The OM System OM-1 The OM System OM-1 is the first camera launched by OM Digital Solutions (OMDS) after taking ownership of Olympus' camera division. The company tells us it chose the name OM-1 in honor of the 50th anniversary of the original OM-1 film camera.
It carries the Olympus name on its viewfinder as an homage to that model but will likely be the last camera to do so.
OMDS is calling this a flagship camera and says its design is intended to play to the strengths of the Micro Four Thirds system, including speed, image stabilization, and small size. To accomplish this, the camera uses a new stacked sensor and a faster image processing pipeline to deliver big jumps in shooting performance, an improved AF system, and better support for computational photography techniques that take full advantage of these upgrades.
Body
The OM-1 has a magnesium alloy body, and its design suggests an evolution of the EM-1 series, though it gains a larger grip to improve handling. Olympus cameras were long known for their rugged build, with the company famously publishing videos of its cameras getting sprayed by jets of water. The OM-1 follows in this tradition, arriving with an IP53 rating, meaning it's highly resistant to both dust and water in addition to being freeze-proof down to -10
In-body image stabilization (IBIS) has been improved to 7 stops, jumping up to 8 stops with Sync IS-compatible lenses that synchronize their movements to the in-body movements.
The camera's control layout, including buttons and dials, an 8-way joystick, and a fully articulating rear screen, should be instantly familiar to Olympus users as little has changed here. It includes dual UHS-II card slots.
A new battery, the BLX-1, powers the OM-1, and delivers a CIPA-rated 520 shots when using the rear screen. Real-world performance typically exceeds CIPA ratings, but they're helpful for comparative purposes. The camera can be charged using its USB-C port, and if using a powerful enough USB-PD power source, it can be charged while in use.
Displays
The camera receives a significant upgrade in the form of a 5. 76M-dot OLED viewfinder, which translates to a 1600 x 1200 pixel display. Its fast 120Hz refresh rate and 5ms lag mean you get better brightness and resolution while matching the performance of previous models. Viewfinder magnification is 1. 65x, which gives it an equivalent magnification factor of 0. 83x, making it one of the largest viewfinders on the market.
The fully-articulated touchscreen's resolution increases to 1. 62M-dots (up from 1. 04M-dots on the E-M1 III); however, the most significant difference here will likely be the new menu system, which we'll explore in a bit.
Sensor and imaging pipeline
This is where the real fun begins. The OM-1 features a new 20MP stacked Live MOS sensor, but that number is a bit deceiving. It's an 80MP quad-pixel sensor covered by 20 million microlenses and a corresponding Bayer Filter array, giving it an effective resolution of 20MP. This means that each pixel comprises four photodiodes, each of which can be read out independently and used to drive the camera's AF system. Despite the increased photodiode resolution, OMDS claims a 2x improvement in scan speed relative to the older 20MP sensor we've seen on previous models, with a readout speed of ~8ms (or 1/125 sec).
The camera also gets the newest TruePic X image processing engine, which is supposed to deliver 3x faster processing than the previous TruePic IX processor, speeding up the camera and providing improved support for computational photography features.
Between the new sensor and processing engine, OMDS claims that it can deliver a two-stop improvement in noise performance and a one-stop improvement in dynamic range. We have to admit we're skeptical, but we will make sure to put this to the test for our full review of the camera.
Autofocus
OMDS has redesigned the autofocus system to leverage the sensor's quad-pixel design, using the sub-pixels to support phase-detect autofocus in an X-shaped pattern, which it's calling 'Cross-Quad Pixel AF'. This results in 1,053 all cross-type AF points with 100% sensor coverage. A new AF algorithm, combined with the TruePic X processor, promises faster and more precise focusing.
Additionally, the OM-1 increases the range of subjects its AF system has been trained to recognize through machine learning and now includes cars, motorcycles, planes, helicopters, trains, birds and animals (specifically cats and dogs). OMDS says it has also improved its face and eye-detect AF to deliver improved detection, precision and exposure.
Performance
The OM-1 supports blackout-free burst shooting (using the electronic shutter) at up to 50 fps with autofocus and autoexposure engaged, including Raw image capture. This increases up to 120 fps if you don't need continuous AF and autoexposure. These shooting speeds even support ProCapture, a mode that begins buffering images as soon as you press the shutter button halfway. You can capture up to 70 pre-frames when using ProCapture.
To shoot at these speeds, however, you'll need to be using one of the six Olympus/OMDS PRO series lenses that support it, a list of which can be found in our OM-1 Initial Review. When using other lenses, you'll be limited to 25 fps (or 14 fps with the very oldest Micro Four Thirds kit lenses).
Computational photography
The OM-1 exploits its faster sensor and processor to improve the camera's computational photography features, mainly through improved speed. For example, Handheld High-Res Shot mode, which combines 12 images to produce a 50MP file, took 7 seconds to process in our initial tests compared to 16 seconds on the E-M1 III. Tripod High-Res shot mode, which combines eight images to produce an 80MP file, will likely see similar improvement.
Live ND mode, which blends several short exposures to simulate a longer exposure, now emulates ND filters up to six stops (ND64). Live Composite mode, which combines shot-to-shot changes across multiple long exposures to create composite images (such as light painting), now supports the use of the camera's image stabilization system. OMDS claims a 2x speed improvement in Focus Stacking mode, along with improved image quality, as well as quality and speed improvements to HDR mode.
To improve workflow, computational photography features can be assigned to custom buttons in order to access them while shooting.
Video
The OM-1 can capture video up to 4K/60p, including both UHD and DCI variants, and can shoot for up to 90 minutes on a single battery. If you have an external power source attached, OMDS says you should be able to record for over 2 hours without running into overheating issues.
The camera supports both H. 264 and H. 265 codecs. H. 264 is limited to 8-bit capture and will be the logical choice for using video straight-out-of-camera. H. 265 supports 10-bit capture using either OM-Log, for those who plan to color grade or perform other post-processing, or Hybrid Log Gamma for direct viewing on an HDR display or TV. The OM-1 also includes a view assist function that allows you to see an approximate preview of your final image when shooting in Log, which we believe is a first for an EM/OM camera.
Finally, the camera can output Raw video via HDMI to an Atomos Ninja V or Ninja V+ if you prefer to record directly to ProRes or ProRes Raw.
Menus
The OM-1 employs a completely redesigned menu system. Olympus menus were famously unintuitive and a point of frustration to some users. The new system replaces Olympus' vertically-oriented (and slightly DOS-looking) menus with a new layout based on color-coded tabs in well-thought-out groups.
While the new layout is more aesthetically pleasing, it requires you to memorize the menu structure a bit more than the old system, which allowed you to see several sub-menu titles while navigating. However, the new menus are grouped in a pretty sensible manner, so you can usually guess where a particular setting will live and find related functions in one place. Time will tell if the new system offers an improved experience for most users, but we give OMDS credit for trying to make improvements in this area.
Price and availability
The OM-1 is expected to go on sale in early March 2022. It will be available body-only for $2,199. 99 USD / $2,799. 99 CAD, or in a kit with the new M. Zuiko Digital ED 12–40mm F2. 8 PRO II lens for $2,799. 99 USD / $3,599. 99 CAD.
Additional accessories include the HLD019 Battery Grip ($350), RM-WR1 Wireless Remote Control ($100), BLX1 Rechargeable Battery ($100) and BCX-1 Dual Battery Charger ($150).
. dpreview.com2022-2-16 17:00
