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

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We will be at the Alligator Farm April 5-8 and maybe the morning of April 9. I know a "family vacation" is an oyymoron but the Alligator Farm is a cool zoo. that a 4 year old might enjoy but "don't pet the alligators". Birds nesting, baby birds hatching.
 
I'm ok with the size/weight of the 150-400, as I'm currently shooting a Z9 + 800PF :) It's the ultimate small birding setup, but the bulk/weight is a thing, I sorely miss my D500 + 500PF. At this time I'm just at the exploratory phase, seeing how the OM-1 compares to the Z9. Lots of reading to do!
I think I know how you are feeling Matthew, because even though your 800PF is a good deal slimmer and lighter than my Sony 600GM, the Z9 that I saw in the wild today is up there with the D5/1DX big boys.
The Sony 600GM is turning out incredibly well for me due to its performance and versatility, and I am glad because it was quite a purchase, but I actually had an OM 150-400mm f4.5 reserved in a camera store the week before I got the 600GM. I searched for that lens now and then, but literally never in the past two years saw one in stock anywhere where I live, but suddenly a brandnew copy surfaced and I had it reserved.
The day before I was going to pick it up I ordered a 600GM and picked up that one instead. The OM 150-400 was quickly gone. It is the lens though, when I have had a year or so with the 600GM and want to add a lightweight combo, that can take the place of the 500PF. I still remember the feel of the D500+500PF combo, and it was magic for that focal length and performance. The OM1 with the 150-400TC would be a perfect mirrorless version.
 
Sanderlings (in less than ideal light) and an Eastern Screech-owl. For the Screech-owl I added the 1.4x TC to see how it behaved. Still not sure if I'd use it all the time but in a pinch it did well

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Came close to buying the OM-1 + 150-400 combo today, but I'm just not able to commit. It'd be up against my Z9 + 800PF, with one system staying, one system going.

Love the images I get from the Z9 + 800PF, they're absolutely stunning, but I don't love the weight and bulk. Hesitant about the IQ of the Oly gear in comparison. Would love to have a versatile zoom with a built in TC.

I'd need to get the Oly setup in hand for a few weeks to be able to fully assess if it's the right choice, but the cost of buy in is extremely steep for me. Renting is over $400 for just a few days, and that doesn't give me anywhere near enough time to really get a feel for it. And, that rental cost doesn't go towards owning the gear, so that's a bummer.

Ugh.. should i just take the plunge and buy used, see if it works, and then sell if it doesn't?
 
Came close to buying the OM-1 + 150-400 combo today, but I'm just not able to commit. It'd be up against my Z9 + 800PF, with one system staying, one system going.

Love the images I get from the Z9 + 800PF, they're absolutely stunning, but I don't love the weight and bulk. Hesitant about the IQ of the Oly gear in comparison. Would love to have a versatile zoom with a built in TC.

I'd need to get the Oly setup in hand for a few weeks to be able to fully assess if it's the right choice, but the cost of buy in is extremely steep for me. Renting is over $400 for just a few days, and that doesn't give me anywhere near enough time to really get a feel for it. And, that rental cost doesn't go towards owning the gear, so that's a bummer.

Ugh.. should i just take the plunge and buy used, see if it works, and then sell if it doesn't?

If you buy used you can sell with zero loss, so there is that. Although used 150-400's aren't much less than new and even used OM-1 aren't much less than the sale price on the new ones. Either way you won't be out much if you decide to sell, just the hassle of buying/selling you have to deal with.
 
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Hesitant about the IQ of the Oly gear in comparison. Would love to have a versatile zoom with a built in TC.

That says it all!

When you can get the 800pf on the bird and an 800mm prime is the right lens, the Z-9/800pf will take equal or better shots, occasionally much better. However, when you can NOT, the OM-1 is best and may occasionally get the shot where the Z-9 cannot.

So, going out shooting you will have more fun with the OM-1 but pixel peeping at home you will have more fun with the Z-9 images.

It is a tradeoff and that's unlikely to change.

Tom

PS: St. Augustine Alligator Farm is big birds, either very close or 800MM+ away. My systems are currently setup to take BIF so you could take bunches of shots without worrying how to setup the camera. Renting requires more time in order to make a decision.
 
Came close to buying the OM-1 + 150-400 combo today, but I'm just not able to commit. It'd be up against my Z9 + 800PF, with one system staying, one system going.

Love the images I get from the Z9 + 800PF, they're absolutely stunning, but I don't love the weight and bulk. Hesitant about the IQ of the Oly gear in comparison. Would love to have a versatile zoom with a built in TC.

I'd need to get the Oly setup in hand for a few weeks to be able to fully assess if it's the right choice, but the cost of buy in is extremely steep for me. Renting is over $400 for just a few days, and that doesn't give me anywhere near enough time to really get a feel for it. And, that rental cost doesn't go towards owning the gear, so that's a bummer.

Ugh.. should i just take the plunge and buy used, see if it works, and then sell if it doesn't?
I feel exactly the same (and probably other's out there as well). I actually have a couple friends who have both systems, and take the OM system camera on trips and use the Z9 at home. But personally don't want to deal with two different systems. And with the known difficulty in getting the 150-400mm lens, wouldn't want to commit to that system till I had the lens in hand or a system to get the lens. And then there is the weight of the OM 150-400mm lens. I know there is the lighter 100-400mm lens, but the image stabilization of this lens does "synch" with the camera. And if Nikon comes out with a lighter Z9 with the focussing abilities of the Z9, could switch to that and the 400mm f/4.5 as a lightweight combo.
 
I know there is the lighter 100-400mm lens, but the image stabilization of this lens does "synch" with the camera.

You know, as a past Nikon shooter I do not find the image stabilization with an OM-1/100-400 a problem. The in-camera stabilization wors and adding the lens stabilization probably doesn't add much. I am disinclined to shoot at the ultra low shutter speeds that I see OM Systems shooters and rarely drop below 1/1000 even for supposed stationary birds.
 
You know, as a past Nikon shooter I do not find the image stabilization with an OM-1/100-400 a problem. The in-camera stabilization wors and adding the lens stabilization probably doesn't add much. I am disinclined to shoot at the ultra low shutter speeds that I see OM Systems shooters and rarely drop below 1/1000 even for supposed stationary birds.
If light is low, I do drop the shutter speed. For example with owls, they generally don't wake up till the sun has set and so I drop the shutter speed. This GHO family and papa were shot at 1/250 and 1/100 respectively with the Z9 and 800mm lens:
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One of the things I’m reading is that the IBIS system in the OM cameras is the best available. I’m not a big slow shutter speed shooter, it isn’t too often I dip below 1/500, and I am more than satisfied with the IBIS in my Z9 and Fuji X-T5. Will be curious to see if there’s a tangible improvement with the OM-1.
 
One of the things I’m reading is that the IBIS system in the OM cameras is the best available. I’m not a big slow shutter speed shooter, it isn’t too often I dip below 1/500, and I am more than satisfied with the IBIS in my Z9 and Fuji X-T5. Will be curious to see if there’s a tangible improvement with the OM-1.
Just for "fun" I tried shooting at 1/50th at 400mm with the 150-400 @400mm Just a burst of 10 shots one time. I had 8 sharp and 2 that were less sharp. The 8 sharp were all about the same (see example below) and the 2 less sharp aren't a blurry mess at all (see 100% crops below). Focus was on the B

I tried 1/10th but only got 1 out of 10 sharp shots.


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Just for "fun" I tried shooting at 1/50th at 400mm with the 150-400 @400mm Just a burst of 10 shots one time. I had 8 sharp and 2 that were less sharp. The 8 sharp were all about the same (see example below) and the 2 less sharp aren't a blurry mess at all (see 100% crops below). Focus was on the B

I tried 1/10th but only got 1 out of 10 sharp shots.
Don't know if you have a 100-400mm, but would be very interested if this lens (which doesn't synch its image stabilization with the camera), is comparable.
 
One of the things I’m reading is that the IBIS system in the OM cameras is the best available. I’m not a big slow shutter speed shooter, it isn’t too often I dip below 1/500, and I am more than satisfied with the IBIS in my Z9 and Fuji X-T5. Will be curious to see if there’s a tangible improvement with the OM-1.
Oh yes, it’s very real. Single shot, 1/20 @ 350mm (700mm FF AOV)
 
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One of the things I’m reading is that the IBIS system in the OM cameras is the best available. I’m not a big slow shutter speed shooter, it isn’t too often I dip below 1/500, and I am more than satisfied with the IBIS in my Z9 and Fuji X-T5. Will be curious to see if there’s a tangible improvement with the OM-1.
Oh yes, it’s very real. Single shot, 1/20 @ 350mm (700mm FF AOV)

 
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Don't know if you have a 100-400mm, but would be very interested if this lens (which doesn't synch its image stabilization with the camera), is comparable.
Sorry I don't. Only other long lens I have (for now) is the 300 F4. Probably going to sell it after getting the 150-400.
 
Got out for a while today, highlight was the Pileated Woodpecker

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In my view and experience the OM Systems 100-400 zoom is an underappreciated lens.

The problem is that the 150-400 is a better lens and almost all professional OM Systems Ambassadors have this lens and report on it. The issue is that the profession photographer is looking for the ultimate image and almost as good simply won't cut it. And that is the problem with the 100-400. It is almost as good, but not quite as good as the 150-400 and thusly given short shrift by the reporting professionals.

What is lost in all this is a specific camera/lens combination that has no interest for the professional photographer but great interest for part-time amateur photographers, particularly older photographers like me. What the OM-1/100-400 combination is a state-of-the-art BSI stacked sensor camera with a variable reach of 200-800mm FF equivalent that weighs less than five pounds and costs less than four thousand dollars.

And is almost as good.

Regards,
Tom
 
In my view and experience the OM Systems 100-400 zoom is an underappreciated lens.

The problem is that the 150-400 is a better lens and almost all professional OM Systems Ambassadors have this lens and report on it. The issue is that the profession photographer is looking for the ultimate image and almost as good simply won't cut it. And that is the problem with the 100-400. It is almost as good, but not quite as good as the 150-400 and thusly given short shrift by the reporting professionals.

What is lost in all this is a specific camera/lens combination that has no interest for the professional photographer but great interest for part-time amateur photographers, particularly older photographers like me. What the OM-1/100-400 combination is a state-of-the-art BSI stacked sensor camera with a variable reach of 200-800mm FF equivalent that weighs less than five pounds and costs less than four thousand dollars.

And is almost as good.

Regards,
Tom
I’m not quite sure I would agree with the sentiment that the OM 100-400 is “given short shrift”. Sure, the 150-400 gets the rave reviews because it’s the unique, exotic lens made of unobtanium that OM is counting on to bring new photographers into the brand. But I’m not seeing comments dismissing the 100-400. It’s akin to people who can’t or don’t want to buy CaNikon 200-400/4 lenses buying 100-400 class lenses as lighter, less expensive alternatives that still deliver what most photographers could ask for.
 
I’m not quite sure I would agree with the sentiment that the OM 100-400 is “given short shrift”. Sure, the 150-400 gets the rave reviews because it’s the unique, exotic lens made of unobtanium that OM is counting on to bring new photographers into the brand. But I’m not seeing comments dismissing the 100-400. It’s akin to people who can’t or don’t want to buy CaNikon 200-400/4 lenses buying 100-400 class lenses as lighter, less expensive alternatives that still deliver what most photographers could ask for.

My experience is that the 100-400 is ignored, even by OM Systems. The "long" lens presented are the "pro" lenses even though what makes the 100-400 "not" PRO is the lack of the clutch to switch between AF and MF.

My issue is that an OM-1/100-400 is a unique configuration for a bird photographer who wants to save size, weight and cost without giving much up in return. (The current sale price is $1900+$1400= $3300 for this combo)

I understand that the 150-400 lens is an absolutely awesome lens but it still can't play in the 600f4+FF body world for subject isolation. The minimum effective focal length of the 150-400 is F9. That's the downside of the 2x crop.
 
Yup, I’ve been using it. Doing side by side with my A1.
1) OM has MUCH better focus acquisition. It’s instant.
2) EVF is better for following, A1 feels floaty, even though it has a higher refresh rate
3) Shutter lag is non existent, noticeably better than the A1
I know this is last year but I just bought the Canon R3 but I was also considering the OM-1 but got the R3 as I was skeptical about tiny sensor in the OM-1, Is the OM-1 really that good?
 
I know this is last year but I just bought the Canon R3 but I was also considering the OM-1 but got the R3 as I was skeptical about tiny sensor in the OM-1, Is the OM-1 really that good?

Typically, photographers are skeptical about the SIZE of the sensor, not the overall quality. The sensor has 80 photo recording sites arranged in a 2 x 2 array to create 20MP hhat focus in a cross arrangement. That is where the focus speed and accuracy come from.

Tom
 
Typically, photographers are skeptical about the SIZE of the sensor, not the overall quality. The sensor has 80 photo recording sites arranged in a 2 x 2 array to create 20MP hhat focus in a cross arrangement. That is where the focus speed and accuracy come from.

Tom
Ya but bigger sensor is actually better quality I would think, But the thing is now would it be the right move to take my R3 back and get the OM-1 with lenses? As far as Canon glass I have the RF 100-500 and RF 800 f11 which is not to bad for the price.
 
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