Last update:- 18th June 2024
Introduction.
Imagine a river passing through a beautiful Alaska landscape. On one side, we see a community of Fuji photographers with a library of unique film simulations and color profiles. The fascinating part about these color profiles is their simplicity and modest camera settings. Conversely, we have an almost perfect camera solution and photographers focussing on digital camera commonalities like sensor size, diffraction, lens quality control, image noise, dynamic range, autofocusing, and megapixels.
A small group of Olympus Imaging Business visionaries introduced a new digital format with the E-1. In the years following 2003, we saw large competitors forming a collective full-frame DSLR community with the promise of having "superior" image quality. The oversimplified "size and capture" theory followed while Olympus was targeted with an aggressive counter-marketing campaign.
It's exciting to learn more about the new 4/3 digital format, the general evolution of image sensors, and the vision of the Olympus engineering team as they pioneered and executed the future of M43 mirrorless cameras. It's also exhilarating to see photographers break from the collective full-frame mediocracy as they discover Olympus M43 cameras like the Pen F, EM1 II/III, and the OM-1.
Why call it a collective FF mediocracy? Every FF talking point is common to all digital cameras. For example, the full-frame community cannot explain the differences between the technical and optical characteristics of two sensor sizes because the "size and capture" theory assumes the bigger one is better. In fact, the "size and capture" theory became so charged on social media that it's impossible to trust anything known full-frame promoters and fanboys are saying. Consider the absurdity of saying the "bigger one is better" without having a credible technical paper supporting that theory.
More about an almost-perfect photography solution...
The Olympus Imaging Business refined its photography offer before exiting the Imaging Business. For example, they optimized their 16MP and 20MP digital Live MOS sensors with firmware updates plus introduced the first M43 Stacked BSI sensor with the Olympus OM-1. They created an advanced Image Processing typology with dedicated Art Processors. That same image processing topology is embedded in Workspace and the Enhanced Raw Format. It's possible to summarize the evolution of this "perfect" solution in 3 R&D phases. The result is an M43 camera that will record an image and process the final photo in the camera, the OI Share App, or Workspace via the Enhanced Raw Format.
Development Phase 1
Olympus introduced their ART filters with the new E-30 in 2008. Cameras like the E-30, E-620, E450, E-P1/2, and E-M5 used the first generation of ART filters. Olympus also introduced new features like Live Time, Live Composite, and Photo Story with the Olympus E-M5 II at the end of this phase. Did you know that one can apply almost any aspect ratio to the frame in the image below..?
Development Phase 2
In this phase, Olympus introduced improved Tonal Adjustments, which included the "Auto" Gradation option, Highlights/Shadows & Midtones, and the Workspace Tone Curve function. The Color Creator lets photographers add a "chrome" or "global" color effect, and the Monochrome and Color Adjust Profile functions let us focus on individual colors with the Pen F, the E-P7, and Workspace...
Development Phase 3
This was an exciting phase for M43 photography. Olympus introduced the next-generation ART filters with more control for the E-M1 II/III, E-M10 III/IV, E-P7, E-PL9/10 E-M5 III, and the OM-1. Workspace improvements enabled M43 photographers to apply MonoChrome and Color Profiles (Color Adjust) to almost all Enhanced Raw files. This phase also introduced new computational features like Pro Capture, handheld High Ress Mode, advanced AF, Starry Sky AF, and ND-Filters...
The 6 steps to unlock your creativity with Olympus cameras...
Your creative photography with Olympus cameras will radically improve when you:
- Start by walking away from any counter-marketing or dumb fanboy statements.
- Accept that the Olympus Imaging Business was part of the Olympus Corporation.
- Break away from the hold and negative programming effect of counter-marketing.
- Improve your knowledge and experience of photographing with digital cameras.
- Work hard to rediscover the M43 format and your Olympus or new OMS camera.
- Be part of the discussion and constructive criticism of OM-System and the future.
Imagine what if... Fuji photographers had access to these features...
Fuji developed a wide range of mirrorless cameras plus firmware upgrades to support a community of photographers who appreciate their "Color Science" and the community's Color Profiles. It's interesting to see what Fuji photographers do with only a few camera settings. For example, study the camera settings in this Color Profile (recipe) from a well-known Fuji photographer.
One can indeed do much with Fuji cameras and Fuji's Raw Studio. Knowledge and experience are equally important when working with Olympus or Fuji cameras. I like Olympus photographers to see what Fuji photographers achieved with only a few camera settings. The following illustration is only a snapshot of what M43 photographers can do with Olympus M43 cameras and Workspace...
Conclusion
Olympus created a digital camera solution that lets M43 photographers focus on various photography disciplines while editing their images in Workspace. This includes older cameras like the original E-M1, E-M5 II, E-620, E-M1 III, the EM10 series, and the Pen range. For example, only the M43 segment has this many lenses on offer. Whether you are into wildlife, hiking, camping, or travel photography, all photographers will find a matching lens selection for their photography style.
Go to my Instagram page for more photos from my Olympus cameras...
Take care, Siegfried...
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