OM System OM-1 vs Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

OM Digital Options is the brand new proprietor of the digicam firm previously know as Olympus, nevertheless it produces merchandise beneath the model title OM System. The OM System OM-1 is the primary digicam to seem beneath that model title however for some motive, the corporate determined to place an Olympus title badge on the viewfinder housing. Maybe it’s to underline the connection between the 2 manufacturers? Who is aware of, however we’re informed that the OM System OM-1 is the final digicam that may function the Olympus title.

Whereas the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III is ready to proceed for slightly longer, the OM System OM-1 is its successor. It additionally leapfrogs the Olympus OM-D E-M1X within the firm’s line-up to develop into the flagship digicam within the Olympus / OM System vary. Naturally, many Olympus E-M1 Mark III customers are eyeing-up the OM-1 with a view to upgrading whereas house owners of cameras such because the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III could also be inquisitive about how the OM-1 and E-M1 III evaluate in case they fancy an improve.

On this publish, we’ll check out a few of the key options to see how the OM System OM-1 compares with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III.

The OM System OM-1 is offered to pre-order from Adorama within the US and Wex Photograph Video within the UK.

OM System OM-1

Sensor

OM System OM-1: 20.4Mp Stacked BSI CMOS
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III: 20.4Mp CMOS

Whereas the OM System OM-1 doesn’t make any enhance in pixel rely over the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, the design of its 4 Thirds sort sensor makes a big step up. As a substitute of getting an everyday design just like the E-M1 III, the OM-1’s sensor is a stacked backside-illuminated (BSI) chip. Which means that the photodiodes (aka pixels) occupy their very own layer within the OM-1’s sensor and consequently, they collect extra gentle than every pixel on the E-M1 III’s sensor. The readout pace of the OM-1 sensor can be quicker and this performs a big function in bettering facets such because the autofocus efficiency and rolling shutter impact.

Processor

OM System OM-1: TruePic X
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III: TruePic IX

In line with OM System, the TruePic X processing engine within the OM System OM-1 is 3x quicker than the TruePic IX engine within the Olympus OM-D E-M1 III. That helps with the final efficiency of the digicam by enabling quicker computations to be made in addition to extra advanced algorithms for use.

The brand new sensor and processor mixture within the OM-1 allow a sensitivity vary of ISO 200-102,400 with low growth settings of ISO 80 and ISO 100. This compares with ISO 200-25,600 (plus ISO 64 and ISO 100) on the E-M1 Mark III.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

Steady capturing

OM System OM-1: 50fps with C-AF, 120fps with S-AF, 50fps or 120fps in Professional Seize Mode
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III: 10fps with C-AF, 15fps with S-AF, 18fps or 60fps in Professional Seize Mode

The OM System OM-1 makes a big leap up in steady capturing functionality over the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III. These quicker capturing charges imply that it’s even simpler to seize split-second moments, whether or not it’s a bursting balloon, a splash of water or a fleeting expression. The power to shoot at 50fps with steady AF is very spectacular.

OM System and Olympus name their cameras’ steady capturing modes ‘Sequential capturing’ with Sequential Excessive providing the quickest capturing price however with the main focus and publicity set in the beginning of the sequence. Sequential Low permits a slower capturing price (50fps with the OM-1) however there’s steady AF and publicity metering.

Professional Seize mode is slightly completely different. It units the digicam to file photographs when the shutter button is half-pressed however solely writes the pictures to the reminiscence card when the shutter is pressed house absolutely. It writes a sequences of photographs from earlier than and after the button is pressed house. It’s designed to assist with capturing unpredictable motion.

Autofocus system

OM System OM-1: Hybrid AF with 1053 cross-type part detection and 1053 distinction detection factors
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III: Hybrid AF 121 part detection and 121 distinction detection factors

One other change introduced by the OM-1’s new sensor is a quad-pixel AF system. Which means that all the 1053 part detection AF factors are cross-type. Cross-type AF factors are extra delicate than the common linear sort, making the OM-1 higher at selecting up and specializing in a topic.

As well as, the OM-1’s AF system is 2EV extra delicate than the OM-D E-M1 Mark III’s because it capabilities at all the way down to -8EV somewhat than -6EV.

Maybe the very best information, nonetheless, is that the OM-1 positive factors the AI-driven Topic Detection modes that had been first launched with the Olympus OM-D E-M1X. It means the digicam is ready to detect and give attention to method automobiles, bikes, airplanes, helicopters, trains, birds and animals (canine and cats). OM System additionally says that the detection, monitoring and responsiveness of the Face Precedence/Eye Precedence AF have been improved considerably.

Computational images

OM System OM-1: 5-second processing
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III: 15-second processing

Just like the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, the OM System OM-1 has a set of computational modes that allow the digicam to carry out past what we’d usually count on. Excessive Res Shot mode, for instance, makes use of the digicam’s sensor-shifting picture stabilisation system to seize a collection of photographs which are then mixed to make a 50Mp picture in Handheld mode or an 80Mp picture in Tripod mode. Due to the brand new processing engine, the compositing stage takes 5 seconds with the OM-1 somewhat than 15 seconds with the E-M1 III.

OM System OM-1 Tremendous Management Panel
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Tremendous Management Panel

Viewfinder, display and controls

OM System OM-1: 5.76M-dot OLED with 0.83x magnification
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III: 2.36M-dot LCD with 0.76x magnification

OM System has given the viewfinder of the OM-1 a big enhance in decision, up from 2.36-million dots within the OM-D E-M1 III to five.76-million dots. The magnification can be larger and the refresh price has been boosted to 120fps to make a greater viewing expertise all spherical.

As well as, the decision of the 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen on the again of the digicam has been elevated from 1.04-million dots on the E-M1 III to 1.62-million dots on the OM-1.

OM Techniques hasn’t stopped there because the OM-1’s menu and Tremendous Management Panel have additionally been refreshed to make them clearer and higher organised.

There are additionally a couple of adjustments to the management format together with the addition of an AF-ON button for back-button focusing. Additionally, in stills mode, the video file button offers entry to the Excessive Res Shot mode choices.

OM Techniques has additionally modified the OM-1’s two management dials as compared with the OM-D E-M1 III. As a substitute sitting above the digicam physique, they now protrude from it so solely a part of the dial is seen.

OM System OM-1

Climate-sealing

OM System OM-1: IP53
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III: IPX1

Olympus OM-D E-M1 collection cameras have a superb repute for withstanding poor climate however the OM System OM-1 takes issues a step additional with a weather-proof score of IP53. That implies that it ought to survive being dowsed by a jet of water. Compared, the E-M1 Mark III’s IPX1 score means it’s designed to deal with drips and splashes of water.

Video

OM System OM-1: 4K (4096 x 2160) at as much as 60p, Flat Image Mode, OM‑Log400, HLG
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III: 4K (4096 x 2160) at as much as 30p, Flat Image Mode, OM‑Log400

OM Techniques has upgraded the OM-1’s video specs as compared with the E-M1 Mark III’s with the flexibility to file 4K 10-bit video at as much as 60p and Full HD video at as much as 240p (the E-M1 III goes as much as 120p in Full HD). It additionally helps H.264 8-bit, H.265 10-bit and Multi Body Price recording of clips over half-hour in period.

There’s additionally the flexibility to output uncooked video at as much as 12 bit 4:4:4 to the Atomos Ninja V or Atomos Ninja V+. Plus HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) functionality joins the Flat Image Mode and OM-Log400 choices.

Storage

OM System OM-1: Twin SD sort playing cards slots, each UHS-II
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III: Twin SD sort playing cards slots, one UHS-II and one UHS-I

Though the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III has two SD-type card slots, solely one in every of them is UHS-II compliant, the opposite is UHS-I. The OM-1 improves on this with twin UHS-II card slots.

Discover the Lexar Skilled 2000X SDXC UHS-II Gold collection Card on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

Battery

OM System OM-1: BLX-1 – 520 photographs, 160 minutes video
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III: BLH-1 – 420 photographs, 140 minutes video

The OM system OM-1 comes with a brand new greater capability battery than the OM-D E-M1 Mark III. The brand new BLX-1 has a capability of 17Wh and in CIPA exams it permits as much as 520 photographs to be captured on a single cost with the OM-1. That’s up from 420 photographs with the 12.8Wh BLH-1 within the OM-D E-M1 III.

As the brand new battery is a unique form from the BLH-1, it could’t be utilized in older cameras. Additionally, OM System has launched a brand new battery grip (HLD-10 for £320 / $ 349) for the OM-1.

OM System OM-1 vs Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III conclusion

Whereas a couple of individuals could also be dissatisfied that the OM System OM-1 doesn’t have a better pixel rely than the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, it makes an intensive array of upgrades which are designed to enchantment to the Olympus core viewers. It’s compact just like the OM-D E-M1 Mark III, with a vertical grip obtainable individually for the these need one and it has a considerably improved autofocus system, quicker steady capturing and higher weatherproofing. The viewfinder and display even have greater decision.

In brief, the OM System OM-1 is an attractive improve on the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, however much more so for house owners of the older OM-D E-M1 and OM-D E-M1 Mark II.