How good is OM1-ii AI Bird Detect With Branches/Grass

[Camrarat]

How much improved is the AI bird detect/autofocus in the OM1ii?

I’m especially interested in how well it does when branches or grasses are between you and the bird.

For those that have used the OM1 and the OM5 for birds, would you say that this feature is worth buying an OM1 for? (In my situation I believe that this is basically the only feature I’d use that is present in the OM1 but lacking in the OM5)

I know that last question is personal, so a translation of it is-how much harder is it to focus on birds with the OM5 compared to the OM1? (With my current setup, an old canon t2i, I miss quite a few bird shots due to the focus not landing correctly…very frustrating, happens even when the bird’s head is perfectly centered)

 

[SteveB_photos]

The OM-1 Mark II is a vast improvement over the other models when it comes to shooting birds deep in the brush or grasses. I have just returned from a trip with ~8,000+ birds shots and was blown away by the improvement in this particular situation.

Steve

 

[Atho]

The OM-1 Mark II is a vast improvement over the other models when it comes to shooting birds deep in the brush or grasses. I have just returned from a trip with ~8,000+ birds shots and was blown away by the improvement in this particular situation.

Steve

I envy your patience and time.

 

[Will Rose]

The OM-1 Mark II is a vast improvement over the other models when it comes to shooting birds deep in the brush or grasses. I have just returned from a trip with ~8,000+ birds shots and was blown away by the improvement in this particular situation.

Steve

Good to know, thanks!

I'd love to see some do a video of the mk1 and mk2 mounted side by side comparing how they both do with birds/twigs and with human/face detection. It would be really interesting to see the respective behaviors with identical subjects.

 

[Messier Object]

The OM-1 Mark II is a vast improvement over the other models when it comes to shooting birds deep in the brush or grasses. I have just returned from a trip with ~8,000+ birds shots and was blown away by the improvement in this particular situation.

Steve

This I think is the improvement OM-1 owners would expect OMDS to be able to deliver via a FW update.

 

[Atho]

The OM-1 Mark II is a vast improvement over the other models when it comes to shooting birds deep in the brush or grasses. I have just returned from a trip with ~8,000+ birds shots and was blown away by the improvement in this particular situation.

Steve

This I think is the improvement OM-1 owners would expect OMDS to be able to deliver via a FW update.

You nailed it!

 

[Danielvr]

OM-1 Mkii and obstructions.

 

[lightshedder]

Personally I expect the firmware update to ONLY do what they are advertising…improve subject detection in the All Points focus target. The OM-1 struggles to pick out any subject when it is well out of focus and you are using All. It rocks in and out and never settles. The OM-1 mkii is much more likely to find the subject on the first try. That they can probably fix in firmware. However the mkii uses a different, shall we say, focus language…the OM-1 is subject and focus target centered…the mkii is eye-centered. That is a pretty big thing to fix in firmware. I hope they can do it…but I am not holding my breath.

 

[lightshedder]

I have lots more samples…and am convinced the mkii handles obstructions way better than the mki…but as others have said, the mki gets it right sometimes. Just not as often as the mkii. My loaner had to go back, but my own mkii should come today…and I will continue to experiment with it. I can’t wait for Magee Marsh in May to put it to the real test on feeding warblers.

 

[BrianWadie]

I have a set of test shots in my flikr album which may be of interest, link in my profile, first album