Due to the weight of my Sony gear aggravating a back and hip injury, I swapped to Olympus/OMS gear. I now own two OM Systems (AKA Olympus) OM1 bodies, a 300mm f4 + MC14/MC20 teleconverters, a 90mm f3.5 macro lens, 12 - 100mm f4 and 12 - 50mm f3.5- f6.3, plus three weaterproof Olympus flashguns. The cameras are simply brilliant and the lenses are fabulous and significanly lighter than FF lenses.
tmkostoroski wrote:
I recently sold all of my Nikon gear as it was getting too much to lug around on hikes at 75. On the recommend of my sister and a bunch of other research I purchased an OM-1 with the 12-40 lens. I consider myself to be an amateur photographer. With that in mind here are some of my observations for what it's worth. No external battery charger. The battery must be charged in camera. Not a real big deal just an inconvenience I'm going to have to get used to. The main dials are difficult to access as they are somewhat recessed into the body. "The Basic manual" consists of 3 pages repeated in 28 languages. Many of the menu items are difficult to understand as I am so used to Nikon terminology. It took me an hour to figure out that the lens has a Tokina style AF/MF clutch. I'm still looking for a video or pdf that explains some of what the menu features do. I'm of the opinion that it's designed for previous Olympus owners. I've only used it once and image quality is excellent. Live ND is awesome. It has some other interesting features I'm looking forward to exploring. In short, switching from a lifetime of Nikon to OM system has been quite an experience.
I recently sold all of my Nikon gear as it was get... (
show quote)
You only need to access the OM Systems webpage for the pdf manual. Very few electrical items come with paper manuals these days, most are downloaded as a pdf, which can, of course, be printed off. The menu is easy to understand and there are several pages of "My Menu" in which to store your most used settings. You can also assign your most used settings to C1 - C4 and access them at the turn of a dial.
Barn Owl wrote:
I just wrote a note to Jan Wagner with a request for him to field test a 4/3 OM System/Olympus OM1 camera and a couple of its wildlife photography/scenic lenses. With a fast check in YouTube, there are several photographers switching to the OM system. There is no way to tell the connection those photographers have with Olympus. I think Jan Wagner could provide an objective review. Further, I would be interested in knowing from UHH pro-level members what they have discovered in the serious field testing the 4/3 OM System. Realistically for many of the UHHers, the $$$$ of the higher level full frame RF Canon lenses and Sony bodies are not within our price range.
I just wrote a note to Jan Wagner with a request f... (
show quote)
The following wildlife photographers have no affliliation to OM Systems. I suggest you check out their YouTube chammels. Mike Lane, FRPS (fellow of the Royal Photgrahic Society), Roger Hance, FRPS, Andy Rouse (winner of 24 international awards). One other outstanding landscape/architecture photograper is Derek Forrs, though he recently became an OM Sytsems ambassador, though he was not an ambassador for Olympus. On a personal note, I swapped my Sony A9 and A7R4 for Olymus/OMS gear and now run two OM1 bodies and a few wildlife orientated lenses. I would not have anything else.
damianlv wrote:
My question is: when posting my images on social media should I disclose that the image was modified?
Recently in a late afternoon I went to Davis pond near Reno, NV to take pictures of the pond when the sunlight is at low angle. My intention was to add some sunset clouds. I edited one of the pictures in PS, just added some sunset clouds and adjusted tint of the trees to match the sunset feel.
I posted the final picture on FB in some local groups without mentioning that the photo was edited. People love this picture and couple of them responded that they come to that place all the time but never saw it from this angle and with clouds like that.
What is the right approach? Disclosure that I edited the image, or just don't say anything?
My question is: when posting my images on social m... (
show quote)
If the image is not being submitted for inclusion in a competition, what does it matter? If I enjoy viewing a particular image, what do I care how it has been produced. Some people need to get a life. Photographers have been manipulating images since the earliest days of photography. Instead of complaining that a photographer has altered an image, they should get out and take a few photographs themselves.
tomad wrote:
I've been interested in Olympus cameras and lenses for a while specifically for wildlife and bird photography. I was thinking this might be the year so I was looking into what would be my first lenses if I buy the camera. I decided that for my purposes the OM SYSTEM 150-400mm f/4.5 TC 1.25 IS PRO Lens would be they one I needed so I went to B&H to check availability and price. It was out of stock so I set an email alert for when it comes back in stock. Yesterday I received the following from B&H:
"You are receiving this message because you asked to be notified when this item becomes available. We regret to inform you that this item has unfortunately been discontinued. Please check back on our website for similar or possible replacement items.
We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding."
I've been interested in Olympus cameras and lenses... (
show quote)
Olympus was bought out some time ago and is now OMD (Systems). Although the flagship OM1 camera bears the Olympus name, it is the last product to do so (it was a deliberate decision by OMD). I believe that if you search for the 150 - 400mm f4.5 under OMD you you will find it. There is some suggestion B & H merely removed the Olympus name, replacing it with OMD.
TheOutline wrote:
An interesting topic. I have been shooting micro 43 mirrorless for about 5 years. I am still unsure if I would like a second system, which would be a full-frame system. Has anyone added a full frame to micro 43 or vice versa? Do you notice any difference in image quality or color saturation? I do believe that the noise factor is real, but I never blow-up photos larger than 16x20. Curious as to any suggestions. By the way, it still feels awkward to zoom “backwards” from Nikon, using my Olympus micro 43. So, I would consider pairing my micro 43 with full frame Nikon or Sony Canon zooms opposite Nikon, so I won’t consider Canon. The zooming in the opposite direction really makes me miss action shots, such as photographing live soccer or live football. I don’t like the slow response that I’ve experience with my Oly Em1 mark two
An interesting topic. I have been shooting micro ... (
show quote)
I used to own a Sony A7R4 and Olympus EM1X. I now own two OMS/Olympus OM1 bodies. I do not miss my 60MP A7R4 at all. Prior to my EM1X I owned a Sony A9, but the weight of my Sony wildlife system was giving my back and hip rooty toot. Just having two OM1's works for me, fantastic camera - as ate the Sonys.
Actually, quite a few OMD lenses have IS, which sync's with the IBIS and provides up to 7.5 stops stabilisation. I have three Olympus/OMS IS lenses: 300mm f4, 90mm f3.5 macro and a 12 - 100mm f4. The 150 - 400mm f4.5 also has IS.
Did you feel the same way when you moved from your plate camera to your fancy film camera? It's not the format. It's not the camera. It's the person behind the camera.
The fact that Olympus is now OMS. The whingers are still moaning about the change and whining that the OM1 is too expensive, the OM5 doesn't actually have all the features of the OM1 at a reduced cost, the 90mm f3.5 macro IS isn't a 100mm f2.8 - oh and it is too expensive. No one, I repeat, no one is forced to purchase OMS products: so if you don't like them, change to Nikon, Canon, Sony or Panasonic, just stop whinging and whining. No one ever said M43 has to be cheap, or weigh the same as a helium filled ballon.
I like their style and pleased to see that they are joining PetaPixel, so I have now subscribed.
Have you considered purchasing a "like new" or "excellent condition" secondhand EM1 mark II. It is a cracking camera - I part exchanged both of my EM1 bodies for two EMI mark II bodies and never looked back. But, having said that, if you are satisfied with the performance of the EM1, it's difficult to justify changing up.
Thank you for responding. I should have set my flash to manual, though I have been unable to find any instruction to that effect. But the light from the flash needs to be constant. It worked perfectly on manual a few minutes ago.
fetzler wrote:
Using flash with computational modes like focus stacking/bracketing is different. There is a limitation on the shutter speed. For my PenF it is 1/20 sec and for the EM1 MkII I think it is 1/60 sec max of a second. When using a computational mode you are using the silent shutter. You must also set another menu to allow flash to be used with the silent shutter. There is a discussion of this in the manual.
The focus bracketing mode allows for a pause between exposures to allow for flash recycling otherwise the exposures proceed very quickly when using faster shutter speeds. You must set the pause length.
Try using focus bracketing first as you will see the progression of the focus points.
Using flash with computational modes like focus st... (
show quote)
Thank you for answering. Idiscovered my error this morning. I should have had my flash set to manual, though there is nothing to suggest TTL cannot be used. I realised that to be successful, the light from the flash needed to be constant.
Hi guys, I'm having a problem focus stacking with both my FL700WR and STF-8 flashguns. My OM1 focus stacks perfectly without flash: but I just can't get it to work with either flash gun - I just end up with a dreadfully out of focus final JPEG - I am using a tripod - not handheld. I have read the manuals for the flash guns (both of which are compatible with focus stacking and focus bracketting) and the OM1 user manual. I have searched YouTube and carried out a Google search, but I cannot find anything detailed information on how, exactly, to set up either flash for focus stacking. As per camera menu, the flashguns do not require a charge time to be set. The FL700WR does fire for every frame but the STF-8 does not activate at all! I have been using TTL, which works perfectly for both flashguns in single frame mode, so I am at a loss as to what I must be doing wrong. I will be most grateful to anyone who finds the time to put me on the right track. Thanks a lot.
DaveyDitzer wrote:
I have both Nikons - D850 and D500 but find I use the D500 very little and I'd like comments from Hoggers who have and use both, about the advantages of one over the other. I also have a Df which can use the older D (screw drive) lenses and a Zfc which offers lightweight and a crop sensor.
I have been taking two camera bodies out with me for years. Then again, I shoot wildlife almost exclusively, so I have one with a long telephoto and the other either a short zoom or a macro lens. I use a Cotton Carrier G2 twin holster in order to carry them comfortably.