In summary
Our final tests confirm our initial conclusions that the OM-1 is a worthy addition to the OM Systems line-up and will give photographers who purchase it the ability to create excellent images that can be made into large prints.
Outdoor photographers will be able to use this camera with confidence in genuinely challenging conditions, knowing its weather resistance is currently the best available (outside of a fully waterproof camera).
Review
Although we produced a detailed First Look at the OM-1 camera and published it on 15 February, 2022, it has taken a while for us to receive a production-level camera so we could carry out some of our standard Imatest tests. Having now received a camera body, which was supplied with the new M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 MACRO lens, we’ve been able to run our normal Imatest tests and produce this report to complement the initial review. Links have been provided to enable readers to jump between the two reports.
Angled view of the OM-1 camera with the 12-100mm f/4 PRO lens used for this review. (Source: OM Digital Solutions.)
Performance
The Imatest test shots for this review were taken with the M.Zuiko 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO lens, which is likely to be one of two lenses chosen by potential purchasers of the camera. As anticipated, our tests showed significantly better performance for the ORF.RAW files, which were converted into 16-bit TIFF format with Adobe Camera Raw to enable the software to process them.
In the tests of colour reproduction, the JPEG files from the camera tended to have lower saturation in the yellows and cooler hues, although warmer hues were accurately reproduced. Raw files were very close to the ideal values.
Many of the JPEG files were also somewhat over-sharpened, which influences the resolution score. In contrast, the raw files showed either very low levels of over-sharpening or slight under-sharpening.
As a consequence of the over-sharpening, the best JPEGs fell slightly short of expectations for the sensor’s 20.2-megapixel resolution in measurements taken roughly mid-way between the centre of the frame and the corner. Converted ORF.RAW files recorded simultaneously with the JPEGs produced resolutions that were significantly above expectations from the same zone.
Resolution remained relatively high across the camera’s sensitivity range, with JPEGs roughly paralleling the raw files. It started to decline at ISO 12800 and the difference between the JPEGs and raw files contracted as sensitivity was increased. The graph below shows the results of our Imatest tests across the camera’s sensitivity range.
Conclusion
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SPECS
Image sensor: 17.4 x 13.0 mm Stacked BSI Live MOS sensor with 22.9 million photosites ( 20.4 megapixels effective); Quad Pixel Bayer Pattern
Image processor: TruePic IX
Lens mount: Micro Four Thirds
Focal length crop factor: 2x
Digital zoom: Yes; 2x for stills, 1.4x for movies
Image formats: Stills: JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver. 2.31), ORF.RAW (12-bit lossless compression), RAW+JPEG; Movies: MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/ H.264 and HEVC/H.265 10-bit video)
Audio: Wave Format (Stereo linear PCM/16-bit, Sampling frequency 48kHz)
Image Sizes: Stills: 5184 x 3888 to 1024 x 768 pixels; Movies: 4096 x 2160 and 3840 x 2160 at 30/25/24p and 60/50p with Long GOP compression; 1920 x 1080 at 30/25/24p and 60/50p with ALL-I compression; Quick and Slow movie settings available
Aspect ratios: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1, 3:4
Image Stabilisation: Built-in 5-axis sensor-shift IS, 7.0 EV shake correction (up to 8 EV with Sync IS in stabilised lenses
Dust removal: Supersonic Wave Filter
Shutter (speed range): Focal plane mechanical shutter; CIPA rated for 400,000 cycles (60-1/8000 seconds plus Live Bulb, Live Time and Live Composite; Electronic shutter: 60 to 1/32,000 second in silent shutter mode
Exposure Compensation: +/-5 EV in 1/3, ½ or 1EV steps (+/-3 EV in Live View)
Exposure bracketing: 2, 3 or 5 frames (0.3/0.7/1.0EV steps selectable), 7 frames (0.3/0.7EV steps selectable)
Other bracketing options: ISO, WB, flash, Art Filters, focus (3 to 99 frames with 1-10 steps selectable); focus stacking supported
Self-timer: 2 or 12 seconds delay plus Custom mode
Multiple exposures: Yes, 2 frames composited
Interval recording: Yes, for time-lapse movies at 3840 x 2160 (4K) / 5fps, 10fps, 15fps, 30fps, 1920 x 1080 (FHD) / 5fps, 10fps, 15fps, 30fps or 1280 x 720 (HD) / 5fps, 10fps, 15fps, 30fps
Focus system: High-speed imager AF (phase detection/ contrast detection) with 1053 cross-type PD points and 1053 CD points,
AF selection: All target, Single target (1 point), Small target (9 points), Cross target (39 points), Middle target (63 points), Large target (165 points), Custom target (AF area and its increment steps selectable); up to 4 custom target settings can be saved
Focus modes: Single AF (S-AF), Single AF (S-AF+MF), Continuous AF (C-AF), Continuous AF (C-AF+MF), Manual Focus (MF), AF tracking (C-AF + TR), AF tracking (C-AF + TR+MF), Preset MF, Starry sky AF (S-AF), Starry sky AF (S-AF+MF); 5 steps of AF sensitivity adjustments, face & eye detection; AI detection AF for Formula cars, rally cars, motorcycles / Aircraft, helicopters / Bullet trains, standard trains, steam locomotives / birds / dogs, cats
Exposure metering: Digital ESP 324-area multi-pattern system with Multiple, Centre-weighted average and spot metering patterns plus spot metering with highlight/shadow control; range -2 EV to +20 EV
Shooting modes: Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual Exposure
Picture modes: i-Finish, Vivid, Natural, Flat, Portrait, Monotone, Custom, Underwater, Colour Creator, Art Filters
Art Filter modes: Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Colour, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Cross Process, Gentle Sepia, Dramatic Tone, Key Line, Water Colour, Vintage, Partial Colour (18 colour selectable), Bleach Bypass, Instant Film
Other in-camera functions: HDR, Keystone Compensation, Fisheye Compensation (3 styles), Live ND64, High Res Shot (Handheld and Tripod modes), One Push Tele-converter (2x magnification)
Movie functions: Flat, OM-Log400, HLG Picture Modes, Time code (Rec run / free run, drop frame / non-drop frame), focus peaking, zebra pattern; C4K ProRes RAW movie support
Colour space options: sRGB and Adobe RGB
ISO range: Auto, ISO 200 to 25600 plus extensions to ISO 80, ISO 100 and ISO 102400
White balance: Auto WB, 7 WB presets, 4 Capture WB, Custom WB (Kelvin setting), +/- 7 steps of adjustments along A-B and G-M axes
Flash: External flashguns only
Flash modes: Fill-in, Flash Off, Slow sync., Manual (1/1 (FULL) ~ 1/64) – only with FL-LM3
Flash exposure adjustment: +/- 3EV in 1/3, ½ and 1EV steps
Sequence shooting: Max. 120 frames/sec. in silent mode with electronic shutter; Anti-shock sequential shooting at approx 10 fps with selectable 1-10 fps; Silent sequential shooting at up to 120 fps with selectable 5, 10, 15, 20 fps with blackout or 60, 100, 120 fps without blackout (slower shutter speeds and flash cannot be used); ProCapture burst shooting supported
Buffer capacity: Max. 169 Large/Fine JPEGs, 139 RAW files at 10 fps
Storage Media: Dual slots for SD, SDHC, SDXC cards (UHS-I / UHS-II UHS Speed Class 3 standard compatible)
Viewfinder: OLED EVF with 5,760,000 dots, 100% FOV, 4:3 aspect ratio,1.48~1.65x magnification, approx. 21 mm eye relief, -4 to +2 dpt adjustments, 6 grid overlay options, 2-axis level gauge, adaptive brightness technology plus +/-7 levels of brightness and colour temperature adjustments
LCD monitor: 3-inch vari-angle monitor with 1,620,000 dots, 3:2 aspect ratio, electrostatic touch controls, +/-7 levels of brightness and colour temperature adjustments
Interface terminals: USB-Type C, micro HDMI (Type D), hot shoe, sync terminal, 3.5 mm stereo mini jacks for microphone and headphones, 2.5mm remote control jack
Wi-Fi function: Built-in Wi-Fi (IEEE 802,11a/b/g/n/ac); Bluetooth v4.2 (Bluetooth Low Energy)
Power supply: BLX-1 rechargeable Li-ion battery; CIPA rated for approx.520 shots/charge; up to1100 shots with Quick Sleep mode; 90 minutes of movie recording; PD support for direct USB charging
Weather resistance: IEC Standard publication 60529 IP53 (with splashproof with IP53 lens, when used with an IPX1 lens, performance becomes IPX1.)
Dimensions (wxhxd): Approx. 134.8 x 91.6 x 72.7 mm (excluding protrusions)
Weight: Approx. 511 grams body only; 599 grams with battery and card
Distributor: OM Digital Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, 1300 659 678
TESTS
Based upon JPEG files recorded with the M.Zuiko 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO lens.
Based on ORF.RAW files recorded simultaneously and converted into 16-bit TIFF format with Adobe Camera Raw.
Rating
RRP: AU$3299 (body only)
- Build: 9.0
- Features: 9.0
- Ease of use: 8.9
- Autofocusing: 9.0
- Still image quality JPEG: 8.9
- Still image quality RAW: 9.0
- Video quality: 8.9
BUY
