HallwoedHill Loc: Chattanooga,TN

I shot with Nikon products for years before going with the OMD-EM1-MK1. I too noticed a difference in "the punch" as you describe it. I called it vividness. If you read the reviews of the time comparison photos reflected this. It was attributed to some type of difference (which my aging brain has long forgotten) in the way the companies produced color at the time. It was, an is , easily addressed in post processing. And yes, the learning curve is steep. For the time, and still for my needs, the camera is excellent. The lens quality is excellent, an focusing was very good for the time. As for "feeling like a toy": it was designed to be lighter in size and weight which, results in it feeling less substantial. My OMD has been to Alaska and five foreign countries as well as normal use here in the states and not one mechanical issue. To me like a case of misplaced expecdtations.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

If it matters, I only use proprietary software to edit RAW data, in the case of Olympus I only use OM Workspace editor. With Nikon I use NX Studio and it applies certain adjustments to the RAW data. I am not sure what the Olympus editor applies but for sure it applies some sharpness to the RAW data.
My Olympus colors are pastel type using NORMAL as the color selection. Dynamic range has been very acceptable to me perhaps because I seldom shoot super contrasty images. It is my understanding that dynamic range is far better with their new OM-1.

I had an original OM-1, a camera that today is still excellent but old. I was always very satisfied with its quality and technologies, perhaps more than I could handle. Derek Forss, Olympus Ambassador from England uses Olympus exclusively for his landscape photography of the United Kingdom and he used the original OM-1 for several years producing excellent and beautiful images. A Google search will give you plenty of information.

BebuLamar

Upgrade to the MKII or higher. The Vietnamese makes better cameras than the Chinese. Well I dunno but I guess as Oly shift production to Vietnam after the original EM-1

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Image quality is fine if you process the raw files.

However, I agree with most of your assessment. The camera has terrible ergonomics and menus. Many of these issues were fixed in the next few iterations (OM-D E-M1 Mark II and Mark III, and the E-M1x). The new OM-1 (labeled 'Olympus' but now made by OMDS) is getting rave reviews.

It's important to realize that Panasonic and Olympus started the Micro Four Thirds format as the first popular Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera systems. Another term for the category is Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras, or just 'mirrorless' in the industry, now.

The entire DSLM/MILC category now includes every major manufacturer and all four major ILC formats (Micro 4/3, APS-C, Full Frame, Medium Format). The E-M1 was a pioneer... flawed, but an example we could all whine about so Olympus could improve it.

The latest flagships from Panasonic Lumix (the somewhat video-centric GH6) and OMDS (the stills-centric OM-1) are excellent for their intended very different user bases. It is hard to find a more full-featured video camera for the price of a GH6. Its output is network-ready video AND audio, with really decent stills when you need them. The OM-1 makes a fantastic travel camera for dedicated photo outings.

The appeal of Micro 4/3 is that the size, bulk, and weight of the LENSES reduce the overall weight of a system kit bag. While the latest m43 bodies are NOT lighter and smaller than full frame mirrorless bodies, they use over a hundred lenses that need half to a quarter of the glass and metal for equivalent field of view!

I've used a Lumix GH4 since 2015. It makes excellent video and audio files and quite decent stills. Best of all, my entire system* fits into a small backpack that slides under an airplane seat or into an overhead bin.

*including two microphones, two video lights, a flash, batteries, chargers, Sony professional headphones, GH4 body, three lenses (equivalent to 24-70mm, 60mm macro, and 70-200mm, all f/2.8), plus my MacBook Air, cables, and other goodies

The Nikon D300s is another model that was great in its category in its day, but is somewhat mediocre today. I know two pro photographers who had them and traded them for D500 bodies when those came out. One has traded her two D500s for a Z9.

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

You can buy mine and find out. (Upgraded to the OM-1).

But yes, it is better. The menus didn't change until the OM-1, however. I've had them all, including the X.

OM-1 is far and away the best. However, the mkI is capable of excellent results. Don't compare RAWs to JEGs, until after PP. I never shoot JPEG, but Oly JPEGs have an excellent reputation. But you need to learn the menu.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

My Oly user friends tell me the secret to the menu morass on the older models (but not the OM-D E-M1) is the super menu or quick menu (I forget what it's called). Panasonic has more or less copied that feature in their later cameras (full frame and Micro 4/3).

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

Super Control Panel. I think I remember it working pretty well in the EM-1 also, but it's been a while. At any rate, that and the presets are the best way to get around the menus, but you still need a basic understanding of what the items do. But basic exposure stuff is right there.

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

By far better you also have a slow lens…
Better yet
Get the OM-1 with 40-150 2.8 pro version you’ll see the difference

fetzler Loc: North West PA

You do have an older camera and improvements have been made. I have a PenF and and an EM1-MkIII both of these cameras are very good and I like them better than my Nikon camera. Indeed, they have features that allow one to make photos impossible to take with other cameras. The menu system is very different from Nikon Cameras but it is quite fine after you become familiar. Study the manual. There is a program for your phone or tablet that allows you to have a pdf manual with you at all times. The super control panel provides easy access to the major items.

Try using OM workspace to process a few images. It will help you understand how the various Olympus profiles work. I use NATURAL 99% of the time. Camera profiles can be applied to jpeg files of all recent cameras and they will affect the look of your images. Nikon has profiles too. Which do you use?

You don't mention what post-processing software you are using perhaps you will need to find profiles in that software that match Olympus profiles or your taste better. I have very nice images from Olympus Cameras.

User ID

Surely something will come out above the current OM1. Why not hold out for that ?

fetzler Loc: North West PA

I have a 40-150 lens. It is my least used lens. I use it the least because the focal length range is not that useful. THe lens quality is just fine. My must used lenses are a Panasonic 12-60mm and 60mm macro lens. I also have a Panasonic 100-300mm lens that gets use when needed. These are not all my lenses just the ones that I find most often on the camera.

Beenthere

I don't have any experience with the EM1 MkI, only the MkII, and MkIII.., but at the risk of being trivial, I have to ask, Did you do a complete Factory RESET before attempting to use it? If you have, then sorry, my bad! The only other recourse is a qualified Olympus repair service. If that works I think you will begin to like it a lot better. Also, set the resolution to its best setting.., and finally download the manual from the internet, lots of useful explanations in there.

BTW, I also hated the menus at first, but it finally sunk in and I learned to use them. Give it a little time.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

My favorite Micro 4/3 lenses are

Lumix G X-Vario 12-35mm f/2.8
Lumix G 30mm f/2.8 macro
Lumix G X-Vario 35-100mm f/2.8

…in that order of use frequency. The ‘II’ versions of the two zooms are better at AF on newer cameras.

jcboy3

The menu has some issues, but it is laid out similarly to the Nikon menus. Most settings are in the COGS menu, but there are some in the Shooting and some in the Utility menu. This is often a point of confusion. There are a lot of items, so it takes getting used to.

S-AF is responsive, but C-AF is not that good. You might want to set the C-AF sensitivity to +2. But it's not fast enough for active sports or wildlife; I even had issues with shooting runway models. I always switched to my D750/D500 or those subjects.

Battery life is poor; the batteries are small. You want to set the camera to sleep quickly, and if possible use the EVF and eye sensor and keep the LCD turned in. But, you will always want to bring an extra battery when you go out and keep them charged up.

RAW files, as with any camera, need processing. But I never had an issue with image quality. Keep the exposure levels up; use the Highlight/Shadow display and adjust exposure so there are some blown highlights to maximize dynamic range.

I definitely don't understand your "feels like a toy" comment. It is small, but sturdy. The newer EM1's are larger.

I never had a problem with start-up after sleep; but it does take time.

I used the E-M1 professionally, but only for compatible subjects. So no, it's not really a "professional" camera.

If that's what you are looking for, you have the wrong camera.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

You realize that the original OM1 dates back top the 1970s, and was a great tool until the mercury batteries were phased out.