Cape Town (2013) - Taken with the original OMD EM-5 and the MZuiko 12mm f2.0 Lens
Was Olympus too confident when they launched the Pen F or was the new Color and Creative strategy a natural progression for Micro Four Thirds? Do you think M43 photographers were ready for the Pen F? Let's compare similar features between different brands? For example, how does the Olympus Pen-F compare to the Fuji X100F? A fair comparison requires good knowledge of the different cameras. Do you expect to get any value from a comparison like this or is the Pen F too different?
We will discuss different cameras in this article. I have experience with Panasonic, Olympus, and some Fuji cameras. I have a Canon 6D II and used the 350D, 40D, and Powershot cameras. I do not have experience with Nikon. Fortunately, my son used Canon professionally, and in 2016 he changed to Sony. I used the A7 II and the A7 III for a few months and tried his A1, A7R IV, and A7S III.
I decided to target cameras from 2016, like the Nikon D500, Canon 80D, Sony A7II, Panasonic GX8, and the Fuji X-T10. Please let me know if I misrepresented anything about these cameras.
I was surprised at the different priorities of these manufacturers after studying the various cameras. Especially the differences in configuring these cameras and advanced features. At the same time, basic adjustments like white balance and shifting the white balance are similar for each camera. It's fascinating to see photographers and videographers create new color effects with basic in-camera adjustments. It's also interesting to see the influence "Color Science" has on brand loyalty. For example, which of Fuji, Canon, or Olympus has the best "Color Science" in 2025?
The goal was NOT to determine which camera is the best...
My goal was to compare the creative features of each brand. Take a few minutes and watch the video below. Listen carefully to how they revealed their personal brand loyalties, and how this influenced their objectivity. It's fun and entertaining how they compared these cameras "objectively."
Comparing the Canon 5D IV and the Sony 7RIII.
It's critical to measure accurate White Balance values and the impact this has on color accuracy. This is well explained in the above video. The video illustrates the critical aspects of comparing variables like color, autofocusing, camera exposures, and White Balance measurements.
Why is the White Balance so important?
Accurate image colors start with Exposure settings and White Balance measurements. It's important to understand the differences between Creative and commercial applications. My focus is creative photography. See this article for more information about the Olympus Gradation Function.
The first article in this series explained the image processor's role in the image creation process. The camera uses the WB setting to create the final image. Experienced photographers know how to spot Color Casts or faulty white balance settings. Each photographer should practice the art of spotting or identifying color casts. WB measurements are not only critical for digital cameras but are also critical when converting Raw Files. It's also critical to master the camera's exposure meter.
Filming highlights the importance of knowing your camera's white balance and exposure settings. For example, see the evolution of cameras like the Panny GH7. The video below shows how videographers applied their in-camera adjustments to create unique "color profiles" for older DSLR cameras.
The takeaway from the above video is that most photographers prefer a unique style,
signature, or brand. The reason is customers like to know what to expect from
photographers. An inconsistent photography style is "unprofessional."
Videographers differentiate between in-camera color features and color grading the video in post. Each photographer should master in-camera color adjustments and the ability to edit or color-grade images in post-processing. I found the following video while searching for information about Canon. It's an example of how to apply digital cameras and traditional color adjustments to create in-camera color profiles. Does the video apply to photos? Yes, only the terminology is different.
White balance measurements are critical for having accurate image colors. Many photographers use the WB compensation sliders to create color effects. The first step in successfully applying color is knowledge. Practice how to read color or white balance settings in different situations. For example, will two or three light sources (sunlight and reflected light) affect the camera's color?
The White Balance setting impacts JPEG colors. All White Balance and WB compensations
can be corrected in Workspace. This allows photographers to safely experiment.
Below is a summary of the comparison I did for different cameras. I bundled the color features into groups. The standard in-camera adjustments are at the top and all the specialized features are at the bottom. I listed the software options at the bottom. Click on the image for a large view.
Most camera manufacturers had excellent image quality over the past 15 years. More pixels increase resolution, not image quality. We also established that the "size and capture" theory is a marketing strategy to sell full-frame cameras. We also know all image sensors come with a noise floor. We also know it's possible to manage visible image noise with the SNR-to-ISO ratio. The main difference between cameras are unique camera features and dust/water protection which improve your hit rate in different situations. The challenge is to have the right camera for the job...
Here is a list of the other articles in this six-part series:
- A new Creative Color Strategy from Olympus - Part 1
- Digital Cameras, WB, and Color Accuracy - Part 2
- The Artist Color Wheel and Olympus Color - Part 3
- Discussing Olympus' Color Profile Function - Part 4
- Examples of Editing Images with WorkSpace - Part 5
- Color and Creative Photography with Olympus - Part 6
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