by PhilC » Thu Feb 11, 2021 5:03 pm
These are some features present in the feature set of the Olympus EM1 mk ii/iii that are absent from DSLRs and many mirrorless systems:
Focus stacking in camera – multiple exposures with a single shutter press that are merged in camera to a jpg file
Live composite – camera will take a series of images that you can see build up on the camera monitor. Useful for light trails and also star trails photography, eg leave the camera to shoot multiples of exposures which are blended and merged in camera. There is also the Live Bulb and Live Time features which are bulb exposures that you see building up on the rear screen, you press the shutter again to stop the exposure when you are happy with the result. This is also different to Bulb time that is present in other cameras.
Pro Capture – when you press the shutter half way the camera captures a continuously updated series of 35 images, when the shutter is pressed all the way down the last 35 images are recorded from 17 images before that last shutter press and 18 after. Incidentally, the camera is hooting at up to 60 frames per second! I dont think any other camera gets close.
High Res Shot – mounted on a tripod the camera takes 8 images which are combined in camera to produce a 50mp image. The EM1 mk iii or EM1 x goes to 80mp, and has a hand held mode.
Stabilisation – Olympus’ stabilisation is in camera, and renowned as being the best in the business.
Monochrome picture mode – more than just a basic conversion – you can alter tone graduations, dial in a red/orange/yellow/green/etc filter and see the result on the camera screen.
Art filters – special effects (I don’t use them)
Lenses – smaller, lighter and (usually) less expensive like for like
Other features – nothing is missing from the EM1 line.
A few of these features are now being added by new mirrorless bodies Canon/Nikon/Sony but Olympus have been doing these features for years. Some of these features are possible because it is a smaller sensor so incamera processing is quicker, and the newest Olympus models also have dual processor cameras to increase speed.
Despite all of this, sometimes I do appreciate the advantages/disadvantages of a full frame DSLR (Nikon) that has a wider dynamic range as well as higher resolution. A 20mp Micro Four Thirds will still cover A3 prints without problem, provided there’s not been too much cropping. A smaller body results in buttons being more fiddly, though the EM1 is not short of customisable buttons. The EM1 is complex and has a learning curve to work out how to access all its features.
Olympus has recently been bought by Japan Industrial Partners and a new company formed – OM Digital Solutions. Despite the bad press of a few months ago the signs are that the new owners will continue developing product lines and move the brand forward.
Whichever way you go, there aren’t bad cameras at this price level, but they all have merits.
Best regards