OM Systems OM-1 (formerly Olympus)
The new OM-1 camera from OM Systems (formerly Olympus) will be announced this Tuesday. I am exceptionally excited for so many reasons. I know I don’t talk much about cameras in this forum, but occasionally I indulge myself. So today I feel like I should.
My first excitement is the name they have chosen for this new model. It is incredibly nostalgic for me as it was an Olympus OM-1 that dad gifted me as a young boy forty four years ago and was where I really fell in love with photography. Above is dads black one. Mine was silver, yet for some reason I always lusted over this very camera. I am so pleased I still have it and it still works. My silver one didn’t survive the punishment it had to endure in my twenties. It went swimming too often, accidentally of course, but each one took its toll. Actually I think I went through three of them.
Oh that’s a good reminder not to keep your camera in a pack with a cordial bottle full of water that can easily rupture, or leave your pack bellow the high tide mark, or not waterproof it when you go canoeing because you think you are good enough not to tip in.
Mind you, the OM1 now has increased its weather sealing rating yet again and my current digital Olympus cameras would have survived that treatment today.
Apparently Olympus is still emblazoned on the camera which is a lovely touch acknowledging its heritage.
My biggest gripe with the Olympus digital cameras over the past ten years is the tiny viewfinder. I have a Panasonic S1r that has a huge sharp and clear viewfinder. It’s a camera I can’t use because when I return to the Olympus after using it I feel so dissatisfied with the image quality. So I have been using it as my video camera for the past two years, so I don’t feel that disappointment. This new OM-1 has (if the rumours are correct) a new beautiful large viewfinder that competes favourably with my favourite one that I have ever used, in the Panasonic S1r.
The new camera hasn’t increased its megapixels. I think this is incredibly important. Instead it has improved them, in dynamic range and in noise. Also in read out speed. So we are getting better quality images instead of bigger ones. It is clearly built on the latest sensor technology rather than a rehashing of an older sensor which they have done in the past.
The camera now has seven stops of image stabilisation, up from five and a digital neutral density filter, which means you can drag the shutter without putting on a filter. How this translates to abstract and creative photography we won’t know until we try. Hopefully it will make moving the camera for creative effects much easier. These features came from the EM1 x, so whilst not new are appreciated in the smaller body. I have been a fan of live time for a long time. Seeing what you can do whilst you are taking photographs is clearly an advantage.
The camera is being described as a mini Z9 by some. Nikons recent Z9 is an incredible camera and is a clear indication of where cameras are headed. It doesn’t have a mechanical shutter. So basically moving parts are being removed and replaced with incredible electronics. The OM1 still has both, but removing the mechanical shutter will soon be increasingly common. This means the rolling shutter phenomenon has been finally fixed. The new Panasonic GH6 has also solved this problem too. Also to be announced in the coming week.
I really only have one gripe left now with these OM cameras and that’s the poor implementation of multiple exposures. I want it to compete with Canon, Nikon and Fuji in this department. Eight multiple exposures in a row and a choice of blending modes please. Multiply, average, lighten and darken as a minimum. Why don’t you take it further and add some others such as luminance, colour, saturation, difference to name a few and wiz past the competition instantly. Why even stop at eight. It’s only a coding thing and with the computational power in this camera would be fantastic. We need to be able to change blend modes, colour temp and other settings between shots too, and see it live whilst we add the next layer. I am sure I am not alone with wanting to do some of that magic that Valda Bailey does with multiple exposures.
So I think we should start to call them OM’s. We would say each letter rather than the meditative ommmm that could also be used. That’s what we used to call ours as kids. Smiles. We can just shorten OM Systems, just like we shorten everything else today. OM stands for Olympus Maitani by the way. Leica got upset when Olympus called the camera M1 so they added the O. Maitani is the incredible designer of them.
There is so much more to talk about these new cameras. But that’s enough. Suffice to say I am excited about the future of the camera system I love and adore and use.
My favourite voiltlander lenses will live on for many years to come knowing that micro four thirds is alive and well.
Photograph and text copyright © Len Metcalf 2022
