I bought a Oly100-400 today, first impressions

So I've got both 100-400s.
I paid £1169 today but get £200 cashback so £969 feels like a good deal. I fully expected to be starting this post by saying that was 1K down the drain but I'm happy to say I was wrong.

I took it out for a couple of hours this afternoon on the OM-1. Size and weight were my biggest worry but it's not as bad as I thought although it looks monstrous next to the PL esp when the hood is on. Using my Nicama harness I hardly noticed the difference although it's bit more noticeable on my Optech sling strap so I suspect the harness will be used more. It does balance very well on the OM-1 and shooting from a hide wasn't too bad. I did get a bit of neck ache but I sometimes get that with the PL. It actually felt like the camera and lens were paired.

One surprise was I was worried that the zoom ring would feel too loose after the 'stiff' PL but the difference wasn't that obvious. I've smallish hands so it seemed to sit on them rather than wrapped in them.

Now for the revelation IQ seems to be a notch up on the PL. It was a mixed couple of hours weatherwise with some low cloud and drizzle, some brief bright intervals and some of the regular grey stuff. There could be a few reasons for the improvement. My favourite is that the Oly lens and Oly camera are just more compatible. I seemed to get marginally quicker AF, a better run of CAF and easier separation from distracting background. With the PL I tend to get the shot I want but I pick the best of the bunch whereas the Oly seems to be more consistent.

I'll play with it some more in the coming days but I've seen enough to suggest that the OM-1 and Oly100-400 will be my go to kit. The PL can go back on the G9 and will make a very good second kit.

Just a few random pic from the afternoon including one of a Northern Shoveler behind reeds which shows just how good the bird ID actually is.