OM System isn’t willing to sacrifice the efficiency of its computational images options to be able to improve the decision of its sensors. That technique leverages one of many firm’s aggressive benefits, but it surely additionally very nicely makes it troublesome for its cameras to enchantment to any photographer.
I spend a whole lot of time speaking with digicam business product planners, engineers, and executives. A lot of the time, they wish to first set the stage by explaining the philosophy and historical past of the corporate or product line so that there’s background data as to why sure selections are made. Typically this will really feel redundant, however generally it supplies new data. The latter was the case once I talked with OM System at CP+ in February. There, firm executives offered me with a really large, sweeping view of their product technique in addition to how that had developed from after they have been nonetheless a subsidiary of Olympus.
OM System now views its cameras as out of doors and adventure-oriented. Its complete line goes from the ocean with the TG-7 into the mountains with the OM-1, the corporate describes, and the entire areas in between. The concept is that should you’re an adventure-seeker, there’s an OM System digicam for you.
That is in distinction to how the corporate’s cameras have been positioned after they have been a part of Olympus. The corporate describes a way more helter-skelter scenario there, the place Olympus lacked a cohesive model id for its full imaging lineup. One of many advantages of the transition to OM System, the corporate says, was that it was capable of higher focus and create merchandise that felt like that they had a constant goal consumer.
Nevertheless, after listening to that presentation, I used to be left questioning if what OM System had determined to do would lead to attractive photographers. When it stated it was hesitant to extend the decision of its sensors as a result of it could then be far more troublesome to take care of the standard of its computational options, I thought of the kind of photographer that OM System tends to draw: birders.
OM System is without doubt one of the high selections amongst chicken photographers as a result of its autofocus is nice, its picture stabilization is a few of the greatest (if not the very best), and its cameras and lenses are considerably lighter than full-frame choices, making it a lot simpler to hand-hold lengthy zoom lenses and hike with them. Birders are likely to love Micro 4 Thirds, but when OM System received’t improve the decision of its sensor, then birders are going to start out trying elsewhere.
Many will argue that 20 megapixels are “advantageous” or “sufficient” for many images, and that’s typically true. Nevertheless, even with further throw from telephoto lenses, chicken photographers rely closely on the power to crop. With such a low-resolution start line, OM System cameras simply don’t present a lot latitude for reframing. Hen photographers have been slowly drifting away from Micro 4 Thirds for a couple of years now as a result of the decision choices offered by producers like Sony are simply so significantly better. The lenses are heavier, actually, and the stabilization isn’t fairly pretty much as good (but it surely’s adequate), however the advantages of extra post-production elbow room outweigh these downsides.
OM System is the one firm that provides in-camera processing of multi-shot photos, which instantly addresses the low-resolution complaints of that sensor. Nevertheless, this isn’t going to be an choice for any transferring topic like birds, so whereas it’s a beautiful factor to have, it’s extra of a function that appeals to panorama photographers. However why would a panorama photographer select an OM System digicam for his or her work after they might get excessive decision with a single shot utilizing Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fujifilm, or — now — Panasonic? The total-frame sensors not solely supply higher decision, however in addition they have higher dynamic vary and higher efficiency in low mild. You’d be hard-pressed to discover a panorama photographer who would select an in-camera multi-shot with an OM-1 over a full-frame choice from the entire competitors. Even contemplating the addition of Dwell ND, that’s nonetheless not going to be sufficient to persuade many photographers.
That places OM System in a little bit of a “caught” place. Its aggressive benefit is computational options, however these options enchantment to the forms of photographers who will not be within the compromises {that a} smaller sensor has. Conversely, the forms of photographers that will take a smaller sensor in trade for lighter tools received’t be as curious about these computational options however will as an alternative need decision.
With this present technique, OM System is caught between these two customers and finally ends up pleasing neither of them. It’s a harmful, unenviable place.
Picture credit: Header picture by Jordan Drake. All different images have been captured on OM System cameras by Jeremy Grey.
