OM Digital’s highly effective OM-1 mirrorless digicam stands out as the final Olympus-branded flagship | Engadget

OM Digital Solutions has unveiled the Micro Four Thirds OM-1, its first mirrorless digicam since buying Olympus. It packs a brand new sensor and expertise that offers it a giant leap in efficiency during the last flagship Olympus fashions and could possibly be the final Olympus-branded mannequin you will see. 

Marking the fiftieth anniversary of the unique OM movie SLR, the OM-1 provides some massive enhancements over the E-M1 Mark III. That begins with the stacked, bottom illuminate 20.4-megapixel Live MOS sensor with a “quad pixel” AF association utilizing 4 photodiodes per pixel. With the higher-speed readout and up to date TruePic X processor, it will probably shoot RAW images at speeds of as much as 50 fps in digital shutter mode with phase-detect autofocus enabled (with supported PRO collection lenses), or 120 fps with AF locked. 

With the stacked design, you will additionally see far much less rolling shutter when capturing in digital mode. That’s an excellent factor, as speeds go down significantly to 10 fps with the mechanical shutter. Unfortunately, you possibly can solely seize as much as 139 RAW pictures at a time with the mechanical shutter, or simply 96 RAW pictures at 50 fps — lower than 2 seconds of capturing. Those speeds are little question restricted by OM’s alternative to make use of twin SD UHS-II card slots, reasonably than one thing sooner like CFexpress. 

Though the OM-1 is especially geared toward wildlife photographers, it will probably deal with extra detailed pictures as nicely because of the High Res Shot mode. That means that you can seize 50-megapixel pictures handheld in simply 5 seconds, or 80-megapixel pictures on a tripod. Other modes embody dwell ND to simulate lengthy exposures, HDR, and focus stacking, which delivers a picture the place all the pieces is in focus.

The AF is significantly improved when it comes to AI smarts, as nicely. OM says that its newest face and eye-detect algorithms are way more responsive, and it now detects automobiles, airplane and trains on high of individuals, birds and animals. It additionally has a brand new topic monitoring function that is fully separate from face and eye detection. 

The OM-1 has massive enhancements when it comes to video, as nicely. You can now shoot 4K (UHD or DCI) at as much as 60 fps, in both 8-bit H.264 or 10-bit H.265 modes. The latter works both in OM-Log mode for improved dynamic vary, or HLG mode for HDR work. Better nonetheless, the OM-1 can output 12-bit Apple ProRes RAW video at as much as 60 fps to an Atomos Ninja V or Ninja V+ exterior recorder, supposedly with none subsampling (pixel binning). 

Other function embody 8 stops of in-body picture stabilization with supported lenses (7 stops with out), high-end construct high quality with an impressive IP53 digicam score towards mud, water, and freezing circumstances, a redesigned menu system, 5.76 million dot 120 HZ digital viewfinder and battery that delivers 520 photographs on a cost (CIPA rated) and 90 minutes of video recording. It has a completely articulating 1.62 million dot rear show that ought to make this digicam supreme for vlogging.  

The OM-1 appears to be like to be a powerful rival to Panasonic’s GH5-II Micro Four Thirds digicam, providing sooner capturing speeds and superior phase-detect autofocus, whereas matching up nicely when it comes to video. It stays to be seen the way it will stack up towards the upcoming Panasonic GH6, nonetheless, which is ready to be launched on February twenty first at 8PM ET. 

The OM Digital’s OM-1 is now available on pre-order for $2,200, with supply set for early March. Olympus additionally unveiled a pair of latest lenses, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro II ($1,000) and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4 PRO ($900).