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Is there a way to "like" this a thousand times? A million? More people need to think about this. Stop chasing minor updates unless they will significantly change your every day photography!
I am still loving your 100% honest videos with true facts and no "Wow!!" moments. I completely agree with you. In the 2000's it seemed like every year was a "WOW" year with new models and drastic improvements but like you, I feel that we have reached the pinnacle for all practical purposes. I have an EM5mkii for knocking around day to day and some more local travel, and an EM1mkii for international travel (due to the 2 memory card slots) and am perfectly happy. I love Olympus/OM but I must confess somewhat sadly: I have never dropped one penny into their bottom line because all of my 3 lenses and 2 bodies were bought used. If other "photographer" youtubers were completely honest like you there would be less of them because there would not be any excitement that the new model has 800 focal points compared to the sad 650 points of the previous model. 🙄 I have learned that spending my money on travel and experiences as opposed to new equipment is what really makes me happy. Keep up the good work my friend.
Thank you very much for the kind comment. I have to admit that I do love new equipment and trying stuff out, but the best thing is to master what you have first. And as you've said - if you have to choose between gear and travel/shooting, the latter is always the better choice. Thank you very much once more, and best wishes, Thomas 📸
I love your style my brother! Your channel is very informative. You and Martin Castein are the reason I didn't rush to upgrade and actually stayed with my D750 and recently bought a second hand D610. I have dedicated more time to learning the intricacies of my camera. Thank you
This video should be required viewing before a person is allowed to view any camera reviews!!! I see the problem you describe all the time all over the Internet - people going to war over insignificant differences in specifications, and others condemning new products because they do not offer twice the performance at half the price of the prior model. What a breath of fresh air and sober truth. I think for many people it's much easier to expound strongly held, but uninformed, opinions about gear specifications than it is to go and work on their photography. Thank you!
I have never once looked at one of my prints and thought, that would have been a better photograph if my camera’s spec sheet had been more up-to-the-minute!
@@angeloplayforone Nice quote from Jobs, but doesn't apply in this situation. You are correct that we invest in camera systems, but you unless you have insider knowledge about why Olympus spun off it's camera division, then you are just recklessly throwing dispersions which helps nothing. And further, you make this crazy statement about OMDS and their camera introductions. I think they are on trac to convert the former Olympus line to OM System and then use the MFT format's small size advantages to further develop the "adventure camera" market. You seem to be very unhappy that OMDS has not released new cameras on your schedule. However, I think they are on their schedule so a bit more patience is called for.
@Focal_Paradox this is good point. Our phones receive free firmware updates. Cameras cost thousands of dollars (here in Australia) and then to pay for updates would be a farce. Majority of "updates" are bug fixes and these should be the duty of the manufacturer not on the consumer to pay for as the camera should always function as intended. OM System just released the OM-1 II and it has a handful of new features, some of which could be updated with firmware updates on the OM-1 however they are not passing this update to the OM-1. I think it is a bit shady doing this on a 2 year old camera. I don't like where the industry is heading....
Great rant about this kind of „problem“! Most hobbyists would be well off with simple (old?) entry level cameras. Too often, we get lost in all the advanced features our cameras have or lack and forget what learning photography is truly about: How we capture the moment. The camera is just a tool, a means to that end. Mastering it is necessary but only a small part of the equation.
Thank you very much for the comment! I completely agree - also, I get the impression that we often get a new camera without even having mastered the old one. It is a touchy subject, so thanks for the valuable input!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Indeed! Though for me it was rather that by beginning to master the new one, I started to realise how good the old one really is. Thanks for your kind reply!
I still haven't mastered my 5D Classic and have used it every day for a year. Mastering a fine camera is like a musician mastering their instrument. You are talking hundreds, maybe thousands of hours.. and once you've invested the time into mastering your instrument, why would you want to begin the process all over again by switching to another one?@@ThomasEisl.Photography
The one thing I disagree about you comment is that most people would be better of with a entry level camera. I always advice going atleast with a midrange camera, even if you need to get an older one. From my experience they are just built more reliable and to a bit higher standarts.
Very true Thomas, thanks. Dusted off my D200 last week, grabbed a couple of Ai lenses and went out for a shoot. Possibly just to hear the very purposeful shutter sound! I'm a slow paced landscape, nature type. In no way did I feel limited by the camera for the type of photography I was doing. Combine the D200 RAW images with the new features in Lightroom and the overall image quality was way more than good enough for A3+ prints, the largest I print. I'm a 75 year old from the wet darkroom days and still believe only a physical print completes the process.
An excellent video. The last point about getting to know how to use your camera is really the most important. So many times I`ve seen people upgrade their cameras expecting to get better image quality when it is their photography skills that need to improve. Thank you.
Thank you very much! I completely agree with your assessment. It is really about improving photography skills, not about getting the latest and greatest. Thanks again!
100% Correct!!! We live in an age of what I call "hype churn". Social media content providers and viewers drive high expectations such that fantastic older gear (some just a year or two old) is TRASHED by hype churn merchants as flawed, obsolete, or dead when in fact this older gear still takes amazing pictures.
Every time Olympus releases significant firmware upgrades it creates tremendous brand loyalty. My E-M1 Mk2 has benefited tremendously from this. ...and I still have my first good camera; an OM1n !
You’re so on point. The internet has been great for manufacturers but it has also been a nightmare. The UA-cam reviews only lead to driving consumer demand for the latest and greatest gear and gadget with less focus on developing ones skill.😮
Thank you very much for the feedback. I'd say it is also difficult for manufacturers. What some random people on the Internet think now greatly influences sales. If there is an online "shitstorm", a perfectly fine product becomes impossible to sell. Strange times!
But there are real world things that came out that OM-SYSTEM is definitely behind on such as subject detection. E-M1X came out with it but it never trickled down to the E-M1 Mark III that had a new processor, E-M10 Mark IV or OM-5. I am happy to see the OM-1 greatly improved thing and it should trickle down to the next OM-5. With that said, when I was considering having another camera brand and lens for birding, there are many things those cameras don't have that OM-SYSTEM does. Try to find a camera in the price range of the OM-5 that has Live ND, Live composite, focus stacking, customizable Pro-capture mode, Large buffer, UHS-II card slot, low rolling shutter and weather sealed. It's a hard thing to find so I would rather wait until I saved up for the OM-1 or the future OM-5 Mark II that has subject detection.
It is funny how people ask first, when they see a photo they like, "what model camera" I made the most income from a Canon A1 in the late 70s, I used it in my recording studio to take some snap shots during breaks or when seeing a producer and singer in serious talk in a darkened corner of the control room or and I would get them developed and pin them on the the notice board of each of the 3 studios. Those were often used on album liner notes or even covers, I did it for fun but if used by the album cover designer the royalties were substantial. I could do the recording over 3 months of daily work then mix and earn more from single candid snapshot on a gold or platinum selling about. No one asked about the camera model, sometimes about the lens fl. I retired from recording when digital came in because with digital copying suddenly record sales in the 90s dropped into the cellar. I retired the Canon A1, when I got my first digital, D90 Nikon and loved it, and started collecting lenses. The most valuable photo with that camera was of an UK cruise ship while hanging off the side of a friends helicopter. The cruise line used the photo for their glossy cruise catalog...12mpx crop sensor ....and used on the cover for 5 years. I later added a D7000 which was more featured but really did not change the images moving up to 16mpx. But adding 70-200 2.8 certainly helped portraits. The D800 was release with 36mpx was a notable improvement. The DR was much wider. When the D850 came out I bought that plus some lenses and had the best DSLR ever made but only the lenses made a difference. The DR was about the same, it was faster but I never shot burst, the AF was more advanced but the AF on any of the others never failed either, the low light was better better than the D800 by small amount but I was not in the habit shooting in the dark. Then I added a small camera when the Z6 came out. It was really nice...screwy AF that soon had updated firmware. It is so convenient and S lenses are so good, 80-90% of my commercial work(actor portfolios) is done with that little 24mpx camera. I have zero problems with it, and it goes everywhere with me and the D850 and D800 are backup cameras. if there is any advantage to the Z6 it is the excellent S lenses I have had no compelling reason to "upgrade". to the Z6 II, although the Z8 looks interesting. I am more concerned with light quality, subject pose and expression connection with the subject than pixel count or dynamic range. The MUA and lighting formulate are far more important in image quality. My friends who have to have the latest of everything and upgrade every 6 months and then switch brands due to a new feature never get results that would take center place over the fireplace or gallery room. When I constantly get asked what camera too the image they admire, I get tired of it, and just say the camera makes no difference, much to their frustration. There seems to be two separate hobbies, photos and hardware. Those who focus on hardware seldom create images worth noting. I have a girlfriend, a young accomplished actor who lead in 14 feature films, and female lead in 7th year in a tv police drama, and my partner in the side business of master classes for stage actors to transition to film. She has a mobile phone and due to her eye and creativity creates gallery worthy stills on her phone. The gear plays no part in her success as a photographer. Another woman I know is an artist, mostly in oils and the stories she tells in a single canvas is what the gear head photographers would never understand unless broken down into the mechanical steps to take a photo. I suggest photographers learn to visualize first, visit great art galleries and look at paintings from a distance and try to understand how the artist controlled your impressions.. Save money by not buying the latest cameras and instead use the money saved to visit museums/galleries, or take an art appreciation class. And ask by a early crop camera image camera was able to capture some very interesting valuable art.
Thank you very much for this comment - it is not a comment, it is a well-written essay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it multiple times, as I could not agree more. You are just spot on, and your extensive experiences in various creative industries are what backs your statements up. Thanks again for an amazing contribution. Best, Thomas
Thank you for this honest and informative post! I purchased the Nikon Fe2 and three Series E lenses in the mid-80’s and used them for 25 years. What amazes me today is it never occurred to me to upgrade or change anything. It wasn’t until I moved to digital that this started to occur. It’s unfortunate but true, the disposable economy thinking has trapped so many of us.
Thank you very much for the feedback and for sharing your experiences. The fun thing is: Although digital cameras are improving, there is really no need to constantly upgrade to the latest model. Even a 15 year old camera is good enough to get every job done - reliably.
I had this similar realisation recently. I had purchased a mirrorless camera (a6300) several years back convinced that DSLRs were a thing for the parents to bust out every once in a while. I ended up finding that while there were some cool features, it felt terrible to handle, and the lens & accessories ecosystem was so expensive for me being a photography student. I did some research, sold some gear to get a second hand D810 with 85mm + 50mm, flash included. I am loving the feel and involvement I get with DSLRs, and the 'old' tech works has forced me to think about my photos, instead of the camera doing the work for me. Personally, modern mirrorless cameras seem to be catching up to the same tech DSLRs had for decades, only more expensive now.
It really depends what you're shooting. For headshots or portraits, any DSLR made in the last 20 years is adequate, but if you're like me and primarily shoot motorsports, where a motorcycle is traveling around a corner at +100mph, and is within your frame/field of view for less than half a second, you really need a modern mirrorless camera with a really, REALLY good AI subject recognition and AF tracking. With my previous 5Dmk3 and EF lens I would shoot a burst of 20 pictures per vehicle pass, and with the DSLR's Servo AF, I'd maybe get 2-3 shots actually in focus out of the burst, usually not the one with the best compositions. With my R6mk2 and a native RF lens (that's an important distinction), I'll rattle off the same burst of 20 shots per pass, and almost always the entire 20 shots are perfectly in focus, even at f2.8. So instead of choosing which image is sharpest, I choose which composition works best for the shot. Modern mirrorless camera with subject tracking and modern lenses with linear focus motors are an absolute GAMECHANGER for us motorsport photographers, it's almost like cheating... Again, if I was primarily shooting landscapes or portraits, I'd probably still be contempt with my old gear...
Hi Thomas, I have to say, this is some of the best honest take on photography I have seen. I really appreciate the idea of being happy with what we have and stop focusing on spec-sheet comparisons. I might be Pentax user, but I honestly appreciate EVERY camera manufacturer. We are so fortunate to have so much competition and choice! Is there even a bad camera? No way!! I can still take absolutely stunning images with the Pentax K-7, that truly impress me. Sure, I appreciate the advances and high-iso capabilities of the K-1 Mark II... but the camera hasn't made me a better photographer. Getting to know my gear is what has advanced my techniques... And constantly using the same gear. I actually very much value how slow Pentax is at releasing new things. I've spent years and years with the same bodies and lenses and get to know them so well, that I could not imagine for a second to even get rid of any of them. Unlike a computer I feel I need to keep up to date every few years to keep up with video games, my camera feels like a very long-term commitment; when I have purchased a new model, it was already a few years old and more out of curiosity and luxury. I still keep my old cameras, because I know I enjoy them just as much. As a hobbyist, I could not be happier with the choice we have and how easy it is to enjoy our hobby, and to me, that is all that matters. Not the spec sheet! Thank you for such a direct and honest video!!
Thank you very much for sharing that. I'm currently working with the 645Z, and I am also very happy with the Pentax product philosophy that you have described perfectly. And just like you, I also appreciate what other manufacturers are doing. Pentax is really awesome, though! Thanks again for the balanced contribution, I very much appreciate that!
Great Video Thomas. I've been shooting the D3S & D3X since 2019 and they are fabulous. I've just bought a used Z6 in Nov 2023 to try out mirrorless. It does some things better and it's smaller, but overall, I don't like it more (or even as much as) my D3 series bodies.
Problem is though when certain cameras like the z6ii don’t do what they are advertised they can do. Like subject tracking. It still doesn’t work well. It jumps off onto background on moving subjects every time. Face recognition and eye detect works only part of the time. Especially when there is low contrast in the scene.
The big problem with manufacturers is that the camera industry has advanced 1.5 times in 10 years, and the mobile phone industry at least ten times and not just on the software side, even more on the hardware side. The next problem is that the whole camera industry is shrouded in mysticism, no one knows when the next model will appear and that is the main reason why people jump ship. Example..if OM System releases a proper camera and lens roadmap all while listening to their customers(like Fuji does) no one would leave the system. As things stand, more and more M4/3 owner are either buying into a new system or they're using muktiple systems.
Very well said Thomas! Always wanted an F3, went the F4S route instead. Then went the route so see if my "photography" would improve going to the D4S, D500, D750 and big lenses. In the end, sold all my camera stuff except my OMD kit which is very extensive. If I can't make awesome photos with that, might as well get out of the game. I'm enjoying very much both my EM1Xs, and the EM1 Mkiii for my landscape, astro, and wildlife adventures. Cheers!
Pleasant surprise, a very different analysis than what we usually see. I think that in most of the products we have we are not aware of the work behind the engineers, nor the real possibilities it offers. Thank you for your approach, with an objective criterion and the result of study and analysis. Congratulations for these magnificent, educational and well-explained videos.
Wow, Thomas. Not only a really good video but you live in a beautiful city. I was there for my second trip earlier this year. Today was my first visit to your channel and it will certainly not be my last. Great stuff.
I spoke to OG Street photographers in the Philippines with 6mp Canon and 7mp Nilon dslrs and they have been in business since 1975 and 1983 and the pictures from these cameras are still feeding their families. These guys are so lucky to have these old dslrs that were built like tanks and still operate today.they seamlessly operate these cameras and are true professionals. They look at my new mirrorless camera and while they appreciate that mine is technically more advanced auto everything I also know that they would blow me away if we were to enter a photography contest even with my advanced camera. So they are forced to use what they have and be the photographer and not like most people who want their camera to be the photographer. Thanks for the video and now that I no longer have a large disposable income I like them will learn to master the art of photography and not the art of investigating spec sheets and customer reviews
Thank you very much for sharing all of this. Although I read the comment very early on, I delayed my reply as I had to think about it. Another reason why the photographers you've mentioned just get the job done is why they truly know their cameras. We switch too often and don't really learn to master the tools we have, which is a pitty. As long as you have a digital camera of a certain level, you are fine. Even a 20 year old DSLR can get the job done, if you are able to get the job done, just as you've said. Thank you very much for the contribution. Best, Thomas
Thanks again for a no nonsense video. To me the main improvement in modern cameras is fps. For bird photography it makes a huge difference for skittish small birds or birds in flight. Second is reach, and for me as a walk around and shoot septuagenarian weight is also important. That’s why I am considering the OM-1 and 100-400 lens. It offers some nice additional features but those three are what’s important to me. Sony have deserted the a7iv after two years and no light long lenses in the pipeline. As an aside just wait and see how many great pictures there will be of birds taking off as pro capture finds its way across the brands. It will become ho-hum.
Thank you very much Tony! I agree, increased FPS with a camera like the OM-1 can be really useful for birding, as well as reach. As you've mentioned the Sony, the problem is that a big sensor requires a certain "lens size" - there is no free lunch, unfortunately. Thanks for the contribution. Best, Thomas
Fantastic video!! Finally someone addresses the craziness surrounding the latest and greatest camera UA-cam videos and why you should run out and buy one. Those videos are loaded with model features and specs that will not make you a better photographer, just make you poorer. Back in the late 90's and early 2000's the thing to buy was stereo speakers..... until nobody could tell the difference between the older models and newer models except for the price. Same thing has happened to cameras. Reasons given by crazy UA-cam channels to upgrade are just not needed. Thanks for posting this video!
Hello Thomas, Jose from Puerto Rico. I was hoping you were going to mention something about the OM-1 system camera you had on your desk, but I guess you basically did with your analysis. This is why I enjoy your tutorials and reviews; no fluff, just hard facts. This is why I enjoy my OM-1 system camera and learned to appreciate it even more with all the tutorials you've made, covering all aspects of its functionality. I've noticed how the bigger companies are adopting features similar to what the OM-1 brought to the table, like the pre-buffering of a shot until you finally commit taking it. Nikon included that feature in their latest firmware. The service for us photographers that you provide in your channel is invaluable, thanks again.
Your observations are spot on! And I completely agree - the OM-1 is just great. Never ceases to amaze me as well. Thanks for the exceptionally kind feedback, that is just awesome. Always cool to hear from you. Best wishes from Vienna to you, Jose!
Great Video Thomas, Thanks. We live in a world of high R&D costs, small incremental improvements and diminishing returns; this is good for photography as we don't need to spend our valuable time and money researching and acquiring expensive gear.
Hi Thomas, What a great episode ! It really puts in perspective the sense and nonsense in the camera market and the way we are often duped into taking questionable decisions. So thanks for that. Thanks also for an extremely informative and enjoyable program !!
You're totally spot on here, Thomas. Over the past few years all the improvements are just small incremental changes. Even the removal of the mechanical shutter by Nikon on the Z9 or the launch of a global shutter by Sony are simply technological advancements, not photographic improvements. They do not bring about any improvements in colour science, dynamic range, etc. Amongst the cameras that I own, I still regularly use a Nikon D200 that I purchased way back in 2006 (I think). Processed correctly and using the appropriate lenses this "ancient" camera produces images that still delivers what I need.
I am surprised that camera manufacturers haven't tried the subscription model for firmware updates and new features. All of the equipment my company sells use this; the hardware comes with a good set of features and if the customer wants the advanced stuff, they buy a license subscription.
Great video as usual and you´ve said it at the end: improve your photography! I´m just learning flash photography with my OM-1 after spending days on the customisation of the body. It is a job in itself to memorize which features I have assigned to which function buttons and I even needed two of the C-settings to find room for all of them. Depending on how much time one has, it will take weeks or months to master all of them. I have not even tried the live ND filters yet, not to mention all the live composite options. I see tons of tech reviews and a bit on the philosophy around taking pictures, but I would love to see more artistic explanations on actual photographs, not only how they were created technically but why and with what emotions they were created and how the photo manages to convey these emotions to the viewer. Or some really cool stuff. For instance, it would be great to see more videos on the light painting art by Hanno Huhtamo. Mind-boggling skill! And what about the multiple exposures? Super cool feature, allowing so much artistic expression. I never see anyone talking about that, except for Daniel Milnor once, who shot an entire project in Albania using that technique. And then there are all the ART filters, each of which can be tweaked to your liking in terms of contrast, saturation, etc., etc. Never see anyone talking about that either, but that´s where one's artistic creativity can find additional room. I programmed six film simulations into my Pen-F and in total there is room for up to 15 color film simulations and 15 B&W film simulations in that body, allowing for extensive adjustments to one´s personal taste. Even the OM-1 does not have that. Terribly more complex than Fuji's defaults and only 0,0001% of photographers will care, but that´s another camera, which got poor reviews, because reviewers focussed on the sub-par C-AF and the fact that the front knob was not freely programmable instead of diving into the incredible artistic freedom that this camera provides, which is further underpinned by the many options for photo collages under the C3 setting, also lacking on the OM-1. But all this takes time and effort and of course it's far easier to demand Sony-esque C-AF and global shutters for all future entry-level cameras, instead of practicing until one can actually explain the real magic that lies under the hood of a particular camera and how to use it to create artistically noteworthy pictures. I fully understand that this is not the purpose of the average camera review and that we need concise reviews, too, but it still would be nice, if UA-cam suggested more fascinating photography content, including the creation of documentaries, so that the average UA-cam photo hobbyist gets more easily exposed to what makes photography so beautiful. Happy shooting! :)
I purchased both my Z6 and OM1 one year after their initial release dates. I can’t see myself wanting or needing another camera body for at least the next decade. My approach to photography is radically changing anyway and I believe most of what I enjoy and do now can be accomplished with an iPhone and a Ricoh GR variant.
Interesting. I am drifting towards the iPhone for wide angles and my “real” camera for portrait and longer focal length. Both require learning how to use the tools.
I was caught up in the vacume of the demise of analog in '99. After 19 years shooting as a working pro, and having now to dump all my equipment for an entire new technology, I semi-retired as a CPP with the PPA, I moved into photo sales. Seeing all the equipment coming down the pipe, my head would spin as it seemed like every year a new camera was introduced. Higher megs, iso, and other fearures. At a point, you max out on what to add. In my prime, we never chased equipment like the photogs of today and thats because they are so tied to technology and how it controls them. You do reach a point of...where can we now take our camera to try and monopolize the industry...for 6 months. I have two D7000 and I love them for what I do now. Now its mirrorless. Where will that end, photographers bringing 19in screens in the field so they can see better??100,000 iso?? The only upgrade Im going to do is a digital back for my medium format camera. Spend your money on lighting. The key to photography.
Thank you very much for a very valuable contribution - I hope many will learn from the experiences you shared here. I just did - and I completely agree with what you wrote. Thanks a lot!
You made some really important points here. The craziness of youtube equipment reviewers staggers the imagination. I don't know how often I heard that Nikon was dead and close to economic collapse. Every new camera by 1 manufacturer then the reviewers scream that other brands are dead. I think your "in reality" vs "spec sheet" is key.
Very good analysis. The OM-1 mk2 is now going through the same "lackluster upgrade" criticism, with the same accusations. Primarily, what I've heard the most is "why didn't they just add this small handful of features in a firmware upgrade?" The reality is that despite the fact the the feature upgrades seem minor, the internal processing power of the camera has increased significantly and some of the features are not possible with the older processor. That is all hidden and most people don't think of it. Regarding technological development, one thing I like about Olympus (now OM Digital Solutions) is that they are not only incorporating typical improvements that other camera brands have done, but also branching out in the direction of computational features much more than other manufacturers, and most of these features have proven useful to me, though there are probably people who have not found them useful.
Perfect summary of a problem that spans way outside photography. The best example would be the smartphone market: every year, there are new models introduced, that realistically don't offer any real improvement. We, as consumers, have been conditioned to treat hardware products as consumables - to be thrown away when a new shiny thing shows up. I really hope more people will break out of this cycle.
The Nikon F3 underwent dozens of optional upgrades in the 20 years it was in production. And the photographer who purchased it in 1980 got the benefit of all those changes. But they were not done by Nikon, they were done by Kodak, Fuji, Afga, and Ilford.
Thanks for sharing your perspective (which I fully share). I'm still using my 7 or 8 year old EM5MII (yesterday a dial wheel broke 😢). As it still takes good photos I'm considering getting it repaired again although having an OM-1. However - the market is different and demanding always new features to justify buying the new model. The times of 20 years long product cycles are over and companies which are not delivering will vanish soon. If you are right that cameras are basically at the end of development - we will soon see more manufacturers to leave the market. Will we take better pictures with the top notch featured gear? No, most likely not, but we may still have a vendor for our favorite system.
Thank you very much! Finally an expert who exposed the hypes. I never use about 90% of the menu. I don’t know if my camera has very high ISO and low noise. Should I ever need it and the results are less than I expected, I can try modern post work. If that is not good enough, I will say in your language: Na und! Obviously, high ISO with low noise is hardly needed for me. I love my Leica M more each year. No tele, no zoom, real close-ups, pol filters, bad flash sync, etc. But easy and compact for my style of photography. So I get more shoots that I like and accept that I miss a few. Sometimes, I think it is greed and or snobbiness to collect as many features as possible.
Thank you very much for sharing your perspective - I completely agree. If I may add: 1) I never really understood the low noise fetish, I think it is perfectly fine for an image to show some structure. 2) As you implied, if one already does not need 90% of what is there, then why upgrade for another feature/number on the spec sheet. I would assume that most people who pretend to need certain things actually don't but are not honest enough to admit it. So, thanks again for an excellent contribution.
Great video! Same thing with computers. Remember the times when we had to buy a new computer every second year because it would be so slow with the new Windows version. Today a 10 year old computer runs really good.
I like your approach this was an Eye opener as I was the worst about always upgrading to the new model as for the most part you are right with few exceptions
"How I stopped worrying and learned to love my camera." Yes!! (And the Dr. Strangelove reference is delightful.) As one of the other commenters says, I wish I could upvote this a million times.
First, you could get a movie part as Lenin. But that aside, FINALLY, I MEAN FINALLY a voice of reason in the deafening noise. Between the lines, you are saying it's not the tech but the human being behind the camera that is 95% of the result. And, the reality of it is of course MONEY. You have to hand it to the camera manufacturers for creating a mass psychological "need" to get the latest and greatest (a disease called GAS) using corporate "shills" on camera review sites. Good photography and yes videography comes from good photographers, regardless of the machine making the image. Reviewer in the UK, Kai, once gave a cheap point and shoot toy camera to a professional street photographer friend and asked him to go shoot for a couple hours with it. He came back with photo's that could be exhibited in a major art museum. Why? HE knew what he was doing. He didn't have the latest and greatest. He had skill, experience, and most importantly a trained and creative EYE. I salute you Mr. Lenin, er I mean Thomas in Austria. I've watched thousands of hours of camera reviews. They can be entertaining but I take them with a grain of salt. Your analysis is SPOT ON. Finally I have a Pentax K3. I've yet to see any major camera reviewer give Pentax any love, at all. It's kind of a laughingstock foil. I'm no Pentax fanboy, but it's finally music to my ears to hear someone say, damn, Pentax (for stills) can be amazing, rivaling the big boys. Thomas in Europe. THE VOICE OF REALITY AND REASON, sir. Glad I stumbled on you. Keep it up, and best of luck you can dent the internet grip of corporations whose job it is to keep us buying things. As they say the best camera is the one you got with you. best, from America, Marty Sender You Tube. THUMBS WAY UP.
Thank you so much for your extensive comment and fun Lenin reference haha It took me a while to answer, sorry for that. Personally, I never really understood when people where ridiculing one company or another. I rather examine the camera and try to understand why the engineers designed it the way they did. Then, it is quite easy to figure out if the camera is for you or not. Thanks again for the very positive, encouraging comment, comrade (that was Lenin talking), but seriously, I very much appreciate your input and I will try my best to live up to that. Best from Vienna, Thomas PS: Pentax is really awesome.
An excellent contribution to the 'firmware' discussion, Thomas. I own an OM1 and I have wondered about the lack of updates, but the truth is I only use a small percentage of what the camera is capable of anyway. After your wise words I'll just relax and enjoy what I already have, a very good camera! Thanks for your work.
Thanks! The OM-1 is already a very complete camera feature-wise so we are both on the same page here. Sit back, relax and enjoy what is one of the best cameras ever made.
I agree with a lot of the video. For me and my photography, mostly sports often involving hours of moving around with a lot of gear, relatively new cameras have been a big leap from my old gear. I spend most of the day on my feet with a couple bodies, several lenses, flashes, batteries, and of course water and a snack. Mirrorless cameras and lenses have knocked a few pounds off my bag and given my arms a break from curling my old Canon 7dii and a 70-200, or 400mm lens (I’m not in my 50s anymore and appreciate the difference). Also, modern AF tracking blows old gear out of the water. These have helped ME but if I was photographing (more) weddings or street, I wouldn’t realize the benefit nearly as much, and likely find them not worth the added $$$.
When it comes to hobbies - nothing is "black or white". There are many shades of grey in between. And then - some are into "visual art", creating pictures that will remain memories for a lifetime, and then there are those who are into cameras. The look and feel, the opportunity to talk with friends about it, and to some - the prestige value some of the high-end cameras provide.
Ok, but when you consider the large amount of features added to Canon cameras through the hard effort of open source software developers on CHDK and Magic Lantern, for example adding raw support to cameras that didn't have it, extra, higher video modes, raw video, motion trigger, hdr, etc, etc, then consider that these are just applying open-source software, and often just removing software limitations applied by the camera makers, then it is very hard not to interpret that as deliberate action of the camera maker to deny easy features simply to get you to buy another camera. One continual gripe I have is cameras that have no timelapse. Maybe they can shoot 4K, like the hx99, but no timelapse? Timelapse is such an easy thing to implement, all you need is a timer to trigger a photo, and a screen to configure interval and total photo count. There is no hardware upgrades required. Previous models even supported it, so it is a removed feature. To get timelapse, you have to buy an intervalometer, and sometimes they even stopped making them, so you have to use a competitor's one. Even the remote control app doesn't have an intervalometer. Confusing. There are many cases with other features, such as slow motion. One camera supports 960fps, the next camera after it, with a better, faster sensor, and faster cpu, only supports 120fps. Why?
The problem is that economies are built on consumers buying products. That's also how businesses make profits. The problem is, as you say, that consumers will not spend large amounts of money on marginal improvements in performance. As for firmware/feature updates. if there are issues that need fixing for the camera to work as advertised, then the manufacturer should foot the bill. If new features are added, which were no originally advertised, then I think it's reasonable for the consumer to pay a modest fee for such feature upgrades. Nowadays, I get a lot of enjoyment out of snapping up old cameras and exploring what they can do. I picked up a mint Nikon D200, with only 14k shutter count, a couple of days ago and I am having a lot of fun seeing just what I can get it to do.
Thanks for your valuable and comprehensive contribution! That is very much appreciated. Yes, "old" cameras like the D200 are great fun and definitely get the job done if you know what you are doing!
Excellent thoughts as usual on the 'dangers' of over expectation or 'falling for the hype'. Just a funny closing note (on your closing note) See (c) you (u) next time could be taken the wrong way, if you know what I mean 😀
@@ThomasEisl.Photography It's probably just me Thomas, as a result of work related quips and all that! Just try not to think of that every time you close out a new item!
Cameras have been IMPRESSIVE for the last several years. Prior to that there was a lack of innovation for 10 years, but not now... all the cameras mentioned are Gen 1-1.5 of the DSLR-Mirrorless conversion.. ie: growing pains. Nikon has been releasing AMAZING firmware upgrades for Z9 for some time, pretty much re-inventing the hardware.
Thanks Thomas, I enjoyed that Video, I watched the whole thing to the end because i spotted the Olympus TG-7 out on your left, I recently bought a TG-6 and felt there were some features that could be fixed in a firmware upgrade, manual mode would be 1 and auto exposure bracketing another, a brighter LCD screen might be a bridge to far? I assume you might do a Vlog to the TG-7? PS new sub!!
Hey there and thanks for watching & subscribing, also for sharing your thoughts on the TG series. The good news is that there is not only a vlog on the 7 but a whole series of videos: ua-cam.com/play/PLZRn8MP41XncQKAaMjAZROQYQ6CSpxovS.html&si=5JM51cmTZJBN_fnv Let me know what you think! Best, Thomas
My only issue is this, do I think a company should support 10 year old cameras with firmware updates forever no I do not. However if you pay for a top tier camera i.e. Nikon Z9, Sony a9 III etc., and and a couple of months later come out with firmware update that is 150.00 I do have an issue with that. How long should they support free firmware updates I am not sure but I would say for at least three years. You did bring up Adobe (remember Adobe used to do this; but change their business model so that they can rake in much more money). Sort of remind of that car company that wants to you pay a subscription fee to heat your seats. However I did very much enjoy this video!
It is so good to hear your comments. I've thought this for years. I look back at photos taken with my D7000 and they look great My D5000 was far less than my D7000. My Z8 is great but looking at the actual photos, the D7000 still stands up today for image quality. Z8 has more mega-pixels, but for my needs, I use them to crop in for effective zooming.. I noticed a little improvement from my D610 to the D750 in dynamic range Camera's were really good 10 years ago I will keep the Z8 for improved focus speed for a long time. If focus speed gets faster or we move to a Nikon global shutter, I will not jump. The Z8 will work until I kick the bucket.
Excellent idea, thanks for sharing. I would also say that a global shutter is not really needed and it comes with a few disadvantages. It is much like with the Z8/9 and the OM-1: the readout speed costs a bit IQ - global shutter costs you even more, with practically no tangible benefit except in corner cases. Best, Thomas 📸
Thanks Bob! Regarding the TG-7, it is definitely worth a try, in my opinion. Design-wise, the camera was meant to cover exactly those situations. Of course, you can't get OM-5-level performance, but in my opinion and experience, the TG-7 definitely is capable enough. I even did some model shoots with it, much to the surprise of my subjects. I'd say you can't really go wrong with the TG, it is always nice to have an indestructible outdoor camera. Hope this helps!
Generally agree for lackluster updates. But a few brands do just need to wake up like Panasonic is really gotten so far behind in auto focus realm and are finally just starting to release PDAF cameras, even though they’ve offered amazing video modes still put them way behind for those of us who use and enjoy highly accurate auto focus, that Sony and canon, and to a lesser degree Nikon have enjoyed for several years now. Also, Olympus not having any other video line to potentially put at risk should really be making cameras that offer everything but the kitchen sink in them regarding video and photo capabilities to make their products a no-brainer. Their m1x was such a camera that at the time could have spiritually been a m4/3 Nikon z9 equivalent. I would definitely buy Olympus if they didn’t seem to hobble their bodies.
Thanks for contributing! Om System does not hobble their bodies. The OM-1 is rightly considered a compact Z9 (with more features than the Nikon, I'd like to add). Best, Thomas 📸
Just because it’s a new camera doesn’t mean it’s the best camera. The prices for the new cameras are like a house payment! I am still using my Nikon D7000, F5,F100 and a few 50+ year old F bodies. No updates required and I am very happy.
Although I understand the manufacturer's side of things, I completely agree with what you stated. Working with an "old" camera is perfectly fine. The results are virtually indistinguishable in practice.
Thank you! I have no video on the Q3 yet - it is definitely an excellent photographic tool. I would also consider the predecessors, for example the Q1. Personally, I prefer less resolution as it produces smaller files. Hope this helps!
Very true! And as we all know, the consumer is also part of the problem: "Oh it is already a year old, so it is definitely old tech and should be heavily discounted."
@@ThomasEisl.PhotographyMost camera consumers are like chipmunks. Just throw some peanuts on the ground and they run towards you like they haven't had lunch for weeks.😅😅
As a Nikon User, I saw dramatic improvement in image sensors from 2004 to 2012 when I went through the D70, D200, D300 and finally the D800. I waited until 2018 to upgrade to the D850. My old D800 was plenty capable to produce quality images with great dynamic range, but 8 years of development did show significant improvements particularly in auto focus. I find my self migrating to mirrorless now not really for the improvements in auto focus or video performance, as my D850 was plenty capable there for my needs. The one area that compels me to upgrade is the weight savings of the newer gear. I’m 70 now and I find I just can’t carry the heavier DSLR body and lenses on my landscape photo treks anymore.
I dont know about the other brands, but I think Olympus made a somewhat strange choice in their release schedule. I think the OM-5 would have been praised at release, if it had been released at the time of the OM-1 and with a few hardware tweaks over the EM-5MkIII (mainly the USB C), with the OM-1 being released a bit later with all the new bells and whistles. As their release schedule was as it was, there where little to no carry over from the top tier camera into the second tier one, which instead drew on a more "dated" model and that is not what people expect.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! As you've said, there was a bit of unjustified controversy when the 5 was released, maybe because of the reasons you highighted! My next video on the OM-5 will most likely put some things into perspective. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one when it is released!
I'm finding that as I learn more about my Fujifilm H2S that I've no need for the video specs which were a big part of my reason for buying it, for instance the size of the video files it can produce are unworkably huge for me.
Of course, your Fuji is a spectacular tool, but I can totally relate to your experiences. Most stuff sounds way better on the spec sheet than it actually is in real life. Thanks for sharing!
The hectic mess of everything today lead me to buy a Mamiya 6 recently. It is fun getting back to some basic shooting. Yes, I do also use a digital camera. Thanks for the video.
Tech is great and all that, but I'd rather have an old school dslr and good composition skills, than I would the latest and greatest technology and "spray and pray" skills with composition. After getting a basic kit, I'm spending my money on classes. I've seen on two occasions this: that the greatest leap in terms of technology occur sometime between the first and the second model of a series. Canon's 5D Mk1 and Mk2 as well as Fuji's xtransII and xtransIII sensor models are an example of this. In both cases, these were huge improvements over the first series, and everything after that was gradual.
Eisl nails it. Digital cameras are a mature technology, and improvements come in incremental stages. I'm really frustrated with fan sites, full of trolling and whining. They want the moon when all they can afford is a stairway.
Little improvements can be big improvements. I use cameras 5 sometimes 6 days per week for 6 hours the whole year. Any little improvements that can speed up the work on location or processing images at home are worth getting that upgrade. Gear and software. Time is money for me. So that is always the question for me. Does it make my jobs easier and faster? Not just the end result of the final images.
I agree Thomas. For example, I have an Olympus OM-D EM5 mk3. Along comes the OM5, Hmmmm...looks nice, I shall consider this camera......err...hang on...what's the difference. `answer is that there are some nice improvements, but certainly not enough to make me sell one and buy the other. On the other hand, I have bought a TG7, but not having a TG6 already, the minor increase in cost of the 7 against the 6, wasn't an issue in order to get a newer release. Therefore, getting a later model over an older model may have some advantages, but probably not enough to justify an expensive upgrade from an earlier model, at least the immediately previous one I should add. Buying a newer model initiallyover the previous version, well thats another matter. Love your vids.
Thank you very much for sharing your point of view - I completely agree with what you wrote. It is very important to evaluate the product from the two perspectives you brought up: From a person's perspective who already has the very similar predecessor and from the perspective of one who does not own the predecessor yet. What you brought up here was actually one of the ideas behind this video. Thanks again for contributing!
Great word Thomas, I would say that are no bad cameras out there. A pro could take a 5D VII with a kit lens and kick butt over a noob that has the R5 and a 28-70 F2 lens. Gear ,gear ,gear is shoved down our throats and we open wide. 100 Megapixel, IBS ,AF ,IS, eye detect, animal eye detect, 120 frames per second, dual card slots, Auto AF ,servo AF. and on and on. This trying to keeping up the Canon's , the Fuji's, Nikons and let's not forget the Sony's can drive a person mad! An American writer ,Mark Twain once said, a man who has room full of books and never reads them is no better than a man who can't read. The same could be said about someone who has all the latest gear enough to fill a room but has no skills, yes skills in composition, camera settings and lastly ,what are going to do with your camera. Hopefully not just family gatherings, Christmas time ,snap shots etc. The smart phones do that remarkably well. We should use what we have , Develop our skills and hone them. The camera will process the image but it is up to us create the image!
Greg, thank you very much for your comment. It was a pleasure to read and completely on point, in my opinion. Manufacturers have to sell stuff, and that is ok. But one should never fall into the trap thinking that the new camera is the one that you have to buy to take photos. It is just not true, as you've said. Even the keeping up with the latest and greatest is just tiring. Thanks again. Best, Thomas 📸
That's a pretty sound analysis. I think manufacturers are indeed obligated to provide free firmware updates, for bug fixes, but I'd happily pay a reasonable fee for a firmware update that provided new features.
Great video and reality check. One relatively 'simple' upgrade is to put a faster (next generation) processor in the next camera model. We see the same with smartphones. This enables more sophisticated software and faster processing. Clear example of this is the handheld hi-res shot mode (of Olympus/OM-system). The speed improvement from the EM-1 mark 3 to OM-1 was significant (3x faster), making the HHHR mode much more practical/useful. Further speed improvement of HHHR shooting would be welcome, as well as some algorithm improvements (e.g. motion compensation, as with Panasonic).
I jumped off the camera industry merry-go-round. I have an a7rV and an M10 Monochrom, and they will be my only cameras going forward until I pass away.
I think a good example are the Nikon Z6/7 II. Through firmware updates the Z6 and Z7 got to almost the same level as their successors, giving them the same features and performance, at least when it comes to the autofocus, seems to be kind of on the same level now. Sure you can't upgrade the card slots through software updates but when it comes to using them they are extremely close. I don't regret buying my Z7II. Yes, a Z8 would have been better but I didn't want to spend that much *and* I got my Z7II at a great price. AF performance is better than my previous Z50 and 10fps is enough for me as well. It just feels like a pretty half-arsed upgrade from the original Z7. Especially when we look at the firmware updates Nikon has provided so far. Or rather the lack thereof...
I think that is a very valid example - thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Maybe there is a hardware limitation in regards of processing power - but I'm not very familiar with the hardware details of the Z cameras. I've only had the Z7II for a short period.
@@ThomasEisl.Photography The limitation is probably the sensor. It has a pretty slow readout speed, especially compared to the Z8 and Z9 with their stacked sensor. A faster sensor enables more AF calculations per second.
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You need to call this "The New Scam Dilemma" because even a smartphone from 2016 has a global shutter.
@@Smarthalayla I believe you are confusing electronic shutter with global shutter.
Good to see sober realism about digital photography. Internet sorely lacking in this. Thanks
Thank you very much for the feedback!
Is there a way to "like" this a thousand times? A million? More people need to think about this. Stop chasing minor updates unless they will significantly change your every day photography!
Thank you very much!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography You do realize you appeal to the 0.002% of UA-cam viewers whose lexica exceed 100 words.
@@jimjones-pz1tt I gotta' find out where you sign up to get access to this kind of data. Really - what is the point of a comment like that? Peace.
Those are being pushed by the 'influencers' to boost camera sales. As if anyone needs 8K video today...
I am still loving your 100% honest videos with true facts and no "Wow!!" moments. I completely agree with you. In the 2000's it seemed like every year was a "WOW" year with new models and drastic improvements but like you, I feel that we have reached the pinnacle for all practical purposes. I have an EM5mkii for knocking around day to day and some more local travel, and an EM1mkii for international travel (due to the 2 memory card slots) and am perfectly happy. I love Olympus/OM but I must confess somewhat sadly: I have never dropped one penny into their bottom line because all of my 3 lenses and 2 bodies were bought used. If other "photographer" youtubers were completely honest like you there would be less of them because there would not be any excitement that the new model has 800 focal points compared to the sad 650 points of the previous model. 🙄 I have learned that spending my money on travel and experiences as opposed to new equipment is what really makes me happy. Keep up the good work my friend.
Thank you very much for the kind comment. I have to admit that I do love new equipment and trying stuff out, but the best thing is to master what you have first. And as you've said - if you have to choose between gear and travel/shooting, the latter is always the better choice. Thank you very much once more, and best wishes, Thomas 📸
I love your style my brother! Your channel is very informative. You and Martin Castein are the reason I didn't rush to upgrade and actually stayed with my D750 and recently bought a second hand D610. I have dedicated more time to learning the intricacies of my camera. Thank you
That is great to hear - many thanks!
Martin has awesome content, I also like watching his videos. And yes, your D750 is just outstanding!
This video should be required viewing before a person is allowed to view any camera reviews!!! I see the problem you describe all the time all over the Internet - people going to war over insignificant differences in specifications, and others condemning new products because they do not offer twice the performance at half the price of the prior model. What a breath of fresh air and sober truth. I think for many people it's much easier to expound strongly held, but uninformed, opinions about gear specifications than it is to go and work on their photography. Thank you!
I have never once looked at one of my prints and thought, that would have been a better photograph if my camera’s spec sheet had been more up-to-the-minute!
@@angeloplayforone Nice quote from Jobs, but doesn't apply in this situation. You are correct that we invest in camera systems, but you unless you have insider knowledge about why Olympus spun off it's camera division, then you are just recklessly throwing dispersions which helps nothing. And further, you make this crazy statement about OMDS and their camera introductions. I think they are on trac to convert the former Olympus line to OM System and then use the MFT format's small size advantages to further develop the "adventure camera" market. You seem to be very unhappy that OMDS has not released new cameras on your schedule. However, I think they are on their schedule so a bit more patience is called for.
Thank you very much!
I would be willing to pay firmware updates at a modest cost of they added new value features
Yes, same - I would also love to get a camera that is able to receive a hardware update like the Pentax K-1.
Yes, very good point. I'd be willing to pay for a hardware update, though
Sure, but im not paying for bug fixes, those should be done by the company producing the product as we already paid for a working product.
@Focal_Paradox this is good point. Our phones receive free firmware updates. Cameras cost thousands of dollars (here in Australia) and then to pay for updates would be a farce.
Majority of "updates" are bug fixes and these should be the duty of the manufacturer not on the consumer to pay for as the camera should always function as intended.
OM System just released the OM-1 II and it has a handful of new features, some of which could be updated with firmware updates on the OM-1 however they are not passing this update to the OM-1. I think it is a bit shady doing this on a 2 year old camera.
I don't like where the industry is heading....
Great rant about this kind of „problem“! Most hobbyists would be well off with simple (old?) entry level cameras. Too often, we get lost in all the advanced features our cameras have or lack and forget what learning photography is truly about: How we capture the moment. The camera is just a tool, a means to that end. Mastering it is necessary but only a small part of the equation.
Thank you very much for the comment!
I completely agree - also, I get the impression that we often get a new camera without even having mastered the old one. It is a touchy subject, so thanks for the valuable input!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Indeed! Though for me it was rather that by beginning to master the new one, I started to realise how good the old one really is. Thanks for your kind reply!
I still haven't mastered my 5D Classic and have used it every day for a year. Mastering a fine camera is like a musician mastering their instrument. You are talking hundreds, maybe thousands of hours.. and once you've invested the time into mastering your instrument, why would you want to begin the process all over again by switching to another one?@@ThomasEisl.Photography
The one thing I disagree about you comment is that most people would be better of with a entry level camera. I always advice going atleast with a midrange camera, even if you need to get an older one. From my experience they are just built more reliable and to a bit higher standarts.
Very true Thomas, thanks. Dusted off my D200 last week, grabbed a couple of Ai lenses and went out for a shoot. Possibly just to hear the very purposeful shutter sound! I'm a slow paced landscape, nature type. In no way did I feel limited by the camera for the type of photography I was doing. Combine the D200 RAW images with the new features in Lightroom and the overall image quality was way more than good enough for A3+ prints, the largest I print. I'm a 75 year old from the wet darkroom days and still believe only a physical print completes the process.
Ich stimme dir zu 100% zu. Erst wenn das Bild an der Wand hängt ist das Foto fertig! Und an den Wänden wird durchgewechselt.
I did exactly the same as you did. Deja'vo!
Thank you very much sharing that! Completely agree. And btw, the D200 is awesome!
An excellent video. The last point about getting to know how to use your camera is really the most important. So many times I`ve seen people upgrade their cameras expecting to get better image quality when it is their photography skills that need to improve. Thank you.
Thank you very much! I completely agree with your assessment. It is really about improving photography skills, not about getting the latest and greatest. Thanks again!
100% Correct!!!
We live in an age of what I call "hype churn". Social media content providers and viewers drive high expectations such that fantastic older gear (some just a year or two old) is TRASHED by hype churn merchants as flawed, obsolete, or dead when in fact this older gear still takes amazing pictures.
So true - it is a very strange dynamic at times!
Every time Olympus releases significant firmware upgrades it creates tremendous brand loyalty. My E-M1 Mk2 has benefited tremendously from this. ...and I still have my first good camera; an OM1n !
Yes, very true! It is also pretty cool that you can still download firmware for old cameras via OM Workspace!
You’re so on point. The internet has been great for manufacturers but it has also been a nightmare. The UA-cam reviews only lead to driving consumer demand for the latest and greatest gear and gadget with less focus on developing ones skill.😮
Thank you very much for the feedback. I'd say it is also difficult for manufacturers. What some random people on the Internet think now greatly influences sales. If there is an online "shitstorm", a perfectly fine product becomes impossible to sell. Strange times!
Key Thomas, you have become one of my favourite camera UA-camrs with your no bullshit approach and knowledge, thank you very much for your work
Thank you very much!
But there are real world things that came out that OM-SYSTEM is definitely behind on such as subject detection. E-M1X came out with it but it never trickled down to the E-M1 Mark III that had a new processor, E-M10 Mark IV or OM-5. I am happy to see the OM-1 greatly improved thing and it should trickle down to the next OM-5.
With that said, when I was considering having another camera brand and lens for birding, there are many things those cameras don't have that OM-SYSTEM does. Try to find a camera in the price range of the OM-5 that has Live ND, Live composite, focus stacking, customizable Pro-capture mode, Large buffer, UHS-II card slot, low rolling shutter and weather sealed. It's a hard thing to find so I would rather wait until I saved up for the OM-1 or the future OM-5 Mark II that has subject detection.
Very valid points, thanks.
It is funny how people ask first, when they see a photo they like, "what model camera"
I made the most income from a Canon A1 in the late 70s, I used it in my recording studio to take some snap shots during breaks or when seeing a producer and singer in serious talk in a darkened corner of the control room or and I would get them developed and pin them on the the notice board of each of the 3 studios. Those were often used on album liner notes or even covers, I did it for fun but if used by the album cover designer the royalties were substantial. I could do the recording over 3 months of daily work then mix and earn more from single candid snapshot on a gold or platinum selling about. No one asked about the camera model, sometimes about the lens fl.
I retired from recording when digital came in because with digital copying suddenly record sales in the 90s dropped into the cellar.
I retired the Canon A1, when I got my first digital, D90 Nikon and loved it, and started collecting lenses. The most valuable photo with that camera was of an UK cruise ship while hanging off the side of a friends helicopter. The cruise line used the photo for their glossy cruise catalog...12mpx crop sensor ....and used on the cover for 5 years.
I later added a D7000 which was more featured but really did not change the images moving up to 16mpx. But adding 70-200 2.8 certainly helped portraits.
The D800 was release with 36mpx was a notable improvement. The DR was much wider.
When the D850 came out I bought that plus some lenses and had the best DSLR ever made but only the lenses made a difference. The DR was about the same, it was faster but I never shot burst, the AF was more advanced but the AF on any of the others never failed either, the low light was better better than the D800 by small amount but I was not in the habit shooting in the dark. Then I added a small camera when the Z6 came out. It was really nice...screwy AF that soon had updated firmware. It is so convenient and S lenses are so good, 80-90% of my commercial work(actor portfolios) is done with that little 24mpx camera. I have zero problems with it, and it goes everywhere with me and the D850 and D800 are backup cameras. if there is any advantage to the Z6 it is the excellent S lenses
I have had no compelling reason to "upgrade". to the Z6 II, although the Z8 looks interesting.
I am more concerned with light quality, subject pose and expression connection with the subject than pixel count or dynamic range. The MUA and lighting formulate are far more important in image quality. My friends who have to have the latest of everything and upgrade every 6 months and then switch brands due to a new feature never get results that would take center place over the fireplace or gallery room. When I constantly get asked what camera too the image they admire, I get tired of it, and just say the camera makes no difference, much to their frustration. There seems to be two separate hobbies, photos and hardware. Those who focus on hardware seldom create images worth noting. I have a girlfriend, a young accomplished actor who lead in 14 feature films, and female lead in 7th year in a tv police drama, and my partner in the side business of master classes for stage actors to transition to film. She has a mobile phone and due to her eye and creativity creates gallery worthy stills on her phone. The gear plays no part in her success as a photographer. Another woman I know is an artist, mostly in oils and the stories she tells in a single canvas is what the gear head photographers would never understand unless broken down into the mechanical steps to take a photo.
I suggest photographers learn to visualize first, visit great art galleries and look at paintings from a distance and try to understand how the artist controlled your impressions..
Save money by not buying the latest cameras and instead use the money saved to visit museums/galleries, or take an art appreciation class. And ask by a early crop camera image camera was able to capture some very interesting valuable art.
Thank you very much for this comment - it is not a comment, it is a well-written essay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it multiple times, as I could not agree more. You are just spot on, and your extensive experiences in various creative industries are what backs your statements up. Thanks again for an amazing contribution. Best, Thomas
UA-camrs have trased my camera for years, but the truth is, it's amazing. Thanks for the informative video.
Thanks for watching and great to hear! If a camera works for you, it is the right one no matter what anybody else says.
Thank you for this honest and informative post! I purchased the Nikon Fe2 and three Series E lenses in the mid-80’s and used them for 25 years. What amazes me today is it never occurred to me to upgrade or change anything. It wasn’t until I moved to digital that this started to occur. It’s unfortunate but true, the disposable economy thinking has trapped so many of us.
Oh, okay. Thanks for your helping me understand this.
Thank you very much for the feedback and for sharing your experiences.
The fun thing is: Although digital cameras are improving, there is really no need to constantly upgrade to the latest model. Even a 15 year old camera is good enough to get every job done - reliably.
I had this similar realisation recently. I had purchased a mirrorless camera (a6300) several years back convinced that DSLRs were a thing for the parents to bust out every once in a while. I ended up finding that while there were some cool features, it felt terrible to handle, and the lens & accessories ecosystem was so expensive for me being a photography student. I did some research, sold some gear to get a second hand D810 with 85mm + 50mm, flash included. I am loving the feel and involvement I get with DSLRs, and the 'old' tech works has forced me to think about my photos, instead of the camera doing the work for me. Personally, modern mirrorless cameras seem to be catching up to the same tech DSLRs had for decades, only more expensive now.
Could not agree more - especially regarding how good DSLRs are. Thanks for sharing.
It really depends what you're shooting. For headshots or portraits, any DSLR made in the last 20 years is adequate, but if you're like me and primarily shoot motorsports, where a motorcycle is traveling around a corner at +100mph, and is within your frame/field of view for less than half a second, you really need a modern mirrorless camera with a really, REALLY good AI subject recognition and AF tracking. With my previous 5Dmk3 and EF lens I would shoot a burst of 20 pictures per vehicle pass, and with the DSLR's Servo AF, I'd maybe get 2-3 shots actually in focus out of the burst, usually not the one with the best compositions. With my R6mk2 and a native RF lens (that's an important distinction), I'll rattle off the same burst of 20 shots per pass, and almost always the entire 20 shots are perfectly in focus, even at f2.8. So instead of choosing which image is sharpest, I choose which composition works best for the shot. Modern mirrorless camera with subject tracking and modern lenses with linear focus motors are an absolute GAMECHANGER for us motorsport photographers, it's almost like cheating...
Again, if I was primarily shooting landscapes or portraits, I'd probably still be contempt with my old gear...
You make a fair point…I think the issue is marketing madness / sales commercial business interests.
Some DSLRs were far better than 5Dmk3 about autofocus. Nikon D850, D5, D6, etc were able to catch more in focus shots in action environments
people were getting great shots of in motrosports before all the nw tech
@@AmbientWanderer No pictures of motorsports and air shows were possible until Nikon and Canon abandoned DSLRs
Interesting contribution, thanks.
Hi Thomas,
I have to say, this is some of the best honest take on photography I have seen.
I really appreciate the idea of being happy with what we have and stop focusing on spec-sheet comparisons.
I might be Pentax user, but I honestly appreciate EVERY camera manufacturer. We are so fortunate to have so much competition and choice!
Is there even a bad camera? No way!!
I can still take absolutely stunning images with the Pentax K-7, that truly impress me. Sure, I appreciate the advances and high-iso capabilities of the K-1 Mark II... but the camera hasn't made me a better photographer. Getting to know my gear is what has advanced my techniques... And constantly using the same gear.
I actually very much value how slow Pentax is at releasing new things. I've spent years and years with the same bodies and lenses and get to know them so well, that I could not imagine for a second to even get rid of any of them.
Unlike a computer I feel I need to keep up to date every few years to keep up with video games, my camera feels like a very long-term commitment; when I have purchased a new model, it was already a few years old and more out of curiosity and luxury. I still keep my old cameras, because I know I enjoy them just as much.
As a hobbyist, I could not be happier with the choice we have and how easy it is to enjoy our hobby, and to me, that is all that matters. Not the spec sheet!
Thank you for such a direct and honest video!!
Thank you very much for sharing that. I'm currently working with the 645Z, and I am also very happy with the Pentax product philosophy that you have described perfectly.
And just like you, I also appreciate what other manufacturers are doing. Pentax is really awesome, though!
Thanks again for the balanced contribution, I very much appreciate that!
Great Video Thomas. I've been shooting the D3S & D3X since 2019 and they are fabulous. I've just bought a used Z6 in Nov 2023 to try out mirrorless. It does some things better and it's smaller, but overall, I don't like it more (or even as much as) my D3 series bodies.
Thanks for the comment.
Can't replace a DSLR with a non-DSLR.
Problem is though when certain cameras like the z6ii don’t do what they are advertised they can do. Like subject tracking. It still doesn’t work well. It jumps off onto background on moving subjects every time. Face recognition and eye detect works only part of the time. Especially when there is low contrast in the scene.
Absolutely, it is always to not have a certain feature than to have one that does not work properly.
The big problem with manufacturers is that the camera industry has advanced 1.5 times in 10 years, and the mobile phone industry at least ten times and not just on the software side, even more on the hardware side. The next problem is that the whole camera industry is shrouded in mysticism, no one knows when the next model will appear and that is the main reason why people jump ship. Example..if OM System releases a proper camera and lens roadmap all while listening to their customers(like Fuji does) no one would leave the system. As things stand, more and more M4/3 owner are either buying into a new system or they're using muktiple systems.
Interesting.
Very well said Thomas! Always wanted an F3, went the F4S route instead. Then went the route so see if my "photography" would improve going to the D4S, D500, D750 and big lenses. In the end, sold all my camera stuff except my OMD kit which is very extensive. If I can't make awesome photos with that, might as well get out of the game. I'm enjoying very much both my EM1Xs, and the EM1 Mkiii for my landscape, astro, and wildlife adventures. Cheers!
Thanks for sharing that and the kind feedback!
Pleasant surprise, a very different analysis than what we usually see. I think that in most of the products we have we are not aware of the work behind the engineers, nor the real possibilities it offers. Thank you for your approach, with an objective criterion and the result of study and analysis. Congratulations for these magnificent, educational and well-explained videos.
Thank you very much for this exceptional feedback - I'm honored. Glad that you think so!
Wow, Thomas. Not only a really good video but you live in a beautiful city. I was there for my second trip earlier this year. Today was my first visit to your channel and it will certainly not be my last. Great stuff.
Thank you so much, that is just great to read. Welcome to the channel!
I spoke to OG Street photographers in the Philippines with 6mp Canon and 7mp Nilon dslrs and they have been in business since 1975 and 1983 and the pictures from these cameras are still feeding their families. These guys are so lucky to have these old dslrs that were built like tanks and still operate today.they seamlessly operate these cameras and are true professionals. They look at my new mirrorless camera and while they appreciate that mine is technically more advanced auto everything I also know that they would blow me away if we were to enter a photography contest even with my advanced camera. So they are forced to use what they have and be the photographer and not like most people who want their camera to be the photographer. Thanks for the video and now that I no longer have a large disposable income I like them will learn to master the art of photography and not the art of investigating spec sheets and customer reviews
Thank you very much for sharing all of this. Although I read the comment very early on, I delayed my reply as I had to think about it. Another reason why the photographers you've mentioned just get the job done is why they truly know their cameras. We switch too often and don't really learn to master the tools we have, which is a pitty. As long as you have a digital camera of a certain level, you are fine. Even a 20 year old DSLR can get the job done, if you are able to get the job done, just as you've said. Thank you very much for the contribution. Best, Thomas
Thanks again for a no nonsense video. To me the main improvement in modern cameras is fps. For bird photography it makes a huge difference for skittish small birds or birds in flight. Second is reach, and for me as a walk around and shoot septuagenarian weight is also important. That’s why I am considering the OM-1 and 100-400 lens. It offers some nice additional features but those three are what’s important to me. Sony have deserted the a7iv after two years and no light long lenses in the pipeline. As an aside just wait and see how many great pictures there will be of birds taking off as pro capture finds its way across the brands. It will become ho-hum.
Thank you very much Tony!
I agree, increased FPS with a camera like the OM-1 can be really useful for birding, as well as reach.
As you've mentioned the Sony, the problem is that a big sensor requires a certain "lens size" - there is no free lunch, unfortunately.
Thanks for the contribution. Best, Thomas
You are absolutely right Thomas. I just rembered what Thom Hogan once wrote, "It's not the camera. Repeat after me, it's not the camera. It's you."
Thank you!
Fantastic video!! Finally someone addresses the craziness surrounding the latest and greatest camera UA-cam videos and why you should run out and buy one. Those videos are loaded with model features and specs that will not make you a better photographer, just make you poorer. Back in the late 90's and early 2000's the thing to buy was stereo speakers..... until nobody could tell the difference between the older models and newer models except for the price. Same thing has happened to cameras. Reasons given by crazy UA-cam channels to upgrade are just not needed. Thanks for posting this video!
Thank you very much for your kind feedback and your valuable contribution!
Hello Thomas, Jose from Puerto Rico. I was hoping you were going to mention something about the OM-1 system camera you had on your desk, but I guess you basically did with your analysis. This is why I enjoy your tutorials and reviews; no fluff, just hard facts. This is why I enjoy my OM-1 system camera and learned to appreciate it even more with all the tutorials you've made, covering all aspects of its functionality. I've noticed how the bigger companies are adopting features similar to what the OM-1 brought to the table, like the pre-buffering of a shot until you finally commit taking it. Nikon included that feature in their latest firmware. The service for us photographers that you provide in your channel is invaluable, thanks again.
Your observations are spot on!
And I completely agree - the OM-1 is just great. Never ceases to amaze me as well.
Thanks for the exceptionally kind feedback, that is just awesome. Always cool to hear from you. Best wishes from Vienna to you, Jose!
Great Video Thomas, Thanks. We live in a world of high R&D costs, small incremental improvements and diminishing returns; this is good for photography as we don't need to spend our valuable time and money researching and acquiring expensive gear.
Thank you!
Hi Thomas,
What a great episode ! It really puts in perspective the sense and nonsense in the camera market and the way we are often duped into taking questionable decisions. So thanks for that. Thanks also for an extremely informative and enjoyable program !!
Hi Maarten, thank you very much!
You're totally spot on here, Thomas. Over the past few years all the improvements are just small incremental changes. Even the removal of the mechanical shutter by Nikon on the Z9 or the launch of a global shutter by Sony are simply technological advancements, not photographic improvements. They do not bring about any improvements in colour science, dynamic range, etc. Amongst the cameras that I own, I still regularly use a Nikon D200 that I purchased way back in 2006 (I think). Processed correctly and using the appropriate lenses this "ancient" camera produces images that still delivers what I need.
Thank you very much for bringing up the global shutter/ no mechanical shutter - I completely agree with your assessment on those!
I am surprised that camera manufacturers haven't tried the subscription model for firmware updates and new features. All of the equipment my company sells use this; the hardware comes with a good set of features and if the customer wants the advanced stuff, they buy a license subscription.
Interesting! Thanks for sharing that.
I feal truly enlightened on this issue now. Very, very good video!
Thank you very much !
Great video as usual and you´ve said it at the end: improve your photography! I´m just learning flash photography with my OM-1 after spending days on the customisation of the body. It is a job in itself to memorize which features I have assigned to which function buttons and I even needed two of the C-settings to find room for all of them. Depending on how much time one has, it will take weeks or months to master all of them. I have not even tried the live ND filters yet, not to mention all the live composite options. I see tons of tech reviews and a bit on the philosophy around taking pictures, but I would love to see more artistic explanations on actual photographs, not only how they were created technically but why and with what emotions they were created and how the photo manages to convey these emotions to the viewer. Or some really cool stuff. For instance, it would be great to see more videos on the light painting art by Hanno Huhtamo. Mind-boggling skill! And what about the multiple exposures? Super cool feature, allowing so much artistic expression. I never see anyone talking about that, except for Daniel Milnor once, who shot an entire project in Albania using that technique. And then there are all the ART filters, each of which can be tweaked to your liking in terms of contrast, saturation, etc., etc. Never see anyone talking about that either, but that´s where one's artistic creativity can find additional room. I programmed six film simulations into my Pen-F and in total there is room for up to 15 color film simulations and 15 B&W film simulations in that body, allowing for extensive adjustments to one´s personal taste. Even the OM-1 does not have that. Terribly more complex than Fuji's defaults and only 0,0001% of photographers will care, but that´s another camera, which got poor reviews, because reviewers focussed on the sub-par C-AF and the fact that the front knob was not freely programmable instead of diving into the incredible artistic freedom that this camera provides, which is further underpinned by the many options for photo collages under the C3 setting, also lacking on the OM-1. But all this takes time and effort and of course it's far easier to demand Sony-esque C-AF and global shutters for all future entry-level cameras, instead of practicing until one can actually explain the real magic that lies under the hood of a particular camera and how to use it to create artistically noteworthy pictures. I fully understand that this is not the purpose of the average camera review and that we need concise reviews, too, but it still would be nice, if UA-cam suggested more fascinating photography content, including the creation of documentaries, so that the average UA-cam photo hobbyist gets more easily exposed to what makes photography so beautiful. Happy shooting! :)
Thank you very much for a very thought-provoking, on point comment.
Could not agree more. Thanks for sharing, best Thomas
Danke Thomas für die sehr willkommene Entschleunigung.
Sehr gerne, danke für den Kommentar!
Surely the best videos I have seen on this topic. Well done, very well done. Grüße aus Bayern nach Österreich. :D
Vielen Dank!
I purchased both my Z6 and OM1 one year after their initial release dates. I can’t see myself wanting or needing another camera body for at least the next decade. My approach to photography is radically changing anyway and I believe most of what I enjoy and do now can be accomplished with an iPhone and a Ricoh GR variant.
Interesting. I am drifting towards the iPhone for wide angles and my “real” camera for portrait and longer focal length. Both require learning how to use the tools.
Thanks for sharing your perspective.
Thanks for the content. What caught my attention more was your lighting on the video. If you don't mind, please let me know how it was lit.
I've used a GVM 300 Watt with a round soft box as main. Best, Thomas 📸
I was caught up in the vacume of the demise of analog in '99. After 19 years shooting as a working pro, and having now to dump all my equipment for an entire new technology, I semi-retired as a CPP with the PPA, I moved into photo sales. Seeing all the equipment coming down the pipe, my head would spin as it seemed like every year a new camera was introduced. Higher megs, iso, and other fearures. At a point, you max out on what to add. In my prime, we never chased equipment like the photogs of today and thats because they are so tied to technology and how it controls them. You do reach a point of...where can we now take our camera to try and monopolize the industry...for 6 months. I have two D7000 and I love them for what I do now. Now its mirrorless. Where will that end, photographers bringing 19in screens in the field so they can see better??100,000 iso?? The only upgrade Im going to do is a digital back for my medium format camera. Spend your money on lighting. The key to photography.
Thank you very much for a very valuable contribution - I hope many will learn from the experiences you shared here. I just did - and I completely agree with what you wrote. Thanks a lot!
Thank you for the common sense approach. And thank you for taking the time to make the video.
Thank you very much for your feedback! Best, Thomas 📸
I have a D3X and it's superb. Great video!
Thank you - and yes, the D3X is just an outstanding camera that will get the job done!
Good idea to give industry insights. Very interesting, thank you.
Thank you very much!
You made some really important points here. The craziness of youtube equipment reviewers staggers the imagination. I don't know how often I heard that Nikon was dead and close to economic collapse. Every new camera by 1 manufacturer then the reviewers scream that other brands are dead. I think your "in reality" vs "spec sheet" is key.
Thank you, that is great to read!
Excellent commentary on the subject. Thank you.
Thank you very much!
Very good analysis. The OM-1 mk2 is now going through the same "lackluster upgrade" criticism, with the same accusations. Primarily, what I've heard the most is "why didn't they just add this small handful of features in a firmware upgrade?" The reality is that despite the fact the the feature upgrades seem minor, the internal processing power of the camera has increased significantly and some of the features are not possible with the older processor. That is all hidden and most people don't think of it.
Regarding technological development, one thing I like about Olympus (now OM Digital Solutions) is that they are not only incorporating typical improvements that other camera brands have done, but also branching out in the direction of computational features much more than other manufacturers, and most of these features have proven useful to me, though there are probably people who have not found them useful.
Could not agree more - thanks for the statement!
Best, Thomas 📸
Perfect summary of a problem that spans way outside photography. The best example would be the smartphone market: every year, there are new models introduced, that realistically don't offer any real improvement.
We, as consumers, have been conditioned to treat hardware products as consumables - to be thrown away when a new shiny thing shows up. I really hope more people will break out of this cycle.
Very well said, thanks for a thoughtful contribution.
The Nikon F3 underwent dozens of optional upgrades in the 20 years it was in production. And the photographer who purchased it in 1980 got the benefit of all those changes. But they were not done by Nikon, they were done by Kodak, Fuji, Afga, and Ilford.
An excellent point! Free sensor upgrades 😊
@@ian-nz-2000 They're not free. They are $7-30 each. 🤣
True!
Remarkable how much stray light bounces through from that F3 viewfinder!! I hope it has a viewfinder blind….
It has one :-)
Thanks for sharing your perspective (which I fully share). I'm still using my 7 or 8 year old EM5MII (yesterday a dial wheel broke 😢). As it still takes good photos I'm considering getting it repaired again although having an OM-1.
However - the market is different and demanding always new features to justify buying the new model. The times of 20 years long product cycles are over and companies which are not delivering will vanish soon. If you are right that cameras are basically at the end of development - we will soon see more manufacturers to leave the market.
Will we take better pictures with the top notch featured gear? No, most likely not, but we may still have a vendor for our favorite system.
Absolutely correct - and sorry about the M5II. Maybe you can get an OM-5 as a replacement, definitely worth considering. Best, Thomas
Thank you very much! Finally an expert who exposed the hypes. I never use about 90% of the menu. I don’t know if my camera has very high ISO and low noise. Should I ever need it and the results are less than I expected, I can try modern post work. If that is not good enough, I will say in your language: Na und! Obviously, high ISO with low noise is hardly needed for me. I love my Leica M more each year. No tele, no zoom, real close-ups, pol filters, bad flash sync, etc. But easy and compact for my style of photography. So I get more shoots that I like and accept that I miss a few.
Sometimes, I think it is greed and or snobbiness to collect as many features as possible.
Thank you very much for sharing your perspective - I completely agree.
If I may add: 1) I never really understood the low noise fetish, I think it is perfectly fine for an image to show some structure. 2) As you implied, if one already does not need 90% of what is there, then why upgrade for another feature/number on the spec sheet. I would assume that most people who pretend to need certain things actually don't but are not honest enough to admit it.
So, thanks again for an excellent contribution.
Great video! Same thing with computers. Remember the times when we had to buy a new computer every second year because it would be so slow with the new Windows version. Today a 10 year old computer runs really good.
Yes, very true.
I like your approach this was an Eye opener as I was the worst about always upgrading to the new model as for the most part you are right with few exceptions
Thank you very much!
"How I stopped worrying and learned to love my camera." Yes!! (And the Dr. Strangelove reference is delightful.) As one of the other commenters says, I wish I could upvote this a million times.
Thank you so much! And I'm glad you liked the reference :-)
First, you could get a movie part as Lenin. But that aside, FINALLY, I MEAN FINALLY a voice of reason in the deafening noise. Between the lines, you are saying it's not the tech but the human being behind the camera that is 95% of the result. And, the reality of it is of course MONEY. You have to hand it to the camera manufacturers for creating a mass psychological "need" to get the latest and greatest (a disease called GAS) using corporate "shills" on camera review sites. Good photography and yes videography comes from good photographers, regardless of the machine making the image. Reviewer in the UK, Kai, once gave a cheap point and shoot toy camera to a professional street photographer friend and asked him to go shoot for a couple hours with it. He came back with photo's that could be exhibited in a major art museum. Why? HE knew what he was doing. He didn't have the latest and greatest. He had skill, experience, and most importantly a trained and creative EYE. I salute you Mr. Lenin, er I mean Thomas in Austria. I've watched thousands of hours of camera reviews. They can be entertaining but I take them with a grain of salt. Your analysis is SPOT ON. Finally I have a Pentax K3. I've yet to see any major camera reviewer give Pentax any love, at all. It's kind of a laughingstock foil. I'm no Pentax fanboy, but it's finally music to my ears to hear someone say, damn, Pentax (for stills) can be amazing, rivaling the big boys. Thomas in Europe. THE VOICE OF REALITY AND REASON, sir. Glad I stumbled on you. Keep it up, and best of luck you can dent the internet grip of corporations whose job it is to keep us buying things. As they say the best camera is the one you got with you. best, from America, Marty Sender You Tube. THUMBS WAY UP.
Thank you so much for your extensive comment and fun Lenin reference haha
It took me a while to answer, sorry for that. Personally, I never really understood when people where ridiculing one company or another. I rather examine the camera and try to understand why the engineers designed it the way they did. Then, it is quite easy to figure out if the camera is for you or not.
Thanks again for the very positive, encouraging comment, comrade (that was Lenin talking), but seriously, I very much appreciate your input and I will try my best to live up to that. Best from Vienna, Thomas
PS: Pentax is really awesome.
I enjoy your videos, good and valuable content as always.. Much appreciated Thomas.
My pleasure! Thank you very much for the kind words!
Thank You ThomasEisl!
You're welcome!
An excellent contribution to the 'firmware' discussion, Thomas. I own an OM1 and I have wondered about the lack of updates, but the truth is I only use a small percentage of what the camera is capable of anyway. After your wise words I'll just relax and enjoy what I already have, a very good camera! Thanks for your work.
Thanks! The OM-1 is already a very complete camera feature-wise so we are both on the same page here. Sit back, relax and enjoy what is one of the best cameras ever made.
I agree with a lot of the video. For me and my photography, mostly sports often involving hours of moving around with a lot of gear, relatively new cameras have been a big leap from my old gear. I spend most of the day on my feet with a couple bodies, several lenses, flashes, batteries, and of course water and a snack. Mirrorless cameras and lenses have knocked a few pounds off my bag and given my arms a break from curling my old Canon 7dii and a 70-200, or 400mm lens (I’m not in my 50s anymore and appreciate the difference). Also, modern AF tracking blows old gear out of the water. These have helped ME but if I was photographing (more) weddings or street, I wouldn’t realize the benefit nearly as much, and likely find them not worth the added $$$.
I agree with your experiences!
When it comes to hobbies - nothing is "black or white". There are many shades of grey in between. And then - some are into "visual art", creating pictures that will remain memories for a lifetime, and then there are those who are into cameras. The look and feel, the opportunity to talk with friends about it, and to some - the prestige value some of the high-end cameras provide.
Absolutely, very well said!
Additionally, it is the exactly because of that technical comparisons will always fall short.
Ok, but when you consider the large amount of features added to Canon cameras through the hard effort of open source software developers on CHDK and Magic Lantern, for example adding raw support to cameras that didn't have it, extra, higher video modes, raw video, motion trigger, hdr, etc, etc, then consider that these are just applying open-source software, and often just removing software limitations applied by the camera makers, then it is very hard not to interpret that as deliberate action of the camera maker to deny easy features simply to get you to buy another camera. One continual gripe I have is cameras that have no timelapse. Maybe they can shoot 4K, like the hx99, but no timelapse? Timelapse is such an easy thing to implement, all you need is a timer to trigger a photo, and a screen to configure interval and total photo count. There is no hardware upgrades required. Previous models even supported it, so it is a removed feature. To get timelapse, you have to buy an intervalometer, and sometimes they even stopped making them, so you have to use a competitor's one. Even the remote control app doesn't have an intervalometer. Confusing. There are many cases with other features, such as slow motion. One camera supports 960fps, the next camera after it, with a better, faster sensor, and faster cpu, only supports 120fps. Why?
Thanks for sharing your perspective!
The problem is that economies are built on consumers buying products. That's also how businesses make profits. The problem is, as you say, that consumers will not spend large amounts of money on marginal improvements in performance.
As for firmware/feature updates. if there are issues that need fixing for the camera to work as advertised, then the manufacturer should foot the bill. If new features are added, which were no originally advertised, then I think it's reasonable for the consumer to pay a modest fee for such feature upgrades.
Nowadays, I get a lot of enjoyment out of snapping up old cameras and exploring what they can do. I picked up a mint Nikon D200, with only 14k shutter count, a couple of days ago and I am having a lot of fun seeing just what I can get it to do.
Thanks for your valuable and comprehensive contribution! That is very much appreciated.
Yes, "old" cameras like the D200 are great fun and definitely get the job done if you know what you are doing!
Really outstanding one!
Wirklich hervoragend!
Vielen Dank! Many thanks!
Most people would be better off investing in better lenses than in cameras with functions they never use.
Very true!
Excellent thoughts as usual on the 'dangers' of over expectation or 'falling for the hype'.
Just a funny closing note (on your closing note) See (c) you (u) next time could be taken the wrong way, if you know what I mean
😀
Thank you!
Haha yes, it is my catchphrase now, I'm not sure whether I can change that anymore haha 😆
@@ThomasEisl.Photography It's probably just me Thomas, as a result of work related quips and all that!
Just try not to think of that every time you close out a new item!
Cameras have been IMPRESSIVE for the last several years. Prior to that there was a lack of innovation for 10 years, but not now... all the cameras mentioned are Gen 1-1.5 of the DSLR-Mirrorless conversion.. ie: growing pains. Nikon has been releasing AMAZING firmware upgrades for Z9 for some time, pretty much re-inventing the hardware.
Interesting
Thanks Thomas, I enjoyed that Video, I watched the whole thing to the end because i spotted the Olympus TG-7 out on your left, I recently bought a TG-6 and felt there were some features that could be fixed in a firmware upgrade, manual mode would be 1 and auto exposure bracketing another, a brighter LCD screen might be a bridge to far? I assume you might do a Vlog to the TG-7? PS new sub!!
Hey there and thanks for watching & subscribing, also for sharing your thoughts on the TG series. The good news is that there is not only a vlog on the 7 but a whole series of videos: ua-cam.com/play/PLZRn8MP41XncQKAaMjAZROQYQ6CSpxovS.html&si=5JM51cmTZJBN_fnv
Let me know what you think! Best, Thomas
My only issue is this, do I think a company should support 10 year old cameras with firmware updates forever no I do not. However if you pay for a top tier camera i.e. Nikon Z9, Sony a9 III etc., and and a couple of months later come out with firmware update that is 150.00 I do have an issue with that. How long should they support free firmware updates I am not sure but I would say for at least three years. You did bring up Adobe (remember Adobe used to do this; but change their business model so that they can rake in much more money). Sort of remind of that car company that wants to you pay a subscription fee to heat your seats. However I did very much enjoy this video!
Very true, thanks for the comment! We are definitely on the same page here!
It is so good to hear your comments. I've thought this for years. I look back at photos taken with my D7000 and they look great My D5000 was far less than my D7000. My Z8 is great but looking at the actual photos, the D7000 still stands up today for image quality. Z8 has more mega-pixels, but for my needs, I use them to crop in for effective zooming.. I noticed a little improvement from my D610 to the D750 in dynamic range Camera's were really good 10 years ago I will keep the Z8 for improved focus speed for a long time. If focus speed gets faster or we move to a Nikon global shutter, I will not jump. The Z8 will work until I kick the bucket.
Excellent idea, thanks for sharing. I would also say that a global shutter is not really needed and it comes with a few disadvantages. It is much like with the Z8/9 and the OM-1: the readout speed costs a bit IQ - global shutter costs you even more, with practically no tangible benefit except in corner cases. Best, Thomas 📸
Always informative Thomas. Question, what are your thoughts on using the Tough 7 as a backup for ski trips when carrying my OM-5 isn't practical
Thanks Bob!
Regarding the TG-7, it is definitely worth a try, in my opinion. Design-wise, the camera was meant to cover exactly those situations. Of course, you can't get OM-5-level performance, but in my opinion and experience, the TG-7 definitely is capable enough. I even did some model shoots with it, much to the surprise of my subjects.
I'd say you can't really go wrong with the TG, it is always nice to have an indestructible outdoor camera. Hope this helps!
Generally agree for lackluster updates. But a few brands do just need to wake up like Panasonic is really gotten so far behind in auto focus realm and are finally just starting to release PDAF cameras, even though they’ve offered amazing video modes still put them way behind for those of us who use and enjoy highly accurate auto focus, that Sony and canon, and to a lesser degree Nikon have enjoyed for several years now. Also, Olympus not having any other video line to potentially put at risk should really be making cameras that offer everything but the kitchen sink in them regarding video and photo capabilities to make their products a no-brainer. Their m1x was such a camera that at the time could have spiritually been a m4/3 Nikon z9 equivalent. I would definitely buy Olympus if they didn’t seem to hobble their bodies.
Thanks for contributing!
Om System does not hobble their bodies. The OM-1 is rightly considered a compact Z9 (with more features than the Nikon, I'd like to add).
Best, Thomas 📸
Just because it’s a new camera doesn’t mean it’s the best camera. The prices for the new cameras are like a house payment!
I am still using my Nikon D7000, F5,F100 and a few 50+ year old F bodies. No updates required and I am very happy.
True - thanks for sharing. Nice setup, excellent cameras which will get the job done!
I stopped upgrading my gear about 5 years ago and still happy with my shots, it’s a never ending money making conn
Although I understand the manufacturer's side of things, I completely agree with what you stated. Working with an "old" camera is perfectly fine. The results are virtually indistinguishable in practice.
After all, it is easier to blame our inability on everyone else but ourselves.
Very true!
I won't be upgrading my Nikon D300s anytime soon.
What a superb camera.
Great video sir. 👍
Thank you! The D300s is an outstanding camera 📸
Good thoughts and reasoning Thomas. I would like your thoughts on the Leica Q3. Apologies of you have already done so on YT.
Thank you!
I have no video on the Q3 yet - it is definitely an excellent photographic tool. I would also consider the predecessors, for example the Q1. Personally, I prefer less resolution as it produces smaller files. Hope this helps!
Engineer: we could make a camera so good that it is not nesessary to make another model for the next 15 years.
Salesguy: you're fired.
Very true! And as we all know, the consumer is also part of the problem: "Oh it is already a year old, so it is definitely old tech and should be heavily discounted."
@@ThomasEisl.PhotographyMost camera consumers are like chipmunks. Just throw some peanuts on the ground and they run towards you like they haven't had lunch for weeks.😅😅
Well said and explained. Your videos are great.
Thank you very much!
Excellent information! - take your foot off the pedal folks!
Thanks!
As a Nikon User, I saw dramatic improvement in image sensors from 2004 to 2012 when I went through the D70, D200, D300 and finally the D800. I waited until 2018 to upgrade to the D850. My old D800 was plenty capable to produce quality images with great dynamic range, but 8 years of development did show significant improvements particularly in auto focus. I find my self migrating to mirrorless now not really for the improvements in auto focus or video performance, as my D850 was plenty capable there for my needs. The one area that compels me to upgrade is the weight savings of the newer gear. I’m 70 now and I find I just can’t carry the heavier DSLR body and lenses on my landscape photo treks anymore.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, very interesting take!
I dont know about the other brands, but I think Olympus made a somewhat strange choice in their release schedule. I think the OM-5 would have been praised at release, if it had been released at the time of the OM-1 and with a few hardware tweaks over the EM-5MkIII (mainly the USB C), with the OM-1 being released a bit later with all the new bells and whistles. As their release schedule was as it was, there where little to no carry over from the top tier camera into the second tier one, which instead drew on a more "dated" model and that is not what people expect.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! As you've said, there was a bit of unjustified controversy when the 5 was released, maybe because of the reasons you highighted!
My next video on the OM-5 will most likely put some things into perspective. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one when it is released!
I'm finding that as I learn more about my Fujifilm H2S that I've no need for the video specs which were a big part of my reason for buying it, for instance the size of the video files it can produce are unworkably huge for me.
Of course, your Fuji is a spectacular tool, but I can totally relate to your experiences. Most stuff sounds way better on the spec sheet than it actually is in real life. Thanks for sharing!
Sooo much truth in all of that.
Thanks!
Hi Thomas, Regards from London, love your videos
Hey, many thanks for the great feedback!
The hectic mess of everything today lead me to buy a Mamiya 6 recently. It is fun getting back to some basic shooting. Yes, I do also use a digital camera. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for sharing that - and yes, the 6 is awesome!
💯
My SRT101 and Canon 7 don't even need updates 😅
Haha that's right! Awesome bodies, btw
Tech is great and all that, but I'd rather have an old school dslr and good composition skills, than I would the latest and greatest technology and "spray and pray" skills with composition. After getting a basic kit, I'm spending my money on classes.
I've seen on two occasions this: that the greatest leap in terms of technology occur sometime between the first and the second model of a series. Canon's 5D Mk1 and Mk2 as well as Fuji's xtransII and xtransIII sensor models are an example of this. In both cases, these were huge improvements over the first series, and everything after that was gradual.
Thanks for sharing your perspective and stance - we are on the same page here. Best Thomas
Eisl nails it. Digital cameras are a mature technology, and improvements come in incremental stages. I'm really frustrated with fan sites, full of trolling and whining. They want the moon when all they can afford is a stairway.
Thank you very much, I very much appreciate your feedback. Best, Thomas 📸
Little improvements can be big improvements. I use cameras 5 sometimes 6 days per week for 6 hours the whole year. Any little improvements that can speed up the work on location or processing images at home are worth getting that upgrade. Gear and software. Time is money for me. So that is always the question for me. Does it make my jobs easier and faster? Not just the end result of the final images.
So it is for me - and it really is about Workflow improvements not one stop fo dynamic range extra.
This is a fantastic presentation.
I hope the so called UA-cam photographer experts take note.
Thank you very much!
I agree Thomas. For example, I have an Olympus OM-D EM5 mk3. Along comes the OM5, Hmmmm...looks nice, I shall consider this camera......err...hang on...what's the difference. `answer is that there are some nice improvements, but certainly not enough to make me sell one and buy the other. On the other hand, I have bought a TG7, but not having a TG6 already, the minor increase in cost of the 7 against the 6, wasn't an issue in order to get a newer release. Therefore, getting a later model over an older model may have some advantages, but probably not enough to justify an expensive upgrade from an earlier model, at least the immediately previous one I should add. Buying a newer model initiallyover the previous version, well thats another matter. Love your vids.
Thank you very much for sharing your point of view - I completely agree with what you wrote. It is very important to evaluate the product from the two perspectives you brought up: From a person's perspective who already has the very similar predecessor and from the perspective of one who does not own the predecessor yet.
What you brought up here was actually one of the ideas behind this video. Thanks again for contributing!
Excellent and informative video, I feel great about carrying on with my Canon 6D & 7D 👍🏻
Great to hear!
Great word Thomas, I would say that are no bad cameras out there. A pro could take a 5D VII with a kit lens and kick butt over a noob that has the R5 and a 28-70 F2 lens. Gear ,gear ,gear is shoved down our throats and we open wide. 100 Megapixel, IBS ,AF ,IS, eye detect, animal eye detect, 120 frames per second, dual card slots, Auto AF ,servo AF. and on and on. This trying to keeping up the Canon's , the Fuji's, Nikons and let's not forget the Sony's can drive a person mad! An American writer ,Mark Twain once said, a man who has room full of books and never reads them is no better than a man who can't read. The same could be said about someone who has all the latest gear enough to fill a room but has no skills, yes skills in composition, camera settings and lastly ,what are going to do with your camera. Hopefully not just family gatherings, Christmas time ,snap shots etc. The smart phones do that remarkably well. We should use what we have , Develop our skills and hone them. The camera will process the image but it is up to us create the image!
Greg, thank you very much for your comment. It was a pleasure to read and completely on point, in my opinion.
Manufacturers have to sell stuff, and that is ok. But one should never fall into the trap thinking that the new camera is the one that you have to buy to take photos. It is just not true, as you've said. Even the keeping up with the latest and greatest is just tiring. Thanks again. Best, Thomas 📸
That's a pretty sound analysis. I think manufacturers are indeed obligated to provide free firmware updates, for bug fixes, but I'd happily pay a reasonable fee for a firmware update that provided new features.
Agreed!
Great video and reality check. One relatively 'simple' upgrade is to put a faster (next generation) processor in the next camera model. We see the same with smartphones. This enables more sophisticated software and faster processing. Clear example of this is the handheld hi-res shot mode (of Olympus/OM-system). The speed improvement from the EM-1 mark 3 to OM-1 was significant (3x faster), making the HHHR mode much more practical/useful. Further speed improvement of HHHR shooting would be welcome, as well as some algorithm improvements (e.g. motion compensation, as with Panasonic).
Very true, thanks for contributing!
I jumped off the camera industry merry-go-round. I have an a7rV and an M10 Monochrom, and they will be my only cameras going forward until I pass away.
Thanks for sharing. I'm sure that one does not need more "camera" than those two excellent models.
I think a good example are the Nikon Z6/7 II. Through firmware updates the Z6 and Z7 got to almost the same level as their successors, giving them the same features and performance, at least when it comes to the autofocus, seems to be kind of on the same level now. Sure you can't upgrade the card slots through software updates but when it comes to using them they are extremely close.
I don't regret buying my Z7II. Yes, a Z8 would have been better but I didn't want to spend that much *and* I got my Z7II at a great price. AF performance is better than my previous Z50 and 10fps is enough for me as well. It just feels like a pretty half-arsed upgrade from the original Z7. Especially when we look at the firmware updates Nikon has provided so far. Or rather the lack thereof...
I think that is a very valid example - thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Maybe there is a hardware limitation in regards of processing power - but I'm not very familiar with the hardware details of the Z cameras. I've only had the Z7II for a short period.
@@ThomasEisl.Photography The limitation is probably the sensor. It has a pretty slow readout speed, especially compared to the Z8 and Z9 with their stacked sensor. A faster sensor enables more AF calculations per second.