Is anyone exploring the Olympus OM-1 for birds and wildlife?

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The 150-400 is a wonderful lens. Am really enjoying shooting in my dark yard using it in my dark yard and shooting at f4.5 or f5.6 (800mm or 1000 mm). And it isn't too heavy to walk around with using a cotton carrier. The 300 f4 is an amazing lens. Will sell the olympus 100-400. Nice lens, but doesn't hold a candle to the two pro lenses.
I found that the 300 f4 was comparable in handling to the 100-400 but once I put a MC-20 (2.0 TC) the handling degraded significantly for me. I carry my rig on a Black Rapids strap and the length of the lens seems to matter.

I also took some shots of Sandhill Cranes landing after dark with both the 100-400 and the 300 F4. After cropping the 300f4 to equalize the size of the subject I saw minimal difference.
 
I found that the 300 f4 was comparable in handling to the 100-400 but once I put a MC-20 (2.0 TC) the handling degraded significantly for me. I carry my rig on a Black Rapids strap and the length of the lens seems to matter.

I also took some shots of Sandhill Cranes landing after dark with both the 100-400 and the 300 F4. After cropping the 300f4 to equalize the size of the subject I saw minimal difference.
My yard is very shaded and dark. I need as bright a lens as I can find. Carrying either the 150-400 or the 300 f4 even with 1.4 extender is very easy with Cotton Carrier. I don't use a 2x. I understand the difference in balance, tho. :)
 
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The OM-1 + 150-400 combo performed superbly on a recent trip. Great to have such focal length range and flagship-level performance in a travel-friendly package.
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Mitesh... Pictures 1 and 3 are jaw dropping. As you are well aware, this species is such an elusive target in the US... seeing them in the wild like this must have been one heck of an experience.
Bravo!
 
Mitesh... Pictures 1 and 3 are jaw dropping. As you are well aware, this species is such an elusive target in the US... seeing them in the wild like this must have been one heck of an experience.
Bravo!
Thanks, Bruce, and you’re absolutely correct about this being an unbelievable experience. Several times I just put the camera down and took a beat to soak in the reality of being in one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world, while walking with wild pumas.

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The OM-1 + 150-400 combo performed superbly on a recent trip. Great to have such focal length range and flagship-level performance in a travel-friendly package.
Beautiful photos Mitesh! Some of the best shots I have seen with the OM-1 system, something I contemplate switching to. In fact, better than the photos I have seen with some of the Olympus Ambassadors (or whatever they are called). It definitely is a plus to be able to zoom in and out. When I went 9 years ago, I carried a much heavier prime lens which definitely limited me. Did you have to hike much? And would you mind sharing which group you went with? Thanks.
 
These are truly gorgeous images that show what a capable photographer you are. :) The OM-1 150-400 combo worked amazingly well for you. I find the pair
very versatile and good combination.
 
An example of the OM-1 300F4+1.4xTC and the A1 600F4+1.4xTC. Take a few minutes apart, shots with and without NR.

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I will say this. The lighter weight and compactness of the OM-1/300f4 will get a BIF in the frame faster and keep it there better than a camera with a 600f4 attached. I learned this when I switched from my D-500/500pf.

Tom
 
I will say this. The lighter weight and compactness of the OM-1/300f4 will get a BIF in the frame faster and keep it there better than a camera with a 600f4 attached. I learned this when I switched from my D-500/500pf.

Tom

I don't have an issue but everyone is different. I would however agree that the D500/500PF is harder, not because of a size/weight but because your FOV is narrower (750mm) vs 600mm. It's why high rez FF cameras can be easier getting/keeping a BIF in the frame because you get all that extra real estate in the viewfinder and can crop down to APS-C size later.
 
I don't have an issue but everyone is different. I would however agree that the D500/500PF is harder, not because of a size/weight but because your FOV is narrower (750mm) vs 600mm. It's why high rez FF cameras can be easier getting/keeping a BIF in the frame because you get all that extra real estate in the viewfinder and can crop down to APS-C size later.

My typical lens is a 100-400 which has a slightly narrower view than the 500pf on a 1.5 crop. The entire rig OM-1/100-400 is very lightweight and compact. I am much better at finding the subject with the OM-1/100-400 than the D-500/500pf
 
Title: Last Year I mostly Missed
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I am going back to Laguna Seca Ranch next week for 3 days in the blinds. In preparation I revied my photos taken last April. Back then I had a d-500 with both a 500pf and 3oopf. I shot with both lenses. Reviewing my shots, I conclude that it would be very difficult to get better photographs of perched birds than I did with both lenses. For perched birds I was able to get a SP AF on the birds eye and captured many fantastic poses. A couple are on my wall.

For BIF, however, not so much. I usually missed. I did get some nice shots landing by simply focusing on the perch, turning off AF, and firing away @ 10 f/s when I saw the bird take off from a tree. If the bird landed on the perch I anticipated and the bird stayed in the same focal plane of the perch, I got a good shot. I got a few but nothing for may wall.

Reviewing last year's images, the problem was clear. Neither me not the D-500 was fast enough. I am simply not good enough at understanding the bird's behavior or anticipating the bird's actions to get anything most of the time. Next, @ 10 f/s I only ever captured one shot of a bird taking off. I was OK with a big bird, the Caracara for example, in flight but those little birds were beyond my ability and my camera's ability at least in my hands.

Last year I mostly missed as the attached shots show.

So next week, I go back and explore what this thread originally asked. "Is anyone exploring the OM-1 for BIF?"

Am I a better photographer than I was last year? Frankly I doubt it. Using the D-500 was second nature to me, the result of 20 years of being a Nikon shooter and reading everything Steve has written or videoed about Nikon DSLRs. The past year has mostly been learning the idiosyncrasies of the OM-1. Plus, I am almost another year older.

Why might my new rig be better?

1) Looking at my past photos, I think having a zoom will help the most. Too many shots showed the BIF but only part of it. The 100-400's long zoom range will allow me to back off and give the bird room to spread its wings. The camera's ability to focus on the eye will help also. I was in AF GRP shooting BIF with the D-500.
2) 20 f/s which is my normal setting will also help.
3) Procapture 25 f/s autofocus and the faster fixed focus ProCapture will help a bit also.

In addition, I have a 300f4 lens which I have basically not shot with. I will set the normal f/s to 50 so I will get lots more images BUT I am concerned that I am back to a fixed length lens. Yes, a 150-400 F4.5 would be great under these conditions but only when I don't need to carry it far.

I will also try HisRes mode for perched birds.

It will be interesting.

Tom
 
Title: Last Year I mostly Missed
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I am going back to Laguna Seca Ranch next week for 3 days in the blinds. In preparation I revied my photos taken last April. Back then I had a d-500 with both a 500pf and 3oopf. I shot with both lenses. Reviewing my shots, I conclude that it would be very difficult to get better photographs of perched birds than I did with both lenses. For perched birds I was able to get a SP AF on the birds eye and captured many fantastic poses. A couple are on my wall.

For BIF, however, not so much. I usually missed. I did get some nice shots landing by simply focusing on the perch, turning off AF, and firing away @ 10 f/s when I saw the bird take off from a tree. If the bird landed on the perch I anticipated and the bird stayed in the same focal plane of the perch, I got a good shot. I got a few but nothing for may wall.

Reviewing last year's images, the problem was clear. Neither me not the D-500 was fast enough. I am simply not good enough at understanding the bird's behavior or anticipating the bird's actions to get anything most of the time. Next, @ 10 f/s I only ever captured one shot of a bird taking off. I was OK with a big bird, the Caracara for example, in flight but those little birds were beyond my ability and my camera's ability at least in my hands.

Last year I mostly missed as the attached shots show.

So next week, I go back and explore what this thread originally asked. "Is anyone exploring the OM-1 for BIF?"

Am I a better photographer than I was last year? Frankly I doubt it. Using the D-500 was second nature to me, the result of 20 years of being a Nikon shooter and reading everything Steve has written or videoed about Nikon DSLRs. The past year has mostly been learning the idiosyncrasies of the OM-1. Plus, I am almost another year older.

Why might my new rig be better?

1) Looking at my past photos, I think having a zoom will help the most. Too many shots showed the BIF but only part of it. The 100-400's long zoom range will allow me to back off and give the bird room to spread its wings. The camera's ability to focus on the eye will help also. I was in AF GRP shooting BIF with the D-500.
2) 20 f/s which is my normal setting will also help.
3) Procapture 25 f/s autofocus and the faster fixed focus ProCapture will help a bit also.

In addition, I have a 300f4 lens which I have basically not shot with. I will set the normal f/s to 50 so I will get lots more images BUT I am concerned that I am back to a fixed length lens. Yes, a 150-400 F4.5 would be great under these conditions but only when I don't need to carry it far.

I will also try HisRes mode for perched birds.

It will be interesting.

Tom
Looking forward to hearing and seeing your photos from your upcoming trip with the OM-1. Have you been using the 100-400mm around your house? How fast does it grab focus on a flying bird? Trying to grab focus with the 300mm f/4 lens should be faster? But don't see how you could change and use both. The 150-400mm sure sounds tempting but as you note, puts the weight almost back to having a D500 and 500mm PF lens? Have a great time.
 
Looking forward to hearing and seeing your photos from your upcoming trip with the OM-1. Have you been using the 100-400mm around your house? How fast does it grab focus on a flying bird? Trying to grab focus with the 300mm f/4 lens should be faster? But don't see how you could change and use both. The 150-400mm sure sounds tempting but as you note, puts the weight almost back to having a D500 and 500mm PF lens? Have a great time.
I have used the 100-400 for flying birds but not extensively. What I find is that proper exposure is very important but easy to accomplish via the histogram in the EVF. However, to change the settings quickly I have one custom mode set to "White Bird" (-1.3) and one custom mode set to "Black Bird" (+1.3). When properly exposed the Subject ID works flawlessly and acquires the bird instantly as long as the eye is visible in the viewfinder. I suppose that maybe the 300f4 is faster but not enough to matter.

I have ProCap SH1 set to 120 f/s, with 60 frames prepress (1/2 sec) for birds taking off BUT I hope to get some decent shots with ProCap SH2 @ 25 f/s because hopefully the camera focuses on the eye. I think the SH2 50 f/s with the 300f4 will make a difference here IF 300mm (60mm FF equ.) is the right reach setting.

My 300F4 is setup on my backup OM-1 and set for 50 f/s sequential. For us, however, the zoom seems more importent.

Regards,
Tom
 
The reviews thus far seem to indicate a very real upgrade re high ISO and auto-focus. The whole computational photography thing plus the build quality, portability and small size make it seem like an attractive potential option.

If I buy in I would probably limit myself to the 300mm f4 with the 1.4 converter and the new 12-40mm f2.8 for all round photography.

Any thoughts folks?
I love my Nikon Z9 with the 850 as a back-up. But have been intrigued by Olympus for several years. Last year I bought the OM-1 with the 40-150 f/4 lens. It is so small and lightweight compared to the Z9 so great for all around travel, sports, wildlife, hiking. And the computational features with built in ND for waterfalls, in-camera focus stacking, live composite for nighttime photography, HDR, etc makes it fun to use. Have used it for sports and wildlife and been very pleased with the results. It can do handheld and tripod hi res landscape shots as well. But still it is a 20 vs a 46 megapixel camera. And the view finder is smaller than the Z9. The Z9 with built in grip is just all around BIG so it is nice to have the OM-1 around my neck as my secondary camera. Or my primary if on a hiking trip. Recently got the 100-400 lens which I will be trying out in the next few months.
 
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