This is a very good and fair review that has prompted some FF fan boys to jump in with some ignorant disparaging disinformation. I suggest that everyone take a breath and look at Thomas Eisl’s superbly detailed and thorough review on UA-cam. He clearly explains why increasing the buffer size is so much more than just increasing the number of shots one can take in burst mode. The buffer = RAM or working memory. Doubling it has enabled the OM1 II to rework many of its computational algorithms to vastly improve autofocus hit rates, provide much better AI subject recognition and tracking, produce 14 bit high resolution shots, finally eliminating EVF blackouts for most shutter speeds used by wildlife photographers, while also improving the customization of Pro Capture and innovating a flexible graduated filter visible in real time live view. Only some of these improvements can be transferred to the OM1 Mark I via a firmware update given its more limited RAM. Let’s not forget that the backlit stacked sensor in the camera and the processor are still state of the art in read out speed and together have all but eliminated rolling shutter problems. Finally, certainly half a loaf of improved firmware for the OM1 Mark I would be most welcome to those of us who actually use the camera.
Great explanation and clarification. The role of RAM really should be apparent to anyone who's ever installed PC software and read the specification requirements as part of that process. It should be even more obvious to anyone who's been told they need to upgrade their laptop because the latest applications are running like a three-legged dog. It seems though, that some people need this explained to them when it comes to camera upgrades and your comment does a brilliant job of doing so. As a side note, it's funny how people will buy the latest model of Apple or Samsung phone every year without a second thought and yet when it comes to cameras they expect the manufacturers to continually provide firmware upgrades and the device itself to be capable of supporting an endless array new and enhanced features. Granted one has a right to expect at least a couple of years of support 'upgrades', especially given that, in practice, these are typically more about getting the original promised features working correctly post-release rather than providing any real enhancements.
Thomas Eisl is the guy to go to. Intense attention to detail. He does his homework. On another video of his, he mentions that we expect free firmware upgrades but the development work on those firmware changes are expensive. One way to pay for that is to develop a new camera and get some revenue flow, and a lot of the Mark II improvements can't be done all in firmware.
For wildlife and sports photographers shooting handheld with a long telephoto lens, like the 150-400mm f/4.5, they must support the lens with their left hand. Because the menu button is on the upper left of the body, they must stop shooting and move their hand to activate the menu. The OM-1 Mark II has the ability to re-program the "menu" button to the "delete" button found on the bottom right on the body. So they can keep shooting and adjust easily with their right hand. As for the price, it is $200 more than the OM-1. However, as we all know, inflation of 15%-20% over the last two years has raised the price of everything. Without inflation, the price would be the same as before. Inflation has hurt all of us for everything that we purchase.
@@taylorhickman84 Yes, but you might not be in a position to take your hand away from your lens and leave it unsupported. (Although I think those would be limited scenarios).
I just picked up the mk ii to replace my om-1. The dials and menu button remap make it feel like a completely different camera to handle as you interact with those so much. Makes it feel much more like an extension of arm compared to constantly fumbling to press menu on the left or struggling with the dials. Both were friction points for me.. The new AF improvements/interface are great. C-af+tracking is super sticky, barely slides off target and will even return to the target if it goes off screen or if you shake camera around quickly. The consolidated AF interface makes things much easier with the removal of c-af+tracking when using subject detection, being replaced by the new setting whether to keep subject detection focus whether only inside focus box or if it goes outside focus box. Also being able to map focus priority of subject detect or focus box to af-on/shutter improves workflow and reaction time. Improved af refresh rate makes lock on much faster and stickier, I had trouble using subject detect in the original om-1 in dog mode to capture my puppy running at me, which i was able to quickly try and is much better now. Om-1 resale value is pretty good, and in my country the mk ii included bonus battery grip which I will sell to offset the cost of upgrade. Nice to have warranty refreshed, although in 12 years of using Olympus MFT cameras/lenses ive never had to do a single warranty claim. I really do think that OM system should at least bring the menu button remap to the original om-1 if nothing else. It's a big quality of life change.
OM System would make a killing if they just did a Pen F or a body design like the EP1 etc. Weather seal it and launch a V2 of the 17mm and they have a money printing licence
Ever since I switched to Olympus/OM Systems I barely have to use my tripod (which is, btw, light since the lenses aren't heavy). This definitely makes my hikes and backpacking much more pleasant. I do have a collection of ND and GND filters but I hate using them even when I hike alone. Whenever you backpack with a group there is simply no time to be fiddling with real filters as you have to keep up with the group or they will soon start hating you. The live ND and GND filters as well as other computational features that can be used hand-held are a game-changer for landscape photography on the go.
@6:55, OM Systems has already disclosed the IBIS improvements are from improved algorithms, so it definitely can be done in firmware and doesn't require a hardware change.
That isn't necessarily true. Just because it isn't a hardware upgrade, doesn't mean the present system doesn't have limitations that are set by the onboard memory.
@@robertmills4591 Agree it's not necessarily true but it's highly probable. OM went out of their way to describe which features required a hardware change, for the very reason of avoiding the appearance of what would otherwise look like a $2k+ firmware upgrade. The fact that they explicitly say algorithms is behind the IBIS improvement, without mention of a hardware change, strongly hints that it's a firmware-only change.
@@BobWilliams-kk1zz I think most of it could have been a firmware delivery but it is significant enough that they would have to charge for it, not $2k certainly but several hundred $$$ for sure. After all, it costs as much to develop new software as hardware. But experience tells us that consumers don't like having to pay for firmware, so making some minor hardware tweaks(and changing the name) makes it a new camera and they can charge accordingly and keep making money. But it might be nice if they also offered a firmware pack for the OM1 with most of the features for, say, $500 and see how many took it up... I suspect EM1 users(like me) would be more tempted by the new body but OM1 shooters may prefer the firmware and lose some of the new tweaks.
Hi Chris, Yes human detection does support the torso see manual page 120: The camera detects people. It tracks focus on such elements as the face, head, eyes, and upper body
I wish OM gave a bit more information about those rubber coated front and rear dials. Over the years I have disposed of a number of items where rubber coated items got sticky and it was too hard to remove the sticky surface. That grad filter looks very nice Hopefully the AF problems some reported with the original have been fixed as well.
Yes! It's really annoying how the rubber coating on many consumer items just kind of decomposes and turns into a sticky mess, rendering the item virtually unusable.
Agree with the concern about rubber coated dials. I too had so many rubber coated items that became sticky and unusable. To me it seems like a workaround to try to overcome poor ergonomics in the dial design. Previous E-M1 models had no complaints about the dials. I hope for the Mk3 they will adjust the dial design properly. And move the menu button to the right where most people want it for real. And where in forums we have seen people posting issues with the markings coming off dials on the OM-1, I predict we will see posts about the rubber coating coming off.
Could it have been done with firmware? Perhaps not all of them; certainly some of them. (I'm not convinced the ibis change is hardware.) Could OMD have put enough ram in the original to support these upgrades? Of course they could have. I don't have a lot of faith that any of these upgrades will be rolled out to the Mk I. I hope OMD proves me wrong. I won't even mention the "new" lenses, except to say that that Sigma monster you're carrying around, is three times the price of the full-frame version of the lens!!
You and Thomas Eisl do the absolute best reviews of gear! Straightforward, clear, and honest. OM System has produced a very nice product! They are just pa joy to use!
I don't understand the hate. It's only a 2 years refresh, pushed by the need to not use the Olympus name anymore. Guys, just don't consider it's a true Mark II. Give OM a couples of years more for a Mark III and judge the result, then, made by the OM system R&D (not the Olympus one). I still want to replace my fantastic EM1 markii with a 25+MP camera. I can wait for it.
The negative comments are because of salesman, like Chris, telling us to accept crap and not ask questions. If you pay for an incremental upgrade then that's all you will get.
What you state is mostly correct, but the main problem is that they make it more expensive than the original one and they're not really adding much. If they lowered the price of the original OM1 and released this one with the same base price of the original one it wouldn't be a problem
You get a PRO grade weather sealed device with dual (similar) card readers with lots of digital trickery, fantastic IBIS & AF, with top IQ and superb 4K video for 60% of what EOS R3 would have cost. And better lenses. I don't think the price is unreasonable.
They have to get rid of all Olympus branding on items in the market relatively soon, so I'm not really surprised about a somewhat quick update (the OM-1 is still a great camera). If they're smart, they'll release at least some of the improvements that are possible with the original OM-1 hardware as an update. Olympus did this with the E-M5.ii, massively improving things like AF on an already great camera, well after release. You could argue the E-M5.iii wasn't out at the time, but you could also argue the E-M5.ii was so good that it still sold well past the release of the mark iii (my main body is an E-M5 mark iii alongside a G9, but my mark ii is always in my travel bag). Releasing as much of an update as possible will help build faith with consumers and help them out in general far more than the couple sales of an OM-1 over an OM-1.ii that might happen due to an update.
I had no idea a jacket system like this existed expressly for photography. That’s pretty rad. Also, the grade on this video seems even better than usual somehow.
You might like FoxFire, a Japanese company that makes jackets designed to carry large lenses. Because even big MFT glass is smaller, I can fit a 100-400 mounted to the OM-1 inside their special vertical pockets!
It’s a ‘refresh’, essentially. The AF modes being far less complicated seems useful. Most of the other features I wouldn’t use. I haven’t got the money available for either body right now, so it’s somewhat moot. 🤷♂️
Very well done guys. And beautifully shot. I must say, tho, I disagree about the 14-bit HR. It'd be great to see that come to the OM1.1 via FW but that is piles of data being processed in camera. I think it's a bigger buffer thing. However hopefully now with that bigger buffer the OM1.2 can get a FW update adding / improving motion blur correction to the HR and HHHR to be as good or better than Panasonic's. We shall see.
Some brilliant writing in this 😄 good even handed review. Glad your stance is that of hoping (expecting?) that some of these features will trickle down via FW, esp to the OM-1
Thanks for the best independent review of the OM-1 Mk II - as I would expect. I'm a die hard Olympus fan, but it's time for the Olympus name to go. Unfortunately, some are still angry that Olympus sold off their camera division and are taking it out on OM Digital Solutions. I read a comment for another video calling the OM1 Mk II "ugly" because of the "OM System" name. Give me a break. Further, let's ditch the "myth of firmware". No one has a right to expect firmware feature updates for free. Fixes for existing functions, yes, but those are limited by the hardware and core OS. Olympus had added features that in the past - mostly with the E-M1 Mk II - but such things are not promised and don't make good market sense. No company provides free new functions to your smart phone, tablet, or computer. Better is better, and the OM-1 Mk II is better than the original OM-1. This kind of evolution and refinement is to make the OM-1 more competitive for new purchasers - not really to create mass upgrades of current OM-1 users. Panasonic took 5 years to upgrade the G9 and then they recycled one of their FF bodies, and OMDS responded in only 4 months! Haters gonna' hate, but I think the OM-1 Mk II is solid proof of how much nimbler and more responsive OMDS is than Olympus ever was. Thanks again, for a really fair and honest review.
Hmm, I can't see the other replies here, but almost all Olympus M4/3 have had free firmware updates, so it is my right to "expect" updates though it's not contractual nor a myth. There were four or five updates to my E-M1, not just bugfixes. And yes, all of my phones have also had free new functions with OS updates, and I don't mean just outside apps and security. They now need to make the OM-1 more competitive (mark I) by dropping the price to drag some market share away from Panasonic or to get OM-D users to re-up. The current price difference between Mk I and II is not, IMO, compelling enough. For the moment they're maximizing profit from early adopters. (Old joke - How much is the new Eagles album? $5,000,000. How many do you expect to sell at that ridiculous price? We just have to sell 1!)
@@pault151 But free firmware updates might be part of why Olympus camera division lost a lot of money and was sold off. Firmware costs a lot to develop but if you give it away that's a bad business model! JIP are primarily interested in creating a profitable business and that's in our interest too in the long term. Free updates should be limited to things like new lens support and fixes to bugs IMHO.
I think maybe the video firmware update took too long time to do, (😅hope I'm right about that), so we got the camera first and the video firmware will arrive later. Hopefully.
Olympus always got some interesting features but I don't really get the upgrade... I'm really happy to see Hauckland anywhere outside Germany. I think it's really innovative stuff and it's cool to see this small German brand succeeding internationally👍🏼
Chris . . . Wondering if you could mention in camera reviews that manufactures are still not switching from jpeg to jpeg XL format and taking us past the limits of 8 bit jpegs. If i understand correctly Jpeg XL tops out at 32 bit, making you wonder if you would ever need to shoot RAW again.
To me the question isn't whether it's worth it to upgrade from the OM-1, but is the Mark II more appealing to new users and to bring some people into 4/3? Seems like it should be much more appealing to anyone contemplating moving to 4/3, or to someone making their first purchase. I'd say this is a winner for OM Systems.
I like it. Yes, it should have been cheaper, but with OM numbers in camera/lenses sale it’s impossible to compete on price. So to everybody saying “Well I can get a CaNiSony for xxxx” well duuuuh, there is no way this small company with a niche product can compare favorably. But I’d tell you this: a world with a single format doesn’t sound fun at all.
Were there actually any hardware changes to the IBIS? The DPReview initial review claimed that OM told them the improvement was coming from updated control algorithms. Also the subject lock seems to be one of the better additions but I've barely seen any reviews mention it.
At this point I wouldn't expect to get a believable answer to that. This release has stirred up a whole maelstrom of unsubstantiated claims and misinfo, and it'll probably make its way into this comment section too.
@@aggro_online I don't expect Jordan or Chris to actually know "the truth", I'm just curious whether or not OM told them there are hardware changes in the IBIS.
Comparing the flagship m43 cameras, is it possible that tracking AF performance on the Panasonic G9ii could be even further improved via firmware updates, thus reaching equality or even surpassing the OM1ii?
Super and honest review. Thanks! Actually, the only one which emphasise the physicals changes: dials. It's super important to me. and will possibly purchase one that that!
Really sad to see the removal of the Olympus name. I guess they fell behind the competition and wanted to rebrand but the name should not have changed. It suited the camera so well. OM is just nothing.
It’s a brand licencing issue. OM System was allowed to use the name Olympus only for existing cameras and for new cameras/lenses up to two years after the camera division was sold by Olympus to JIP. That term has now expired so all new cameras and lenses from now on are called OM System. The brand Olympus is now exclusive to the medical/microscope company. It’s indeed sad, but at least the cameras and lenses are still there.
Good review I only bought my om1 2 months ago. Now this is a leaving me feeling rip off, but I do like the little micro 4/ 3 with all is in camera goodness. It’s made me love photography again, I shoot 5 systems now.
I know you guys have to make your money and I appreciate that you‘re not going for sponsorings by the companies you‘re reviewing - but the ads are getting a bit too much for my taste. So much so that i often find myself closing the video after the n‘th mention of sponsor. No hate, just telling you how i felt about the videos lately. Still love watching the two of you have so much fun. Been keeping up with you since 2019 ❤.
Interesting, but I am guessing that an Olympus "Pro Level" lens is needed to take advantage of the full functions of the camera? At least, that was the case in previous versions regarding focus stacking, in camera? I realized only after purchasing a used OM D MK2 that I need a lens that cost more than the camera?
Thank you. Very helpful. Would like to see future videos of you using equipment in the field, highlighting the practical working qualities of cameras and lenses (especially how a piece of equipment offers special benefits).
Thank you very much for a very good video. You are the second one that really tell the audience the real truth, it's not a firmware update with horrible price. It's a hardware updated camera and also has firmware that to a part could - and will - come into the older cameras. I'm confident on that. And you make whiners not steal the show. I love you for that. I know, that in all brands complainers whine. But the terrible whining among too many Olympus users are really hurting the prices of future OM gears. Whining makes sales go down and prices go up and then sales go even further down. So I blame the complainers for the price tag. I want to upgrade when I can afford (my Em1mk3 not my om-1) I love them both, but I use the mark3 too little nowadays, due to the OM-5. And I hope the sticky AF comes in firmware to all of those three cameras. And the GND. Thanks guys. Now we wait for mark 2 firmware update on video department... 😅
@@formermpc10 I bought one. It's fantastic. I've bought a lot of great lenses for it. I suggest you put your angst into action and sell it. Someone else will buy it used and love it. You can then move on to another system and be happy.
I have a pen-f but I would like to replace it with a definitive M43 mirrorless used for travel and family in addition to a professional all-round camera also valid for low light ceremonies... I have lenses such as Leica 42.5mm, 15mm and Sigma 30mm, not I want to change the brand system unless there is something better than the Leica and Zuiko... I'm undecided between OM-1II or GH7...+ Em-10 MIV instead of the Pen-F. Very important for me, especially color science and post-production potential. Advice or alternatives?
Love the video, really do... But there is some mis information at 12:10 you say in regards to composite imaging "you can make a RAW+JPEG"... then why on the OM1 Mark 2, does it only save JPG when doing composite shots such as Focus Stacking, etc... Just like all the prior models with compositing... the output files are JPG... even when you have only RAW enabled.
Yeah, "Select sky" AI mask and mask inversion would be a killer feature but that will definitely need way more processing power. Maybe in the future. Or just increasing the dynamic range via bracketing and compositing the frames into one RAW file without any user intervention would be great too. I do wonder though when one might get some artifacts using the live GND filter? I would guess, anything moving fast might get blurred? Hopefully, we will see further tests of this feature.
Hi, superb video ! I like the "can it be done in firmware" thing :D I really wish OM System upgraded its video capabilities. When I got my OM-1, I was under the impression that its slow motion capabilities were good. I mean, 1080p 200 fps? That's cool! Then, you see the 45Mbps footage and realize that's just an unusable gimmick. It's a real shame, because its photography capabilities are so good. But heh, OM said themselves that they're a nature photography brand, and Panasonic is well versed in video stuff already. One can't just spend its resources everywhere!
The new knobs sounds nice - that was a major gripe of mine when I switched from the G9 to the Om1 mk1. Has the tactile buttons and joystick been improved also?
A year or so ago, when I first got an OM-1, I was very put off by the stiffness of the front dial (especially since I also own a Sony A7R V, with those gorgeously damped, smooth turning dials). But after returning 3 of them for this very reason (2 of them also had a slight stickiness to the shutter button), I finally got one with a smoothly turning dial and non-sticky shutter, which I don't feel requires rubber on it; would like some dampening, like on the Sony, but that's not there on the mkII anyway. Shooting at 25fps most of the time, I also haven't run into buffer issues, so no need for an upgrade there either. So I certainly won't be getting the mkII, but I really wished/hoped they'd bring the AF improvements and GND to the mkI. But now that I found out there's no more option to have tracking with subject detection, I don't even want that. I often shoot birds in groups, so I like to use a small AF area in order to select my target (cause otherwise it's random and you can't switch) and then have it tracked across the frame. PS: "freedom chicken" made me chuckle
@@Ildskalli That is actually in the G9II comparison with the Mark I review from 3 months ago, that was where the clip of the videographer came from. So I'm sure they will eventually mention that in an update.
Great review and nice parka. Wish I had that parka on a trip to Maine a few years back, shooting snowy white owls, in -10o F real-feel. I saved their website in my photography folder(s).
I was one of those folks who turned their nose at the thought of trying an MFT sensor camera. Boy...what a huge mistake that was. Recently took a chance on the Lumix GX80/85 and all I can say is wow! What an enjoyable camera to use and I'm still shocked how they are able to include so many features at such a low price. Even the lenses are affordable all things considered. My other camera, a Leica, has just sat in its bag since getting the Lumix. The camera really is that fun to use. I addd the Lumix 20mm 1.7 and use the L Monochrome setting (a BW profile that Leica helped develop for Panasonic)...the heavens open up and the angels start singing! Looks VERY similar to the BW on my actual Leica camera, but for a literal fraction of the price. If there's anyone else out there on the fence about trying a MFT system camera, there's no need to be. Your biggest regret will be that you waited so long to give it a try.
I too use the GX80 as a hiking body and I agree it is astonishing value. Small, lightweight with an EVF. I wish they'd bring a Pen out with a similar feature set.
I think somewhere OM System said GND and 7EV ND couldn't be done with firmware, because they need this more RAM to be processed, but for most of the other things should be possible.
Hi, I’m a 66 YO, landscape photographer who has recently begun to experience shaky hands (# getting old is fun). I currently shoot an Olympus EM 1 ii. Based on your review of the new OM1 ii today, is it worthwhile spending the $$ to upgrade. I hike in the woods and love not needing a tripod. Cost isn’t an issue in my case (still can’t afford a Leica), and have many OM Pro lenses. Thoughts?
Do you experience problems with the E-M1II regarding your shaky hands? If yes, I would second the other commenters that the "normal" OM-1 should be fine for you (having the BSI sensor gives you a bit better ISO performance, so the half stop or so of better IBIS shouldn't matter). If no - just stick to the E-M1II (and maybe put the money into some lens "upgrade" ;-)).
@Chris - The .5 stops improvement IBIS *could* be (or may not be) possible with firmware. It's not the first time IBIS has been improved via a firmware update via better written code/algorithms. Maybe it's hardware, but maybe not. As for general AF improvements - I def. think that could be done in firmware. The OM-1 already has enough ram to hold multi-shot hand held HDR. New Human AI detect maybe different story but general tracking, etc. should be doable.
It's actually a 1.5 stops improvement. The 8 stops of the mark i was only possible with Sync IS - body only IBIS was rated 7 stops. With the mark ii, body only IBIS is rated 8.5 stops. Both measured at 40mm with the 12-40, if I'm not mistaken. Sync IS with long tele lenses is 8 stops, with both cameras. Totally agree with the rest of your comment - really hope that they will at least give SOMETHING to mark i owners. And be it only in a year or so...
Am I crazy to think that pretty much all Mark Nth camera updates in the past have been pretty incremental and non-significant? It is CLEAR it's not a new camera, but MAINLY a minor to mid update to an existing product line?
Imo if you have the Mark 1, you will not need to upgrade to the Mark 2. But if you don't have the OM-1 you will want the Mark 2. "The autofocus has been improved", yes it has. This is the first MFT camera I have had, more than a few, that will accurately AF the 4/3-MFT adapted Bigma 50-500 "for Olympus" (EVolt) and even CAF+TR. It is not blinding fast as with MFT lenses but does make the Moon bazooka useable. Of course the camera does the AF not the lens but it does require the right pulses sent. Where the G9 does have the ability to use the DMW-MA1, the Bigma is MF only. On the G9M2 the ability to use that adapter has apparently been deleted, big fail, oops. Unlike the G9/G9M2 we are not overwhelmed with a plethora of video modes to puzzle out, on the OM-1/OM-1m2 we have what works and all we need.
The E-M1X has those for a while, it's just sth that I think they purposefully left out of the OM1 so that they can have sth to update it with hardware-wise
@@stefanvasilev9318 Nikon also gave the Z7 / Z6 slick plastic front and rear dials (for some weird reason), which baffled me. I'm happy to see them back on the Z8.
@@ThePhotographyHobbyist Well, we all know r&d and planning for most companies goes years in the future, so it's completely understandable that they're pacing themselves with features and upgrades
@@stefanvasilev9318 I don't like the plastic dials (with no rubberized coating) because in winter when it's really cold and my fingers/skin is very dry, it makes it more difficult to change the dials quickly. One exception to this is the dials on the older E-M1 models because those has sharp edges on the dials and were placed well so it was super easy to change those even with bare fingers on a frigid day.
I would love the grad ND feature, but I can't fathom not combining it with high res mode. 14 bit also seems to make a real difference. This is an excellent camera, just too big for what I like to carry around. Going to iceland in 2 weeks and planning to take my GX85 ... wish me luck, an intimidating place to photo because expectations are high.
'I would love the grad ND feature, but I can't fathom not combining it with high res mode.' _ am I correct in thinking both require their own sequences of multiple exposures? If so, I think therein lies the challenge. If the grad ND requires, say, ten exposures per image and the high res dictates four exposures for each ND step, then you've got forty exposures that need to be taken with minimal camera movement.
@@davidf6326 yes, but you could combine a similar number to achieve both goals. The problem would be many more computations .. it is not hard to imagine the limitations conceptually.
How do you know that the improved IBIS is a hardware-level change? I thought OM System mentioned "improved algorithms" which sounds like firmware-level to me.
I was really hoping for the high res 80 mp hand held and 50 mp for moving objects.
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A single non-firmware feature I would hope for most in these cameras is a multi aspect ratio sensor - like old Panasonic GH cameras had (larger than a standard micro 4/3). Now, when it's not Olympus anymore, they don't have to stick to the idea that "4/3 is always the best".
@@davidf6326 A sensor that is larger than the standard size. So if you change the photo size ratio from 4:3 to 3:2 (or 16:9), the camera still uses the whole image circle - the image is wider than the standard 4:3. This way, you don't lose so much resolution by changing your image aspect ratio - it's not just cropping.
I see what you're getting at, but that's effectively what happens in any camera that offers choices of aspect ratio - albeit in reverse. In M4/3 cameras the sensor is optimised for 4:3 - hence the naming convention. In the case of the OM-1 that's at a resolution of 20MB. You can select other aspect ratios, but these will necessarily use smaller areas of the sensor, reducing the pixel count of the resultant image. No matter, the shape, size or resolution of any given sensor, using an aspect ratio for which it's not optimised, will result in less pixels in the output. This even holds true for a circular sensor - there would still be a an aspect ratio that made the optimum use of the resolution; in that case, I suspect 1:1 would be the most efficient aspect ratio, though I'm open to correction by geometry students on that suggestion. @
I am dying to hear your opinion on the 150-600, the discourse online is making me really feel like I'm never gonna have a telephoto zoom that performs in a way that I'm happy with on this system 😓
At least vertical video and the option of setting the Trash button as Menu button could be achieved by firmware upgrade. Perhaps the new GND feature too, but with fewer EV stops because of less memory in OM1.
Thanks a lot for this fully packed and concise review guys! ( as always ! ) As you appear now to be showing us some top notch apparel for ardent winter photographers I would very much appreciate it if you could ferret out some serious warm and dedicated photographers gloves ( Yes it's cold here in Sweden too ! ;-) I have recently invested in a pair of excellent "Stealth" brand gloves which are technically very smart, but a tad too thin for longer winter outings. ( I've tried the 'Valleret' brand ones but had some size & function issues with them! Are there others out there...perhaps in Canada!? Keep up the good work !
Holding an already created firmware update for the MKI back just to make some people buy the MKII version shows how desperate and/or ruthless OM systems must be by now. The MKII might be a good camera in itself, but it’s a slap in the face for every MKI owner.
Olympus actually said they couldn't get past 6.5EV of IBIS way, way back, due to the rotation of the Earth. In the details, they said it was Earth rotation vs their gyro sensors. This was in the era of the OM-D E-M1 Mark II. Then the EM-1 X came out with 7EV IBIS, and it used a new kind of gyro sensor, and they introduced the Olympus version of coupled IBIS and OIS at the same time. And you get to 8EV with the OM-1 and a coupled lens. Having used these cameras for over a decade, it's real... I was just going over a shot I took last month: a 1/15s exposure with the 100-400mm at 400mm and the MC20 teleconverter -- so a real 800mm, magnification equivalent to 1600mm full frame. And that lens is not fully stabilization coupled. Yeah, it does look like the Mark II is mostly a software upgrade, and I'm probably not buying one... though if I sold both OM-Ds, I might get close....
@@hitthestreetsphoto1253 Yeah... I heard about that. But this was pretty recent. The OM-D X and III as well as the OM-1/OM-1.II have a previously unrevealed sensor based on phlogiston technology that can detect variations in the luminiferous aether to affect a stabilization effect similar to that of the usual gyros. While OMDS has offered no explanation, this particular function is only included in code built for the USA and the UK.... you have to get to the double-secret service menus, or give an address based in Mississippi, Arkansas, or Alabama, to have it enabled.
A small hardware upgrade, that has the firmware update the OM-1 Mk 1 was due to get. A bit of additional memory does not make a new camera, nor does some piss-pot tinkering with thumbwheels.
I agree but other companies have tried paid-for firmware in the past and it bombed with very little uptake. Consumers have been lulled into thinking firmware should be free. Even though it can cost as much to develop as hardware. But I would be interested to see what would happen if they offered 80%+ of the features as a paid for upgrade - at say $500 or so?
Looking at the Z8 2.0 firmware upgrade that was just released, the result is that the AF improvement and additional list of upgrades and additional functionalities that came via this firmware upgrade for free, makes you wonder why OM did not follow this route and a lot of the OM1 - ii "upgrades" could have been done with Firmware.
I'd second that. Nikon Z50s do need some improvements, but I generally carry two with 16-50 and 50-250 lenses permanently attached and I find that combination is great for travel. I'm just hoping the Z50 II - or whatever it ends up being named - makes the right improvements and adds the features I'm looking for, but doesn't throw out the baby with the bath water.
Always makes me think when there's a word like "firmware" or an acronym like "ROM" ROM stands for "read only memory", but we want to be able to update it, so we make it possible to update it with "EPROM" or "erasable programmable read only memory" which seems like an oxymoron to me. And then "EEPROM" which adds "electrically" to the "EPROM" words, as though none of the other things have electricity in them. Seems like we should just call it "HTC memory" for "hard to change" memory.
Well done as always! No discussion of hardware/firmware update from me - a little bit of both. For some time (2012-2017) Olympus was very innovative and in a leading position. In Europe Olympus/OM system now is a "dead horse" - it does not matter anymore. For 3 years I changed to another company. So many have done the same. Sad but truth.
I live in Germany, near Netherlands and we often have vacancies in Suisse, Austria, Italia. So over the years we See that Olympus can' t be found barely for years. So I can speak of my experiences...
This is a very good and fair review that has prompted some FF fan boys to jump in with some ignorant disparaging disinformation. I suggest that everyone take a breath and look at Thomas Eisl’s superbly detailed and thorough review on UA-cam. He clearly explains why increasing the buffer size is so much more than just increasing the number of shots one can take in burst mode. The buffer = RAM or working memory. Doubling it has enabled the OM1 II to rework many of its computational algorithms to vastly improve autofocus hit rates, provide much better AI subject recognition and tracking, produce 14 bit high resolution shots, finally eliminating EVF blackouts for most shutter speeds used by wildlife photographers, while also improving the customization of Pro Capture and innovating a flexible graduated filter visible in real time live view. Only some of these improvements can be transferred to the OM1 Mark I via a firmware update given its more limited RAM. Let’s not forget that the backlit stacked sensor in the camera and the processor are still state of the art in read out speed and together have all but eliminated rolling shutter problems. Finally, certainly half a loaf of improved firmware for the OM1 Mark I would be most welcome to those of us who actually use the camera.
Great explanation and clarification.
The role of RAM really should be apparent to anyone who's ever installed PC software and read the specification requirements as part of that process. It should be even more obvious to anyone who's been told they need to upgrade their laptop because the latest applications are running like a three-legged dog. It seems though, that some people need this explained to them when it comes to camera upgrades and your comment does a brilliant job of doing so.
As a side note, it's funny how people will buy the latest model of Apple or Samsung phone every year without a second thought and yet when it comes to cameras they expect the manufacturers to continually provide firmware upgrades and the device itself to be capable of supporting an endless array new and enhanced features. Granted one has a right to expect at least a couple of years of support 'upgrades', especially given that, in practice, these are typically more about getting the original promised features working correctly post-release rather than providing any real enhancements.
Thomas Eisl is the guy to go to. Intense attention to detail. He does his homework. On another video of his, he mentions that we expect free firmware upgrades but the development work on those firmware changes are expensive. One way to pay for that is to develop a new camera and get some revenue flow, and a lot of the Mark II improvements can't be done all in firmware.
Freedom chicken is probably one of the funniest things I've ive ever heard
Bald-headed patriot goose was the one for me!
I'm dying of laughter 😂
😅😂🤣
Better a “freedom chicken” than a work slave, wood chewing rodent.
He is a Canadian communist
Chris' strip show for the win! Awesome job in covering the OM-1 Mark II guys!
For wildlife and sports photographers shooting handheld with a long telephoto lens, like the 150-400mm f/4.5, they must support the lens with their left hand. Because the menu button is on the upper left of the body, they must stop shooting and move their hand to activate the menu. The OM-1 Mark II has the ability to re-program the "menu" button to the "delete" button found on the bottom right on the body. So they can keep shooting and adjust easily with their right hand.
As for the price, it is $200 more than the OM-1. However, as we all know, inflation of 15%-20% over the last two years has raised the price of everything. Without inflation, the price would be the same as before. Inflation has hurt all of us for everything that we purchase.
If you need to access the menu, aren't you going to stop shooting regardless?
@@taylorhickman84 Yes, but you might not be in a position to take your hand away from your lens and leave it unsupported. (Although I think those would be limited scenarios).
I just picked up the mk ii to replace my om-1. The dials and menu button remap make it feel like a completely different camera to handle as you interact with those so much. Makes it feel much more like an extension of arm compared to constantly fumbling to press menu on the left or struggling with the dials. Both were friction points for me..
The new AF improvements/interface are great. C-af+tracking is super sticky, barely slides off target and will even return to the target if it goes off screen or if you shake camera around quickly. The consolidated AF interface makes things much easier with the removal of c-af+tracking when using subject detection, being replaced by the new setting whether to keep subject detection focus whether only inside focus box or if it goes outside focus box. Also being able to map focus priority of subject detect or focus box to af-on/shutter improves workflow and reaction time. Improved af refresh rate makes lock on much faster and stickier, I had trouble using subject detect in the original om-1 in dog mode to capture my puppy running at me, which i was able to quickly try and is much better now.
Om-1 resale value is pretty good, and in my country the mk ii included bonus battery grip which I will sell to offset the cost of upgrade. Nice to have warranty refreshed, although in 12 years of using Olympus MFT cameras/lenses ive never had to do a single warranty claim.
I really do think that OM system should at least bring the menu button remap to the original om-1 if nothing else. It's a big quality of life change.
OM System would make a killing if they just did a Pen F or a body design like the EP1 etc. Weather seal it and launch a V2 of the 17mm and they have a money printing licence
0:31 Sooo... this is a stacked parka? How many frames per second? 😄
Hard to say, but it will make you autofocus on Chris very quickly!
😂😂😂, stacked or bracketed parka, depending on use of the zipper ❤
All I care about in a stacked parka is reduced rolling zipper.
A proper parka has fur around the hood. ;-)
Ever since I switched to Olympus/OM Systems I barely have to use my tripod (which is, btw, light since the lenses aren't heavy). This definitely makes my hikes and backpacking much more pleasant. I do have a collection of ND and GND filters but I hate using them even when I hike alone. Whenever you backpack with a group there is simply no time to be fiddling with real filters as you have to keep up with the group or they will soon start hating you. The live ND and GND filters as well as other computational features that can be used hand-held are a game-changer for landscape photography on the go.
@6:55, OM Systems has already disclosed the IBIS improvements are from improved algorithms, so it definitely can be done in firmware and doesn't require a hardware change.
That isn't necessarily true. Just because it isn't a hardware upgrade, doesn't mean the present system doesn't have limitations that are set by the onboard memory.
@@robertmills4591 Agree it's not necessarily true but it's highly probable. OM went out of their way to describe which features required a hardware change, for the very reason of avoiding the appearance of what would otherwise look like a $2k+ firmware upgrade. The fact that they explicitly say algorithms is behind the IBIS improvement, without mention of a hardware change, strongly hints that it's a firmware-only change.
Lol go try astro stacking with 8gb ram vs my 32gb. Only an algorithm he says.
@@larrychicco1062 Lol apples and oranges
@@BobWilliams-kk1zz I think most of it could have been a firmware delivery but it is significant enough that they would have to charge for it, not $2k certainly but several hundred $$$ for sure. After all, it costs as much to develop new software as hardware. But experience tells us that consumers don't like having to pay for firmware, so making some minor hardware tweaks(and changing the name) makes it a new camera and they can charge accordingly and keep making money. But it might be nice if they also offered a firmware pack for the OM1 with most of the features for, say, $500 and see how many took it up... I suspect EM1 users(like me) would be more tempted by the new body but OM1 shooters may prefer the firmware and lose some of the new tweaks.
Guys, the really useful sponsors, are killing my bank account! lol.
Hi Chris,
Yes human detection does support the torso see manual page 120:
The camera detects people. It tracks focus on such elements as the face, head,
eyes, and upper body
I wish OM gave a bit more information about those rubber coated front and rear dials.
Over the years I have disposed of a number of items where rubber coated items got sticky and it was too hard to remove the sticky surface.
That grad filter looks very nice
Hopefully the AF problems some reported with the original have been fixed as well.
Yes! It's really annoying how the rubber coating on many consumer items just kind of decomposes and turns into a sticky mess, rendering the item virtually unusable.
Use cornstarch (a small amount at a time), it will stop the stickiness… or you can remove the rubber coating entirely with rubbing alcohol
Agree with the concern about rubber coated dials. I too had so many rubber coated items that became sticky and unusable. To me it seems like a workaround to try to overcome poor ergonomics in the dial design. Previous E-M1 models had no complaints about the dials. I hope for the Mk3 they will adjust the dial design properly. And move the menu button to the right where most people want it for real. And where in forums we have seen people posting issues with the markings coming off dials on the OM-1, I predict we will see posts about the rubber coating coming off.
@@DB-fj6tk
Agree Good points
Amen to the autofocus problems. I just made a comment to the same effect myself.
Flashing battery warnings give me anxiety 🫠
I was watching the video while reading this comment. Which flashing battery warning? Looked back at the video again... there it was! 😂
Battery power consumed lot more in ii indirectly shown
Yah, that was pretty distracting... 😅
Could it have been done with firmware? Perhaps not all of them; certainly some of them. (I'm not convinced the ibis change is hardware.) Could OMD have put enough ram in the original to support these upgrades? Of course they could have. I don't have a lot of faith that any of these upgrades will be rolled out to the Mk I. I hope OMD proves me wrong. I won't even mention the "new" lenses, except to say that that Sigma monster you're carrying around, is three times the price of the full-frame version of the lens!!
Three times the price of the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports Lens, which is the one with the same optical design, would run you $4,497.00
You and Thomas Eisl do the absolute best reviews of gear! Straightforward, clear, and honest. OM System has produced a very nice product! They are just pa joy to use!
Thank you, Chris, for clarifying that the OM-1 II can churn out RAW files with the live GND filter applied. This is very cool!
I don't understand the hate. It's only a 2 years refresh, pushed by the need to not use the Olympus name anymore. Guys, just don't consider it's a true Mark II. Give OM a couples of years more for a Mark III and judge the result, then, made by the OM system R&D (not the Olympus one).
I still want to replace my fantastic EM1 markii with a 25+MP camera. I can wait for it.
The negative comments are because of salesman, like Chris, telling us to accept crap and not ask questions.
If you pay for an incremental upgrade then that's all you will get.
What you state is mostly correct, but the main problem is that they make it more expensive than the original one and they're not really adding much. If they lowered the price of the original OM1 and released this one with the same base price of the original one it wouldn't be a problem
@@ALIENdrifter66 It's a better camera and the rebates level the playing field.
You get a PRO grade weather sealed device with dual (similar) card readers with lots of digital trickery, fantastic IBIS & AF, with top IQ and superb 4K video for 60% of what EOS R3 would have cost. And better lenses. I don't think the price is unreasonable.
Totally agree!
Thank you for a balanced review and addressing the "firmware update" issue.
They have to get rid of all Olympus branding on items in the market relatively soon, so I'm not really surprised about a somewhat quick update (the OM-1 is still a great camera). If they're smart, they'll release at least some of the improvements that are possible with the original OM-1 hardware as an update. Olympus did this with the E-M5.ii, massively improving things like AF on an already great camera, well after release. You could argue the E-M5.iii wasn't out at the time, but you could also argue the E-M5.ii was so good that it still sold well past the release of the mark iii (my main body is an E-M5 mark iii alongside a G9, but my mark ii is always in my travel bag). Releasing as much of an update as possible will help build faith with consumers and help them out in general far more than the couple sales of an OM-1 over an OM-1.ii that might happen due to an update.
This camera has some cool features. Internal graduated ND filter really caught my eye.
I think that was a fair assessment.
I had no idea a jacket system like this existed expressly for photography. That’s pretty rad. Also, the grade on this video seems even better than usual somehow.
You might like FoxFire, a Japanese company that makes jackets designed to carry large lenses. Because even big MFT glass is smaller, I can fit a 100-400 mounted to the OM-1 inside their special vertical pockets!
I live where we often roast at 40°+ Celcius. No jacket required. 😂
Bottomline. Its a Mk 1.1. They forgot the dot between the I's.
I call it the OM-1 and a half.
I'm not buying it.
It’s a ‘refresh’, essentially. The AF modes being far less complicated seems useful. Most of the other features I wouldn’t use.
I haven’t got the money available for either body right now, so it’s somewhat moot. 🤷♂️
Brilliant comment…. So true
Very well done guys. And beautifully shot. I must say, tho, I disagree about the 14-bit HR. It'd be great to see that come to the OM1.1 via FW but that is piles of data being processed in camera. I think it's a bigger buffer thing. However hopefully now with that bigger buffer the OM1.2 can get a FW update adding / improving motion blur correction to the HR and HHHR to be as good or better than Panasonic's. We shall see.
If it is a piles of data thing, then they could maybe give us the choice of handling 14 bit and running slower.
Don't hold your breath for any of these features appearing in retrofit firmware for the MKI - that's not the way marketing works 😊
@@davidf6326 Thanks for that. I like learning about marketing.
Some brilliant writing in this 😄 good even handed review. Glad your stance is that of hoping (expecting?) that some of these features will trickle down via FW, esp to the OM-1
It would be nice, but I doubt any of the features trickle down. They want you to buy a new camera, not hold on to the old one.
@@JoeDonFan true - one can hope, yet doubt.
Don't hold your breath for any of these features appearing in retrofit firmware for the MKI - that's not the way marketing works 😊
Thanks for the best independent review of the OM-1 Mk II - as I would expect. I'm a die hard Olympus fan, but it's time for the Olympus name to go. Unfortunately, some are still angry that Olympus sold off their camera division and are taking it out on OM Digital Solutions. I read a comment for another video calling the OM1 Mk II "ugly" because of the "OM System" name. Give me a break.
Further, let's ditch the "myth of firmware". No one has a right to expect firmware feature updates for free. Fixes for existing functions, yes, but those are limited by the hardware and core OS. Olympus had added features that in the past - mostly with the E-M1 Mk II - but such things are not promised and don't make good market sense. No company provides free new functions to your smart phone, tablet, or computer.
Better is better, and the OM-1 Mk II is better than the original OM-1. This kind of evolution and refinement is to make the OM-1 more competitive for new purchasers - not really to create mass upgrades of current OM-1 users. Panasonic took 5 years to upgrade the G9 and then they recycled one of their FF bodies, and OMDS responded in only 4 months!
Haters gonna' hate, but I think the OM-1 Mk II is solid proof of how much nimbler and more responsive OMDS is than Olympus ever was. Thanks again, for a really fair and honest review.
It's not an independent review!
PetaPixel has a relationship with OMDS.
Favorable reviews keep the relationship alive.
This is not an independent review.
It's an advertisement.
PetaPixel has a relationship with OMDS.
Hmm, I can't see the other replies here, but almost all Olympus M4/3 have had free firmware updates, so it is my right to "expect" updates though it's not contractual nor a myth. There were four or five updates to my E-M1, not just bugfixes. And yes, all of my phones have also had free new functions with OS updates, and I don't mean just outside apps and security.
They now need to make the OM-1 more competitive (mark I) by dropping the price to drag some market share away from Panasonic or to get OM-D users to re-up. The current price difference between Mk I and II is not, IMO, compelling enough. For the moment they're maximizing profit from early adopters. (Old joke - How much is the new Eagles album? $5,000,000. How many do you expect to sell at that ridiculous price? We just have to sell 1!)
@@pault151 But free firmware updates might be part of why Olympus camera division lost a lot of money and was sold off. Firmware costs a lot to develop but if you give it away that's a bad business model! JIP are primarily interested in creating a profitable business and that's in our interest too in the long term. Free updates should be limited to things like new lens support and fixes to bugs IMHO.
They didn’t do the video firmware update Jordan has been asking for. And it's needed!
I think maybe the video firmware update took too long time to do, (😅hope I'm right about that), so we got the camera first and the video firmware will arrive later.
Hopefully.
Olympus always got some interesting features but I don't really get the upgrade...
I'm really happy to see Hauckland anywhere outside Germany. I think it's really innovative stuff and it's cool to see this small German brand succeeding internationally👍🏼
Chris . . . Wondering if you could mention in camera reviews that manufactures are still not switching from jpeg to jpeg XL format and taking us past the limits of 8 bit jpegs. If i understand correctly Jpeg XL tops out at 32 bit, making you wonder if you would ever need to shoot RAW again.
To me the question isn't whether it's worth it to upgrade from the OM-1, but is the Mark II more appealing to new users and to bring some people into 4/3? Seems like it should be much more appealing to anyone contemplating moving to 4/3, or to someone making their first purchase. I'd say this is a winner for OM Systems.
I'm not tempted in the slightest for the OM-1 Mark II.
But the Haukland jacket?!? Now that's tempting...
I have one, they are great 👍
I'm holding out for the Mark II
I like it. Yes, it should have been cheaper, but with OM numbers in camera/lenses sale it’s impossible to compete on price. So to everybody saying “Well I can get a CaNiSony for xxxx” well duuuuh, there is no way this small company with a niche product can compare favorably. But I’d tell you this: a world with a single format doesn’t sound fun at all.
you can't get that new camera smell with firmware.
Umm, I was in it just for the jacket review! I trust Canadians when it's about cold weather gear!
Were there actually any hardware changes to the IBIS? The DPReview initial review claimed that OM told them the improvement was coming from updated control algorithms. Also the subject lock seems to be one of the better additions but I've barely seen any reviews mention it.
At this point I wouldn't expect to get a believable answer to that. This release has stirred up a whole maelstrom of unsubstantiated claims and misinfo, and it'll probably make its way into this comment section too.
@@aggro_online I don't expect Jordan or Chris to actually know "the truth", I'm just curious whether or not OM told them there are hardware changes in the IBIS.
Comparing the flagship m43 cameras, is it possible that tracking AF performance on the Panasonic G9ii could be even further improved via firmware updates, thus reaching equality or even surpassing the OM1ii?
Super and honest review. Thanks!
Actually, the only one which emphasise the physicals changes: dials. It's super important to me. and will possibly purchase one that that!
Really sad to see the removal of the Olympus name. I guess they fell behind the competition and wanted to rebrand but the name should not have changed. It suited the camera so well. OM is just nothing.
It’s a brand licencing issue. OM System was allowed to use the name Olympus only for existing cameras and for new cameras/lenses up to two years after the camera division was sold by Olympus to JIP. That term has now expired so all new cameras and lenses from now on are called OM System. The brand Olympus is now exclusive to the medical/microscope company. It’s indeed sad, but at least the cameras and lenses are still there.
That’s the prettiest chicken I’ve ever seen. Pretty sure Chris needs to change his contacts 😂
Good review I only bought my om1 2 months ago. Now this is a leaving me feeling rip off, but I do like the little micro 4/ 3 with all is in camera goodness. It’s made me love photography again, I shoot 5 systems now.
I know you guys have to make your money and I appreciate that you‘re not going for sponsorings by the companies you‘re reviewing - but the ads are getting a bit too much for my taste. So much so that i often find myself closing the video after the n‘th mention of sponsor. No hate, just telling you how i felt about the videos lately. Still love watching the two of you have so much fun. Been keeping up with you since 2019 ❤.
I liked the info on the parkers more than the OM-1-II. 😂
Interesting, but I am guessing that an Olympus "Pro Level" lens is needed to take advantage of the full functions of the camera? At least, that was the case in previous versions regarding focus stacking, in camera? I realized only after purchasing a used OM D MK2 that I need a lens that cost more than the camera?
Were any of these example photos opened in OM Workspace? I’ve seen evidence of higher picture quality when OM is used to open the RAW files.
Thank you. Very helpful. Would like to see future videos of you using equipment in the field, highlighting the practical working qualities of cameras and lenses (especially how a piece of equipment offers special benefits).
Hi Chris, I am looking at the OM brand, would you suggest purchasing the Mark II?
The very much
Thank you very much for a very good video.
You are the second one that really tell the audience the real truth, it's not a firmware update with horrible price. It's a hardware updated camera and also has firmware that to a part could - and will - come into the older cameras. I'm confident on that.
And you make whiners not steal the show. I love you for that. I know, that in all brands complainers whine. But the terrible whining among too many Olympus users are really hurting the prices of future OM gears. Whining makes sales go down and prices go up and then sales go even further down.
So I blame the complainers for the price tag.
I want to upgrade when I can afford (my Em1mk3 not my om-1) I love them both, but I use the mark3 too little nowadays, due to the OM-5.
And I hope the sticky AF comes in firmware to all of those three cameras. And the GND.
Thanks guys. Now we wait for mark 2 firmware update on video department... 😅
Dear OM Systems, if the OM-1 mk.I will never get a newer firmware in the future, this was my last buy from you.!
Yes, if they treat their customers like that they do not deserve sales
Bye
@@CallMeRabbitzUSVIno one should ever buy a Sony ever again... But they do. Camera people are so dramatic
The OM-1 was my last m43 purchase.
It has been a lousy product.
@@formermpc10 I bought one. It's fantastic. I've bought a lot of great lenses for it. I suggest you put your angst into action and sell it. Someone else will buy it used and love it. You can then move on to another system and be happy.
I have a pen-f but I would like to replace it with a definitive M43 mirrorless used for travel and family in addition to a professional all-round camera also valid for low light ceremonies... I have lenses such as Leica 42.5mm, 15mm and Sigma 30mm, not I want to change the brand system unless there is something better than the Leica and Zuiko... I'm undecided between OM-1II or GH7...+ Em-10 MIV instead of the Pen-F. Very important for me, especially color science and post-production potential. Advice or alternatives?
Love the video, really do... But there is some mis information at 12:10 you say in regards to composite imaging "you can make a RAW+JPEG"... then why on the OM1 Mark 2, does it only save JPG when doing composite shots such as Focus Stacking, etc... Just like all the prior models with compositing... the output files are JPG... even when you have only RAW enabled.
That built in electronic graduated filter makes me think they could build a grad based on masking via the camera touchscreen.
Yeah, "Select sky" AI mask and mask inversion would be a killer feature but that will definitely need way more processing power. Maybe in the future. Or just increasing the dynamic range via bracketing and compositing the frames into one RAW file without any user intervention would be great too. I do wonder though when one might get some artifacts using the live GND filter? I would guess, anything moving fast might get blurred? Hopefully, we will see further tests of this feature.
Hi, superb video ! I like the "can it be done in firmware" thing :D
I really wish OM System upgraded its video capabilities. When I got my OM-1, I was under the impression that its slow motion capabilities were good. I mean, 1080p 200 fps? That's cool! Then, you see the 45Mbps footage and realize that's just an unusable gimmick. It's a real shame, because its photography capabilities are so good. But heh, OM said themselves that they're a nature photography brand, and Panasonic is well versed in video stuff already. One can't just spend its resources everywhere!
The new knobs sounds nice - that was a major gripe of mine when I switched from the G9 to the Om1 mk1. Has the tactile buttons and joystick been improved also?
Chris is a "fast talker". Maybe there is a comedy show in there.
A year or so ago, when I first got an OM-1, I was very put off by the stiffness of the front dial (especially since I also own a Sony A7R V, with those gorgeously damped, smooth turning dials). But after returning 3 of them for this very reason (2 of them also had a slight stickiness to the shutter button), I finally got one with a smoothly turning dial and non-sticky shutter, which I don't feel requires rubber on it; would like some dampening, like on the Sony, but that's not there on the mkII anyway.
Shooting at 25fps most of the time, I also haven't run into buffer issues, so no need for an upgrade there either.
So I certainly won't be getting the mkII, but I really wished/hoped they'd bring the AF improvements and GND to the mkI. But now that I found out there's no more option to have tracking with subject detection, I don't even want that. I often shoot birds in groups, so I like to use a small AF area in order to select my target (cause otherwise it's random and you can't switch) and then have it tracked across the frame.
PS: "freedom chicken" made me chuckle
Why you didnt test the tracking with your famous running model?
Probably saving that for the head-to-head comparison with the G9II.
@@Ildskalli That is actually in the G9II comparison with the Mark I review from 3 months ago, that was where the clip of the videographer came from. So I'm sure they will eventually mention that in an update.
Would it make sense (save dollars) if they got rid of video part of the camera?
Aaand, I would pick up the Panasonic G9 II.
Thanks for the excellent review, as always.
Great review and nice parka. Wish I had that parka on a trip to Maine a few years back, shooting snowy white owls, in -10o F real-feel. I saved their website in my photography folder(s).
You look so great in your Haukland Photographer's Clothing. 😋
Can we get a review on those gloves, too?
They were good but still lack the dexterity needed at the finger tips.
I was one of those folks who turned their nose at the thought of trying an MFT sensor camera. Boy...what a huge mistake that was. Recently took a chance on the Lumix GX80/85 and all I can say is wow! What an enjoyable camera to use and I'm still shocked how they are able to include so many features at such a low price. Even the lenses are affordable all things considered. My other camera, a Leica, has just sat in its bag since getting the Lumix. The camera really is that fun to use. I addd the Lumix 20mm 1.7 and use the L Monochrome setting (a BW profile that Leica helped develop for Panasonic)...the heavens open up and the angels start singing! Looks VERY similar to the BW on my actual Leica camera, but for a literal fraction of the price. If there's anyone else out there on the fence about trying a MFT system camera, there's no need to be. Your biggest regret will be that you waited so long to give it a try.
I too use the GX80 as a hiking body and I agree it is astonishing value. Small, lightweight with an EVF. I wish they'd bring a Pen out with a similar feature set.
I think somewhere OM System said GND and 7EV ND couldn't be done with firmware, because they need this more RAM to be processed, but for most of the other things should be possible.
Hi, I’m a 66 YO, landscape photographer who has recently begun to experience shaky hands (# getting old is fun). I currently shoot an Olympus EM 1 ii. Based on your review of the new OM1 ii today, is it worthwhile spending the $$ to upgrade. I hike in the woods and love not needing a tripod. Cost isn’t an issue in my case (still can’t afford a Leica), and have many OM Pro lenses. Thoughts?
Just get the om 1. Save good money and have basically the same stabilization.
Any version of OM1 should be a solid upgrade :)
Do you experience problems with the E-M1II regarding your shaky hands? If yes, I would second the other commenters that the "normal" OM-1 should be fine for you (having the BSI sensor gives you a bit better ISO performance, so the half stop or so of better IBIS shouldn't matter). If no - just stick to the E-M1II (and maybe put the money into some lens "upgrade" ;-)).
We answered your question on the podcast! Tune in tomorrow.
The eGND is the best argument for the OM-1ii. I would recommend the OM-1ii for a Landscape photographer
@Chris - The .5 stops improvement IBIS *could* be (or may not be) possible with firmware. It's not the first time IBIS has been improved via a firmware update via better written code/algorithms. Maybe it's hardware, but maybe not.
As for general AF improvements - I def. think that could be done in firmware. The OM-1 already has enough ram to hold multi-shot hand held HDR. New Human AI detect maybe different story but general tracking, etc. should be doable.
It's actually a 1.5 stops improvement. The 8 stops of the mark i was only possible with Sync IS - body only IBIS was rated 7 stops. With the mark ii, body only IBIS is rated 8.5 stops. Both measured at 40mm with the 12-40, if I'm not mistaken.
Sync IS with long tele lenses is 8 stops, with both cameras.
Totally agree with the rest of your comment - really hope that they will at least give SOMETHING to mark i owners. And be it only in a year or so...
The biggest issue with this camera is the horrific price.
So get a Leica instead.
Horrific?
Really?
Have you heard about inflation? Everything is getting more expensive, I don't think it's overpriced compared to other camera brands.
@@FierceSleepingDogI mean it’s a mft sensor camera, I expect it to be cheaper than a crop sensor camera.
@@danielalmaguer6802 So the sensor size is all that matters?
Do you even know what features are in the camera?
Whats happen with the Intro background at 0:25. Why it is flickering so much?
Glad someone else noticed that, it was really bugging me too! I was wondering whether it was DFD flutter?
@@Penguins247 seems like that!
Hi, can you tell me that How long is the longest video recording time? thanks
Am I crazy to think that pretty much all Mark Nth camera updates in the past have been pretty incremental and non-significant? It is CLEAR it's not a new camera, but MAINLY a minor to mid update to an existing product line?
Imo if you have the Mark 1, you will not need to upgrade to the Mark 2. But if you don't have the OM-1 you will want the Mark 2.
"The autofocus has been improved", yes it has. This is the first MFT camera I have had, more than a few, that will accurately AF the 4/3-MFT adapted Bigma 50-500 "for Olympus" (EVolt) and even CAF+TR. It is not blinding fast as with MFT lenses but does make the Moon bazooka useable.
Of course the camera does the AF not the lens but it does require the right pulses sent. Where the G9 does have the ability to use the DMW-MA1, the Bigma is MF only. On the G9M2 the ability to use that adapter has apparently been deleted, big fail, oops.
Unlike the G9/G9M2 we are not overwhelmed with a plethora of video modes to puzzle out, on the OM-1/OM-1m2 we have what works and all we need.
2:25 That's a classic Nikon D-SLR feature. Rubberized command dials. Love it.
The E-M1X has those for a while, it's just sth that I think they purposefully left out of the OM1 so that they can have sth to update it with hardware-wise
@@stefanvasilev9318 Nikon also gave the Z7 / Z6 slick plastic front and rear dials (for some weird reason), which baffled me. I'm happy to see them back on the Z8.
@@ThePhotographyHobbyist Well, we all know r&d and planning for most companies goes years in the future, so it's completely understandable that they're pacing themselves with features and upgrades
@@stefanvasilev9318 I don't like the plastic dials (with no rubberized coating) because in winter when it's really cold and my fingers/skin is very dry, it makes it more difficult to change the dials quickly. One exception to this is the dials on the older E-M1 models because those has sharp edges on the dials and were placed well so it was super easy to change those even with bare fingers on a frigid day.
@@stefanvasilev9318 The Olympus E-3 had them before that!
Can the coat replace a bag for a M4/3 setup?
Jordan, don't let Chris forget about that strip show this summer
I would love the grad ND feature, but I can't fathom not combining it with high res mode. 14 bit also seems to make a real difference. This is an excellent camera, just too big for what I like to carry around. Going to iceland in 2 weeks and planning to take my GX85 ... wish me luck, an intimidating place to photo because expectations are high.
'I would love the grad ND feature, but I can't fathom not combining it with high res mode.' _ am I correct in thinking both require their own sequences of multiple exposures? If so, I think therein lies the challenge. If the grad ND requires, say, ten exposures per image and the high res dictates four exposures for each ND step, then you've got forty exposures that need to be taken with minimal camera movement.
@@davidf6326 yes, but you could combine a similar number to achieve both goals. The problem would be many more computations .. it is not hard to imagine the limitations conceptually.
That's precisely my point.@@busydadscooking001
Great Video 👏
Thanks for review
Who is this camera for?
How do you know that the improved IBIS is a hardware-level change? I thought OM System mentioned "improved algorithms" which sounds like firmware-level to me.
The fact that Chris's jacket drew more attention than the mark II says a little.
God forbid, imagine him doing the next presentation in boxer shorts🤣
I was really hoping for the high res 80 mp hand held and 50 mp for moving objects.
A single non-firmware feature I would hope for most in these cameras is a multi aspect ratio sensor - like old Panasonic GH cameras had (larger than a standard micro 4/3). Now, when it's not Olympus anymore, they don't have to stick to the idea that "4/3 is always the best".
What's a multi-aspect ratio sensor?
@@davidf6326 A sensor that is larger than the standard size. So if you change the photo size ratio from 4:3 to 3:2 (or 16:9), the camera still uses the whole image circle - the image is wider than the standard 4:3. This way, you don't lose so much resolution by changing your image aspect ratio - it's not just cropping.
I see what you're getting at, but that's effectively what happens in any camera that offers choices of aspect ratio - albeit in reverse.
In M4/3 cameras the sensor is optimised for 4:3 - hence the naming convention. In the case of the OM-1 that's at a resolution of 20MB. You can select other aspect ratios, but these will necessarily use smaller areas of the sensor, reducing the pixel count of the resultant image.
No matter, the shape, size or resolution of any given sensor, using an aspect ratio for which it's not optimised, will result in less pixels in the output. This even holds true for a circular sensor - there would still be a an aspect ratio that made the optimum use of the resolution; in that case, I suspect 1:1 would be the most efficient aspect ratio, though I'm open to correction by geometry students on that suggestion. @
I am dying to hear your opinion on the 150-600, the discourse online is making me really feel like I'm never gonna have a telephoto zoom that performs in a way that I'm happy with on this system 😓
That review is coming soon!
@@PetaPixelThat is what we want to see. Does it warrant the price.
@@PetaPixel
Really wanted to buy a second body to go with my og OM-1, but the G9ii was hard to beat for the price and video needs.
Being as the jacket is the new improved model II, one has to wonder if the upgrade could have been handled via a firmware update?
Thanks for 12 bit vs. 14 bit comparison. Very helpful towards emptying wallet.
At least vertical video and the option of setting the Trash button as Menu button could be achieved by firmware upgrade.
Perhaps the new GND feature too, but with fewer EV stops because of less memory in OM1.
What the world really needs is even more vertical videos 🙄😁
Thanks a lot for this fully packed and concise review guys! ( as always ! ) As you appear now to be showing us some top notch apparel for ardent winter photographers I would very much appreciate it if you could ferret out some serious warm and dedicated photographers gloves ( Yes it's cold here in Sweden too ! ;-) I have recently invested in a pair of excellent "Stealth" brand gloves which are technically very smart, but a tad too thin for longer winter outings. ( I've tried the 'Valleret' brand ones but had some size & function issues with them! Are there others out there...perhaps in Canada!? Keep up the good work !
Holding an already created firmware update for the MKI back just to make some people buy the MKII version shows how desperate and/or ruthless OM systems must be by now. The MKII might be a good camera in itself, but it’s a slap in the face for every MKI owner.
Olympus actually said they couldn't get past 6.5EV of IBIS way, way back, due to the rotation of the Earth. In the details, they said it was Earth rotation vs their gyro sensors. This was in the era of the OM-D E-M1 Mark II. Then the EM-1 X came out with 7EV IBIS, and it used a new kind of gyro sensor, and they introduced the Olympus version of coupled IBIS and OIS at the same time. And you get to 8EV with the OM-1 and a coupled lens. Having used these cameras for over a decade, it's real... I was just going over a shot I took last month: a 1/15s exposure with the 100-400mm at 400mm and the MC20 teleconverter -- so a real 800mm, magnification equivalent to 1600mm full frame. And that lens is not fully stabilization coupled.
Yeah, it does look like the Mark II is mostly a software upgrade, and I'm probably not buying one... though if I sold both OM-Ds, I might get close....
Olympus has offered a “gray market” firmware update for some of the flat earthers who don’t use such mythical devices such as gyros for cameras.
@@hitthestreetsphoto1253 Yeah... I heard about that. But this was pretty recent. The OM-D X and III as well as the OM-1/OM-1.II have a previously unrevealed sensor based on phlogiston technology that can detect variations in the luminiferous aether to affect a stabilization effect similar to that of the usual gyros. While OMDS has offered no explanation, this particular function is only included in code built for the USA and the UK.... you have to get to the double-secret service menus, or give an address based in Mississippi, Arkansas, or Alabama, to have it enabled.
Anxiously awaiting the OM System 150-600mm f/5-6/3 review - When is it coming gentlemen?!
A small hardware upgrade, that has the firmware update the OM-1 Mk 1 was due to get. A bit of additional memory does not make a new camera, nor does some piss-pot tinkering with thumbwheels.
OMD could have offered firmware update for the OM1 as an option for a fee !
I agree but other companies have tried paid-for firmware in the past and it bombed with very little uptake. Consumers have been lulled into thinking firmware should be free. Even though it can cost as much to develop as hardware. But I would be interested to see what would happen if they offered 80%+ of the features as a paid for upgrade - at say $500 or so?
Looking at the Z8 2.0 firmware upgrade that was just released, the result is that the AF improvement and additional list of upgrades and additional functionalities that came via this firmware upgrade for free, makes you wonder why OM did not follow this route and a lot of the OM1 - ii "upgrades" could have been done with Firmware.
It is no more "Olympus".
Great review and I do agree with your conclusions. I am trading in my OM-1 for the OM-1 MkII.
It's hardly a review.
PetaPixel is encouraging you to buy this camera and not ask questions.
Aps-c is where it's at. Way more lens (apsc/FF) options with native support same size/weight as mft
No
I'd second that. Nikon Z50s do need some improvements, but I generally carry two with 16-50 and 50-250 lenses permanently attached and I find that combination is great for travel. I'm just hoping the Z50 II - or whatever it ends up being named - makes the right improvements and adds the features I'm looking for, but doesn't throw out the baby with the bath water.
False. Not same size / weight as m43 lenses at all
@@unfurling3129 That's true, but I find APS-C to be the best compromise.
Always makes me think when there's a word like "firmware" or an acronym like "ROM" ROM stands for "read only memory", but we want to be able to update it, so we make it possible to update it with "EPROM" or "erasable programmable read only memory" which seems like an oxymoron to me. And then "EEPROM" which adds "electrically" to the "EPROM" words, as though none of the other things have electricity in them. Seems like we should just call it "HTC memory" for "hard to change" memory.
Or RNK-FILM (Release New Products, Fix Issues Later Memory) 😉
Pretty good upgrades I would say
Well done as always!
No discussion of hardware/firmware update from me - a little bit of both.
For some time (2012-2017) Olympus was very innovative and in a leading position.
In Europe Olympus/OM system now is a "dead horse" - it does not matter anymore. For 3 years I changed to another company. So many have done the same. Sad but truth.
'In Europe Olympus/OM system now is a "dead horse"' - why specifically in Europe?
I live in Germany, near Netherlands and we often have vacancies in Suisse, Austria, Italia. So over the years we See that Olympus can' t be found barely for years.
So I can speak of my experiences...
Ah, you mean difficulties buying the products due to lack of stock? We don't seem to suffer from that problem in the UK.@@wickie4801
Oh now I have to get this one, no excuses, from the OMD-EM1-III 🤣