Love my OM-5. Bought the OM-1 mk ii recently. Simply impressive. I have an OM-10 film camera with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. Size-wise, the OM-5 is slightly smaller and the OM-1 slightly larger. What is obvious is OM Systems commitment to excellence, from film through digital.
Extremely realistic and objective argument Don. Everyone should value this discussion, regardless of their format preferences. If OMDS were to die, I would just buy used equipment until I die myself.
Interesting video Don. I switched from MFT to Sony FF & APSC after the shutter stuck on my EM5 iii, primarily to get more dynamic range and more effective focal lengths from my vintage lenses. I think the challenge for OM & Panasonic is that some of their cameras are getting bigger, whereas some full frame & APSC are getting smaller. Also 3rd party manufacturers like Tamron & Samyang (and Chinese) for example have introduced some great value & smaller lenses for FF & APSC.
From my point of view, returning to full frame is a step backwards, because manufacturers will always justify paying more for lenses (because they are larger and, unfortunately, heavier than APS-C and MFT lenses). The benefit is more for the manufacturer than for the photographer. On the subject of dynamic range, equipment such as the OM5 or the OM1 from OM System, taking the shot with Live ND or high resolution (it is a stack of images that results in a single RAW), we not only reach the tonal range (range dynamic) of the FF in a single shot, is that we surpassed it (I'm not saying that, there are graphs and analyzes that prove it). But the important thing is what you feel good about and identify with. If you are happy with your full frame you have done the right thing (because you will take more photos). a cordial greeting😁
Body size does not matter to me, so long as it is big enough for my hands. I'm about to buy a Lumix GH7, which is huge for a Micro 4/3 camera. BUT, the lenses are tiny by comparison with full frame, with correspondingly less size, bulk, weight, and cost. So overall, my kit is much lighter and less costly than a full frame kit of similar coverage. In reality, there is a place for each of the four major interchangeable lens camera sensor formats from medium format down to Micro 4/3. The flagship cameras from Lumix and OM Systems are great. Now, if they would just release some smaller and more casual models again...
Interesting video! I just watched Tony's famous video, "MFT is dead." It's now five years old, but I remember it well; it was VERY polarizing. He said, at the end, "I don't think we're going to see any new MFT gear five years from now." So, it's a particularly good time to look back. But I'm not in the Japanese market, so what's going on in Japan doesn't seem particularly relevant for most viewers watching this in English. For those of us in the States, as of today, (with regard to MFT), Pentax seems to be gone, as is Olympus. With regard to MFT mount cameras, B&H shows four available Panasonic cameras, one Olympus camera, and three OM cameras. There were just two releases so far this year. Release dates for currently available MFT cameras are, respectively, GH7 (2024), GH5s (2018), GH5II (2021), G9II (2023), E-M10 IV (2020), OM-1 (2022), OM-I II (2024), and OM-5 (2022). Do the 2024 releases of the GH7 and the OM-I II constitute "new gear?" I don't know those cameras well enough to comment.
OM System needs to update those small f1.8/2.0 primes. Weather sealing to match the cameras, maybe a pancake f2.8. Emphasize the form factor. The OM 5 would benefit so much.
Very good, great reasoning. I own an OM System OM5 and an OM1 Mark II, both excellent devices, with computational functions and focusing and shooting speeds impossible for other manufacturers (partly due to the smaller size of the sensor). Furthermore, in the landscape discipline, with the help of Live ND (stacking up to 128 images in a single shot) we can achieve RAW with a dynamic range even greater than that offered by a classic 35mm (full frame). As you say, different systems and formats are good. In this field, Fuji has been one of the most coherent firms, choosing two digital formats. For me the best thing is that in the MFT standard we can choose lenses from Olympus and Panasonic. I wish the rest of the companies (Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Pentax and Sony) had joined this standard open to all manufacturers (MFT). It would be incredible to have interchangeable bodies and lenses from all brands... Dreaming is free. By the way, I think you would love the OM5, it has some very interesting tools, such as Live ND (16 image stacking) and high resolution handheld shooting, in a lightweight body (very similar to your EM5II, but with a notable gain in image quality)😁
@salgado_fotos the OM5 and OM1 are both amazing cameras. At some point, I will look at upgrading. It is out of budget at the moment, however. Thank you for watching and commenting!
I don't care anymore if it's dead or not. I enjoy the system for its versatility and reliability - and I haven't yet encountered anyone who could tell that I'm not using a large sensor just by looking at my prints.
@@mne9476 I do, also. I had to order mine from a highly rated Japanese seller and am very happy with the transaction. There are some things I would change about the E-P7, but overall I love mine. The main lens is the OM System 12-45mm f4 PRO and that combo fits in a tiny camera bag and is my EDC camera.
Hi Don, it's good to hear that OMS is doing well in 2024, especially in Japan. M43 is definitely good enough from an image quality-perspective (except for pixel-peepers). I use M43 for landscape photography, and the most important factor is being in the right location (composition), with the right light, at the right time. If you do not get this right, the best camera in the world will not help you. Greetings from South Africa!
Im Currently a Fuji shooter. I was given a OM-D EM1 MKiii with 3 non-pro (its a spacehsip wow!) lenses. Landscape, cityscape, street and family are my subjects. I like shooting the Oly and working on my determination if i want to purchase lenses. My film cameras are Oly so I may stay brand loyal. I'm glad they are making the smaller cameras.
Congrats for the excellent content. As an Olympus fan and user since film OM, recently I was taken aback when I got my hands on a Sony a7c with a 70-300 Tamron and the 28-60 kit. I don’t need Pro lenses, thus price/size comparisons don’t matter to me. I am taking the Sony out more than the Oly and I think, IMHO, that Sony presented a serious challenge to the mirrorless world with that cam. Cheers.
Even if M43 was completely discontinued today, my OM1 would still be working fine with a great number of lenses of all kinds available for my needs. The bodies and lenses offer a real size, price, functionality, and weight benefit to competing full frame systems. That won’t change until there is some significant technological breakthrough on the order of mirrorless to DSLR and digital to film. 20mp gives great detail, so even if they could offer us 24 or 30mp without any limitations of the smaller pixels, it would still be fine. So my calculations would be the same as a few years ago. It’s the right system for me for travel and family, etc. I had dslrs for years and didn’t use them much because of size and weight. My OM1 and X100V are what got me back into photography. They are and will continue to be good all around cameras. When I take up high res nature photography, video, or astro, then I might want to change systems.
Crop sensor cameras won't be dead, mostly on account of Fuji - The other most popular cameras are Full Frame, which will INDEED survive. Fuji is also expanding the large format market because Fuji is best, and gives you a hell of a lot for your money - just imagine, extremely HIGH quality, intelligent design, and practicality all at truly reasonable prices. Fuji now outsells all other manufacturers overall. It's hardly surprising why -
Hi Don, I enjoy watching your insightful videos. Because of them i transitioned to M4/3 and bought the Olympus 14-42mm iiR lens. I love the quality of the pictures, but I've noticed that the lens won't focus when zoomed in. Do you know what might cause this? Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Kind regards, L.E.
@SlagroomenCornflakes you can focus closer at shorter focal lengths than you can at longer focal lengths. This is common on most wide to tele zooms. If you are trying to get really close to your subject, you might consider a macro lens like the 30mm Macro Olympus makes. I'm glad you are enjoying the videos.
Great analysis Don...l love the small size of the system. The build quality reputation Olympus have. l now have three Micro 4/3 cameras. E-PL6. E-PL8 and my latest a E-P5. Plus a number of lenses. None of which are termed as Pro. l don't need that extra finesse in optics quality...Photographs l shot recently with my newly acquired 35mm Macro lens are just stunning......straight from the camera.
I bought a new A7ii with kit lens last year for $1000 but I still prefer my EM1 or EM1 mk ii for nature photography or even for pics of nieces and nephews.
Love m43…I have 3 bodies, Pany GM5, Oly em5-2 and the EM1-3. As much as I love the larger EM1, it’s the other 2 cameras I tend to gravitate to simply for their portability. If anything the GM5 is the go to because it easily slips into a coat pocket coupled with one of the small fast primes. I’ve been patiently waiting for a new improved compact body to upgrade that GM5…but nothing yet. I’ll just keep using what I have until something new comes along (with a view finder pleeeeease!).
@@laurentyarp514 interesting choice but no IS and slow mechanical shutter and flash sync for a newer camera. Another option I thought could be an older epl-8 that still accept the optional electronic view finder for those occasions when you need it (don’t really want to have to carry a vf around). The body is smaller than the G100 but you miss out on the 20mp sensor…ideally a range finder style camera is the preferred option. Just need to convince OM systems to bring out a redesigned epl with a viewfinder or Panasonic to release an updated GM series camera and job is done. 🥹
@@dongummphotography Well if the Lumix S5 was anything to go on, some new MFT compact cameras with better video specifications could make the market explode, but time will tell.
I’m really tempted by an em 5 or em 1 from OM System/Olympus. I really think as a brand they should also focus on the street/travel photographers m instead of just looking at the outdoors/wildlife. The system so much smaller with the lenses it’s perfect for tight street shots!
I’ve got two M4/3 both Olympus. When I buy another body, it will probably be a good used OMD EM-1….only an amateur photographer here, so it’s really overkill for me. My EM-5 is still working great.
I buy OM gear for shooting wildlife and I'm pretty satisfied with it. To be honest I'm not really moved if street photographers seethe because they don't have pin-sharp weather-sealed pancake lenses, or because the 150-600 doesn't fit in their trouser pocket. 😂 Though didn't Thomas Eisl make a recent video where the Oly/OM 17mm Pro was described as a near-perfect lens in the industry? If it works why fix it, other than to satisfy GAS? "If you really need full frame, why don't you use medium format?" Yes! That's it in a nutshell. 👏
I got an Oly (OM) Pen E-P7 a couple weeks ago for my outdoor photography. Having all kinds of lightweight pocket camera fun with it! And especially liking being able to carry 3 or 4 lenses in hot weather for the weight of 2 x for the DSLR in this hot weather. It’s not a race; it’s a whole new ballgame! Not getting rid of the bigger glass though. For rainy fall and cold winter snow, my Pentax DSLR rocks the low light and laughs at a little rain and snow, where the little camera will be hibernating in its nice dry bag, LOL!
im new to photography and im just brought olympus epl 7 few months back. omd em1 mark2 and em5 mark 2 are also on my list. its affordable and i think mft camera and lens are good for beginners. camera nowdays are expensive and more to professional photographers
I think Olympus and Panasonic made a big mistake naming their system ( micro 4/3's). I think people associate the mirco with the sensor and that IMO turns off a lot of people. Had they just called it mirrorless 4/3's I think it would have helped. They really need to focus on a new sensor that has more mp, better dynamic range and better iso performance. If they can do that. I can see a lot more people switching over.
MFT has: 1. Huge base of lenses, many of which are unique 2. Solid new cameras with great IQ 3. LOTS of users. See forum activities on DPReview. One of the MOST dynamic forum is MFT one. What MFT does not has now: Now small cameras. Thats all! I personally don't like small cameras, I think G9 is perfect. BUT mane people like compact cameras. So, OM, Pany, give those people small new cameras!
They have a chance, a good chance. But they have to update the OM-10 an OM-5. Both could be serious contenders to Fujifilm but I do not see anything coming from OMDS :/. If the next OM-10 is done right, they do not need to invest in a new Pen F that certain people are demanding.
Yes! Full frame and m43 can be friends! I use Sony cameras for exactly the reason you’re considering buying one (I hate using them though!) but mostly I use m43 and can sum up my experience like: I take TEST pictures with Sony and (my) BEST pictures with m43! If you decide to buy a Sony get the A7ii or later as the A7 has a really (and I mean REALLY) reflective sensor that needs lenses specifically designed for digital otherwise the reflections (sensor + rear lens element) make the central parts of the image overexposed thus fooling the exposure meter to underexpose creating ever heavier vignetting than the already severe vignetting the sensor already produces! Cheers
I am still waiting for a compact m4/3 camera with good IBIS, decent autofocus, shooting 10 bit 4k 60. Why are all small m4/3 cameras lagging behind smartphones?
Why die? Even with big lenses it is still more compact as a system, plus they need to produce smaller models like the gx panasonic series for more casual use. Excellent system for street photography and carry all around in general.
I started with a Canon 80D cause I couldn't afford a full frame. When the Sony A73 came out I bought that and love it. My canon 80D never would take actual sharp photo's with any lens and being calibrated. Micro Four Thirds caught my years 3-4 years ago because the compact size of the body and lenses along with costing less. About 2 months ago I found a OMD-10 IV brand new on Marketplace near buy and bought it for 200.00. Bought a Like new 75mm 1.8 lens for 400.00 and a 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 IIR for 106 on Amazon also like new. I can't believe how sharp the photo's are for such a small sensor. I've done photo sessions with both and nobody would except when I shoot with my Sigma 105mm at 1.4 then it gets more obvious to me.
Yes - it's good to see it thrive. Some bloggers (particularly a married couple of "influencers") were gleeful and almost childishly happy at the proposed demise. I dont get it - I love more choice and better competition! Thanks for a well thought through video.
Look to K mount to see the future of M43. Limited third-party lens manufacturer support and infrequent new products. Pentax seems to be willing to take risks and innovate, though, unlike OM or Panasonic. I doubt there will be a need PEN or GX camera, which would be the only reasons for me to buy nee M43 products.
The GH7 breaks new ground for video makers. It is LOADED with innovations, currently the most advanced of Panasonic's hybrid cameras, and a harbinger of what they will put in their next professional full frame hybrid evolved from the S1H. Take a close look and you will be amazed. It is everything that the GH6 should have been, and that the G9 Mark II and S5 Mark IIX are.
MFT has to produce small cameras because that would be the only reason that would separate them from the competition. This is what made them market leaders a few years ago. And the market needs small camera because there is nothing like that these days. Since they make cameras as big as the competition that has FF sensors and the same price, they have absolutely no chance to survive. MFT producers must return to their origins, all MFT lovers are waiting for the sequels to the GM, GX, Pen, OM-D series, small cameras that can be taken anywhere, not huge bodies of the caliber of FF cameras.
I use Em5 ii and EM1 ii for some event photography, but daily I use EPL7 or EP5 with a light prime pancake lens. I think m43 still has considerable potential in street photography, as long as they develop an easy to use color adjustment function (like FUJI & SONY）.
@Fast58Eddie because the camera division was a very small part of their medical imaging company, and it wasn't a medical division like the rest of their divisions.
@@dongummphotography in case you were not cognizant of it, the e-p7 Menu is quite a disappointment . Aspect wise rather lowcost and many features are missing, really many. Wonder why !!! And forget "back button focus" since the AEL button lacks responsiveness. Pity. And total shame that no video mentions this and I saw them all, same for texted reviews. It seams that the intention of OM was not to make it too much different from the e-pls. One review mentions cheap/plasticky buid quality, and this is NOT true. And no disappointment with image quality at all👏👏👏👍👍
They are not doing well since they abandon entire lines of camera, pen-f, gx... I was not aware EP7 was also 'abandoned', that is my travel camera. However, this camera had nothing new in it, it has the pen-f specs from 8y ago, maybe a bit faster, but stripped down in other ways. What mft should do is a 4x4 sensor that will shoot vertical and horizontal in the same time, that will be killer, FF won't be able to do that.
"bringing it back" sounds like no new product to me. The thing that attracted me to M4/3 was the innovation and small size. Panasonic has shifted their energy to full frame cameras. Olympus' new owners seem satisfied to reissue old models. Does not sound good to me and I want it to survive too.
The thing is in used market, price tags of Canon or Nikon APS-C DSLRs and M4/3 cameras are almost the same, so it's not like a battle between full frame and M4/3, more like APS-C vs M4/3. APS-C DSLR systems also having many super zoom lenses, i.e. travel zooms. If Sigma and Tamron were making super zooms for M4/3, that would be another story.
I do not make video but...Panasonic and OM both seem to not care about some of their still photo users...GX9 continuation???? Pen F continuation???? (EP7 has no viewfinder) S9 was a joke for Photogs...The video/UA-cam makers get what they want when ever they want...but lately photographers often do not get what they ask for...At least Sony listens...(A7c) (A7c II) etc...Cheers P>S> For a bit more money look into an second hand A7c (mark 1) Newer than A7...much bigger battery...etc.
I have an Olympus M43 and a Canon FF. The Olympus is superior with video as the Canon has overheating and rolling shutter issues and the image stability is not as good. The Olympus stills are almost as good as the Canon and AI software evens the playing field in regards to low light performance.
MFT is right size and weight for my use. Full Frame is much too heavy and lengthy for Flying Birds hand held. Camera makers have APSC so they can offer a smaller kit using their FF lenses. MFT has best reliable IBIS in the industry. Video from MFT is superb. To me, Full Frame is a niche system for portrait lovers who demand lots of Tonay (Bokeh). My MFT systems give me sharpness, quality, tools I need that is pound for pound as good as and better than FF and APSC. MFT has best IBIS and portability in the business.
I wonder how much this can be attributed to circular logic, where the Japanese culture values their own products (you said something like this) and the data is coming from sales in Japan. Probably would be good to find some data that may not be quite as biased. Now, having said that, I think M43 is perfect for what I do, as I almost never want super-shallow depth of field, and that's really the only place where larger sensors have the advantage, when comparing final results, due to equivalence.
@alantuttphotography I get what you are saying. What my point is, is that the people at OM Digital Solutions would be encouraged by and proud of that accomplishment. That staying in the top 3, despite it being just Japan, would create a positive and enthusiastic attitude at OM Digital Solutions.
I have been an Olympus user since the original OMD EM1, so for over ten years. There was a time I did all my pro and personal work with Oly gear. In the end I did get very disappointed. I get the gear is aimed towards outdoor and travel, which is awesome, but it would need at least one small WR prime. I mean camoon, there’s OM-5 for gods sake but NOT A SINGLE SMALL WR PRIME to match that. Not one. Now that would be a camera combo to take for travels and outdoor. But no. Nothing. I waited and then left. So I sold basically all my gear and bought another system. I might as well have a bit bigger gear since I need a bag anyway. All I have now left is E-P7 and a couple of small (non-WR) primes. Don’t use those much due to lack of WR. Probably will sell those also. However, I wish all the best for mft, eventhough I left the train. I just don’t get why they didn’t bother to make even one small WR prime to match their small WR bodies.
It's really weird to hear m43 fans justify the lower cost of their system when xtrans has matched and nearly surpassed its relevance in both features, portability, outdoor ruggedness, cost, performance and optics safe from super telephotos... M43 optics remain great but that sensor is old as hell with highlights that clip so easily.
How much market OM Digital Solutions and Panasonic has? The numbers of 2023 shown that both manufacturers are not even mentioned on their own but in the sections ‘Others’ with 5% marketshare. So their actual marketshare is lower then 5% taking into consideration that this Other section has Panasonic L mount, Ricoh, Pentax, Leica, Phased One and Hasselblad. With so low marketshare which lead to small revenue and at the end a small budget to innovate. Making a ‘feel good’ video will not change this facts.
OM System / Olympus didn’t do themselves any favours going all-in on wildlife, when wildlife shooters are crazy and love to carry heavy gear around. Fujifilm has lead the way for what m43 could have been with the small and stylish cameras and jumping on the film bandwagon with their simulations.
People who believe that 24x36 (which marketing calls "full frame" which is a term that means nothing in photography) is a "large sensor" are very very very naive... 24x36 is part of the "small format" and has a very small sensor. No reason to be so snobbish (sometimes arrogant) by trying to make people believe in the supposed superiority of 24x36 beyond what it really is I use every day a Medium Format Hasselblad H5D-60 with a 4.5x6 sensor (42 mm x 57 mm) and in this case yes, we can talk about a "large sensor" since it is more than twice the size of a small 24x36, and it is the largest sensor ever built. We could say that 24x36 is to Medium Format, what APSC is to 24x36. I also have 24x36, but in terms of pure quality it cannot compete with MF So as long as you use small format, you might as well choose MFT for its compactness, its weight, its price and especially the quality of its lenses which are generally superior to "general public" 24x36 lenses.
@photographiezautrement thank you! That is what I have been saying for a while! There was a time when 35mm or 24x36 format was called a miniature format, and it was looked at as an amateur format. Funny how things change.
About once a year I'll look at other camera brands. Olympus is one of those brands. But, I always keep coming back to Sony. Sony does everything well. Olympus does some things better than Sony. But, it also does other things worse than Sony. And it always comes down to the format. Full size vs MFT. So, I added the A7CR to my kit as a smaller camera body that can use all of the lenses that I already have. But, I always say, use what works for you.
The Sony system is certainly a good one now with more lens options being added all the time. I’m planning to sell out of it just to consolidate everything to canon, as the 100-500 is simply too good. FF lenses are so light now, but I can see the use cases for m43 if you really valued that smaller form factor, particularly in the f/1.8 primes.
Don, I have loved all your M43 videos, but I do not feel optimistic at all about M43, esp. in the U.S., and I’m a fan. The system is on life support. Much of what I write is anecdotal, but I think it symbolizes an overall trend away from M43-sensor products. The three camera stores near my former home in Calif. have all dropped Oly/OM, as they could not sell the line. One store had a lonely E-M1X on the shelf that had been there for four years as of early 2024, and at more than 50 percent off, they could not sell it. Now living in Arizona, zero stores in Tucson or Phoenix have any Oly/OMDS. Fuji, Canon, Nikon, Sony, are all well-represented. To me, OMDS has done nothing to grow the M43 audience, and this is deadly. Just releasing gear that the already-converted will like is not a good business plan. That’s because the already-converted audience is getting smaller in numbers. A $2400 OM-1 Mark II and rebadged Sigma zoom at $2600 does nothing other than showing that OMDS has a slight heartbeat. They have completely missed the Fuji-Ricoh explosion in street photography, and re-producing an E-P7 from 2021 does little to move any needle. Re wildlife, I am not a wildlife photographer, and spending 95 percent of your marketing in that niche turns me off. Plus, the other manufacturers have long since caught up or surpassed. Yes, these are good cameras with good features and image quality. But, the market desire for these products is super-limited, and that does not bode well for anyone looking at an upgrade path. Sadly, the excitement of M43's early days is gone. Just one opinion. Commenters, you can now attack. I have tough skin.
The USA is an important market. But it is after all only the one market. How well do F150 trucks sell in the rest of the world? Yet according to US sales they are the no 1 best selling vehicle...
Now on the other side of the coin my local dealer (biggest in Texas) displayed a notice on their website stating they will no longer purchase or take for trade M43 cameras. No DSLR’s either.
@@gordon3988 actually it did list m43 equipment as well but they seemed to change the policy. At one time there was a lot of used Olympus gear on the inventory list.
Ive never heard anyone say that. It's one of the most popular camera formats out there. "OM Digital Solutions has announced that micro four thirds has achieved number one in market share in the number of units sold by lens mount in Japan. Supported by 56 companies, OM Digital makes the case that the 12-year-old mount is stronger than ever." - 2021
@@dongummphotography as a hiker and outdoor guy with a passion for photography and semi professional I ain't ever going back to full frame I hardly ever do portraits and if I need bookah ill use a Tele lens. Especially with the high resolution modes
Smart phone cameras are becoming more capable and full frame cameras smaller and lighter. In an industry that’s been decimated by smart phones, positioning oneself on the fringe that’s closest to smart phones will naturally raise questions.
@@12symmo barely any smart phones have a 1 inch sensor the m43 sensor is twice that size, full frame bodies can be as small as they like it's not the body that's the problem it's the sheer size of the lens, mobile phones produce a flat image with over sharpening and over saturated colours. One is a professional tool and one can take pictures for memories. M43 ain't going nowhere and will have a place for a long time it's literally better for street and landscape photography and macro. If you want a portrait camera go full frame.
Hi, you dont really need a full frame camera to test out vintage lenses. You can get most vintage mounts to mft mount from places like Photodiox, K & F and similar. I play around with Konica AR lenses on my em1 mark 2. Of cause you get the crop factor dilemma, but oher than that, no worries. And it is great fun going (almost) retro and slowing things down with all manual. (PS, if you do, dont forget to add your lenses and focal length to your camera so that it can give you correct stabilizaton)
@@dongummphotography I was wondering why you said that the Japanese are very proud to have one of their own companies (OMDS) in the top sales rankings, when virtually *all* the companies in the top sales rankings are Japanese anyways!
I get why you keep calling it Olympus. They are made in the same factory in Vietnam, by the same guys, same engineers, same production line. It was just a change in ownership and management, so marketing etc. has obviously changed. I actually think they lease part of the factory that Olympus owns in Dong Nai province. Olympus of course is still manufacturing lab equipment and medical equipment in Vietnam. And the cameras and lenses sure look the same as the Olympus branded ones don't they. My OM1 still has the Olympus brand on it. They still feel the same, and function pretty much the same as they did under the Olympus brand.
Just moved up by ten years from an Olympus E300 to a Lumix G7 with the kit lenses and a 42.5mm f1.7 prime. My old 4/3 lenses take a cheap adapter to work on the Micro4/3 body. Love the new camera, the great glass, and that my full kit in the bag with spare batteries, charger, lenses, etc, are lighter than the E300 with the 50-200 f2.8 mounted.
An OM1-2 body is USD2500 now. It better be good. My R7 is USD1000 cheaper. Not a stacked sensor and not as robustly built. But better AF and the same pixel density. I get plenty of reach for birds-in-flight on my old EF100-400 L F5.6 is ii. I have a 1.4TCiii when I need more. That Zuiko 150-600 zoom is another USD2500. No as much as I love Olympus styling etc, I think MFT does not offer anything special. Even Fuji with its purely crop factor or MF lineup makes me wonder if they have a future. They have two systems that offer no synergy. But Canon and Sony have a full on ecosystem. Nikon is getting back on the horse also, but it is a pity they have lens mounts and bodies that are all over the place in terms of compatibility. I just got a 20 year old EF 500mm F4 L is for the R7. It just works. It’s like it was designed for eye detection AF on a bird at 15 fps. Not bad for USD1800. It even performs the same when using my Metabones 0.71x speedbooster to give me a 350mm F2.8 is.
If your R7 makes you happy then there you go! However, for me I see the OM-1 Mk II as a much superior product for my usages as it has a whole list of features not available on the R7 (Live ND Filters, Live Graduated ND, all the computational features, and more), and I would say that from the recent tests I've read of the Mk II AF there are few cameras that are any better. Again, use what works for you, but for me, I could never adapt to what I see as the overly large bodies and lenses of the FF format. Peace.
I love my OM gear. I came over from Nikon and I'm not looking back. The doomsdays are free to keep trying to bring us all down. I'm not listening. I'm having too much fun with these cameras and lenses to care about your negativity.
Sort of like Mark Twain's line : "The report of my death has been exaggerated". Even as Fool-Framers believe that the old film-based 35mm is the only "professional" format they also have a particular hatred for 4/3 and Mirco 4/3 which is the first purely digital format. Why? Their behaviour is quite irrational.
Reasons will vary, but I've seen similar "haters" in other areas (motorcycles, audio gear, etc.) and the majority seem to be trying to justify spending more and getting less. Every time I compare a current MFT camera with a fool-frame "equivalent" the MFT camera offers so much more whether it's the IBIS, the computational features, smaller system size, or lower price.
After Canon and Nikon joining the mirrorless world after years of decrying m43 mirrorless as being unusable to any real photographer who must have an old prehistoric SLR, many have purchased their mirrorless offerings and realised they had been missing some fantastic features of mirrorless for years and years. Then when looking more at other mirrorless cameras realise that Canon and Nikon still have some way to go in catching up yet. From what I see on UA-cam, a lot of Canon and Nikon users now buying used, old m34 equipment and raving about it, many will go on to buy new m43 gear.
@@gregfeeler6910 true. It has the same innards as the D-Lux 7 from around 6 years ago but for Leica to put their brand identity alongside m4/3 says something. The target audience for all the D-Lux cameras is people who know nothing about sensors though.
it died though. But the rise of smartphone cameras given rise to "whats better than camera phone, but lighter than canon 5d mk iii". but i don't care, i keep buying doodads like Lumix G100 and (maybe) the last Lumix MFT, GH7, to see what the fuss about.
Bit of a straw man argument really...4/3's is statistically dead in the market. Panasonic has 4.4% market share, including it's full frame line in that number. OM-D barely even registers anymore. That's called...dead. Individual anecdotes are just that...anecdotes.
Sensor size discussions are for amateurs who feel insecure about their self worth. All sensors have pro and cons. And not even light gathering capabilities is a plus for, what they call nowadays, full frame sensors, because it requires two stops more light for them do achieve the same result as a mft sensor. Looking at noise levels of aperture adjusted noise levels of both(which means two stops higher ISO setting for ff), noise of mft will generally look equal if not even smoother than ff. And all that talk about shallow depth of field: it doesn't depend on sensor size either but solely on the fastest aperture of the lense you are using. If your mft lend is two stops faster than your ff lens, you will get the exact same dof. And if its even faster your dof will be shallower. So please stop all this nonsense off this fruitless effort of trying to pro up your little egos and go out there and take beautiful photographs
Back when Olympus was Olympus they always sold better in Japan than in other countries. Japan is not an indicator of worldwide sales. If it was, Olympus wouldn't have sold their camera division.
Don, I very much like this video as it points out that there are roads to commercial success in the digital camera market that don't require having a large market share. Leica has only 0.15% market share yet I don't hear anyone talking about them going out of business. According the the video linked below these are the top selling cameras as of February, 2024: 1. Nikon Zf 2. OM-1 Mark II 3. Sony a7C II 4. Leica Q3 5. Fujifilm X-T5 6. Nikon Z8i 7. Ricoh GR IIIx 8. Canon EOS R6 II 9. Fujifilm X100V 10. DJI Osmo Pocket 3 "My Photo Journey" ua-cam.com/video/aaOK94aELgk/v-deo.html.
Love my OM-5. Bought the OM-1 mk ii recently. Simply impressive.
I have an OM-10 film camera with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. Size-wise, the OM-5 is slightly smaller and the OM-1 slightly larger. What is obvious is OM Systems commitment to excellence, from film through digital.
Long live the Olympus color science
Extremely realistic and objective argument Don. Everyone should value this discussion, regardless of their format preferences. If OMDS were to die, I would just buy used equipment until I die myself.
@@mne9476 thank you! I would do the same.
Where will you find parts if that used products fail?
@@angeloplayforone I will just buy more used equipment :-)
Interesting video Don. I switched from MFT to Sony FF & APSC after the shutter stuck on my EM5 iii, primarily to get more dynamic range and more effective focal lengths from my vintage lenses. I think the challenge for OM & Panasonic is that some of their cameras are getting bigger, whereas some full frame & APSC are getting smaller. Also 3rd party manufacturers like Tamron & Samyang (and Chinese) for example have introduced some great value & smaller lenses for FF & APSC.
From my point of view, returning to full frame is a step backwards, because manufacturers will always justify paying more for lenses (because they are larger and, unfortunately, heavier than APS-C and MFT lenses). The benefit is more for the manufacturer than for the photographer. On the subject of dynamic range, equipment such as the OM5 or the OM1 from OM System, taking the shot with Live ND or high resolution (it is a stack of images that results in a single RAW), we not only reach the tonal range (range dynamic) of the FF in a single shot, is that we surpassed it (I'm not saying that, there are graphs and analyzes that prove it). But the important thing is what you feel good about and identify with. If you are happy with your full frame you have done the right thing (because you will take more photos). a cordial greeting😁
Body size does not matter to me, so long as it is big enough for my hands. I'm about to buy a Lumix GH7, which is huge for a Micro 4/3 camera. BUT, the lenses are tiny by comparison with full frame, with correspondingly less size, bulk, weight, and cost. So overall, my kit is much lighter and less costly than a full frame kit of similar coverage. In reality, there is a place for each of the four major interchangeable lens camera sensor formats from medium format down to Micro 4/3. The flagship cameras from Lumix and OM Systems are great. Now, if they would just release some smaller and more casual models again...
Interesting video! I just watched Tony's famous video, "MFT is dead." It's now five years old, but I remember it well; it was VERY polarizing. He said, at the end, "I don't think we're going to see any new MFT gear five years from now." So, it's a particularly good time to look back. But I'm not in the Japanese market, so what's going on in Japan doesn't seem particularly relevant for most viewers watching this in English. For those of us in the States, as of today, (with regard to MFT), Pentax seems to be gone, as is Olympus. With regard to MFT mount cameras, B&H shows four available Panasonic cameras, one Olympus camera, and three OM cameras. There were just two releases so far this year. Release dates for currently available MFT cameras are, respectively, GH7 (2024), GH5s (2018), GH5II (2021), G9II (2023), E-M10 IV (2020), OM-1 (2022), OM-I II (2024), and OM-5 (2022). Do the 2024 releases of the GH7 and the OM-I II constitute "new gear?" I don't know those cameras well enough to comment.
OM System needs to update those small f1.8/2.0 primes. Weather sealing to match the cameras, maybe a pancake f2.8. Emphasize the form factor. The OM 5 would benefit so much.
@joetag5429 yes!
Yes, something with sharpness close to the sigma ff primes that have been out for years would be good.
Very good, great reasoning. I own an OM System OM5 and an OM1 Mark II, both excellent devices, with computational functions and focusing and shooting speeds impossible for other manufacturers (partly due to the smaller size of the sensor). Furthermore, in the landscape discipline, with the help of Live ND (stacking up to 128 images in a single shot) we can achieve RAW with a dynamic range even greater than that offered by a classic 35mm (full frame).
As you say, different systems and formats are good. In this field, Fuji has been one of the most coherent firms, choosing two digital formats. For me the best thing is that in the MFT standard we can choose lenses from Olympus and Panasonic. I wish the rest of the companies (Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Pentax and Sony) had joined this standard open to all manufacturers (MFT). It would be incredible to have interchangeable bodies and lenses from all brands... Dreaming is free. By the way, I think you would love the OM5, it has some very interesting tools, such as Live ND (16 image stacking) and high resolution handheld shooting, in a lightweight body (very similar to your EM5II, but with a notable gain in image quality)😁
@salgado_fotos the OM5 and OM1 are both amazing cameras. At some point, I will look at upgrading. It is out of budget at the moment, however. Thank you for watching and commenting!
I don't care anymore if it's dead or not. I enjoy the system for its versatility and reliability - and I haven't yet encountered anyone who could tell that I'm not using a large sensor just by looking at my prints.
@@JezdziecBezNicka I couldn't agree more!
More to say later, but I completely agree with all your points, and I’m excited to hear about renewed production of the E-P7. I love mine.
I hope the EP 7 becomes available in the US.
@@mne9476 I do, also. I had to order mine from a highly rated Japanese seller and am very happy with the transaction. There are some things I would change about the E-P7, but overall I love mine. The main lens is the OM System 12-45mm f4 PRO and that combo fits in a tiny camera bag and is my EDC camera.
Hi Don, it's good to hear that OMS is doing well in 2024, especially in Japan. M43 is definitely good enough from an image quality-perspective (except for pixel-peepers). I use M43 for landscape photography, and the most important factor is being in the right location (composition), with the right light, at the right time. If you do not get this right, the best camera in the world will not help you. Greetings from South Africa!
@@louiebodenstaff6772 Landscape photography in South Africa must be amazing! I would live to see your work.
Im Currently a Fuji shooter. I was given a OM-D EM1 MKiii with 3 non-pro (its a spacehsip wow!) lenses. Landscape, cityscape, street and family are my subjects. I like shooting the Oly and working on my determination if i want to purchase lenses. My film cameras are Oly so I may stay brand loyal. I'm glad they are making the smaller cameras.
@GONZOFAM7 I think the more you use the Olympus, the more you will like it. They are great cameras!
Congrats for the excellent content. As an Olympus fan and user since film OM, recently I was taken aback when I got my hands on a Sony a7c with a 70-300 Tamron and the 28-60 kit. I don’t need Pro lenses, thus price/size comparisons don’t matter to me. I am taking the Sony out more than the Oly and I think, IMHO, that Sony presented a serious challenge to the mirrorless world with that cam. Cheers.
Even if M43 was completely discontinued today, my OM1 would still be working fine with a great number of lenses of all kinds available for my needs. The bodies and lenses offer a real size, price, functionality, and weight benefit to competing full frame systems. That won’t change until there is some significant technological breakthrough on the order of mirrorless to DSLR and digital to film. 20mp gives great detail, so even if they could offer us 24 or 30mp without any limitations of the smaller pixels, it would still be fine.
So my calculations would be the same as a few years ago. It’s the right system for me for travel and family, etc.
I had dslrs for years and didn’t use them much because of size and weight. My OM1 and X100V are what got me back into photography. They are and will continue to be good all around cameras. When I take up high res nature photography, video, or astro, then I might want to change systems.
Now it's no long fashionable to say M43 is dead, now the gatekeepers are saying all CROP SENSORS are dead. We shall see :-)
Crop sensor cameras won't be dead, mostly on account of Fuji -
The other most popular cameras are Full Frame, which will INDEED survive.
Fuji is also expanding the large format market because Fuji is best, and gives you a hell of a lot for your money - just imagine, extremely HIGH quality, intelligent design, and practicality all at truly reasonable prices. Fuji now outsells all other manufacturers overall. It's hardly surprising why -
Hi Don,
I enjoy watching your insightful videos. Because of them i transitioned to M4/3 and bought the Olympus 14-42mm iiR lens. I love the quality of the pictures, but I've noticed that the lens won't focus when zoomed in. Do you know what might cause this? Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Kind regards,
L.E.
@SlagroomenCornflakes you can focus closer at shorter focal lengths than you can at longer focal lengths. This is common on most wide to tele zooms. If you are trying to get really close to your subject, you might consider a macro lens like the 30mm Macro Olympus makes. I'm glad you are enjoying the videos.
Meanwhile the Leica fans are pre-ordering the D-Lux 8, which mostly uses Lumix m43 hardware/software from 7 years ago, lol.
thanks for your video. I couldn't help but notice that the three OM-S cameras in the top-10 BCN list are all branded Olympus and not OM-S.
Great analysis Don...l love the small size of the system. The build quality reputation Olympus have. l now have three Micro 4/3 cameras. E-PL6. E-PL8 and my latest a E-P5. Plus a number of lenses. None of which are termed as Pro. l don't need that extra finesse in optics quality...Photographs l shot recently with my newly acquired 35mm Macro lens are just stunning......straight from the camera.
@@BrianLesliePerry I love the Pen series of cameras. I hope OM Digital Solutions keeps them in the lineup.
I hate to see camera companies fail, my philosophy is the more camera companies the better for the consumer.
@@fistfulloflenses agreed!
Well said! With my OMDs, I shoot micro, macro, astro, landscape, wildlife, birds, full spectrum, action ... need I say more.
@@ridealongwithrandy that is saying a lot!
I love my micro four thirds and my Sony cameras. I just bought a tiny little Lumix GM1 a couple of weeks ago and I'm having a blast with it!
I bought a new A7ii with kit lens last year for $1000 but I still prefer my EM1 or EM1 mk ii for nature photography or even for pics of nieces and nephews.
Love m43…I have 3 bodies, Pany GM5, Oly em5-2 and the EM1-3. As much as I love the larger EM1, it’s the other 2 cameras I tend to gravitate to simply for their portability. If anything the GM5 is the go to because it easily slips into a coat pocket coupled with one of the small fast primes. I’ve been patiently waiting for a new improved compact body to upgrade that GM5…but nothing yet. I’ll just keep using what I have until something new comes along (with a view finder pleeeeease!).
I know it is a bit taller but the G100 is very similar to the GM5. I intend to get one in case my GM5 breaks down.
@@laurentyarp514 interesting choice but no IS and slow mechanical shutter and flash sync for a newer camera. Another option I thought could be an older epl-8 that still accept the optional electronic view finder for those occasions when you need it (don’t really want to have to carry a vf around). The body is smaller than the G100 but you miss out on the 20mp sensor…ideally a range finder style camera is the preferred option. Just need to convince OM systems to bring out a redesigned epl with a viewfinder or Panasonic to release an updated GM series camera and job is done. 🥹
@@dingoeatswolf3663 > no IS and slow mechanical shutter
Sure, same as the GM5. And you get a bonus with better sensor and rotating screen.
Just got the new Leica DLux 8 M43. Not dead.
My Olympus E-M1 ii is one of the best cameras I’ve owned.
@@richcox nice!
I totally agree Dom, I honestly think the potential of MFT is massive and we've barely scratched the surface with the latest Flagship cameras.
@@leisurelypaice I agree and hope to see the micro four thirds format around for a long time.
@@dongummphotography Well if the Lumix S5 was anything to go on, some new MFT compact cameras with better video specifications could make the market explode, but time will tell.
I’m really tempted by an em 5 or em 1 from OM System/Olympus.
I really think as a brand they should also focus on the street/travel photographers m instead of just looking at the outdoors/wildlife.
The system so much smaller with the lenses it’s perfect for tight street shots!
@@dannydrum_93 You are right! Either camera would be great for street photography.
I’ve got two M4/3 both Olympus. When I buy another body, it will probably be a good used OMD EM-1….only an amateur photographer here, so it’s really overkill for me. My EM-5 is still working great.
@ted356 I am still using an EP1, an EP5, and an EM5 MkII. Unless something breaks, I don't have a need for much else.
I buy OM gear for shooting wildlife and I'm pretty satisfied with it. To be honest I'm not really moved if street photographers seethe because they don't have pin-sharp weather-sealed pancake lenses, or because the 150-600 doesn't fit in their trouser pocket. 😂 Though didn't Thomas Eisl make a recent video where the Oly/OM 17mm Pro was described as a near-perfect lens in the industry? If it works why fix it, other than to satisfy GAS?
"If you really need full frame, why don't you use medium format?"
Yes! That's it in a nutshell. 👏
@@vermis8344 I couldn't agree more!
I got an Oly (OM) Pen E-P7 a couple weeks ago for my outdoor photography. Having all kinds of lightweight pocket camera fun with it! And especially liking being able to carry 3 or 4 lenses in hot weather for the weight of 2 x for the DSLR in this hot weather. It’s not a race; it’s a whole new ballgame!
Not getting rid of the bigger glass though. For rainy fall and cold winter snow, my Pentax DSLR rocks the low light and laughs at a little rain and snow, where the little camera will be hibernating in its nice dry bag, LOL!
im new to photography and im just brought olympus epl 7 few months back. omd em1 mark2 and em5 mark 2 are also on my list. its affordable and i think mft camera and lens are good for beginners. camera nowdays are expensive and more to professional photographers
@alfreakio all true, but micro four thirds cameras are fully capable of pro-quality work. Thanks for watching and commenting!
It’s not dead to me. I just upgraded to the G9 Mark 2 from the original G9 and totally love it. What an amazing camera and awesome upgrade.
I think Olympus and Panasonic made a big mistake naming their system ( micro 4/3's). I think people associate the mirco with the sensor and that IMO turns off a lot of people. Had they just called it mirrorless 4/3's I think it would have helped. They really need to focus on a new sensor that has more mp, better dynamic range and better iso performance. If they can do that. I can see a lot more people switching over.
MFT has:
1. Huge base of lenses, many of which are unique
2. Solid new cameras with great IQ
3. LOTS of users. See forum activities on DPReview. One of the MOST dynamic forum is MFT one.
What MFT does not has now: Now small cameras. Thats all!
I personally don't like small cameras, I think G9 is perfect. BUT mane people like compact cameras. So, OM, Pany, give those people small new cameras!
I love my OM 10 IV with a few primes for travel & feel the picture quality is excellent.
OM-1 is a very good gear, quite profession and economical choose
They have a chance, a good chance. But they have to update the OM-10 an OM-5. Both could be serious contenders to Fujifilm but I do not see anything coming from OMDS :/. If the next OM-10 is done right, they do not need to invest in a new Pen F that certain people are demanding.
Yes! Full frame and m43 can be friends! I use Sony cameras for exactly the reason you’re considering buying one (I hate using them though!) but mostly I use m43 and can sum up my experience like: I take TEST pictures with Sony and (my) BEST pictures with m43!
If you decide to buy a Sony get the A7ii or later as the A7 has a really (and I mean REALLY) reflective sensor that needs lenses specifically designed for digital otherwise the reflections (sensor + rear lens element) make the central parts of the image overexposed thus fooling the exposure meter to underexpose creating ever heavier vignetting than the already severe vignetting the sensor already produces! Cheers
I am still waiting for a compact m4/3 camera with good IBIS, decent autofocus, shooting 10 bit 4k 60. Why are all small m4/3 cameras lagging behind smartphones?
Exactly this. Fujifilm is doing m43 better than m43 is.
Why die? Even with big lenses it is still more compact as a system, plus they need to produce smaller models like the gx panasonic series for more casual use. Excellent system for street photography and carry all around in general.
Interesting discussion. I’ve been thinking of changing from my Sony a7rii to an Olympus lately.
I started with a Canon 80D cause I couldn't afford a full frame. When the Sony A73 came out I bought that and love it. My canon 80D never would take actual sharp photo's with any lens and being calibrated. Micro Four Thirds caught my years 3-4 years ago because the compact size of the body and lenses along with costing less. About 2 months ago I found a OMD-10 IV brand new on Marketplace near buy and bought it for 200.00. Bought a Like new 75mm 1.8 lens for 400.00 and a 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 IIR for 106 on Amazon also like new. I can't believe how sharp the photo's are for such a small sensor. I've done photo sessions with both and nobody would except when I shoot with my Sigma 105mm at 1.4 then it gets more obvious to me.
Yes - it's good to see it thrive. Some bloggers (particularly a married couple of "influencers") were gleeful and almost childishly happy at the proposed demise. I dont get it - I love more choice and better competition! Thanks for a well thought through video.
Look to K mount to see the future of M43. Limited third-party lens manufacturer support and infrequent new products. Pentax seems to be willing to take risks and innovate, though, unlike OM or Panasonic. I doubt there will be a need PEN or GX camera, which would be the only reasons for me to buy nee M43 products.
The GH7 breaks new ground for video makers. It is LOADED with innovations, currently the most advanced of Panasonic's hybrid cameras, and a harbinger of what they will put in their next professional full frame hybrid evolved from the S1H. Take a close look and you will be amazed. It is everything that the GH6 should have been, and that the G9 Mark II and S5 Mark IIX are.
I settled with gx80 12-32 and am so happy with it. If they'd update it with a double stacked sony sensor I'd be all in.
small format not always bad, it have its plus side on some area. especially on macro photography due to its less shallow depth of field.
MFT has to produce small cameras because that would be the only reason that would separate them from the competition. This is what made them market leaders a few years ago. And the market needs small camera because there is nothing like that these days. Since they make cameras as big as the competition that has FF sensors and the same price, they have absolutely no chance to survive. MFT producers must return to their origins, all MFT lovers are waiting for the sequels to the GM, GX, Pen, OM-D series, small cameras that can be taken anywhere, not huge bodies of the caliber of FF cameras.
Great tips
I use Em5 ii and EM1 ii for some event photography, but daily I use EPL7 or EP5 with a light prime pancake lens. I think m43 still has considerable potential in street photography, as long as they develop an easy to use color adjustment function (like FUJI & SONY）.
If Olympus was doing so well. Why did they sell their camera business?
@Fast58Eddie because the camera division was a very small part of their medical imaging company, and it wasn't a medical division like the rest of their divisions.
Legends never die ! :D
#1 selling cameras in the U.K.
I'd like to read that story or link. Please share. Thanks.
You made me buy the pen e-p5 this conducive to the purchase of the e-p7 + e-m5 mk2 👍👍👍👍
@@adambreuse1875 gear acquisition syndrome is real...
@@dongummphotography in case you were not cognizant of it, the e-p7 Menu is quite a disappointment . Aspect wise rather lowcost and many features are missing, really many. Wonder why !!! And forget "back button focus" since the AEL button lacks responsiveness. Pity. And total shame that no video mentions this and I saw them all, same for texted reviews. It seams that the intention of OM was not to make it too much different from the e-pls. One review mentions cheap/plasticky buid quality, and this is NOT true. And no disappointment with image quality at all👏👏👏👍👍
@@adambreuse1875 that is disappointing
It's great they are in a good position let's see how that translates to sales
I would never leave M4:3 and I love the whole system
Look real hard at the full frame Nikon Z5. Still quite modern but maybe the best value in the full frame market.
@@vinceriggio72 I will give it a look! Thanks.
They are not doing well since they abandon entire lines of camera, pen-f, gx... I was not aware EP7 was also 'abandoned', that is my travel camera. However, this camera had nothing new in it, it has the pen-f specs from 8y ago, maybe a bit faster, but stripped down in other ways.
What mft should do is a 4x4 sensor that will shoot vertical and horizontal in the same time, that will be killer, FF won't be able to do that.
There is on OM-10 line, careful with the names - a missed letter here or there can significantly change what you're trying to say
"bringing it back" sounds like no new product to me. The thing that attracted me to M4/3 was the innovation and small size. Panasonic has shifted their energy to full frame cameras. Olympus' new owners seem satisfied to reissue old models. Does not sound good to me and I want it to survive too.
The thing is in used market, price tags of Canon or Nikon APS-C DSLRs and M4/3 cameras are almost the same, so it's not like a battle between full frame and M4/3, more like APS-C vs M4/3. APS-C DSLR systems also having many super zoom lenses, i.e. travel zooms. If Sigma and Tamron were making super zooms for M4/3, that would be another story.
I do not make video but...Panasonic and OM both seem to not care about some of their still photo users...GX9 continuation???? Pen F continuation???? (EP7 has no viewfinder)
S9 was a joke for Photogs...The video/UA-cam makers get what they want when ever they want...but lately photographers often do not get what they ask for...At least Sony listens...(A7c) (A7c II) etc...Cheers
P>S> For a bit more money look into an second hand A7c (mark 1) Newer than A7...much bigger battery...etc.
@@georgemahlum6542 Cheers to you as well!
I have an Olympus M43 and a Canon FF. The Olympus is superior with video as the Canon has overheating and rolling shutter issues and the image stability is not as good. The Olympus stills are almost as good as the Canon and AI software evens the playing field in regards to low light performance.
@@cornerofthemoon the Olympus M43 cameras are pretty amazing.
MFT is right size and weight for my use. Full Frame is much too heavy and lengthy for Flying Birds hand held. Camera makers have APSC so they can offer a smaller kit using their FF lenses. MFT has best reliable IBIS in the industry. Video from MFT is superb. To me, Full Frame is a niche system for portrait lovers who demand lots of Tonay (Bokeh). My MFT systems give me sharpness, quality, tools I need that is pound for pound as good as and better than FF and APSC. MFT has best IBIS and portability in the business.
@@don_at_large I couldn't agree more!
I wonder how much this can be attributed to circular logic, where the Japanese culture values their own products (you said something like this) and the data is coming from sales in Japan. Probably would be good to find some data that may not be quite as biased. Now, having said that, I think M43 is perfect for what I do, as I almost never want super-shallow depth of field, and that's really the only place where larger sensors have the advantage, when comparing final results, due to equivalence.
@alantuttphotography I get what you are saying. What my point is, is that the people at OM Digital Solutions would be encouraged by and proud of that accomplishment. That staying in the top 3, despite it being just Japan, would create a positive and enthusiastic attitude at OM Digital Solutions.
Yeah - for sure the Japanese consumers prefer Japanese OMD over Sony, Nikon and Canon which are all from... where??
I have been an Olympus user since the original OMD EM1, so for over ten years. There was a time I did all my pro and personal work with Oly gear. In the end I did get very disappointed. I get the gear is aimed towards outdoor and travel, which is awesome, but it would need at least one small WR prime. I mean camoon, there’s OM-5 for gods sake but NOT A SINGLE SMALL WR PRIME to match that. Not one. Now that would be a camera combo to take for travels and outdoor. But no. Nothing. I waited and then left.
So I sold basically all my gear and bought another system. I might as well have a bit bigger gear since I need a bag anyway. All I have now left is E-P7 and a couple of small (non-WR) primes. Don’t use those much due to lack of WR. Probably will sell those also. However, I wish all the best for mft, eventhough I left the train. I just don’t get why they didn’t bother to make even one small WR prime to match their small WR bodies.
It's really weird to hear m43 fans justify the lower cost of their system when xtrans has matched and nearly surpassed its relevance in both features, portability, outdoor ruggedness, cost, performance and optics safe from super telephotos...
M43 optics remain great but that sensor is old as hell with highlights that clip so easily.
Are the optics great? I don’t think I’d say any of my m43 optics are superior to the full frame equivalents I own.
I am a filmmaker and E-P7 is my A-Camera.
How much market OM Digital Solutions and Panasonic has? The numbers of 2023 shown that both manufacturers are not even mentioned on their own but in the sections ‘Others’ with 5% marketshare. So their actual marketshare is lower then 5% taking into consideration that this Other section has Panasonic L mount, Ricoh, Pentax, Leica, Phased One and Hasselblad.
With so low marketshare which lead to small revenue and at the end a small budget to innovate. Making a ‘feel good’ video will not change this facts.
OM System / Olympus didn’t do themselves any favours going all-in on wildlife, when wildlife shooters are crazy and love to carry heavy gear around. Fujifilm has lead the way for what m43 could have been with the small and stylish cameras and jumping on the film bandwagon with their simulations.
People who believe that 24x36 (which marketing calls "full frame" which is a term that means nothing in photography) is a "large sensor" are very very very naive...
24x36 is part of the "small format" and has a very small sensor. No reason to be so snobbish (sometimes arrogant) by trying to make people believe in the supposed superiority of 24x36 beyond what it really is
I use every day a Medium Format Hasselblad H5D-60 with a 4.5x6 sensor (42 mm x 57 mm) and in this case yes, we can talk about a "large sensor" since it is more than twice the size of a small 24x36, and it is the largest sensor ever built. We could say that 24x36 is to Medium Format, what APSC is to 24x36.
I also have 24x36, but in terms of pure quality it cannot compete with MF
So as long as you use small format, you might as well choose MFT for its compactness, its weight, its price and especially the quality of its lenses which are generally superior to "general public" 24x36 lenses.
@photographiezautrement thank you! That is what I have been saying for a while! There was a time when 35mm or 24x36 format was called a miniature format, and it was looked at as an amateur format. Funny how things change.
The quality difference between mft and ff is bigger than ff and mf, so don't flex so much
About once a year I'll look at other camera brands. Olympus is one of those brands. But, I always keep coming back to Sony. Sony does everything well. Olympus does some things better than Sony. But, it also does other things worse than Sony. And it always comes down to the format. Full size vs MFT. So, I added the A7CR to my kit as a smaller camera body that can use all of the lenses that I already have. But, I always say, use what works for you.
The Sony system is certainly a good one now with more lens options being added all the time. I’m planning to sell out of it just to consolidate everything to canon, as the 100-500 is simply too good. FF lenses are so light now, but I can see the use cases for m43 if you really valued that smaller form factor, particularly in the f/1.8 primes.
Don, I have loved all your M43 videos, but I do not feel optimistic at all about M43, esp. in the U.S., and I’m a fan. The system is on life support. Much of what I write is anecdotal, but I think it symbolizes an overall trend away from M43-sensor products. The three camera stores near my former home in Calif. have all dropped Oly/OM, as they could not sell the line. One store had a lonely E-M1X on the shelf that had been there for four years as of early 2024, and at more than 50 percent off, they could not sell it. Now living in Arizona, zero stores in Tucson or Phoenix have any Oly/OMDS. Fuji, Canon, Nikon, Sony, are all well-represented. To me, OMDS has done nothing to grow the M43 audience, and this is deadly. Just releasing gear that the already-converted will like is not a good business plan. That’s because the already-converted audience is getting smaller in numbers. A $2400 OM-1 Mark II and rebadged Sigma zoom at $2600 does nothing other than showing that OMDS has a slight heartbeat. They have completely missed the Fuji-Ricoh explosion in street photography, and re-producing an E-P7 from 2021 does little to move any needle. Re wildlife, I am not a wildlife photographer, and spending 95 percent of your marketing in that niche turns me off. Plus, the other manufacturers have long since caught up or surpassed. Yes, these are good cameras with good features and image quality. But, the market desire for these products is super-limited, and that does not bode well for anyone looking at an upgrade path. Sadly, the excitement of M43's early days is gone. Just one opinion. Commenters, you can now attack. I have tough skin.
The USA is an important market. But it is after all only the one market. How well do F150 trucks sell in the rest of the world? Yet according to US sales they are the no 1 best selling vehicle...
Now on the other side of the coin my local dealer (biggest in Texas) displayed a notice on their website stating they will no longer purchase or take for trade M43 cameras. No DSLR’s either.
If it’s Precision (who say they are the largest in Texas) it only references DSLRs. And they do sell both OM and Pan. New and Used.
@@gordon3988 actually it did list m43 equipment as well but they seemed to change the policy. At one time there was a lot of used Olympus gear on the inventory list.
Ive never heard anyone say that. It's one of the most popular camera formats out there. "OM Digital Solutions has announced that micro four thirds has achieved number one in market share in the number of units sold by lens mount in Japan. Supported by 56 companies, OM Digital makes the case that the 12-year-old mount is stronger than ever." - 2021
I moved from FF 8 months ago. I have absolutely no regrets.
Спасибо, Don за эту работу. Ваша информация о философии Olympus ,была весьма интересна для меня... Привет из России и удачи вам!
Even if they stopped tomorrow, I'd use MFT cameras and lenses.
@@whfowle me too!
love it i think people are waking up to it to be honest.
@jyemichael I think you are right!
This has been the case since the format was invented
@@daaljones9584 so true!
@@dongummphotography as a hiker and outdoor guy with a passion for photography and semi professional I ain't ever going back to full frame I hardly ever do portraits and if I need bookah ill use a Tele lens. Especially with the high resolution modes
@@daaljones9584 I couldn't agree more!
Smart phone cameras are becoming more capable and full frame cameras smaller and lighter. In an industry that’s been decimated by smart phones, positioning oneself on the fringe that’s closest to smart phones will naturally raise questions.
@@12symmo barely any smart phones have a 1 inch sensor the m43 sensor is twice that size, full frame bodies can be as small as they like it's not the body that's the problem it's the sheer size of the lens, mobile phones produce a flat image with over sharpening and over saturated colours. One is a professional tool and one can take pictures for memories. M43 ain't going nowhere and will have a place for a long time it's literally better for street and landscape photography and macro. If you want a portrait camera go full frame.
Hi, you dont really need a full frame camera to test out vintage lenses. You can get most vintage mounts to mft mount from places like Photodiox, K & F and similar. I play around with Konica AR lenses on my em1 mark 2. Of cause you get the crop factor dilemma, but oher than that, no worries. And it is great fun going (almost) retro and slowing things down with all manual. (PS, if you do, dont forget to add your lenses and focal length to your camera so that it can give you correct stabilizaton)
But aren't Canon and Sony Japanese too?
@@Centauri27 sure they are
@@dongummphotography I was wondering why you said that the Japanese are very proud to have one of their own companies (OMDS) in the top sales rankings, when virtually *all* the companies in the top sales rankings are Japanese anyways!
I get why you keep calling it Olympus. They are made in the same factory in Vietnam, by the same guys, same engineers, same production line. It was just a change in ownership and management, so marketing etc. has obviously changed. I actually think they lease part of the factory that Olympus owns in Dong Nai province. Olympus of course is still manufacturing lab equipment and medical equipment in Vietnam. And the cameras and lenses sure look the same as the Olympus branded ones don't they. My OM1 still has the Olympus brand on it. They still feel the same, and function pretty much the same as they did under the Olympus brand.
Just moved up by ten years from an Olympus E300 to a Lumix G7 with the kit lenses and a 42.5mm f1.7 prime.
My old 4/3 lenses take a cheap adapter to work on the Micro4/3 body.
Love the new camera, the great glass, and that my full kit in the bag with spare batteries, charger, lenses, etc, are lighter than the E300 with the 50-200 f2.8 mounted.
OM= Olympus Maitani............... still olympus to me !
Tony Northrup doesn't even acknowledge that OM system even exists. I think he's too embarrassed.
That guy is a knob along with polin, both wombles
An OM1-2 body is USD2500 now. It better be good. My R7 is USD1000 cheaper. Not a stacked sensor and not as robustly built. But better AF and the same pixel density. I get plenty of reach for birds-in-flight on my old EF100-400 L F5.6 is ii. I have a 1.4TCiii when I need more. That Zuiko 150-600 zoom is another USD2500. No as much as I love Olympus styling etc, I think MFT does not offer anything special. Even Fuji with its purely crop factor or MF lineup makes me wonder if they have a future. They have two systems that offer no synergy. But Canon and Sony have a full on ecosystem. Nikon is getting back on the horse also, but it is a pity they have lens mounts and bodies that are all over the place in terms of compatibility. I just got a 20 year old EF 500mm F4 L is for the R7. It just works. It’s like it was designed for eye detection AF on a bird at 15 fps. Not bad for USD1800. It even performs the same when using my Metabones 0.71x speedbooster to give me a 350mm F2.8 is.
If your R7 makes you happy then there you go! However, for me I see the OM-1 Mk II as a much superior product for my usages as it has a whole list of features not available on the R7 (Live ND Filters, Live Graduated ND, all the computational features, and more), and I would say that from the recent tests I've read of the Mk II AF there are few cameras that are any better. Again, use what works for you, but for me, I could never adapt to what I see as the overly large bodies and lenses of the FF format. Peace.
I love my OM gear. I came over from Nikon and I'm not looking back.
The doomsdays are free to keep trying to bring us all down. I'm not listening. I'm having too much fun with these cameras and lenses to care about your negativity.
@@FierceSleepingDog You are so right!
Sort of like Mark Twain's line : "The report of my death has been exaggerated". Even as Fool-Framers believe that the old film-based 35mm is the only "professional" format they also have a particular hatred for 4/3 and Mirco 4/3 which is the first purely digital format. Why? Their behaviour is quite irrational.
@@markhoffman9655 I have never understood the hatred some people have for M43. It seems petty and childish.
Reasons will vary, but I've seen similar "haters" in other areas (motorcycles, audio gear, etc.) and the majority seem to be trying to justify spending more and getting less. Every time I compare a current MFT camera with a fool-frame "equivalent" the MFT camera offers so much more whether it's the IBIS, the computational features, smaller system size, or lower price.
After Canon and Nikon joining the mirrorless world after years of decrying m43 mirrorless as being unusable to any real photographer who must have an old prehistoric SLR, many have purchased their mirrorless offerings and realised they had been missing some fantastic features of mirrorless for years and years. Then when looking more at other mirrorless cameras realise that Canon and Nikon still have some way to go in catching up yet. From what I see on UA-cam, a lot of Canon and Nikon users now buying used, old m34 equipment and raving about it, many will go on to buy new m43 gear.
and let's not forget that leica just released another dlux...
Yes, and it's apparently just an incremental upgrade - the kind that poor OM Systems gets all beat up about on UA-cam for doing. 😎
@@gregfeeler6910 =)
@@gregfeeler6910 true. It has the same innards as the D-Lux 7 from around 6 years ago but for Leica to put their brand identity alongside m4/3 says something. The target audience for all the D-Lux cameras is people who know nothing about sensors though.
Dead? Tell that to my Lumix GF1 and GX1, i only need another cheap lens.
it died though.
But the rise of smartphone cameras given rise to "whats better than camera phone, but lighter than canon 5d mk iii".
but i don't care, i keep buying doodads like Lumix G100 and (maybe) the last Lumix MFT, GH7, to see what the fuss about.
Pictures taken with MFT are dead, not a single one in the whole video.
Just someone talking of his frustrations.
Story of MFT.
Maitani. Old Olympus user.
Death of MFT is just click bait. Shortcomings for most creatives is not the camera.
I think OMD will be gone by 2026.
Bit of a straw man argument really...4/3's is statistically dead in the market.
Panasonic has 4.4% market share, including it's full frame line in that number.
OM-D barely even registers anymore.
That's called...dead.
Individual anecdotes are just that...anecdotes.
Not dead, but very far away from original concept. Seems the system has mostly given up on the budget and compact market ?
@timothykieper that seems largely to be true, and I, like many others, wish OM Digital Solutions would return to those roots.
It neither seems much alive !
Oh dont buy a7 2. Its a disaster camera! I had it. Awful.
@paulelisarov2576 thanks, which one should I buy?
@@dongummphotography I would recommed Nikon Z5 or Z6 or Z6 II, or Panasonic S5 if you need a low mp ff camera...
Sensor size discussions are for amateurs who feel insecure about their self worth. All sensors have pro and cons. And not even light gathering capabilities is a plus for, what they call nowadays, full frame sensors, because it requires two stops more light for them do achieve the same result as a mft sensor. Looking at noise levels of aperture adjusted noise levels of both(which means two stops higher ISO setting for ff), noise of mft will generally look equal if not even smoother than ff. And all that talk about shallow depth of field: it doesn't depend on sensor size either but solely on the fastest aperture of the lense you are using. If your mft lend is two stops faster than your ff lens, you will get the exact same dof. And if its even faster your dof will be shallower. So please stop all this nonsense off this fruitless effort of trying to pro up your little egos and go out there and take beautiful photographs
Back when Olympus was Olympus they always sold better in Japan than in other countries. Japan is not an indicator of worldwide sales. If it was, Olympus wouldn't have sold their camera division.
@johnwilde164 I didn't say it was an indicator of world wide sales. I said it was important to the people of OM Digital Solutions.
Don, I very much like this video as it points out that there are roads to commercial success in the digital camera market that don't require having a large market share. Leica has only 0.15% market share yet I don't hear anyone talking about them going out of business. According the the video linked below these are the top selling cameras as of February, 2024:
1. Nikon Zf
2. OM-1 Mark II
3. Sony a7C II
4. Leica Q3
5. Fujifilm X-T5
6. Nikon Z8i
7. Ricoh GR IIIx
8. Canon EOS R6 II
9. Fujifilm X100V
10. DJI Osmo Pocket 3
"My Photo Journey" ua-cam.com/video/aaOK94aELgk/v-deo.html.
Micro 4/3 has such a tiny market share that yes, essentially, micro 4/3 is indeed DEAD -