There is an old expression - I don't know whether you've heard it - that goes: "They were on a hiding to nothing." Basically what this means is that, no matter what they released, they were going to get hate. I guess that also goes together with a more recent saying; "Haters are gonna hate."
Maybe, it could be argued, that OM Solutions (at least their marketing division) didn't help themselves by building this release up to be their 'Wow' camera. But did they really have a choice? They were hardly going to market the first release of their 'flagship' camera by calling it their new 'A bit better' camera!
And yet, as soon as it was officially released (and for weeks prior), the haters were already wading in with what was disappointing or wrong with the camera. And this includes some of the Olympus faithful! Since it's official release on Feb 15th, I've seen numerous posts on-line by people who have said "That's it. I'm selling all my Olympus gear. I'm done." Or words to that effect. Geez Louise! This camera must really suck!? Or does it?
For a start, it has a new 20MP quad-pixel AF stacked CMOS sensor with 1053 cross-type AF points and blackout-free shooting up to 50fps with AF and AE - 120fps with AF and AE locked! Wow! What is not impressive about that people?
Okay, okay - yeah I get it. It's only 20MP. I got news for you buddy - you, yes YOU. 20MP is more than enough for 99% of photographers. Period. 20MP is more than enough for large billboards. 20MP is more than enough for weddings, portraits and landscapes. 20MP is more than enough for your Instagram feed and your Facebook page. It just is. If you feel inferior, and have convinced yourself that you need 40+ megapixels, then micro four thirds was never for you in the first place. Seriously! Go and buy a full frame camera for heaven's sake. Go on... off you go...
For the rest of us mere mortals, the new 20MP stacked sensor in the OM-1 will do just fine. Actually more than just fine. And if you really want to capture more pixels, then have at it with Olympus's fantastic hi-res shooting mode, which has been significantly improved on the OM-1. Due to the new stacked sensor, and improved TruePic X Dual Quad Core processor, the OM-1 can now shoot 50MP resolution images handheld with less risk of subject movement between shots (7 seconds processing time vs 16 seconds on the E-M1 Mk3). It can also create an 80MP Tripod-mounted image as well. And it spits out a RAW image at the end of it all - not just a processed Jpeg.
Is that enough Wow for you? No? Well never mind - there's more...
The new OM-1 is one of the most weather sealed cameras in the world. Environmental sealing rated to IP53 (and no, I don't know what that actually means either. But trust me, it's a lot!). Want more? It has 7 stops of 5-axis in-body image stabilisation, increased to an incredible 8 stops with a compatible lens. OM-D are also claiming an increased dynamic range over the E-M1 Mk3 of 2 stops (that alone is pretty impressive), and, of course, better low-light performance at higher ISO's (up to a boosted maximum of 102400).
It also has a new 5.76M dot OLED viewfinder with up to 0.83x magnification, a fully articulated 1.62M dot touchscreen, and a new menu system with a more Sony/Canonesque layout and configuration. The new battery is good for 500+ shots and will, of course, allow for a new battery grip to bring it up to the weight and size of a E-M1X.
And yet people aren't impressed.... The camera isn't 'wow' enough for them. They feel the desperate need to change systems. It's a disappointment. Not really an upgrade on what they have already... (insert other rants and moans here...). Are we not entertained?
And this is why I feel sorry for OM Solutions, and Canon, and Nikon, and Sony, and all other manufacturers who have released new products in the last few years. Who remembers the internet loosing it's mind over only one card slot in the Nikon Z6 and Z7? Or the overheating at 8k with the Canon R5? Every time a new camera model is released, the interwebs are awash with haters and nay-sayers just waiting to pounce and declare their crushing disappointment in X, Y or Z.
What a bunch of winging, moaning, self-important, self-entitled, hyper-critical, technology obsessed, narcissistic, over-opinionated a**holes we've become! Just who the hell do we think we are?
All of these cameras are phenomenal achievements in design and technology. And all we can do is bitch and moan about them. I watched a Youtuber the other day describe a single card slot in a camera as a 'deal-breaker' for him, since he shoots weddings. Really? A deal-breaker? So what, may I ask did people shoot weddings with 10 years ago when there were NO camera's with two card slots?
Ok, yes, I get that we have 'moved' on, and we do now have cameras with two card slots. If you feel better shooting a wedding with two card slots in your camera, then by all means, go for it. But a 'deal-breaker'. Really? C'mon.
Personally, I think that today's cameras are actually a bit too good. A bit too feature-packed and technology laden. Where can they really go from here? How could OM Solutions have made the OM-1 any more 'Wow' than it already is? And before you answer that - think seriously (and I do mean seriously) about what you actually need for your photography.
AI and 'computational' photography are the new buzzwords for the future of our hobby/profession. But at what stage does it then stop being about photography and become more about computer programming?
I, for one, don't need the OM-1. And probably wouldn't use a tenth of it's features if I had one. To me it really is a WOW camera. And so is the Nikon Z9, and the Sony a9, and the Canon R5 etc... Just like most people probably don't use even 1/10th of the functionality in their phones. And yet they will 'upgrade' to a new one every other year. Heck - even my current E-M1 Mk1 is still a WOW camera, and does all I need it to without breaking a sweat.
I suspect that these people who 'need' the latest gear, and who complain the loudest whenever a new camera is released, are actually lousy photographers, who simply want to own the 'greatest' gear as a status symbol. Not for any creative endeavors. Heaven forbid they would actually use the gear to take any photos with!
Having said that, I've also seen plenty of posts on-line from people who have pre-ordered the OM-1, and who are genuinely excited about the new camera. Good on them. I'm sure they will be very happy with their new gear. I lusted after the EM1x when it first came out, and I certainly wouldn't say no if one was handed to me. But I'm also not about to go on any forums and slag it off just because it's bigger than it should be, or doesn't do this, that, or the other.
To stay in business, camera manufacturers must release new product. And said new product must be 'better' than last years model. I get that. But have we almost come to the point where they actually can't get much better? Where photography gives way to electrical engineering and computational physics? As Kodak once famously said. "You push the button, we do the rest."
Absolutely brilliant post! Most cameras today are much more capable than the average person using it. I have had the most fun with my Panasonic FZ300 and the prints are still hanging in my living room. Now I own a Fuji X-T4 and was already thinking „This and that could be better…“. The reality is this camera is way ahead of me. People really should stop comparing and start using their instincts. Thank you for your statement.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. And thanks for taking the time to read and comment. I really do appreciate it.
DeleteEnjoy that XT-4. What a great camera!