Adding OM-1ii First Impressions

[Steve Rushing]

Caveats: This is not a review. I have not done any controlled, objective testing. This is simply my impressions of the shooting experience differences between my OM-1i (1i) & just received OM-1ii 1ii). The setting for drawing the impressions was our yard. I have shot so many frames in our yard over the years, including with the OM-1i, I think it provides a good baseline for 'gut feel' of any differences that are materially & noticeably better or worse. I bought the 1ii to replace an aging & lovingly abused EM1x I was using for backup. I did not buy it for the upgrade. I never felt that the 1i was a laggard in AF & I certainly did not think OM System was trying to pull a fast one on me. But I did look forward to any of the discussed improvements.

I think the most material 'upgrade' I did for my 1i was to use Petr Bambousek's guidance for setting up the AF Areas & sequential shooting variables for my similar use cases. This improved my already satisfactory hit rate up to the low high 80, low 90%, if I did not do something else stupid. As I result, I did not think I would see a marked improvement in hit rate. I was just looking for improved ease of use which means for me an opportunty for a couplathree really cool shots I might have missed fiddling with changing AF Area. I set the same AF settings from my 1i to the 1ii with one notable exception. I change SH2 & ProCap SH2 to 16.7 fps. More on this later.

Short version: I did experience AF improvement. Bird detection was noticeably quicker & stickier & did not struggle in low light, low contrast. I did not have to work as hard trying to get detection to believe me that I was pointing it at a bird deep in cover & once it did detect the target it held on better regardless of bird or branch movement. I did not have to turn Bird Detect off which happened about ~10% of the time with the 1i.

How much better? Enough for me to feel more confident that I could concentrate more on composition & less on 'threading' an opening. I think this is important for being more in the moment & the possibility of getting something unique.

16.7 fps in the SH2 made it possible to move almost instantly between AF modes. It was always irritating to have to wait to switch from ProCap2 & SH2 to try & catch a moment between the take off shot & the on-the-wing shot.

Final conclusion: Life was good with the 1i & will be noticeably better with the 1ii. My backup situation using two 'identical' cameras is better & I'm looking forward to trips further abroad for spring migration.

A few more first impressions:

I appreciate the switch in packaging. It seems more in keeping with a company focused on nature & the outdoors.

I immediately noticed & appreciated the rubberized buttons. The sticky buttons on my 1i was a constant irritant.

The US delivered package contained a FL-LM3 flash, USB C cable & AC adapter, & a neck strap to add to my collection.

I'm including some shots just imported with LRC & no adjustments. Not for IQ comparability but more to show conditions & bird behaviors & what the AF made of them.


Brown Thrasher


Brown Thrasher


Brown Thrasher


Eastern Phoebe


EasternTowhee


Female Northern Cardinal


Female Northern Cardinal


Male Northern Cardinal


Song Sparrow


Song Sparrow


White-breasted Nuthatch


Yellow-rumped Warbler


Yellow-rumped Warbler

 

[john isaacs]

I don't bother switching between ProCap2 and SH2; I just keep using ProCap2. It's really the same thing. It's switching between ProCap2 and High (or vice versa) that was always an issue with the OM1. I switch in order to cut the ISO and get better IQ. But I'm always nervous about it because switching back takes time.

 

[MedicineMan999]

So do you think someone new to the OM-1 Mk ii would benefit from Petr Bambousek's guidance on the OM-1 Mki? If so can you link me to his treatise please.

I have the mk ii arriving Tuesday (if UPS does their job). My experience in the Oly/OMs world is solely the M1X.

The only long lens I have is the Oly 300/4; though for backyard birding I really need to add the 40-150/2.8.

 

[Bialykot]

So do you think someone new to the OM-1 Mk ii would benefit from Petr Bambousek's guidance on the OM-1 Mki? If so can you link me to his treatise please.

I have the mk ii arriving Tuesday (if UPS does their job). My experience in the Oly/OMs world is solely the M1X.

The only long lens I have is the Oly 300/4; though for backyard birding I really need to add the 40-150/2.8.

Bambousek’s pdf for the OM1 is a decent read and covers his personal observations and custom settings for his style of photography in a very practical way. I bought the guide, downloaded it, printed it out and bound it as a hardback book. I find it very useful and learned a lot about customising my OM1. He also provides the files for his settings which you can load into your camera to replicate his shooting set up which is useful (if you take photos of birds and do macro shots). These provide a useful starting point for your own further customisations. There are files for both the OM1.1 and OM1.2. Bambousek is in the process of updating the pdf with specific OM1.2 explanations but this will be a free addendum to the original manual rather than a complete new one.

OM-1 for Wildlife Photography PDF | Petr Bambousek | Wildlife Photography

www.sulasula.com

 

[epozar]

Is the annoying s-af buzzing sound still present??

--
Emil Pozar, http://www.alpfabet.com

 

[Atho]

Is the annoying s-af buzzing sound still present??

 

[MedicineMan999]

Thanks for the link.

I tried......when I clicked buy a screen came up 'something broke', literally that's what it said haha

No problem, I'll try again later today.

 

[daddyo]

The only buzzing sound I'm aware of is the one that is still there when I turn my camera off.

I have never been aware of my camera AF making any noise what so ever.

 

[Steve Rushing]

[No message]

 

[Steve Rushing]

I think this comment is important: "his style of photography". I shoot in a similar mobile style (& aspire to get results even remotely close to his) mostly in the forests, bottomlands, & swamps of the SE US. In my opinion, Bambousek has diligently & methodically worked on the ease of use that puts the photographer in the moment increase the likelihood of getting a unique shot in these conditions. Plus, keeping your mind in the moment & not fiddling with settings is a non-trivial matter when there are a lot of critters that don't want to share their space.





I have the 40-150 2.8 & find it very handy for when the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive. It's also my favorite for butterflies.

 

[MedicineMan999]

Just tried again and success. Petr's guides downloaded.

 

[Jim Vincent]

Thanks for the impressions, and photos.

There are several where my OM1i would have had problems, notably the last.

I've missed countless shots of this variety, and some with birds only seen once, thus missing the ability to add them to my photographed life list.

The new OM1 is looking very impressive and capable.

 

[epozar]

Do you use s-af with a single advance?

 

[daddyo]

Not all the time, but I certainly do use it, and have never heard any noise. Maybe your hearing is just better than mine.

 

[Sylvan120]

Is the annoying s-af buzzing sound still present??

My new OM-1 ii makes a subtle “shhhh” sound when focusing. When focus is acquired and it beeps, the sound stops. I’m new to this system so don’t know if this is normal or not. I also recently got my ears cleaned so I hear everything now .

 

[Atho]

I think this comment is important: "his style of photography". I shoot in a similar mobile style (& aspire to get results even remotely close to his) mostly in the forests, bottomlands, & swamps of the SE US. In my opinion, Bambousek has diligently & methodically worked on the ease of use that puts the photographer in the moment increase the likelihood of getting a unique shot in these conditions. Plus, keeping your mind in the moment & not fiddling with settings is a non-trivial matter when there are a lot of critters that don't want to share their space.



I have the 40-150 2.8 & find it very handy for when the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive. It's also my favorite for butterflies.

That’s some butterfly.

--
the whole is something besides the parts

 

[RDoe]

"

16.7 fps in the SH2 made it possible to move almost instantly between AF modes. It was always irritating to have to wait to switch from ProCap2 & SH2 to try & catch a moment between the take off shot & the on-the-wing shot.

"

So you don't need to switch anymore due to lower FPS not eating up space? Or what am I missing?

 

[MedicineMan999]

New to Olympus/OMsys, hoping for an answer to this.