Big test
OM System OM-1
PRICE: £1999.99
OM-DIGITALSOLUTIONS.COM/EN
It was 50 years ago that the Olympus OM-1 changed photography forever. Will history repeat itself with the OM System OM-1?
SPECS › Price Body only £1999.99 › Sensor Stacked BSI Live MOS, TruePic X Dual Quad Core processor › Sensor format 20.4 megapixels, Micro Four Thirds 17.4x13mm, 5184x3888 pixels › High Res Shot mode Raw: 10,368x7776 pixels JPEG: 10,368x7776, 8160x6120, 5760x4320 pixels › Handheld High Res mode Raw: 8160x6120 pixels JPEG: 8160x6120, 5760x4320 pixels › Lens mount Micro Four Thirds › ISO range 80-25,600. Expanded range 102,400 › Shutter range 60secs to 1/8000sec. Electronic shutter 60secs to 1/32,000sec, flash sync 1/250sec › Drive modes Up to 10fps, silent mode 20fps, SH1 120fps, SH2 50fps blackout-free shooting with AE/AF tracking. Pro Capture mode 20fps, SH1 120fps, SH2 50fps › Exposure system 324 multi-pattern, ESP metering › Exposure compensation +/-5EV in 0.3, 0.5 and 1EV steps, bracketing in 2/3/5/7 frames › Monitor 3in fully articulated touch panel › Viewfinder 5.76m dots › Focusing Intelligent subject detection AF (including aircraft, birds, cats, helicopters, trains), focus stack mode 3-15 image, face/eye detection › Focus points 1053 cross-type phase detection AF, contrast AF › Image stabiliser Five-axis sensor shift, up to 7EV benefit, up to 8EV with Sync IS › Video 4K (UHD or DCI) 4096x2160 23.98p/24p/25p/30p/50p/60p. 8 or 10-bit. MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 › Connectivity Micro HDMI, headphone and microphone sockets, Wi-Fi › Other key features USB charging, IP53 environmentally sealed › Storage media Dual SD UHS-II › Dimensions (wxhxd) 134.8x91.6x72.7mm › Weight 599g body, with battery and card › Contact om-digitalsolutions.com/en
WORDS AND IMAGES BY WILL CHEUNG
THE OM-1 MARKS the dawn of a new age, as the first model introduced by OM Digital Solutions. To remind everyone of its heritage, it bears the Olympus name – perhaps the last camera to do so. It is a lovely, romantic gesture, and OM Digital Solutions were correct to make something of its legacy. While there is no gain in pixels – the OM-1 has 20.4 megapixels, the same as the OM-D EM-1 Mark II and OM-D E-M1X – its features list represents a leap forward. Research revealed that more megapixels was not a key performance driver, while high-speed shooting and a selection of computational photography modes were. The OM-1’s Quad Bayer BSI Live MOS sensor is a world first, with four photodiodes behind each of the 20 million microlenses. These work individually to record more data and give phase AF detection in four directions, with 1053 cross AF points through the frame. A stacked design delivers faster readout at 120fps, and with TruePic X processing speed,
previously, to give 50-megapixel Raws. Fix the camera to a tripod and High Res Shot mode delivers 80-megapixel Raws. Speed is a keyword. It captures at 50fps with AE/AF tracking and no blackout – the same rate in Pro Capture – and up to 120fps with single AF. Its ability to detect subjects is 60 times faster than previous models. As you would expect, the OM-1’s skill set in the video department has also been bolstered. It shoots 4K/60p and Full HD at 240p. Add dust and splash proofing to IP53 standard, a 5.76-million-dot EVF, USB charging, articulating monitor and a battery that can give up to 520 shots on a single full charge, and the OM-1 looks a formidable machine. Pick up the camera and it has a reassuringly robust feel, with the benefit of compactness and portability that the Micro Four Thirds format brings. Controls are a good size, despite the small body. Layout is considered and logical – apart from the on/off switch, which is inconveniently on the left. However, the right-side FN lever can be made a dedicated on/off switch itself. While the right thumb is not quite as comfortable as the right forefinger, it’s a usable option.
it’s three times faster than previous generations. There’s 2EV gain in digital noise and 1EV gain for dynamic range. The in-body image stabiliser gives up to 8EV benefit, making features like Handheld High Res mode practical. This shoots eight consecutive images combined in-camera 2.5 times quicker than
SMALL AND MIGHTY The OM-1 is dust and splash resistant, so should give reliable performance, even in arduous conditions Getting a secure grip on small- bodied cameras can be an issue, but there are no such problems on the OM-1. The grip is deep, perfect for my average-sized hands. Accessing the front and rear input dials, the exposure compensation and ISO buttons is easy. The same applies to two function buttons on the front, and an AF-ON and multi-selector joystick on the rear. As is often the case, most of these controls can be reconfigured in stills and video shooting to suit personal taste. There’s plenty of choice when it comes to customisation, so it’s worth exploring the options. For AF-ON, AE-L and movie record buttons, there are 47 possible choices if you include the four custom ones.
GET YOUR JUBILEE FLAGS HERE! A grab shot taken with the OM-1 and Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 lens with an exposure of 1/500sec at f/9 and ISO 200
56 Photography News | Issue 100
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