Let's talk about OM-System and the OM-1 II

Last update:- 14th February 2024

Introduction. 

How do you rate the past 3 years with OM-System? For example, do you expect to find engine parts in your Doctor's consulting room or a history lesson in math class? What do you like to see as you walk through the offices at OM-System? How will it compare to the previous Imaging Activity at Olympus? Do you expect to see a proper R&D facility or a marketing office with a software expert? Considering more recent deliverables from camera manufacturers like FujiFilm, Sony, Nikon, and Canon, did your perception or experience with OM-System improve over the past 12 months? 

Did AI create a reasonable reality of a typical marketing area for cameras..?

I have no insider knowledge of OM-System or whether their employees prefer Olympus or OM-System cameras. For example, should we view OM-System as a global distributor of photography gear, or do they share similar technology KPIs as the previous Imaging Business from Olympus? Shouldn't that be our top-of-mind awareness as we navigate and review different camera manufacturers?

Why the OM-System label on Olympus cameras?

It's uncomfortable to think of future OM-System products and questions like, why is your priority an OMS label on Olympus products? Didn't you negotiate brand equity and transitions from short-, mid-, to long-term? I also question the 25% premium customers will incur when selling their cameras for the new OM-1 II. Does the new price plus 25% justify the OM1 II  "improvements" and new label?

It reminds me of the iconic Olympus 12-40mm and 40-150mm f2.8 Pro lenses. It took one decision from OM-System to lose 20-30% of their resale value. Why not a simple strategy of adding a premium to the improved dust and splashproof ratings of any "new" OM-System lens?

I also smiled when I saw the new 150 to 600mm f5.6-6.3 lens. Social media experts couldn't wait to remind us the full-frame version of this Sigma lens is 45% less expensive. Why is the OM-System version more expensive? Did OM-System request a series of obstructions inside the OM-System version because M43 lenses deliver less light to the sensor than FF lenses?😏

Imagine the counter-marketing dollars that will be spent on this beauty...

Why don't FF promoters see the benefits? Because it's time to have a new conversation about sensor formats. Olympus photographers with the EM1 II/III, EM1X, and OM-1s get an equivalent reach of 1200mm at f6.3 and up to 8.5EV camera/lens stabilization. Compare this to FF cameras and the ISOs plus cropping in post-processing to capture wildlife and birds at 1200mm. Chances are they will have more image noise with less than 20MP after cropping to an equivalent M43 view...

Fuji is a strong competitor with a long history in photography...

What about the OM-System 9-18mm f4.0-5.6 MZuiko lens? It's good to inject new life into this lens. However, there must be a reason why it received so much social media criticism. Full-frame competitors seemed OK with a Micro Four Thirds offer for bird and wildlife photography. Loyal "size and capture" consumers seem happy to spend thousands on huge FF lenses. Was the risk higher if FF consumers compared the tiny 9-18mm M43 lens to its full-frame relatives? How does one recognize a fanboy or promoter? They ALL repeat phrases with "cropping" or "it's a Kit" lens...

Study the types of lens elements Olympus used for this absolute gem...

One of the risks OM-System created for themselves is focusing on BIF and wildlife photography. While the unique benefits of M43 lenses are undisputed, will the OM-1 II be as popular amongst influencers, events, street, travel, landscape, and portrait photographers? What if OM-System did the anticipated firmware update on the Olympus OM-1? Wouldn't that free the R&D team to design a new OM-System camera? These are valid concerns because traditional Olympus photographers increasingly purchase full-frame cameras. That simply means OM-System gave other brands a new opportunity...

Graduated ND filters and the new OM-1 II. Those working with gradients in Photoshop will appreciate my concern. Photographers do not want dark mountain tops, trees, buildings, or strange halos. This is why Adobe created better ways of separating critical objects from the sky. Why not GND filters or bracketing, advanced AI selections, and the final image in the OM-1 or Workspace?

Olympus EM1 III with 12-45mm f4.0 lens - ISO200, f6.3, 1/640. I applied my new Fuji Color Chrome effect to the Enhanced Raw File.

What should a real OM-System camera be like?

OM-System should assume a leading role and exit the sensor size and autofocus cycle. The new OMS camera should be like the Pen F, EP-7, and Fuji X100V with a new User Interface and a 20MP high-sensitivity BSI MOS sensor with the smallest M43 noise floor. The target segment should be street, family, travel, event, and hobby photographers. Focus on creative AI features versus AF AI. The new camera's AF system should be a clever derivative of the EM1 III (OM-5) AF system.

See this article for more about a new OM-System camera.

The focus should be creativity, flexibility, IQ, profiles, and a Workspace App for tablets and Mobiles. Study the unique needs of the target segment with new AI, computational, and creative features. You will be surprised to see which of my articles are most popular and by what margin...

Olympus EM1 II with 12-40mm f2.8 Pro lens - ISO200, f7.1, 1/800. My new Fuji Color and FX-Blue Chrome effect with the Enhanced Raw Format.

There is no reason why OM-System shouldn't excel...

Olympus EM-1 MKI with 60mm f2.8 macro lens - ISO100, f10, 1/50. My new Fuji Color Chrome effect with the Enhanced Raw Format.

Let's talk history and compare older OMDs to the OM-1 II.

Most of the features manufacturers rave about are unused statistics for most. For example, many don't care if the camera does 120fps with C-AF or videos in 6K 10-bit for more than 30 minutes. These features are designed for niche applications like Pro Photographers and Videographers working for corporate clients, and only promoters like reviewers track a bird's eye hiding in the trees.

I posted many examples in the past showcasing the high levels of unique and creative freedoms older OM-D and PEN cameras offer street, hobby, and travel photographers in 2024. Study examples like the EM10 II and EM1 MKI with the Enhanced Raw Format. That's not even mentioning the EM5 II or Pen-F. Just imagine the loyalty OM-System would enjoy if they celebrated the Olympus label.

With the correct pricing, which of the Professional cameras below matches your needs for 2024..?

Olympus OM-D E-M1 MK3

I never considered the MKIII being influenced to think it's a minor upgrade. I used my MKII for +4 years before reacting to a special on the MKIII. What a surprise when I learned just how different it was. It felt like Olympus guarded this BIG surprise until the improved features and IQ of the EM1 III.

I updated this OM-System slide for the Olympus EM1 III.

Olympus OM-1

The Olympus OM-1 was the final building block or R&D achievement of the Olympus Imaging Business. It reminds me of top designs like the EM5s, EM1, EM1 II/III, and Pen-F. It takes an effort to go back in time and remind myself how Canon and Nikon continued to sell DSLRs. Olympus assumed a winning role, became a trendsetter, and achieved fascinating mirrorless results in a DLSR world. 

It took large sums of counter-marketing dollars to smear these achievements.

OM-System used these slides during the launch of the Olympus OM-1 in 2023.

OM-System OM-1 MKII

Should one expect similar functional and IQ gains as the previous EM1 III? You won't find honest and factual information about the OM-1 II on social media. For example, I am so grateful that all my Oly lenses are "good copies."😏 According to social media experts, having 3 Olympus lenses without one flawed copy is nearly impossible. Guess what the first OM-1 II AF videos will be like? 

This is one of the best video presentations on the OM-1 II. It's in German but worth watching for our English-speaking friends because the presenter used OM-System slides. The OM-1 II improvements might be similar to the Olympus EM1 III in overall performance and Image Quality..?

This is the slide OM-System Ambassadors used for the OM-1 II launch.

Conclusion

One of the more troubling changes in the past years is dishonest marketing. This has become one of the most rewarding research activities for those seeking accurate info. How should one navigate this landscape? The best option is to question social media statements, learn more about the subject, and create personal references like testing products before buying them.

All the above slides are copies except for the EM1 III slide. I created it for this article. This OM-1 II presentation (12:15) from OMS showed 7EV IBIS for the OM-1. The original slide from 2023 shows 8EV. Here is the original 2023 OM-System video (3.54). The OM-1 specs confirmed 8EV...

Best Regards

Siegfried