OM System simply introduced their new digital camera and a raft of latest lens variations. The brand new digital camera is an thrilling addition to their secure and shall be geared toward a totally completely different sort of photographer. Road and concrete wildlife photographers and photographic artists, try the OM-3.
I am going to begin by saying this isn’t a technical overview; I’ll write a kind of later when it’s launched. That is concerning the expertise of utilizing a brand new and distinctive digital camera.
The Lead as much as the OM-3
There’s no denying that the 2 variations of the OM-1 cameras are aimed principally at wildlife and landscapes. Consequently, there was an enormous migration from different methods to that digital camera due to its progressive computational pictures options that depart different manufacturers all the time taking part in catch-up. To call a number of, there are Dwell Composite, Dwell Time, Dwell ND, and Dwell ND Grad. It has high-resolution capturing as much as 80 megapixels. These work alongside the current large leap ahead with topic detection for birds, animals, folks, and autos, together with its Starry Sky autofocus, plus its unimaginable in-body and synchronized picture stabilization. That’s not forgetting the distinctive sensor cleansing that leaves the sensor dust-free.
Moreover, its stacked sensor, high-powered processor, and quick buffer give quick recording speeds, and shutter speeds of as much as 1/32,000 second are doable. It additionally delivers as much as 120 RAW frames per second. I must also point out the digital camera and lens dimension and weight benefit, in addition to the shallower depth of discipline at any given topic distance, focal size, and aperture setting in comparison with different cameras. Oh sure, it’s IP53 weather-sealed, which means when capturing in a heavy rainstorm, I’m by no means involved about water ingress.
However, the pocketable OM-5 carries most of these options and has been broadly adopted by life-style photographers and adventurers. It’s smaller, lighter, and thus extra transportable. It’s adopted by photographers who need higher high quality photos of household and buddies, bloggers and vloggers, folks searching for mushrooms within the forest, and people who hike up mountains, paddle canoes on rivers, and head out to sea. Now, a brand new digital camera is ready to suit between these two fashions: we welcome the OM-3.
Now, a brand new digital camera is ready to suit between these two fashions: we welcome the OM-3.
What Is the OM-3?
Geared toward a distinct market however versatile sufficient to cross over into different fields, the OM-3 oozes type and packs an arsenal of options nearly the identical because the OM-1. Nevertheless, it has the added attraction of superior colour management that can entice artists. Road photographers and concrete wildlife photographers may also be drawn to the digital camera. It’s a digital camera geared toward creativity and permits photographers to develop their types contained in the digital camera. Thus, it could actually negate the necessity for time-consuming post-processing.
The unique designer of the half-frame Olympus PEN and PEN-F, the compact XA, and the OM vary of 35mm SLR movie cameras, the late Yoshihisa Maitani, realized that the dimensions and weight of SLRs had been a barrier to photographers. Subsequently, OM Digital Options is following the Olympus legacy and producing extremely progressive, smaller cameras.
The OM-3 appears and appears like one in every of Maitani’s Olympus SLRs. Following the identical beliefs as its predecessors, it’s smaller and lighter than its opponents. It’s harking back to previous Olympus movie SLRs mixed with the much-loved and reimagined Olympus PEN-F launched in 2016.
Once I picked it up, I used to be immediately transported again in time. Its appear and feel are just like my Olympus OM SLRs that I reduce my critical pictures enamel on practically 50 years in the past. In reality, sitting it aspect by aspect with my classic Olympus OM-2, it has nearly the identical dimensions, though it weighs significantly much less.
It’s a factor of magnificence, which isn’t one thing many fashionable cameras can declare.
With current technological enhancements, the historic noise points with the Micro 4 Thirds sensors are a factor of the previous. Moreover, the ever-increasing ageing world inhabitants needs cameras which can be simpler to hold. There’s additionally the will of a rising variety of youthful photographers to not carry hulking lumps of ugly plastic with them, regardless of them nonetheless desirous to seize photographs past what is feasible with a cellphone.
The Digital camera’s Design and Construct
It is a lovely digital camera. Though a number of photographers known as for a brand new rangefinder-style digital camera just like the PEN-F, market analysis clearly confirmed better demand for one that appears like an SLR. Why else would they select this design? I desire the pentaprism-type physique because it offers extra room for added controls.
Regardless of its retro styling, the OM-3 inherited many of the efficiency options from its massive brother, the OM-1. It’s smaller than the OM-1 however barely larger than the OM-5. The retro look of this digital camera is boosted by its all-metal physique and the silver and black casing, harking back to older SLR cameras. (There isn’t a completely black model.) Regardless of its all-metal physique, it weighs lower than 500 g. All of the switches and dials on the digital camera have a agency, strong really feel to them.
On the entrance is a creativity dial, very like the one on the digital model of the PEN-F. As an alternative of delving deep into the menus, the entrance physique dial switches between completely different artistic colour varieties. That’s one thing that units the digital camera other than the OM-1. There are 4 colour and 4 black-and-white profile choices. Every is adjustable and will be saved within the digital camera as a preset. Consequently, lots of of variations are doable, so photographers can create a glance that fits their photographic type. Furthermore, these appears will be saved and transferred to different cameras.
Instantly under are two default black-and-white presets earlier than adjustment. The next illustrative photos are unedited JPEGs from the digital camera demonstrating a tiny choice of the completely different appears achievable.
Like movie SLR cameras, there’s no bulging grip on the entrance. Nevertheless, the right-hand aspect (wanting from the again) is longer, making it simple to grip, particularly with the digital camera’s rear thumb assist.
It has entrance and rear publicity adjustment dials (known as command dials by some producers). For me, having two dials is crucial for pictures. Then, on prime of the physique are the mode dial, the recent shoe, the shutter launch button, and different practical dials and buttons, loads of that are customizable.
The rear sports activities a completely articulated Dwell View display, together with extra management buttons.
The digital camera has the identical stacked sensor because the OM-1, which provides first-class picture high quality and capturing speeds. It additionally has 6.5 stops of picture stabilization, plus an additional cease with Sync IS if the lens helps it.
Pleasingly, it takes the identical high-capacity battery as the 2 OM-1 fashions and likewise helps in-body charging via its USB-C port.
Discovering My Manner Across the Digital camera
As a long-time person of Olympus and OM System cameras, the OM-3 felt acquainted. The digital camera has inherited the improved menu construction from the OM-1, so setting it up was a doddle. The menu is sensibly organized and simple to navigate.
The mannequin I obtained on mortgage to check got here with the 12-45mm f/4 PRO lens. The digital camera was well-balanced with that lens and my 40-150mm f/4 PRO. I did strive it with my bodily wider and extra extremely featured 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO, and that was okay too, however aesthetically, the f/4 lenses had been higher and barely higher balanced.
Varied buttons across the digital camera are programmable. I modified the perform button from [+/-] to ISO, as publicity compensation is totally accessible via the dials anyway. The mode dial has a beneficiant 5 customized settings—another than the OM-1.
The front-of-body artistic dial is what makes this digital camera stand other than the opposite OM fashions, and certainly, another digital camera. I received’t go into the complete particulars of setting it up, however it offers a artistic versatility past anything I’ve come throughout. Combining the assorted colour and tone settings offers an infinite vary of artistic results that may be adopted as a private type.
Though it has no particularly named movie emulations, creating movie appears is simple. Whether or not it’s a pale Polaroid or a grainy, high-contrast black-and-white, you can also make changes to match them.
Ergonomics of the OM-3
Once I attended a presentation about this digital camera, the consultant from OMDS stated that in the first place, they had been not sure concerning the digital camera’s form and particularly the shortage of a ahead grip. Nevertheless, that concern was quickly dispelled, and I agree. The elongated shutter button aspect of the digital camera is simple to grip, particularly with the thumb relaxation on the rear of the physique.
An issue I’ve with many different makes and fashions is because of my massive fingers and lengthy fingers. I discover that the side-mounted strap lug on the right-hand aspect can sit uncomfortably in opposition to my hand. And not using a strap fitted, the D-ring was uncomfortable because it pressed in opposition to the bottom of my center finger. Nevertheless, becoming a strap negated that downside. Moreover, my spouse, along with her small fingers, didn’t expertise that situation.
The controls are simple to succeed in and function.
Like most cameras, it’s designed for right-eyed folks. Nevertheless, testing it in opposition to my left eye, I discovered I had extra peripheral imaginative and prescient with my proper eye than with many cameras.
The equipped strap is a bit disappointing. Early adopters of the digital camera may get the wonderful OM System leather-based strap included within the deal, however that will rely in your location.
In use, the digital camera was a pleasure. It had the very best mechanical shutter sound of any digital camera I’ve used, with a deeper observe than the OM-1. The viewfinder was shiny and clear, and the controls had been simple to succeed in. Taking pictures with it was enjoyable.
All of the switches and dials on the digital camera have a agency, strong really feel to them.
It is for Video Too
On the time of writing, I hadn’t examined the video, however the OM-3 comes with a number of superior video capabilities that I’ll go into extra within the technical overview.
What I Appreciated and What May Be Improved Subsequent Time
What I Appreciated
- Versatile
- Stable all-metal physique
- Nice image high quality
- Inherited the big selection of distinctive options of the opposite cameras from the OM System secure
- It appears nice
- Superior video performance
- Enjoyable to make use of
What May Be Improved Subsequent Time?
- I might change the dimensions and place of the strap anchor level, which doesn’t sit comfortably in my hand—though solely when a strap shouldn’t be connected. I would like a front- or top-mounted eye or, higher nonetheless, an indented bar. (One of many causes I just like the OM-1 is that its anchor level is best positioned than most cameras in the marketplace.)
- The strap equipped with the digital camera may very well be of significantly better high quality. Nevertheless, most digital camera straps will be improved upon by aftermarket fashions.
- Though I might counsel a second reminiscence card slot and a joystick, anybody needing these is extra probably to purchase one of many OM-1 fashions.
In Conclusion
A whole lot of new releases are underwhelming. We’ve reached a degree the place all cameras are ok for what we need to do. I can perceive some professionals wanting tiny incremental modifications. However marriage ceremony, sports activities, and product photographers had been taking nice photographs ten years in the past with cameras that are actually a number of generations away from the place we are actually. Due to this fact, it is sensible for this firm to diversify with a great-looking digital camera, focusing on its strengths to a brand new viewers.
Strolling round city to take check photographs was a problem as a result of six folks in an hour got here to ask what the digital camera was. I had the model identify and mannequin taped over—I had signed an NDA earlier than borrowing it—and I shortly hid it underneath my coat as quickly as folks approached me. It actually does look nice, attracting curiosity from unusual folks and photographers alike. The final time I had that a lot curiosity in a digital camera was after I owned an Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II.
I really consider that photographic artists must be impressed by their tools. I respect that isn’t a universally held perception, and in the event you disagree, that’s high quality. Nevertheless, in case you are satisfied that artists ought to encompass themselves with inspiring issues, then the OM-3 is a camera that can encourage.
I had loads of enjoyable capturing with this and taking part in with completely different artistic appears throughout the digital camera settings. The stacked sensor supplied glorious dynamic vary and quick shutter speeds, identical to the OM-1, and all of the particular options talked about above had been simply accessible.
It is a digital camera geared toward fanatics greater than professionals. I conclude that as a result of there’s no joystick and just one reminiscence card slot. Sure, this digital camera performs in the identical distinctive means because the OM-1, however as knowledgeable photographer, I might select the OM-1 to shoot a marriage due to the twin card slots. Equally, though it has hen identification autofocus, I might be unlikely to connect my 150-400mm f/4.5 lens and head out to {photograph} puffins. It’s a digital camera able to doing that, however the OM-1 Mark II’s dimension and design are higher suited. I’d take it up a mountain or pack it in a canoe—it’s small and light-weight sufficient—but when I had been shopping for a digital camera particularly for these, I might be extra inclined to get an OM-5 and even an OM System Robust due to their even smaller sizes.
Nevertheless, if I had been searching for a digital camera to make use of primarily for photographing the native streets, visiting festivals, making a gallery of inventive photographs, commonly assembly with different digital camera fanatics for photograph walks, doing house portraits, or illustrating a ebook—all issues I do on prime of my work—this could be the digital camera I might select. I might additionally pack it in my bike panniers after I head off on my early morning journey or take it on a stroll alongside the seashore or via a forest. Moreover, my son is an idea artist, and this could be the proper digital camera for taking photographs for inspiration or photo-bashing.
It is a fun and easy camera to use, the outcomes are nice, and it has a phenomenal design. There’s not far more I might ask for.
