Olympus OM-D E-M5, E-M1, E-M10 - Mk1, Mk2 & Mk3 Owners Thread

Om1.2….

Is the AF and AI subject tracking worth upgrading to from an OM1?

I have two OM1 cameras but I’m tempted by the current £500 cashback and 5 year warranty on the OM1.2.

I can always sell in one of my original bodies and mpb have quoted me just over £500. Is the £1000 worth it?

I’ve always told myself to hold fire for the OM1 mark 3 or whatever the next version is called. But very tempted….

What do you think. I’ve not used an om1.2 or om3 to compare.
 
Last edited:
Adamcski said:
Om1.2….

Is the AF and AI subject tracking worth upgrading to from an OM1?

I have two OM1 cameras but I’m tempted by the current £500 cashback and 5 year warranty on the OM1.2.

I can always sell in one of my original bodies and mpb have quoted me just over £500. Is the £1000 worth it?

I’ve always told myself to hold fire for the OM1 mark 3 or whatever the next version is called. But very tempted….

What do you think. I’ve not used an om1.2 or om3 to compare.
Click to expand...
Can’t tell you how different it is to the mk1, but I am happy with the subject detection and AF.
There are a few dog photos in the dog thread on TP. All shot in sequential and CAF. Not many missed focus.
I was hoping to try CAF and subject tracking today. But it was way to cold to sit around and not as many dogs running around at the park today.
 
I've been thinking the same thing for a while now as well, over upgrading to the MK II. The Live ND and Humans in the subject detection categories would be nice (as would the deeper buffer), but for over a £1000 I've been thinking is it really worth it. Like you I might just hang on and see what 2026 brings. Hopefully OM Systems will surprise us a with an OM-1 MK3 with some real improvements and perhaps even a newer sensor ?
 
I've been pleasantly surprised with my OM5 ii

It's quick to recognise faces and lock onto eyes.

I've never really had trouble with my OM1s (yes one is on the way to be repaired currently) but the hit rate for my dog running towards the camera is already great (and I have the Z8).

I just thought, wex have a deal on. £2049 minus 5% with their code plus £500 back brings it to £1446 with a second battery.

When my OM1 is fixed, I could sell one of them, say £500 to somewhere like MPB and that makes the cost £946 and the free 5 year warranty (another £129 ISH saved).

But I know the people at Birmingham wex well and I sent them an email this morning. They called me and said "why do you want to upgrade to the mark 2 it offered very little extra in terms of features and only marginal AF improvements". So they could easily have just sold me the camera.

I'm still torn as I think it's a decent deal but is it worth it...
 
Last edited:
Adamcski said:
I've been pleasantly surprised with my OM5 ii

It's quick to recognise faces and lock onto eyes.

I've never really had trouble with my OM1s (yes one is on the way to be repaired currently) but the hit rate for my dog running towards the camera is already great (and I have the Z8).

I just thought, wex have a deal on. £2049 minus 5% with their code plus £500 back brings it to £1446 with a second battery.

When my OM1 is fixed, I could sell one of them, say £500 to somewhere like MPB and that makes the cost £946 and the free 5 year warranty (another £129 ISH saved).

But I know the people at Birmingham wex well and I sent them an email this morning. They called me and said "why do you want to upgrade to the mark 2 it offered very little extra in terms of features and only marginal AF improvements". So they could easily have just sold me the camera.

I'm still torn as I think it's a decent deal but is it worth it...
Click to expand...
Buy from Cotswold with the lens inc for £1500, 3 year warranty and sell the lens on to claw back some money
 
leaky5 said:
Buy from Cotswold with the lens inc for £1500, 3 year warranty and sell the lens on to claw back some money
Click to expand...
It's the 5 year warranty with OM that I was interested in.

Cotswold is £1179 body only.

Wex £1446 minus battery £79 and warranty £129 irc isn't far off. Around £1238 ISH.

£500-£600 to sell on of the OM1 bodies I have leaves around £600-£700 for the upgrade.
 
Last edited:
ajophotog said:
Adam it sounds like you have an itch that won't go away without taking the medicine, your only cure it to buy it and enjoy. ;)
Click to expand...
No I can be quite good with GAS.

I just look to see if it improves my situation. Ultimately we all lose money on gear over time
 
I have the om-1 mkii and I have owned the om-1 mk I also but having said that I think I enjoyed the e-m1 mkII more as all the extra bells and whistles are just that. I see very little difference between the mkI and the mkII.
 
Adamcski said:
I've been pleasantly surprised with my OM5 ii

It's quick to recognise faces and lock onto eyes.

I've never really had trouble with my OM1s (yes one is on the way to be repaired currently) but the hit rate for my dog running towards the camera is already great (and I have the Z8).

I just thought, wex have a deal on. £2049 minus 5% with their code plus £500 back brings it to £1446 with a second battery.

When my OM1 is fixed, I could sell one of them, say £500 to somewhere like MPB and that makes the cost £946 and the free 5 year warranty (another £129 ISH saved).

But I know the people at Birmingham wex well and I sent them an email this morning. They called me and said "why do you want to upgrade to the mark 2 it offered very little extra in terms of features and only marginal AF improvements". So they could easily have just sold me the camera.

I'm still torn as I think it's a decent deal but is it worth it...
Click to expand...
How would you compare the Z8 against the OM1 Adam , I’m currently running a D500 with a 200-500 VR so at least I would have a lens to start with but not entirely sure how they compare side by side in use , already used my lads Z8 for a 30 minute session but without being conversant with all the functions and settings it’s hard to evaluate the differences.so could you please explain in depth before I waste my money .
My other option I’m considering is a used D850:
 
Well I purchased the Z8 and it came with the 24-120 F4. I then added the 70-200 F2.8 and 85 F1.8. I use this for taking pictures of my dog running or my little home studio with flash. I find the menu far more confusing than the OM1 and you have to save custom modes to a card, rather than the camera. I watched the Hudson Henry video on setting this up and have just been playing with the settings.

So far, I find the Z8 acquires focus and locks on to my dog very quickly and doesn't lose it that often. I think I have it set on the large AF area and 3D tracking and subject detect, but I'd have to check.

File sizes are 50-60 mb but the image quality is awesome and you do notice a difference. When I shoot with the Z8 I barely ever touch the denoise for example.

That being said, I use one of my OM1s with the 40-150 F2.8 Pro (the one that's off to be fixed hopefully) and I again find that it tracks the dog running towards the camera very well and hit rate is very high. Images are obviously smaller and require more work if the light is poor, which can be the case if working in the local woods for example. But I have zero issues with it, just takes longer to get the files to where I am happy.

So if I know I'm going out primarily to take photos of my dog, I take the Z8. If I'm just going out for some photography then I take the OM1.

I shall take the OM1 with the 8-25, 12-40 F2.8 pro ii and 40-150 F2.8 Pro to Norway in April.

The Z8 and 70-200 F2.8 is massive compared to the OM1 and 40-150 F2.8.

But there is no getting around the better image quality in the Z8.

I'm not a pro though so others may say differently.

The OM1 image needs to be pretty bang on as less room to crop. The Z8 leaves loads of scope to crop if needed.

I find that having a high Megapixel FF camera and the OM system complement one another. I don't see the need for a 24 MP FF camera personally, don't think I'd see much difference in the final images unless the light was poor...(Still fancy a Z6 iii though lol).

I've purchased the OM5 ii and 17 mm F1.8 ii and have just been carrying it around with me everywhere and it's great.

For me, if I'm doing my version of serious photography then it's the Z8 (excluding macro) but I'd say I have more fun using my om stuff, if that makes sense, hence I'm enjoying the OM5 ii so much as a point and click.

Hope that helps
Adam
 
Last edited:
Good summary Adam. I have both a Z8 and an OM-1 ii. I'm getting older and my spinal problems are slowly getting worse so I'm "exploring" the lighter weight OM cameras and bodies.
I've been with Nikon for years and find the OM-1 ii menu system confusing. The conclusion from both of us is that it takes time to master 2 systems.
I agree with everything Adam has said. You have the benefit of using the D500 so you will have familiarity with Nikon menus and systems.

The Z8 is a great camera - think D500 on steroids.

Good luck with your choice.
 
Yes thanks Adam it does indeed help , especially re the file sizes , I think I may just go with the D 850 option as the operating system/ set up is virtually the same as the D500 . Which I already love to use .. will see how things pan out after Xmas
 
Awesome

I'm glad I have been a little help.

Tbh I think either system is more than capable and both have their pros and cons (FF Vs M43rds).

I see some of the images the OM ambassadors produce on the My OM System site and they are bonkers good. So it's a more than capable system no doubt.

Funnily enough I had all the gear out the other day on the bed and my wife said "that camera is massive" refering to the Z8 and 70-200 F2.8. I let her hold that and then the OM1 with the 40-150 F2.8 Pro, which some say is too large and heavy, and she was sold on the OM. That's the beauty of it in my eyes.

I'm 43 so relatively young based on the photographers I've met (no offense intended) and I love the OM system.

When I first got into photography I started with an APSC canon DLSR 500D or something, about 12 MP. Then a Canon M50 mkii and then moved to the Lumix M43rds and Lumix FF (menus were the same which made life easy). But the AF was terrible, so after the S5, S1 and S5 ii I sold the lot and brought into OM system. That's probably why I prefer the menu system on the OM as I've had it a little while longer.

My main love is macro and taking pictures of my dog. For macro I don't think there is an option that can get anywhere near OM system.

If the menu on the Z8 is the same as your current camera, you may be fine with it. I'm getting there slowly lol. Also the file sizes I quoted are the full sized RAW you have options for the compressed ones also, but I don’t use those.

Like most hobby photographers, I probably don't spend enough time with them in my hand due to work and family, etc. So could probably do with spending some quality time with the Z8 (and less time hankering over new gear lol). The OM stuff I'm ok with, in terms of what I use it for. I've used the live ND a couple of times, but I'm no landscape tog. I like the HHHR mode for street and things like that as it creates some movement and saves me switching from A to S and creating motion blur (I'm lazy). Not tried the long exposure or star stuff (had a few goes with the old Lumix system).
 
Last edited:
Great Adam , I’m totally different having over several years owned most of the Olympus series one bodies and most of there lenses and while the system is extremely versatile it does have a few niggles .
I had a play with a Nikon D300 mid summer purely out of nostalgia but got carried away and swiftly progressed to the D500 and now have quiet a few lenses to both dx and fx ones the 200-500vr being a firm favourite ,as it’s sharp wide open ,ideal for wildlife pics .. and the prices of a lot of lenses have dropped now to a point of grab a bargain which I can’t resist
 
A friend of mine has the Z8, having been a Nikon user for many years. A friend of his has the OM1 II. Both are avid bird photographers, both have top-range lenses (don’t ask me which) and go off to Leighton Moss at least twice a week. My Nikon friend reckons they are equal for speed of focus and keeping lock. He prefers his because he can crop heavier, but is jealous of the light weight of the OM system. Neither would swap. Probably doesn’t help, @the black fox
 
Stephen L said:
A friend of mine has the Z8, having been a Nikon user for many years. A friend of his has the OM1 II. Both are avid bird photographers, both have top-range lenses (don’t ask me which) and go off to Leighton Moss at least twice a week. My Nikon friend reckons they are equal for speed of focus and keeping lock. He prefers his because he can crop heavier, but is jealous of the light weight of the OM system. Neither would swap. Probably doesn’t help, @the black fox
Click to expand...
Don't forget the Z8 crop factor is 1.5x and the OM-1 is 2x native so you are in theory cropped in further anyway.
 
the black fox said:
How would you compare the Z8 against the OM1 Adam , I’m currently running a D500 with a 200-500 VR so at least I would have a lens to start with but not entirely sure how they compare side by side in use , already used my lads Z8 for a 30 minute session but without being conversant with all the functions and settings it’s hard to evaluate the differences.so could you please explain in depth before I waste my money .
My other option I’m considering is a used D850:
Click to expand...
Hi Jeff,
I had a brief interlude early this year with a new Z8 and the 180-600mm. I sold it after a couple of months.
There were various reasons I parted with it:
The image files are enormous.
I didn't like the way it uses custom modes and settings.
The large sensor doesn't handle noise particularly well.
It's heavy.
Autofocus pretty good (marginally better than the OM1, not as good as Canon).

It's great for video, files are good for cropping.

If I was doing it again, I'd certainly buy the Z6iii - but at our age, the weight of the overall system is an important factor.
My results with the OM1ii and the 300mm Pro lose nothing in comparison to my ex Nikon setup.

Just my thoughts - others will disagree.

A video to watch if you've got the time:

View: https://youtu.be/EcK5e_9_mZY?si=dht8m5Dta4cVDftR
 
Last edited:
I think size and weight is a big thing if you're lumping kit around or are a little older or less strong.

There is a massive size and weight difference.

I can get two OM1 cameras, 12-40, 8-25, 90 mm and 40-150 F2.8 plus accessories in my LP BP 350 backpack. I can only get one Z8, 24-120, 85, 70-200 F2.8 and accessories in the LP BP 450 backpack.
 
ajophotog said:
Don't forget the Z8 crop factor is 1.5x and the OM-1 is 2x native so you are in theory cropped in further anyway.
Click to expand...
The Z8 is a full-frame camera so has no “crop factor “. Or have I misinterpreted your comment? :)
 
I have both om1 mki and ii. I used the mki from launch then got the mkii march this year. I knew the gap between the two wasnt that great which is why i never got the mkii originally but i needed a second body and the mkii was 1200 new. A second hand mk i would have been 900 ish so it was a no brainer for me.
So i have the mkii on my long lens shooting birds, dragonflies in flight or big insects that i cant approach closely and the mki has the 90 macro on it.

Originally i wasnt spotting the differences but now after 9 months of shooting with it, i can say the AF tracking is clearly better on the mkii. I am getting some crazy bifs that I have no right to with the mkii. But its not a like 90 out of 100 are in focus in bifs. But there's defo more in focus and its quicker to grab the initial focus which is very important in BIFs and especially dflies in flight.
But saying that that is the only thing I have noticed that's different between the two. I am very happy with my decision though.
.
 
Quick question as Im still thinking about the 17mm f1.8 mk2.
Am I right in reading it right that the offer on SRS microsystems will also honour the current £100 off wintercashback. hence making it £331 as that seems a good price given it's including a 5 year warranty?
 
Last edited:
Donnie said:
Quick question as Im still thinking about the 17mm f1.8 mk2.
Am I right in reading it right that the offer on SRS microsystems will also honour the current £100 off wintercashback. hence making it £331 as that seems a good price given it's including a 5 year warranty?
Click to expand...
SRS are authorised resellers. Imagine you claim back the rebate direct from OM, after you’ve got the receipt.That’s what usually happens.
 
Donnie said:
Quick question as Im still thinking about the 17mm f1.8 mk2.
Am I right in reading it right that the offer on SRS microsystems will also honour the current £100 off wintercashback. hence making it £331 as that seems a good price given it's including a 5 year warranty?
Click to expand...

On their website they say the item is inactive, and to choose something similar. Could mean it's discontinued.

SORRY - PLEASE DISREGARD, THAT'S THE MARK 1 VERSION THEY'RE REFERRING TO - DOH!
 
Last edited:
Stephen L said:
SRS are authorised resellers. Imagine you claim back the rebate direct from OM, after you’ve got the receipt.That’s what usually happens.
Click to expand...

I've put two claims back via this promotion and I've had an email asking for a picture of the item clearly showing the serial number, and the box showing the serial number, so don't throw anything away. I've had cashback from OM a few times now but this is the first time they have asked for images.
 
Donnie said:
Quick question as Im still thinking about the 17mm f1.8 mk2.
Am I right in reading it right that the offer on SRS microsystems will also honour the current £100 off wintercashback. hence making it £331 as that seems a good price given it's including a 5 year warranty?
Click to expand...

Yes, you'll pay SRS £431 and then claim £100 cashback from Olympus.
 
ajophotog said:
I think you've pushed it a bit far Jeff, feather detail has been smoothed out and the left leg is looking a bit slim for some reason but, hey you got the photo ;)
Click to expand...
Yep agreed not my best work but I could barely see the bird ,the camera found it in the gloom
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top