Professional system camera with extra speed: Olympus OM-1
Two years ago, OM Digital Solutions took over the camera division of Olympus. Now the Olympus OM-1 is the first completely newly developed system camera under the new direction. The OM-1 is the successor to the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III. It not only says goodbye to the extra-long camera name, but also brings completely new technology with it. COMPUTER BILD has all the information about the new professional system camera.
The best system cameras (APS-C/MFT)
Nikon
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Per
High image quality for photos and videos
Fast and accurate autofocus
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Unwieldy with large and heavy lenses
panasonic
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Per
High picture quality
Very detailed and large viewfinder
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Focus tracking not always accurate
Fujifilm
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Per
High picture quality
Very detailed and large viewfinder
against
Focus tracking not always accurate
Somewhat awkward app usage
Nikon
Details about the test
Per
High image quality for photos and video
Responsive autofocus
against
Still a small selection of lenses
Fujifilm
Details about the test
Per
High image quality for photos and videos
Easy handling
against
A bit unwieldy with large lenses
Focus tracking somewhat delayed
Sony
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Per
High image quality for photos and videos
Very fast and accurate autofocus
against
Slightly long turn-on time
panasonic
Details about the test
Per
High image quality for photos and videos
Very fast autofocus
against
Autofocus not always accurate in series
Fujifilm
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Per
High image quality for photos and videos
Built-in image stabilizer
against
Focus tracking not always accurate
olympus
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Per
High picture quality
Very high continuous shooting speed
against
Loss of sharpness at very high ISO settings
GPS location via app cumbersome
Sony
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Per
High image quality for photos and videos
Very fast and accurate autofocus
against
Slightly long turn-on time
Complete list: The best system cameras (APS-C/MFT)
New sensor, new electronics
MicroFourThirds didn’t have that for a long time: The Olympus OM-1 comes with a completely new sensor. Only the resolution of the predecessor remains 20 megapixels (5184×3888 pixels), which, like the OM-D E-M1 Mark III, can be increased to up to 80 megapixels in HiRes mode – the camera puts the image together from several shots. This is quite computationally intensive, but should be possible with the OM-1 thanks to the new image processor (TruePix X) run significantly faster. With the medium resolution of 50 megapixels, a HiRes photo should now be processed in five seconds. Another innovation of the sensor should also ensure more speed: It comes as a so-called stacked sensors (Stacked like stacked). There is another electronic layer with memory behind the image sensor.
Faster auto focus
The new sensor also comes with an autofocus that works with new technology: The Quad pixel technology has so far mainly been used in mobile phones, for example in the Motorola Moto G30, and the Olympus OM-1 is one of the first models in system cameras. The subdivision of the individual pixels into four sub-pixels is intended to ensure optimized sharpness detection, since the measurement can capture vertical and horizontal structures. The faster processor should also ensure improved subject recognition. And if you prefer to set the measuring point yourself, you have more choice: stand with the OM-1 1,053 measuring points to choose from (the OM-D E-M1 Mark III only had 121).
Weatherproof (but not exactly cheap) top combination for nature photographers: the Olympus OM-1 with the M.Zuiko 150-400mm f4.5 TC1.25x IS Pro.
More robust housing
OM Digital Solutions is one of the few camera manufacturers who specify protection classes according to the IP standard for their cameras. The new housing of the Olympus OM-1 is here to dem IP53standard (protection against dust in harmful quantities, protection against spray water up to an angle of 60 degrees), it was still the case with the predecessor OM-D E-M1 Mark III IPX1 (Protection against dripping water). The only requirement for protection: the camera must have a weatherproof lens, for example from the Pro series (see image above).
Sharper viewfinder
When it came to the viewfinder, the previous top models OM-D E-M1 Mark III and OM-D E-M1 X were no longer state-of-the-art in terms of viewfinder resolution: 1024×768 pixels (manufacturer specification 2.36 million pixels, since the sub-pixels for red , green and blue are counted) are actually only shown by cheap system cameras, while professional models have at least 1280×960 pixels as standard (3.69 million pixels). The viewfinder of the Olympus OM-1 even shows 1600×1200 pixels (5.76 million pixels). This should make for a very detailed image. The viewfinder has not only become more detailed, but also larger: with a Viewfinder magnification of 0.83x (converted to 35mm format) it is larger than most system cameras. Only a few significantly more expensive cameras such as the Fujifilm GFX 100 or the Sony Alpha 1 show an even larger image. Despite the high resolution, the new viewfinder should react extremely quickly (viewfinder delay 0.005 seconds) and thus offer a lag-free image without stuttering in series or fast camera pans.
The significantly larger viewfinder on the back of the Olympus OM-1 is striking. It’s not only larger, but also much more detailed thanks to the higher resolution (1600×1200 pixels).
Even more speed for series
The Olympus OM-1 uses the combination of faster processor and fast memory on the sensor for a higher continuous shooting speed: Up to 120 frames per second are possible, up to 50 frames per second with focus tracking and exposure adjustment. The viewfinder should work completely without a blackout (black images during continuous shooting). So far, only very few, mostly very expensive system cameras like the Nikon Z9 (1st place in the list of the best) have managed to do this. A specialty of the more expensive Olympus system cameras is the Pro Capture mode. Here, the camera takes photos continuously, but only saves them when the photographer presses the shutter button. This allows you to capture even very brief moments, such as the bursting of a balloon, without any special accessories on the camera. The OM-1 has become even faster here and also manages in Pro Capture mode up to 120 frames per second.
Two new lenses
Along with the Olympus OM-1, the manufacturer is introducing two new lenses. The slightly reworked M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 Pro II is the new professional standard zoom and replaces the M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 Pro. This is new to the program M.Zuiko 40-150mm f4 Proa particularly compact telephoto zoom (length x diameter: 9.9 x 6.9 centimeters; weight 382 grams), which, as a professional lens, should score with particularly high image quality and particularly complex weather protection.
The new telephoto zoom M.Zuiko 40-150mm f4 Pro is small and light, but it should still deliver top images and withstand adverse weather conditions.
New accessories
In addition to the new lenses, OM Digital Solutions is also introducing a new one weatherproof Bluetooth remote control (RM-WR1) for 80 euros and a new one charger (BCX-1) for 130 euros, which can charge two batteries at the same time. The battery of the Olympus OM-1 is also new: The BLX-1 has a higher capacity of 16 watt hours (the predecessor model OM-D E-M1 Mark III has a 13-watt-hour battery in it).
Image processing in the test
test winner
Adobe
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A lot of functions
Very extensive autocorrect
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A lot of training is required
Only available as a subscription
Capture One
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Per
Lots of image editing options
Very fine image corrections possible
against
Additional software required for compositions from several images
Corel
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Large range of functions
Easy handling
against
Few functions to edit RAW photos
ACDSee
Photo Studio Ultimate 2021
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Per
Large range of functions
Easy overview of the photos
against
Few functions to edit RAW photos
Adobe
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Per
A lot of assistants
Many fully automatic functions
cyber link
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Large range of functions
Easy handling
against
All functions only in subscription (365)
DxO
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Very fine image corrections possible
Very good denoising of RAW files
against
Just basic image file management
No working with layers
Affinity
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Per
Very large range of functions
Easily create panoramas and HDR images
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No image management
Assistants somewhat hidden
test grade
2.6
satisfactory
Skylum
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Very many and versatile automatic functions
Easy handling
against
HDR and panoramas only with external software
No working with layers
Value for money
test grade
3.0
satisfactory
Ashampoo
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Limited functionality
No video tutorials
Complete list: photo editing in the test
Olympus OM-1: price and availability
the Olympus OM-1 is scheduled to go on sale in early March 2022. The manufacturer estimates 2,200 euros for the housing, the set with the M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 Pro II should cost 2,800 euros. The zoom should cost 1,000 euros individually, the new tele-zoom M.Zuiko 40-150mm f4 Pro 900 euros.
