the previous models, by around 1-1.5 stops. Although noise levels are slightly higher than my Canon R6 (full frame) at the same ISO, the Olympus lenses are smaller, faster and a fraction of the price, so I think is is fair to say that it effectively equals that camera for practical use. Battery life is looking like it will be circa 1000 frames, so another significant improvement over the E-M1 III and X.

I had my question marks before purchase, but the OM-1 is superb and I have decided to sell one EOS R6 body and the RF100-500mm lens (advert to go in for sale section shortly).

For anyone interested in help with their new camera, OM-systems in the UK have confirmed they are happy for me to offer training on the OM-1.

This is great news! Have you tried any short bird video clips with CAF+TR?

 

[njlarsen]

Tracking is dramatically improved and is now very reliable (check my Instagram to see regular updates) - I tracked a Herring Gull coming towards me in low light with the converter on and had 65 out of 67 frames in perfect focus, ISO 3200 1/1250sec.

Reading reviews, it sounds like there are a number of ways to set up tracking. Are you using CAF+tracking, Bird detect+tracking or something more obscure?

Niels

 

[WildPhotographer]

Hi Niels, simple Bird Tracking is working extremely well. I have not fine tuned sensitivities yet, but working on that. There are, as you say, many options that were necessary in the previous cameras and may improve things further, but at the moment, this one is working well.

 

[WildPhotographer]

This is great news! Have you tried any short bird video clips with CAF+TR?

No, I haven't but will be testing the video later in the week. I have to be honest, I always MF video clips - most of the cameras I film with do not have AF!

I will test the video and report back - I have a commercial to shoot next week and tests will determine if I use my Panasonic or the OM-1.

Nick.

 

[opticoholic]

Here's a demo of using the new Bird Detect mode in combination with Pro Capture on the OM-1:

The video will not embed so click here to go to Youtube to play it.

Dave

 

[WildPhotographer]

I will test the video and report back - I have a commercial to shoot next week and tests will determine if I use my Panasonic or the OM-1.

Nick.

The video is truly excellent - setup correctly (Log capture + 4k/25p and 180 degree shutter, the very clips are close to my broadcast camera and easy to grade for lovely colour. I can't use the camera to shoot the commercial as batteries are still impossible to source(!)

 

[WildPhotographer]

For anyone interested, there is an 'OM-1 Day' here in the UK, hosted by OM-Systems. I'm guessing international visitors will be able to join too,

Here is the registration link: REGISTER HERE

 

[opticoholic]

Another nice article here with some nice bird shots:

OM-1 in Ecuador (part 2) | Petr Bambousek | Wildlife Photography

www.sulasula.com

Dave

 

[Steve Babbs]

Does anywhere in the UK actually have this camera in stock?

 

[NoSpringChicken]

Does anywhere in the UK actually have this camera in stock?

No, it is on back order everywhere with lots of customers waiting for their cameras to arrive. There is also a backlog of spare batteries and battery grips. One or two people have had to send their cameras back with problems, which doesn't help. I think OMDS were overwhelmed by the high demand for the camera.

Ron

 

[Steve Babbs]

No, it is on back order everywhere with lots of customers waiting for their cameras to arrive. There is also a backlog of spare batteries and battery grips. One or two people have had to send their cameras back with problems, which doesn't help. I think OMDS were overwhelmed by the high demand for the camera.

Ron

Well that saves my bank balance for a bit then.

 

[C B Allen]

No, it is on back order everywhere with lots of customers waiting for their cameras to arrive. There is also a backlog of spare batteries and battery grips. One or two people have had to send their cameras back with problems, which doesn't help. I think OMDS were overwhelmed by the high demand for the camera.

Ron

Sounds like the "free" batteries due for early ordered OM-1's arrived at dealers this week (mine arrived from WEX yesterday) & from other forums pre-ordered chargers & grips are starting to be delivered. But it does sound like world-wide there is a backlog of orders for the body - whether because OMDS under-estimated initial demand, supply-chain issues (sounds like an issue for other optic brands ATM) or other reasons.

 

[Orsonmog]

Does anywhere in the UK actually have this camera in stock?

I pre-ordered two bodies with WEX on 25 February. The extended warranty and free battery would be welcome. I spoke with them this afternoon to get an update as I noticed that Amazon (direct not third party) had a shipping date. WEX expect four bodies this week or next. If only four bodies arrive, that will still leave nine back-orders from the March delivery schedule that still need to be fulfilled. No news on the body/lens kits. As far as my pre-orders go, I've been advised that at the current rate I should expect to wait 4 - 8 weeks. Likely 8 weeks. I've moved my two EM1 MKIII's on so need at least one body. Amazon have just advised this afternoon that they expect to ship bodies from 19/20 April. I've ordered one and reached out to OM System UK regarding the offer on extended warranty as they had previously suggested that there would be enough bodies to fulfil the pre-orders. You never know. WEX couldn't confirm a date for batteries, chargers or grips. Nor do Amazon have them listed. From talking with associates, it's the same at other dealers. From the cameras shipped so far to WEX, they have had one DOA but zero returns from customers that changed their mind after trying the OM-1. That in itself is positive. They have an encouraging amount of orders.

 

[Orsonmog]

I pre-ordered two bodies with WEX on 25 February. The extended warranty and free battery would be welcome. I spoke with them this afternoon to get an update as I noticed that Amazon (direct not third party) had a shipping date. WEX expect four bodies this week or next. If only four bodies arrive, that will still leave nine back-orders from the March delivery schedule that still need to be fulfilled. No news on the body/lens kits. As far as my pre-orders go, I've been advised that at the current rate I should expect to wait 4 - 8 weeks. Likely 8 weeks. I've moved my two EM1 MKIII's on so need at least one body. Amazon have just advised this afternoon that they expect to ship bodies from 19/20 April. I've ordered one and reached out to OM System UK regarding the offer on extended warranty as they had previously suggested that there would be enough bodies to fulfil the pre-orders. You never know. WEX couldn't confirm a date for batteries, chargers or grips. Nor do Amazon have them listed. From talking with associates, it's the same at other dealers. From the cameras shipped so far to WEX, they have had one DOA but zero returns from customers that changed their mind after trying the OM-1. That in itself is positive. They have an encouraging amount of orders.

Ordered a body from Amazon on 4 April. Received 8 April. Amazon sold out almost immediately. The good news is that after giving the camera a shakedown and registering it with OM System UK, I received not only the +6 months extended warranty but also the +5 years extended warranty. PARK Cameras have the SBCX-1 battery and charger kit in stock.

​

 

[Ian Shepherd]

I havn't visited here for a long time, should do it more often. Moved on from EM1X to OM1 last month. outwardly looks like the Oly EM1iii - added AF.ON button for back button focus is excellent addition - but its a very different beast in field use. The autofocus is hugely better ( not that that of the later Oly 1 series was not generally excellent) and the bird ai recognition is far, far better than that in the EM1X - to the extent that I leave it on by default. Definately very different autfocus settings and technique needed with the OM1, compared to previous Oly cameras though. I always used the smallest focus box for perched/slow-moving birds previously, but with the OM1 its often better to use a larger box and let the bird ai focus do its work.

here are a few recent pics of skylarks, all with OM1, bird ai focus engaged ...