Last Update: 14th March 2024
Olympus WorkSpace Page and Download - Link
OM-System update page for Products & Software - link
General Q & A page - link
Launch date:- 2nd July 2023
Special update: 21st August 2023. I purchased a "like new" 2017 iMac 27". It has the i7 processor, Radeon Pro 850 8GB graphics, 500GB SSD, and 16GB RAM. The plan is to increase the RAM to 64GB. The purchase price was less than $900. I installed Ventura (macOS), the latest version of Photoshop, and Workspace V2.2 with the AI noise reduction option. The "new" iMac is quick, and the 5K display is excellent. Workspace and the AI noise reduction option work great. I am still concerned about Olympus cameras plus marketing research and will cover all this in my next article...
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I upgraded my Macbook Pro (M1) first. The installation went quick, and everything seemed OK. See a summary of the V2.2 updates at this link. It's the same as V2.0. (Right-click and copy the link if it doesn't open.) The experience is different for my iMac. The PC-RAW "update" opens more questions. I saw some photographers demand unconditional support for OM-System. How much loyalty should companies enjoy when our personal computers and applications are accessed by marketers?
Why a different PC-RAW experience for OM-1 and EM1 photographers? OM-System gives no technical reasons for "conventional" versus OM-1 photographers. Are they simply segregating "conventional" photographers? One group with "conventional" Pro cameras gets less functionality, and another with OM-System cameras enjoys FULL functionality? Is this a winning strategy for OM-System?
See my OM-5 comments here.
Keep a watchful eye on the following trends. This applies to ALL editing applications:-
- Newer programs like PS only open with a direct Web link to Adobe.
- Another trend is AI wanting more processing power and expensive PCs
- Editing applications should be free from market research on customer PCs
Please check the required PC specifications for V2.2...
Do NOT upgrade if you use an older PC.
My comments as I discover V2.2:-
- My Macbook M1 is slower with Version 2.2. It's now the same as my iMac with V2.11.
- There are no improvements for conventional EM1 II/III/X cameras in PC-RAW mode.
- I really like the AI Noise Reduction from WS. OM-System is becoming a leader in NR.
- Being a leader among camera manufacturers means AI NR is tailored for our cameras.
- The standard NR function in WS is excellent. I use the Low option most of the time.
- I tested the AI NR option versus standard NR, and the results were the same at ISO800.
- I updated my old iMac to the new V2.2 version. This version is way slower than V2.11.
- I have Cataline V10.15.7 installed on my iMac. All my editing software is OK, except...
- The color card in my iMac is not compatible with the AI version of PS and PhotoLab 6.
- Interestingly, the color card does have 2GB memory but is still not OK for Workspace AI.
- The V2.2 upgrade is the SLOWEST version of Workspace - this is so frustrating!
- My iMac gave a security warning after the installation. Do they need this much access?
- Market research & personal PCs are a conclusion, as I found no other reason for V2.2.
- I am preparing a separate article to discuss image/video editing and what PC you need.
Conclusion
Workspace and the Enhanced Raw Format combination offer excellent raw conversion and photo editing. It has the perfect environment to review and edit our camera settings while maximizing the computational features of Olympus cameras. It also delivers high-quality 16-bit Tiff files. All this means nothing if AI or more market research needs 4-minute update cycles for each adjustment. My Macbook Pro with the M1 processor was also slower after the V2.2 upgrade. I am happy with my older iMac. ON1 2023 uses AI and performs perfectly OK with my older iMac.
I did a lunchtime photo shoot this week. As expected, the lighting had a little more contrast. I used ISO800 and center-weighted AE for my EM1 III. This improved my sensor's saturation for the subject areas and overexposed the background areas with up to +1EV. This is an example of managing your SNR to ISO ratio. I noticed Photoshop had more noise in the converted raw files than WS.
I see no difference between the standard and AI noise reduction functions at lower ISOs. AI is more effective at higher ISOs. OM-Systems should prioritize Workspace because it is one of the most user-friendly and appealing differentiators by any manufacturer. OM-System enjoys a significant head start with Workspace. I hope they stop the silly "segregation" games and improve their marketing efforts on promoting the Enhanced Raw Format and Workspace...
Launch date:- January 2023
One of the biggest problems with the previous versions of OMWS was speed. They were so slow that I decided to keep the previous (V1.5) version of Workspace on my older Macbook Pro. I am happy to see that V2.11 is FAST. This is the best news possible for those of us using Workspace. Thank you, OM-System. I will add additional information as I get to know the upgraded version...
Copy and paste the link (below) in your browser for more information from OM-System.
file:///Library/Application%20Support/OMDigitalSolutions/OMWorkspace/Guide/index_ENU.html
Comments:
- I tried PCRAW mode with my EM1 III, and the editing window did NOT change. It's still different from the regular editing window. Why does the OM-1 get access to the default editing window in PC-RAW mode and not the EM-1s? This is annoying and frustrating...
- We can't save our converted raw files as 16-bit Tiff files in PCRAW mode. I have been using DxO PhotoLab while waiting for a faster OMWS V2 upgrade. I can export my PhotoLab 16-bit Tiff file to Photoshop, plus Deeprime works with my 2014 iMac...
Launch date:- November 2022
Speed continues to be the biggest problem for this version. Why is this not a priority..?
Launch date:- May 2022
New Products or Firmware Updates:
- None
Updates:
- Workspace was updated to allow for OM-1 updates via WS
- The following cameras now have the backup function
- OM-1, EM1X, EM1 II/III, EM5 II (V3 and later), Pen F (V2 or later)
- OMDS recommends using WS V2.01 when updating your camera
- It seems OMDS added some stability improvements in V2.01
Comments: (reviewed)
- The more powerful version 2 is much slower than the V1.5 plus requires more PC power. It could be a good idea to keep the V1.5 version and only upgrade if you bought an OM-1.
- One of the issues with V2.0 is the button or link to your preferred editing application. This button stopped working with V2.0. This is mainly an issue with Photoshop 2022 because the actual PS App is now in a sub-dir from the Adobe folder in the Applications folder. WS V2 does not allow us to access subfolders from the Applications App folder. It is not an issue with V1.5...
- Workaround - (I tested the option (see illustration) below)
- It works, but it opens the basic raw file and not the edited WS file
- Another option is to go back to the first (Photoshop) option in WS (see below)
- It takes a longer time to open the image in PS (maybe a minute)
- When you select the 8-bit file option, then it will open a jpeg
- If you do not use the 8-bit option, then it defaults to the Tiff format
- With this option, the WS adjustments are transferred to PS
- This does not happen with the older V1.5 version.
- I wish OMDS would see this and prioritize a fix. I reported this to Adobe.
- Waiting a minute is no good (time). What is the alternative OMDS?
- I experienced NONE of this with my new M1 Macbook Pro and WS (V2)
- I removed V2 from an older Macbook Pro and my iMac and reinstalled V1.5. It worked on my Macbook. Workspace was super fast again on my older iMac. I experienced problems transferring files to Photoshop, plus some editing reset features are no longer available in WS... I reinstalled V2.01 on my iMac and created a new database. See my comments below...
- You will lose the new AI noise reduction from V2.0 if you downgrade. I am happy with both DxO Photolab and the new Deep-Prime option. Update: - Be aware that V1.5 and V2 are using the same image database, and this causes the downgrade to be a problem. The best option is NOT to upgrade to V2 and to wait for a fix)
- Like older versions, V2 does not accept my iMac graphics card with 2GB memory!! Why does this happen? It has to be quicker with a "non-compatible" color card than without.
- I bought my new Macbook Pro with the M1 processor (baby model). It works like a dream with V2, it's super quick, and the AI noise reduction works... (It's a good solution for WS!!)
Launch date:- Feb 2022
New Products or Firmware Updates:
- The new OMDS OM-1 camera was launched
Updates:
- Workspace has been re-introduced as OMDS software
- Sequential shooting image group display
- This feature makes it easier to find specific scenes in a series of recorded images
- A new Focus Analyzer for groups of images
- It evaluates the focus in each group of sequential images
- A new AI Noise reduction option for Olympus cameras
Comments:
- The powerful Workspace V2 seems slower than the older V1.5 version and requires much more PC power. It could be a good idea to keep V1.5 and only upgrade if you bought the new OM-1.
- I removed V2 from an older Macbook Pro and iMac and reinstalled V1.5. Works great and is super fast...
- One of the issues with V2.0 is the button or link to your preferred editing application. This button stopped working with V2.0. This is mainly an issue with PS because the actual PS App is in a sub dir in the applications folder. WS V2 does not allow us to access subfolders from the Applications App folder. The older V1.5 version is not slow...
- You will lose the new AI noise reduction with V2.0 when you downgrade. I am happy with both DxO Photolab and the new Deep-Prime options.
- Like other versions, V2 does not accept my iMac graphics card with 2GB..!!
- I replaced my old Macbook Pro (baby model) with the newer M1 processor (baby model) in Dec 2021. It works like a dream with V2. It's quick, and the AI noise reduction works...
- See my previous upgrade comments, as most problem areas are the same...
- I hope OMDS will fix these issues soon...
Launch date:- June 2021
- Olympus didn't fix software (WS) settings or options. When I added my iMac graphics card to the WS settings, it was accepted and rejected immediately. Even while my iMac has the 2GB video card WS requested.
- The Display Color Management option does not work. (That said, if you edit an image, then WS uses the image's color settings. If the image is set to RGB and your PC display to RGB, you're OK...
- The User Manual has not been updated to V1.5 - it's still at V1.4.1
- ART Filters. OMDS opened the new options for cameras with the AP Menu. That means you can edit any E-P7 raw file. The E-M1 was also added to the AP list, but the other OMDs were not...
Launch date:- 27 March 2020 (V1.3.1)
WorkSpace has been updated to V1.3.1, and includes the following:-
- Actual WorkSpace
- Olympus Updater
- WorkSpace Help File
Launch date:- 12 February 2020 (V1.3)
New Products or Firmware Updates:
- Olympus EM1 III was launched
Updates:
- Video sound replacement was added (Replace video sound with LS-P4 recording)
- Print background color selection added
- Stability improvements
Comments:
None
Launch date:- 17th October 2019
New Products or Firmware Updates:
- Olympus OMD EM5 III was launched
- Olympus Pen E-PL 10 was launched
Updates:
- Multiple Composites added
- JPEG Picture Mode (MonoChrome and Sepia)
- Level Adjustment (Opacity) of ART filter effect added (only some)
Comments:
The ART filter opacity slider is compatible with the EPL10 and the EM10 III. Not all the ART filters can be adjusted, only the Pop Art and Soft Focus1 filters.
Launch date:- 19th June 2019
New Products or Firmware Updates:
- Olympus OMD EM1X Firmware V1.1
- Olympus OMD EM1 II Firmware V3.0
Software Updates:
- Connecting the EM1X and the EM1 II to a PC for high-speed Raw Data Editing
- New functions were added
- Focus stacking
- Lighten Composite
- New and improved Noise Reduction options
- There are software and stability improvements
- Multiple screen views are possible with V1.1
Comments:
- USB RAW data edit is compatible with the EM1 II (V3), EM1X (V1.1), and the EM1 III
Launch date:- 28th January 2019
New Products or Firmware Updates:
- The EM1X was launched.
Comments:
One of the first things one noticed is that Workspace is much quicker than the older Viewer 3. Olympus completely redesigned the editing environment and new functions like Dehaze and Clarity. Olympus Workspace also lost a few tasks that were part of Viewer 3. See the article I wrote.
Viewer 3 was the previous image editing software from Olympus. Apart from being slow, Viewer 3 was a reasonably powerful editing tool. I kept my copy of Viewer 3 on my PC.
The free download from Olympus was terminated on 31st March 2019.
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