ChasHas Loc: Connecticut

In looking into purchasing a mirrorless camera, I am struck by the amount of features/technology that (some) Olympus cameras offer. Am I right in thinking that other camera companies (i.e. Canon, Nikon, Sony) do not offer the degree of technology that Olympus offers? Examples... Live Composite, Focus Stacking, Live ND, Expressive HDR, Starry Sky AF, In-Body IS (others do offer this). (I'm especially impressed with Focus Stacking and Live Composite.) And if this assumption is true, why do the other companies not offer these technologies? Thanks all.

Peteso Loc: Blacks Hills

If you are interested in wildlife and bird photography, I would add the Pro Capture shutter feature as one of the important and unique features of the Olympus system.

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

My OM-1 is a marvel. Other companies are catching up. The main advantage of micro 4/3 is size, weight and price. Add to that the best IS and the best weather sealing in the industry, and you have an amazing system.

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

Another neat feature unique to the OM-1 is "handheld assist" which displays the action of the image stabilization. You see a small square inside a larger square frame, both overlayed on the display. as the camera moves the small square moves inside the larger frame accordingly. Tells you how you're doing holding the camera steady.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Some do, some don't. The Nikon D850 has offered focus stacking since it was introduced in 2017. It will also translate negatives into pisitive images. You have to decide which functions are capabilities that add true functionality to your photography, along with whether and how much you would actually use them. Otherwise they are just gadgets and sales "come-alongs," as Zsa Zsa Gabor used to say.

John Matthews Loc: Wasilla, Alaska

Olympus/OMD has an amazing amount of features which unfortunately takes an amazing amount of time to learn how to use! However it is worth the effort, if nothing else, as a teacher of patience (obviously I am still in the process).

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

I'm on my fifth oly body and finally figured out how to set uo "My Menu." Worth the effort. Also Pro Capture, but if you're not careful you'll fill up your dance card way before you're ready to quit shooting...

rsworden

When I was ready to switch from a DSLR (Nikon D50) nearly three years ago and looked to mirrorless, Olympus was the clear technology leader of that class of camera. To me, more important than the great features you listed, Olympus had industry-leading image stabilization. It's a real game-changer: not having to lug a tripod around on wildlife photo hikes, the ability to shoot long exposures and HDR hand-held.

Once they had that 5-axis machine, they layered on other features such as hi-res mode to make roughly 20-MP images with a 16-MP sensor, and the Supersonic Wave Filter that vibrates dust off the sensor every time you turn the camera on.

Now, maybe other makers have implemented these same features, but Olympus seems to innovate them and stay ahead with new ideas. I'm continually going back to the book and finding features I can use. Built-in intervalometer. Time-lapse video. Live Composite which enables light painting for situations where flash isn't the answer. Focus stacking. The list goes on and on.

You do have to check gear compatibility carefully, for example some lenses support in-body focus stacking, and some don't; you can still do the stacking in Oly's software. Their teleconverters only work on some lenses. Weather sealing is pretty much standard on the OM-D bodies but only on the Pro lenses.

I have an E-M5 Mark II (they're now up to Mark III) and I think it's great. It's not as big as the E-M1 and OM1 and so I found it to be a "sweet spot" of size and features at the time.

There's a very active and helpful Olympus education group on Facebook to help with learning the features, choosing models of body and lenses, and so on.

As to why the other makers don't offer these features? I guess Olympus is happy to sell to the more technical niche instead of the mass consumer market. I do see a lot of professional wildlife and landscape photographers talking about their Olympuses.

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

You are correct, other companies are lagging far behind OMD-S (no longer Olympus). Nikon just announced a firmware upgrade for the Z9, which provides for a poor man's version of the OMD-S ProCapture mode. Add stunning lenses, the best IBIS and weather proofing on the market, excellent image quality and you have the complete package for wildlife photographers. Now I may sound somewhat biased, especially as I have owned 2 x OM1, 2 x OM2, an EM1X and EM1.3 and now 2 x OM1 bodies: but, I have also owned a Sony A7II, A7III, A9 and A7R4 (I always carry two cameras with me), so not as biased as one might think. I also used Canon cameras for 23 years. If you are interested in OMD-S cameras, take a look at the YouTube channels of the following marvellous professional photographers. They all currently use the OM1, but used EM1 mark II and EM1X cameras in the past. Wildlife/bird photographers: Andy Rouse, Mike Lane, Roger Hance - none of whom are affiliated to OMD-S. Architecture/landscapes: Derek Forss - OMD-S ambassador. If anyone tries to tell you the IQ of M43 cannot match full frame, invite them to view Derek Forss' YouTube channel.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Has the OM cameras gotten the AF improved to be as good as class leading DPAF II? All the other features are amazing and are tempting. But for state of the art class leading AF DPAF II with the various tracking capabilities will ensure sharp focus with all the other amazing features.
Once the AF steps up the size and other features will be the perfect package.
So how is the AF?

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

We had an OM systems display at our club just the other week. In the hall I shot a 1.3 second exposure of a flipboard with their logo on it (white on black background). No sign of shake on 14x review on rear screen. I couldn't keep up with the other stuff but the focus stacking looked like the mutts nutts.

They also said they've adopted a menu system similar to the CANON layout as they thought this was better than their previous incarnation.

bikerguy

We switched from Canon (after 50 years) to the EM-1 Mark II in 2019. Then the abovementioned technology was light years ahead of Canon, Nikon and Sony and still is far and away more advanced. No Sony cameras will perform automatic focus bracketing (taking the pictures) and none of the three will perform in came focus stacking where the photos are taken automatically and combined into one final image. With the EM-1 M II we can focus bracket with any lens and then combine them in either OM Workspace, Photoshop or focus stacking software.

We bought them for the size and stayed because of all of the features. For wildlife photography Pro Capture is amazing. We will be buying the OM-1's soon.

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

I went Olympus for air travel around 2017 (half weight and size) with 2 lenses the first trip wasn’t of particular photograph importance. I had purchased the Olympus Pen-F with 12-40f2.8 pro & 75f1.8 lenses (24-80 & 150) I was blown away with how sharp the images are. I did some more research pixel peeping utube etc. eventually I had a full kit of Olympus including EM1MK3 now with the OM1 I eventually sold all Nikon gear. I love and use many of the in body “gimmicks “ to my advantage, now with bird eye af is awesome I also use the focus stacking I enjoy doing table top still life’s weather sealing, I could go on and on

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I have said in the past that my mirrorless selection, beginning around 2002, was Olympus. I was intrigued by the little camera with interchangeable lenses. I bought a used Pen EPL-1, 12 effective megapixels with a 14-42 kit lens and very soon I became addicted to it. I was using the little camera often, even travelled with it to West Virginia. I was very happy with the results and enlargements to 12x18 inches, my favorite enlargements, were tack sharp showing all the details of the subjects.

Yes, the little cameras are marvels of technology. Nobody that I know of makes a cleaning sensor engine better than Olympus. I have NEVER ever had any of my Olympus bodies on a technician desk for cleaning...or for repairs. I agree with the gentleman that mentioned Live Composite, it is mind blowing.
I also like the HDR in camera feature and I wish it was RAW data all the way. Because of the small sensor I try to limit my shooting to ISO 1500 maximum to better control noise. I believe more modern bodies do far better than the old models I have. AF has been considerably improved, I have no experience with modern AF features for wildlife. The new OM-1 seems as a fantastic tool.

I went from 12 megapixels to 17 with the Pen EP-5 and the EM-10 Mk II, Now they are using a sensor with 20 megapixels. I have not made any comparisons but I do not expect the performance of 20 megapixels to surpass that of 17. Big enlargements with these sensors is a piece of cake. I cannot discuss other mirrorless cameras because I have no experience with them but unless protected under a patent's rights technology is now available to all camera and lens manufacturers. Olympus lenses have been among the best I have ever used.

If you are thinking about buying an OM body I bet you will not regret the purchase.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

I think I mentioned this before, but when I got my OMD Mk3 I was quite overwhelmed with all I can do with it.
What I did (and still do), is think about something I would like to do with the camera, look it up in the user's guide, and try to figure it out.
Or I flip through the user's guide till I see someting that looks interesting and try to work it out, camera in hand.
Always with pen or pencil on hand so I can add my own notes to the user's guide. For that purpose I printed the guide with extra large margins, as well as added a number of blank pages, before punching the holes and runing a spiral through them.
Sure, 8 1/2 x 11 inches and 320 pages is a hefty size, and because of that I keep the manual provided by the company in my camera bag, it is much smaller.