Great video and lovely photos. I have the OM-1 MkII on pre-order. I will be trading in my much loved 2 year old OM-1. Your keeper rates are about what I have noticed
Excellent review.... The best... Interesting, relevant, and to the point throughout. Told me everything I wanted to know. Other reviewers can learn a lot from this.
This was extremely useful and informative for OM system users. I still don’t think I’ll upgrade at this point from the OM-1, as I’m not primarily a birder, but you’ve given me a lot of food for thought. Subscribed.
Your images speak very well for both OM-1 cameras. I enjoyed seeing your work. I shoot the Lumix G9 and I'm really a big fan of the 100-400mm lens. Someone recently told me that cropped sensor cameras are really not the focal length they claim to be but so I took the time to test my zoom against a full-frame 600mm lens and I'm quite satisfied I'm getting 800mm's of reach. I'm also experimenting with the digital zoom converter and find it worth adding to my custom modes for nesting birds in ideal lighting situations. Lumix had an iZoom feature on their FZ1000 cameras (or at least on my Leica version of that camera) and I found it worked very well. I hope OM Systems and Lumix will consider offering that as a firmware upgrade or on their future cameras. I hope your photo expeditions are very rewarding.
It is all about “equivalent field of view”. Your lens has the equivalent field of view of an 800mm lens on a full frame camera. The OM-1 has a built in 2x Digital tel-converter that works well in good light. :)
Awesome review..thank you very much for ur great insight and non bias review. Yes..I'm an Olympus user since the OMD EM1 Mk II and OM1 with Mzuiko 150-400 mm. OM1 Mk is OTW..😊
I completely agree that fixed prime are very limiting and the longer have a very long minimum focus distance. I recently bought the 150-400 Olympus lens and still feel ill from the price tag. The lens is fantastic and sync IS is very noticeable when viewing or even taking video. I have the 100-400 lens as well and is a v ery good lens indeed. I am rather small build and not muscular at all and can still handle the 150-400 very nicely. I rarely use the 100-400 lens. with the other lens being f/4.5 all the way or f/5.6 with the TC engaged, I can use lower ISO in the woods and have better control of the bokeh. I use to use Canon gear for 10 years. No regrets at all to switching to m4/3 and the OM-1 is a great camera.
I have the mark I and 100-400. I was thinking of getting the 150-600 for the sync is and hope of improve after, and the usual advice of upgrading the lens before a body, but you’ve given me food for thought. Can’t swing both but may try the mk ii first with the current sale. Thank you!
Thanks. Also an OM-1 MK2 user. I have the 100-400 and it works great.....BUT.... The moment I got 300 Pro ..that's it. I can't go back. The 100-400 is listed for sale. I just don't see a scenario where I will choose the 100-400 over the 300. I know , zoom, but most of the time I end up cropping anyway.
Thanks for the review. I good light I love the 100-400. Your comments mirror my results also. I do really like the OM-1. I also shoot the 300 F4 and results are amazing. Considering adding the Mark Ii at some point next year.
I find myself struggling with the focus system on the OM1, I bought the 100-400 and like you said there seems to be 3 things working at once. I've come from canon and I consider myself a wildlife lover and not a photographer... Could do with a set of settings for perched birds and BIF...and I'd be happy. This video has made me feel better as I thought it was me 😊
I need to do a video. I have decided that I just can’t afford to keep up with new releases or compete with those who are getting their review samples from the companies. I spent way too much on iems in 2023. This is the year when I don’t spend any more :) I am happy with a few that I actually listen to daily…and the rest are just resting in my drawers.
@@StephenIngraham I am like you. I spent way too much money chasing the dragon in 2023. I too have a few that I am very happy with. Many of them were recs from you. Thank you 🙏.
@@StephenIngraham:-( but totally understand. I think 2 iems in a year, six months apart to account for best choice from new iems is a good way to go. Also, perhaps prior to purchasing, selling one from your existing stuff. And enjoy the Uganda trip!
I have a em 1 iii and the 100-400. I have been trying to decide if I should first get the om1 ii or the 100-600 or 150-400 for birds/wildlife. I also do some landscape. Recognizing that the 150-400 is the big investment, I am looking for all inputs. Thank you.
What exactly do you want to improve? Focus and stabilization, then get the OM-1 Mkii. Overall image quality, then the 150-400. Reach, then the 150-600. :) Money no object? Mkii and 150-400.
I enjoyed your review and enjoy MFT for many of the same reasons you mentioned. In keeping with the light-weight mission of MFT I would very much like to see OM Systems and Lumix take a hard look at what they could do to improve on their 2x digital converters. The Lumix FZ1000 bridge camera offered an I-Zoom feature which seems to offer a digitally enhanced 2x converter that maintains surprising image quality. I bet a lot of MFT shooters would love to have this available in their menus.
I am confused? OM System does have a built in digital tel-converter that works on the same principles as those in bridge cameras. You have to program it to a button to use it on the OM-1s, but it is there and works quite well. I am planning to do a video on it. :) I agree that with increasing AI the digital tel-converters could be improved and probably will be.
@@StephenIngraham No, you are right. However, I came to my Lumix G9 from the Leica V-Lux 114 which is, basically, the Lumix FZ 1000, a bridge camera with a 1-inch sensor. It seems to me the 114's i.zoom feature shows a bit more "i" refinement than what's in the G9. However, considering the common wisdom about the G9's digital converter was that is was just for video, I've found it also performs well for stills given lower ISO's and some good light. Photographing and eagles' nest recently the 2x converter allowed me to keep my distance and still get close-up shots of the eaglets, closing a gap left by my 100-400mm lens that couldn't be overcome by cropping in, a common practice by the big-sensor photographers around me using 500 and 600mm lenses. I look forward to your video on the subject.
I have just purchased this combination (mkii + 100-400). Question ... the two white boxes find the bird and the smaller its head/eye but is the smaller green box where the camera is focussing, which is often not the eye ?
Yes the white boxes show the identified subject and the green box shows the actual focus point. In theory the green box should not be a separate box at all. The eye box should just turn green when focus is achieved. ??
@@StephenIngraham Okay that makes sense, however the green focus point is often on another part of the bird. Is it possible to improve this ... maybe in settings? or is this as good as it gets with the OM-1ii ?
@@robj1366 There are adjustments for several parameters of subject recognition which you can try…but my impressions is that the green focus indicator lags behind reality. You can check where the focus point actually was in the OM desktop app…but even that is rumored to not be totally accurate. I don’t worry about it too much unless I seem to be missing focus on the eye in too many shots. it is, after-all, just an indicator.
@@robj1366make sure you have selected “all” focus points so that you have accurate AI subject detection with your new camera. Any other focus point option chosen will result in the disparities you describe.
Hello Stephen, I have a question and I am hoping you can give me an answer. I have some Panasonic 4/3 lens, and I am wondering if the face/animal/bird detection will work with the OM-1? I haven't purchased the OM1 yet, but I would like to know in advance if it's compatible in that regards. Thank you Stephen!
@@StephenIngraham Hi Stephen, thanks for your response. When I talked to a representative at Adorama, she said that the Panasonic MFT lens will work; however, the face/animal/bird detection will NOT work because it's not fully compatible in that regards. Once I get the camera, I will update this post.
How would the OM1 II with the 100-400 cope with aviation photography. With airliners on an easily predictable approach I think it would be no problem, but not sure about an airshow scenario where the jets perform aerobatics and can you need to be quick to get the shot. I ask you because you used the setup for bird photography which is not exactly the same but somewhat similar. Both require good autofocus and tracking to track both birds and jets.
Since the camera has aircraft recognition it should work as well as it does with birds. I have been shooting Least Terns in flight over our local beach, and that should be very similar to shooting air shows…perhaps even harder as the flight patterns are harder to predict. :)
I met some dude in the park I was walking today with this setup, looked pretty nice, so small and lightweight. Got me thinking about buying one myself just for birding and wildlife as it would save me quite some money in comparison with the Sony 400/600mm. But after seeing this review I have to say the bokeh just doesn't look very pleasing and the images look a bit washed out. Guess I'll stick to full frame. MFT 400mm F/6.3 is the equivalent of FF 800mm F/12.6 which is insane though
You should never judge image quality from a video…the images have been resized, recompressed, and are being displayed using a completely different technology. :)
You are probably right…but I, personally, cannot afford a 150-400 and is pretty heavy for a “walk-around” lens. I would still love to own one…but there are limits to my retirement income. :)
there is no such thing as an OM-1 Mk I ! when it came out, as is the usual case, it was not addressed as such, but when an upgrade came out it naturally became a MK II. I've searched my original OM-1 totally, and I have found no naming on the unit, saying it is a Mark I ... I'm not sure why there is a need to address it as something that it definitely is not.....
Yes of course you are correct…however when comparing the two models, it is necessary to call the “original” something, as just calling it the OM-1 could be confusing. ??? What would you prefer?
@@StephenIngraham "OM-1" is not confusing at all - that's all that is written on my original OM-1 it doesn't say "Mk anything" on it" just...OM-1....that should be good enough for all... to only read what is there
@@kenwiberg6517 That might be the most pedantic comment I've ever seen in a TH-cam reply. It was clear that using mk1 terminology was in reference to the first version of the OM-1, and made the video more clear overall when discussing 2 cameras with the same name but 2 different versions.
Excellent video. I'm about to buy this exact setup, but with the Mark II. Thanks for sharing.
Glad it was helpful!
Your review is very helpful and I've reserved Mark II and ED 100-400 today😃
Thank you.
This is probably the most useful review of the MkII i have watched so far!. Thank you!.
Glad to hear it!
Great video and lovely photos. I have the OM-1 MkII on pre-order. I will be trading in my much loved 2 year old OM-1. Your keeper rates are about what I have noticed
Thanks for sharing
OM Systems announced a firmware update for the OM-1 coming in the fall that will improve the subject detection, eye-tracking auto focus. :)
Excellent review.... The best... Interesting, relevant, and to the point throughout. Told me everything I wanted to know.
Other reviewers can learn a lot from this.
Glad it was helpful!
I have the OM-1 mk II in use with the 100-400mm and have the same experience. Over all I am also happy with the other new features.
good to hear
This was extremely useful and informative for OM system users. I still don’t think I’ll upgrade at this point from the OM-1, as I’m not primarily a birder, but you’ve given me a lot of food for thought. Subscribed.
thank you
Your images speak very well for both OM-1 cameras. I enjoyed seeing your work. I shoot the Lumix G9 and I'm really a big fan of the 100-400mm lens. Someone recently told me that cropped sensor cameras are really not the focal length they claim to be but so I took the time to test my zoom against a full-frame 600mm lens and I'm quite satisfied I'm getting 800mm's of reach. I'm also experimenting with the digital zoom converter and find it worth adding to my custom modes for nesting birds in ideal lighting situations. Lumix had an iZoom feature on their FZ1000 cameras (or at least on my Leica version of that camera) and I found it worked very well. I hope OM Systems and Lumix will consider offering that as a firmware upgrade or on their future cameras. I hope your photo expeditions are very rewarding.
It is all about “equivalent field of view”. Your lens has the equivalent field of view of an 800mm lens on a full frame camera. The OM-1 has a built in 2x Digital tel-converter that works well in good light. :)
Awesome review..thank you very much for ur great insight and non bias review. Yes..I'm an Olympus user since the OMD EM1 Mk II and OM1 with Mzuiko 150-400 mm. OM1 Mk is OTW..😊
Thanks for watching!
I completely agree that fixed prime are very limiting and the longer have a very long minimum focus distance. I recently bought the 150-400 Olympus lens and still feel ill from the price tag. The lens is fantastic and sync IS is very noticeable when viewing or even taking video. I have the 100-400 lens as well and is a v ery good lens indeed. I am rather small build and not muscular at all and can still handle the 150-400 very nicely. I rarely use the 100-400 lens. with the other lens being f/4.5 all the way or f/5.6 with the TC engaged, I can use lower ISO in the woods and have better control of the bokeh. I use to use Canon gear for 10 years. No regrets at all to switching to m4/3 and the OM-1 is a great camera.
I am sure the 150-400 is an excellent lens…but I could not afford it even it were half the price :(
Wonderful pictures! The OM-1.2 is a great Camera!
I think it will get the job done :)
I have the mark I and 100-400. I was thinking of getting the 150-600 for the sync is and hope of improve after, and the usual advice of upgrading the lens before a body, but you’ve given me food for thought. Can’t swing both but may try the mk ii first with the current sale. Thank you!
Best of luck!
Thanks. Also an OM-1 MK2 user. I have the 100-400 and it works great.....BUT.... The moment I got 300 Pro ..that's it. I can't go back. The 100-400 is listed for sale. I just don't see a scenario where I will choose the 100-400 over the 300. I know , zoom, but most of the time I end up cropping anyway.
I plan to try the 300mm at The Biggest Week in American Birding. I could just afford one used…I can come near the 150-400 :(
Thanks for the review. I good light I love the 100-400. Your comments mirror my results also. I do really like the OM-1. I also shoot the 300 F4 and results are amazing. Considering adding the Mark Ii at some point next year.
You are welcome.
I find myself struggling with the focus system on the OM1, I bought the 100-400 and like you said there seems to be 3 things working at once. I've come from canon and I consider myself a wildlife lover and not a photographer... Could do with a set of settings for perched birds and BIF...and I'd be happy. This video has made me feel better as I thought it was me 😊
:) Try the settings in this booklet. psnp.info/psnp_/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/easy-bw-om-1-om-mkii.pdf
Thank you, I'll have a look 😁
Your photography is spectacular Stephen. Do you have any IEM reviews coming up. I always enjoy your content. Kudos.
I need to do a video. I have decided that I just can’t afford to keep up with new releases or compete with those who are getting their review samples from the companies. I spent way too much on iems in 2023. This is the year when I don’t spend any more :) I am happy with a few that I actually listen to daily…and the rest are just resting in my drawers.
@@StephenIngraham I am like you. I spent way too much money chasing the dragon in 2023. I too have a few that I am very happy with. Many of them were recs from you. Thank you 🙏.
@@StephenIngraham:-( but totally understand. I think 2 iems in a year, six months apart to account for best choice from new iems is a good way to go. Also, perhaps prior to purchasing, selling one from your existing stuff. And enjoy the Uganda trip!
I have a em 1 iii and the 100-400. I have been trying to decide if I should first get the om1 ii or the 100-600 or 150-400 for birds/wildlife. I also do some landscape. Recognizing that the 150-400 is the big investment, I am looking for all inputs. Thank you.
What exactly do you want to improve? Focus and stabilization, then get the OM-1 Mkii. Overall image quality, then the 150-400. Reach, then the 150-600. :) Money no object? Mkii and 150-400.
I have the em1 mk3 and 100-400 lens, going to upgrade to the om1 mk2 next week
:)
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it
I enjoyed your review and enjoy MFT for many of the same reasons you mentioned. In keeping with the light-weight mission of MFT I would very much like to see OM Systems and Lumix take a hard look at what they could do to improve on their 2x digital converters. The Lumix FZ1000 bridge camera offered an I-Zoom feature which seems to offer a digitally enhanced 2x converter that maintains surprising image quality. I bet a lot of MFT shooters would love to have this available in their menus.
I am confused? OM System does have a built in digital tel-converter that works on the same principles as those in bridge cameras. You have to program it to a button to use it on the OM-1s, but it is there and works quite well. I am planning to do a video on it. :) I agree that with increasing AI the digital tel-converters could be improved and probably will be.
@@StephenIngraham No, you are right. However, I came to my Lumix G9 from the Leica V-Lux 114 which is, basically, the Lumix FZ 1000, a bridge camera with a 1-inch sensor. It seems to me the 114's i.zoom feature shows a bit more "i" refinement than what's in the G9. However, considering the common wisdom about the G9's digital converter was that is was just for video, I've found it also performs well for stills given lower ISO's and some good light. Photographing and eagles' nest recently the 2x converter allowed me to keep my distance and still get close-up shots of the eaglets, closing a gap left by my 100-400mm lens that couldn't be overcome by cropping in, a common practice by the big-sensor photographers around me using 500 and 600mm lenses. I look forward to your video on the subject.
I have just purchased this combination (mkii + 100-400). Question ... the two white boxes find the bird and the smaller its head/eye but is the smaller green box where the camera is focussing, which is often not the eye ?
Yes the white boxes show the identified subject and the green box shows the actual focus point. In theory the green box should not be a separate box at all. The eye box should just turn green when focus is achieved. ??
@@StephenIngraham Okay that makes sense, however the green focus point is often on another part of the bird. Is it possible to improve this ... maybe in settings? or is this as good as it gets with the OM-1ii ?
@@robj1366 There are adjustments for several parameters of subject recognition which you can try…but my impressions is that the green focus indicator lags behind reality. You can check where the focus point actually was in the OM desktop app…but even that is rumored to not be totally accurate. I don’t worry about it too much unless I seem to be missing focus on the eye in too many shots. it is, after-all, just an indicator.
@@robj1366make sure you have selected “all” focus points so that you have accurate AI subject detection with your new camera. Any other focus point option chosen will result in the disparities you describe.
Hello Stephen, I have a question and I am hoping you can give me an answer. I have some Panasonic 4/3 lens, and I am wondering if the face/animal/bird detection will work with the OM-1? I haven't purchased the OM1 yet, but I would like to know in advance if it's compatible in that regards. Thank you Stephen!
I am not actually sure about this because I have not tried it…but I think it will work. The detection is in the body not the lens. :)
@@StephenIngraham Hi Stephen, thanks for your response. When I talked to a representative at Adorama, she said that the Panasonic MFT lens will work; however, the face/animal/bird detection will NOT work because it's not fully compatible in that regards. Once I get the camera, I will update this post.
Great review! I'd be curious to know if the performance holds up even with the 1.4x teleconverter on tbe 100-400.
I don’t own the either extender so I can not say, but I can not see why it would work any differently on the Mkii than on the original. :)
I'm thinking of coming back to mft and this combo, finding something similar in ff near on impossible without extreme expense and or weight
too true
How would the OM1 II with the 100-400 cope with aviation photography. With airliners on an easily predictable approach I think it would be no problem, but not sure about an airshow scenario where the jets perform aerobatics and can you need to be quick to get the shot.
I ask you because you used the setup for bird photography which is not exactly the same but somewhat similar. Both require good autofocus and tracking to track both birds and jets.
Since the camera has aircraft recognition it should work as well as it does with birds. I have been shooting Least Terns in flight over our local beach, and that should be very similar to shooting air shows…perhaps even harder as the flight patterns are harder to predict. :)
Is the editing tool you use an app or a software program and how do you get it, Photo Matter is what you said you use
It is an app and it is Photomator. For iPad and Mac only. Google it.
I met some dude in the park I was walking today with this setup, looked pretty nice, so small and lightweight. Got me thinking about buying one myself just for birding and wildlife as it would save me quite some money in comparison with the Sony 400/600mm. But after seeing this review I have to say the bokeh just doesn't look very pleasing and the images look a bit washed out. Guess I'll stick to full frame. MFT 400mm F/6.3 is the equivalent of FF 800mm F/12.6 which is insane though
You should never judge image quality from a video…the images have been resized, recompressed, and are being displayed using a completely different technology. :)
To add to his comment, he also edits them using an app on his iPad. I watched some other reviews this week where the photos look just as good as FF.
Why would you use a less than prime lens with the OM-1 mark ii? The 150-400 is the lens for this camera
You are probably right…but I, personally, cannot afford a 150-400 and is pretty heavy for a “walk-around” lens. I would still love to own one…but there are limits to my retirement income. :)
The MKII works a lot better with the 150-400 Pro, as you can change zoom and still take photos, unlike with the MK1 due to defective firmware
:)
Can it detect alligators? The om1 can't
I don’t have any alligators in Maine to test it on. :)
there is no such thing as an OM-1 Mk I ! when it came out, as is the usual case, it was not addressed as such, but when an upgrade came out it naturally became a MK II. I've searched my original OM-1 totally, and I have found no naming on the unit, saying it is a Mark I ... I'm not sure why there is a need to address it as something that it definitely is not.....
Yes of course you are correct…however when comparing the two models, it is necessary to call the “original” something, as just calling it the OM-1 could be confusing. ??? What would you prefer?
@@StephenIngraham "OM-1" is not confusing at all - that's all that is written on my original OM-1 it doesn't say "Mk anything" on it" just...OM-1....that should be good enough for all... to only read what is there
@@kenwiberg6517 That might be the most pedantic comment I've ever seen in a TH-cam reply. It was clear that using mk1 terminology was in reference to the first version of the OM-1, and made the video more clear overall when discussing 2 cameras with the same name but 2 different versions.
Perfect example of nitpicking. Bravo!