OM-1 Mark I Firmware Update 1.6, continued part 2

[Jeroen1969]

Now that was a hefty discussion about the Firmware update for the OM-1 "Mark 1". It was filled to the rim, so I could not share my experience with you guys. Heck, why not a sequel?

The Good

Well, my camera still works. Same goes for the 300mm F/4.0 IS Pro that I had updated pretty much right after I installed Firmware Update 1.6 on my OM-1. Yes, it had forgotten all about my native language, the date and the time. I gladly reminded my camera on these subjects.

The Unkown

Wait a minute.... is one not supposed to give "The Bad" right after giving "The Good"? Well, it is a habit, but regarding the firmware update, I really can't say I've noticed something bad. That is to say, the camera is not performing worse after the update than it did before.

Now, the discussion went on because from various different sources, information was received and then spread around that the Firmware Update secretly also improved AF performance. Some were pretty sure that was bullocks, others were pretty sure their camera had improved.

Fact is, after having shot for two days, some couple of hundred clicks, I must say I shot my best shots AFTER I had done the Firmware Update. But. Am I sure that this is because I did the update? Well, no. First, I also updated the firmware of my 300mm F/4.0 IS Pro lens. Second: reading through the replies I picked up an occasional tip. Third: I only own the OM-1 for just over two months now and the MC-14 for just over a week. So I will not rule out the possibility that I'm getting more and more used to the OM-1 and therefore have more shots that please me.

Let me show you what I mean by sharing one of my earlier shots of a Robin:





This was shot using an Olympus FT 70-300mm lens that I sold later on. Perhaps having an older FT on the OM-1 by means of an adapter is not the wisest of decisions one can make.

Now here is a Robin that I captured after the firmware update and using a prime lens:





It can be that "it is between my ears", but I got this feeling that it was easier to get a sharp picture AFTER the firmware update than BEFORE. But hey, I'm comparing apples and pears here (older Non-Pro Olympus lens v.s. Olympus Prime), so let me find another comparison that is more in the direction of apples and apples.





This was taken BEFORE the firmware update. I had to help the AF quite a lot, perhaps all that gras is not really helping. Though I promised a more apple-2-apple comparison, the next shot that was taken AFTER the firmware update was also taken earlier during the day as in: better light.





This one was done by the AF it self. Not "tack sharp", but distance does have an effect. Things like atmospheric distortion do come in to play. The nice thing about the set-up that I have is that it can take sharp pictures (provided properly focused) from a relatively short distance.





Again, I can't provide any proof, but I got this hunch that BEFORE the update I had more troubles grasping images like the one above.

Anyways, to rule out the option that it was the firmware of the lens that improved my experiences, rather than the update of the body, today I went out and brought my Olympus 12-40mm F/2.8 Pro. To be honest: I have no clue if that lens has up-2-date firmware, I will check that right after this post.





I took this one completely relying on the AF as I had the camera well above my head and difficulty judging the image on the screen, having two dogs on a leash that were pulling did not help very much either. Once at home, I was pleasantly surprised by the result.

Now, whilst I was in the "test it out in the field mode", I decided to do a comparison, shooting the same subject with the 40mm, the 300mm without the MC-14 TC and the 300mm with the MC-14 TC on it. Below you'll find a 100% crop screenshot with those 3 aligned.







Conclusion

Firmware update 1.6 by no means harmed my camera. I'm getting better results but I can't rule out that general practice has just as much to do with that than that firmware update.

I also decided that the 1.4 TC can stay on my 300mm lens. I do not really loose much image quality and given the size of my general subjects (birds and insects mostly) I'm getting nicer results with that thing attached than without as there are limits to the amount of cropping one can do with "only" 20MP.

That said, I do look forward to the announced firmware update that will address the AF issues. Because not all of my shots are "keepers". And I would like to see a higher "sharp shot percentage".

 

[Skeeterbytes]

Appreciate the deep dive and report!

Did the update, failed to brick the camera, and that's about all I have. Looking forward to my next event to give it a go and look for any improvements.

Cheers,

Rick

 

[Doxa750]

Thanks for a very thorough update write up. So far, my experience with FW1.6 has been great. I did find its AF performs better than FW1.5.

I took these a few night ago. Comparing first and second images, one would think 300mm F4 with better reach would allow camera to see subject and grab the focus better, but that wasn't the case.

For the take off shots of the mama GHO, camera grabbed and held on the whole sequences. I got some blurry images but it had to do with my slow SS. Just picked two off that series. Not a lot of busy foreground but camera could have picked up the branches in front on the left or right as she projected upward and forward.

I didn't do any editing on these images except cropping and/or turn Deep Prime on.

I think it will update my second OM-1 to FW1.6 tonight. The issue I ran into the first time was that it reset date and time. It also changed some of custom settings even though I had reloaded the save settings. A bit of a hassle, but luckily I have two to compare!


OM1 with FW 1.6 hand problem finding the eyes.


With older FW 1.5, it graded the stick in front.

 

[Jeroen1969]

In my opening post of this thread, I forgot to attach the link to part 1 of the lengthy discussion. Here it is (<- Click!)

 

[Jeroen1969]

Thanks for a very thorough update write up. So far, my experience with FW1.6 has been great. I did find its AF performs better than FW1.5.

I took these a few night ago. Comparing first and second images, one would think 300mm F4 with better reach would allow camera to see subject and grab the focus better, but that wasn't the case.

For the take off shots of the mama GHO, camera grabbed and held on the whole sequences. I got some blurry images but it had to do with my slow SS. Just picked two off that series. Not a lot of busy foreground but camera could have picked up the branches in front on the left or right as she projected upward and forward.

I didn't do any editing on these images except cropping and/or turn Deep Prime on.

I think it will update my second OM-1 to FW1.6 tonight. The issue I ran into the first time was that it reset date and time. It also changed some of custom settings even though I had reloaded the save settings. A bit of a hassle, but luckily I have two to compare!


OM1 with FW 1.6 hand problem finding the eyes.


With older FW 1.5, it graded the stick in front.

I'd say: pretty darn good pictures!

 

[Doxa750]

Thanks!

 

[rz350]

I thought what the heck, I will upgrade the firmware. I started the OM Workspace program and plugged in my OM-1 and turned it on. I set it to storage and went to the update panel. BSOD. Fortunately my camera was unaffected. I went upstairs to my laptop and installed OM Workspace and proceeded to install 1.6. Scary moment there. My laptop did not like the Drive, card in my OM-1 but the firmware installed. As everyone noted, a number of settings were not restored, but now have been remedied. We shall see how this all works. My 2 cents.

 

[Jeroen1969]

I thought what the heck, I will upgrade the firmware. I started the OM Workspace program and plugged in my OM-1 and turned it on. I set it to storage and went to the update panel. BSOD. Fortunately my camera was unaffected. I went upstairs to my laptop and installed OM Workspace and proceeded to install 1.6. Scary moment there. My laptop did not like the Drive, card in my OM-1 but the firmware installed. As everyone noted, a number of settings were not restored, but now have been remedied. We shall see how this all works. My 2 cents.

I did not get the firmware update going on OM Workspace that is installed on my MacStudio M1 Max. A security issue that I couldn't solve in the Privacy & Security systems setting. So I used OI Share on my iPhone 14 Pro. First I had to register my OM-1 in that app, after that, I could do the firmware update by means of the OI Share app on the iPhone. I'll admit: I was anxious during the process and very relieved it worked out allright...

 

[Doxa750]

I have been using OI Share app to update my cameras for years now. Perhaps some of you guys do not use iPhone. I know one of my friends who recently got a new OM1.2 has older Android phone and the app won't work for him.