Too much for too little, almost certainly.
I could write a small novel about that, but I've decided not to.
The OP said:
I'm pretty tempted, frankly.
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The OMD M1.2 is vastly better for indoor shots
- Thread starter Humansvillian
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I could write a small novel about that, but I've decided not to.
The OP said:
A used EM1.2 from a reputable dealer is about £420. Used 12-40/2.8 mk i is £375.Too much for too little, almost certainly.
I could write a small novel about that, but I've decided not to.
The OP said:
I'm pretty tempted, frankly.
If you also want a lens, I'd wait for the next offer on an OM5 kit, because it has more functionality than the EM1.2 and the 12-45/4 is a better lens than the 12-40/2.8 mk i, at least my copies are and reviews agree.
The EM1.2 and OM5 produce exactly the same IQ as the OM1s. The only fundamental difference is slight improvements in IBIS with each step in launch date.
Both OM1s are much faster cameras with better AF than any EM1 or EM5 body.
There isn't much around about the difference between the 12-40mm mk i and mk ii. Jim S says they are pretty much the same. OMDS claim better coatings. I'd guess the 12-45/4 and 12-40/2.8 are very close in IQ.
I have a lot of lenses! The OM/Olympus Pro lenses are pretty good compared to my FE ones. I'd not get the 20/1.4 (SA and LoCA) and the 8/1.8 has weird bokeh (but I like it).
HTH
A
I appreciate your help and adviice, but: screw buying new, and screw buying anything newish in the used market with OMDS's idiotic policy on updates for cameras bought used. OMDS can go pound sand.
So I'm left looking at Olympus cameras that *won't* get/need updates, or ignoring anything that starts with an "O". Did I mention that OMDS can go stuff themselves?
Do OMDS prevent you updating the firmware on cameras bought used, or are you cross about the limited updates for older cameras?
Asking for a friend.
A
Skeeterbytes
Forum Pro
Angry man is angry.
"Luckily" there still exist several camera companies who will sell anybody a camera, who wants one. As to service and advances post-sale, you're still on your own regardless of name on the thing.
I’ve had good experiences with several U.K. retailers and the distributors for Tamron, Zeiss and Voigtländer. Voigtländer themselves are pretty rubbish, presumably because their lenses can’t be repaired, so they hate returns.
Olympus and their repair centre in Portugal used to be first rate. Not used them since they morphed into OMDS.
OMDS seem to be a bit under powered and disorganised in Europe, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t trying to do a good job. The staff I’ve had dealings with seem helpful.
The whole OM1 mk i & ii debacle looks like an unforced error. A series of individual decisions that probably all seemed reasonable managed to inject their brand with slow poison.
They moved from my good supplier to standard supplier category. Not a fundamental problem. I wouldn’t have enough confidence in them to buy anything within a year of launch or a lens like the 150-400/4.5.
Andrew
I read somewhere in this forum that if you bought your camera used, you couldn't get firmware updates, OMDS policy.
Did I get that wrong? Embarrassing a little, but would actually be better if that's not true - the cameras seem solid from most accounts.
Saw it here: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4777028?page=2#forum-post-67926122
Did I get that wrong? Embarrassing a little, but would actually be better if that's not true - the cameras seem solid from most accounts.
Saw it here: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4777028?page=2#forum-post-67926122
I wouldn’t pay much attention to Siegfried.
I just realised that my current OM bodies were bought new. I never had to put anything special in to update them. I had a grey market EM1.2 which effectively counts as used. Not a problem.
You can always use the SD card method in the extremely unlikely case that this “alternative fact” turns out to be true.
Never saw anyone here with a used body complaining they couldn’t update it.
Andrew
Ok, thanks, guess I need to double check things more.
Yeah, I get worrked up, lol.
Humansvillian
Veteran Member
OMDS still has full updates for my 2008 Olympus E-510 and my 2010 Olympus E-5.
They’ll completely rebuild and refresh a rebuildable OMD M1.2 for about $250.
Any camera ever made has been a lens holder for a mount system.
Olympus reached the point starting with the M1.2 where you buy a body, new or used, for your MFT lenses and wear it out and get a fresher one.
2ndact scene1
Senior Member
I was also under that impression and said so in a post a few weeks ago. But another DPReview member made it clear I was wrong.
Here is what happened when I went ahead and tried it: I have a grey market EM1.iii and an EM1X I bought used here in the US, which I assume was purchased in the US. I downloaded the Olympus/OMD software and it has warning page that only cameras imported by Olympus itself could be serviced.
So I made the incorrect assumption that registration was required for each camera using the software and a grey market body would be locked out. That is incorrect.
The member who corrected me said that you only have to register one body and the software will work on any Olympus body, regardless of where it was purchased.
Here is what actually happened. I tried to register my gray market EM1.iii and the software would not accept the serial number. So I tried the EM1X. Same problem! Then I realized I also had a grey market OMD TG7. I entered that serial number, and it was accepted!
So far, so good, but my main system is a MAC and I knew there were issues with doing firmware updates due to Apple's internal security software. I looked at the OMS workaround. I was very uncomfortable with what it suggested. It required messing about within the MAC operating system. I didn't know what the consequences would be and if there would be any unintended consequences. It was beyond my understanding or digital competence. So no go.
A second alternative I found is using the OMD software on my phone. Even though I was pretty sure the EM1.iii was up to date at this point, I tried that body first. The phone and the camera communicated and I got to the firmware section. It said that the camera was up to date and quit. So that was my proof of concept. It seemed like a great option. So, I tried the EM1X. The phone and the camera communicated well enough for the phone to figure out what camera it is. But when I tried to start the firmware update, it put up an error message saying it could not communicate with the camera and quit. I did some more reading and discovered the phone based update only apply to the EM1.iii and later bodies.
My final attempt was on an old HP Laptop with Windows 11. Unfortunately, it would not communicate with the camera so I was unable start the update process.
The bottom line is that my EM1X is missing the major 2.0 series firmware updates. Is it critical for what I do? No it is not. But it is very annoying.
My last resort is to use the unofficial SD card update process, which has the potential to brick your camera.
So I Ihink my next step is going to be to contact OMD and see what they say about this issue.
The MAC enforces security, requiring that the drivers be signed in order to load, or else extra action is required (as documented in the workaround with which you are not comfortable). Why the camera companies can't just get their drivers signed (like most/all other peripheral manufacturers do) is beyond me; maybe it costs money and the camera companies are too cheap.
I found a discussion of this here:
https://discussions.apple.com/threa...46022&sortBy=oldest_first&page=1#259767046022
If you want to read through it, be sure to sort by "oldest" using the widget found under the "Similar questions" block, otherwise it makes no sense.
Basically it advises trying the OMDS workaround, and at least one other person there said it worked. I think it sounds scarier than it is, but I don't actually know anything about it, I'm cheap so I avoid Macs.
OMDS workaround: https://learnandsupport.getolympus....ips/settings/how-to-update-firmware-using-mac
Anyhow, it's not just OMDS, apparently Sony does similar.
see https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-7-series/ilce-7m3/software/00257843
Sony has a write-up for the same issue but it seems several steps easier: basically when you hit the first popup:
OMDS showing System extension blocked
instead of rebooting, etc, Sony has you click the "Open Security" preferences" button and allow their driver from there:
Sony showing system extension blocked, but using the easier path
In the Sony version, you then enter an admin password, then you get to use this window to allow the driver/extension:
[ATTACH alt="This is Sony's, you'd be Allowing the "OMDS ..." thing"]3546796[/ATTACH]
This is Sony's, you'd be Allowing the "OMDS ..." thing
This may all be dependent on the MacOS version, this particular Sony document calls out: macOS 10.14, 10.15, 11, 12
Whether you try any of this out or not, I hope this all works out for you.
Attachments
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2ndact scene1
Senior Member
Thanks for the detailed reply. I will read the material. Interesting to note that Sony has issues too. It just seems like OMDS was blindsided by the M chip and updated MacOS. But it is also possible that Apple made it very difficult/expensive for low volume peripheral manufacturers (in relation to mass market products) to jump through the hoops to get compliant. The phone app is so much easier.The MAC enforces security, requiring that the drivers be signed in order to load, or else extra action is required (as documented in the workaround with which you are not comfortable). Why the camera companies can't just get their drivers signed (like most/all other peripheral manufacturers do) is beyond me; maybe it costs money and the camera companies are too cheap.
I found a discussion of this here:
https://discussions.apple.com/threa...46022&sortBy=oldest_first&page=1#259767046022
If you want to read through it, be sure to sort by "oldest" using the widget found under the "Similar questions" block, otherwise it makes no sense.
Basically it advises trying the OMDS workaround, and at least one other person there said it worked. I think it sounds scarier than it is, but I don't actually know anything about it, I'm cheap so I avoid Macs.
OMDS workaround: https://learnandsupport.getolympus....ips/settings/how-to-update-firmware-using-mac
Anyhow, it's not just OMDS, apparently Sony does similar.
see https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-7-series/ilce-7m3/software/00257843
Sony has a write-up for the same issue but it seems several steps easier: basically when you hit the first popup:
OMDS showing System extension blocked
instead of rebooting, etc, Sony has you click the "Open Security" preferences" button and allow their driver from there:
Sony showing system extension blocked, but using the easier path
In the Sony version, you then enter an admin password, then you get to use this window to allow the driver/extension:
[ATTACH alt="This is Sony's, you'd be Allowing the "OMDS ..." thing"]3546796[/ATTACH]
This is Sony's, you'd be Allowing the "OMDS ..." thing
This may all be dependent on the MacOS version, this particular Sony document calls out: macOS 10.14, 10.15, 11, 12
Whether you try any of this out or not, I hope this all works out for you.
This post discusses this option for an OM-1. I have not tried this.:
How to update the OM-1 via an update file on the SD card
Hey folks, A couple of days ago, inspired by the excellent LightSnowDev website, I figured out how to manually update the OM-1 by copying the update file to an SD card. I've contacted the site's owner with the details if they want to update their site, but I see a few people struggling with the...
This post gives current locations of update files (OMDS decomissioned the old Olympus servers where they were previously) as of April 11th, 2024:
Firmware updates for OM and EM cameras - January 2023
So if I'm not interested in getting this 90mm macro lens, then this new firmware is pointless for me? It's still worthwhile doing it eventually in case there is another unmentioned little fix, but no hurry though.
www.mu-43.com
EZGritz
Veteran Member
I'm still doing OK with an EM5.3 and a 9-18 f4-5.6 indoors - my travel kit for travel pics. If it's too dark for that I'm not interested in taking the photo. I leave my OM-1 at home unless I'm shooting sports or BIF.
Regarding OMDS firmware updates, I ran across these whjile looking for something else:
"I bricked my Olympus OM-1 - avoid this mistake when you update the firmware of your OM-1"
As of the time of this video, there was a an issue with updates done from certain Mac computers.
Also this vid:
1 comment in the second vid mentions the need to allow the OMDS driver ("System Extension" as noted in previous post):
"@jpsteiner2
6 months ago (edited)
I have used Mac for years. Yes, the security settings do need to be made. I have updated my lenses, my OM-5, my E-620 (ancient), and my EM1-mkiii with OM Workspace. Even with the new version (2.3.2). However, AFTER the firmware was updated on my OM-5 to 1.2, THEN my OM-5 could not connect. My other cameras connect just fine. There's a software glitch somewhere, most likely in the OM-5's 1.2 firmware...."
"I bricked my Olympus OM-1 - avoid this mistake when you update the firmware of your OM-1"
As of the time of this video, there was a an issue with updates done from certain Mac computers.
Also this vid:
1 comment in the second vid mentions the need to allow the OMDS driver ("System Extension" as noted in previous post):
"@jpsteiner2
6 months ago (edited)
I have used Mac for years. Yes, the security settings do need to be made. I have updated my lenses, my OM-5, my E-620 (ancient), and my EM1-mkiii with OM Workspace. Even with the new version (2.3.2). However, AFTER the firmware was updated on my OM-5 to 1.2, THEN my OM-5 could not connect. My other cameras connect just fine. There's a software glitch somewhere, most likely in the OM-5's 1.2 firmware...."
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