There’s loads I wish to say in regards to the OM System OM-3. However the two most pertinent issues are that 1) that is the PEN-F successor that Olympus followers have been ready practically a decade for, and a couple of) that is the digital camera that out-Fujifilms Fujifilm.
The OM System OM-3 is really a gestalt product. It has the flagship firepower of the OM System OM-1 Mark II, with its cutting-edge computational images. It has the handcrafted creativity of the Olympus PEN-F, with the ahead-of-its-time Artistic Dial. And it has the long-lasting form and silhouette of its namesake, the Olympus OM-3, with its timeless design by Yoshihisa Maitani.
However once more, in attempting to sum up a digital camera that’s greater than the sum of its components, it is the PEN-F sequel I have been ready for since 2016, and a digital camera that provides Fujifilm’s most interesting a run for his or her cash. Movie simulations, computational images, excellent algorithmic autofocus… the OM System OM-3 is a inventive device as potent as Salvador Dali dabbing like a lunatic.
After all, naysayers will decry the Micro 4 Thirds sensor and demand that it’s not succesful sufficient. This is not the place for that dialogue (although I’ll say that I’ve had extra printed work and happy purchasers with my OM / Olympus equipment than my full-frame Canon gear), however I invite you to think about this digital camera with an open thoughts – as a result of, except you personal an OM-1 Mark II, it does a lot of issues that no different digital camera is able to.
OM System OM-3: Specs
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro 4 Thirds stacked, BSI, Stay MOS | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| Lens mount | Micro 4 Thirds | Row 1 – Cell 2 |
| Autofocus | Quad Pixel, 1,053 cross-type hybrid part detect | Row 2 – Cell 2 |
| Picture stabilization | Physique solely: 6.5 stops heart (5.5 stops corners) • With Sync IS lenses: 7.5 stops heart (6.5 corners) | Row 3 – Cell 2 |
| Climate sealing | IP53 licensed | Row 4 – Cell 2 |
| ISO vary | 200 to 25,600 (exp 80 to 102,400) | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
| Max video decision | As much as 4K 60p (Excessive-Pace FullHD 240p) | Row 6 – Cell 2 |
| Max burst | 120fps with S-AF • 50fps with C-AF | Row 7 – Cell 2 |
| Viewfinder | OLED, 2.36 million dots | Row 8 – Cell 2 |
| Rear display | 3-inch, 1.62 million dots | Row 9 – Cell 2 |
| Reminiscence | 1x SD UHS-II | Row 10 – Cell 2 |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Bluetooth, USB-C, Micro HDMI, headphone jack, microphone jack | Row 11 – Cell 2 |
| Dimensions | 139.3 x 88.9 x 45.8mm | Row 12 – Cell 2 |
| Weight | 413g (physique solely) | Row 13 – Cell 2 |
OM System OM-3: Construct & dealing with
It will not have escaped your consideration that the OM System OM-3 is gorgeous. The model’s different cameras, just like the OM System OM-5, have historically taken their design aesthetic from traditional Olympus SLRs, however no digital camera has duplicated the strains and silhouette fairly as faithfully because the OM-3.
After all, adhering to the unique Olympus OM-3 design implies that there is no such thing as a grip on the entrance (very similar to the PEN-F earlier than it) although there’s a thumbrest on the again. I do know many of us chafe at this, feeling that no grip makes a digital camera uncomfortable or does not give sufficient buy to carry it.
Personally, it does not hassle me – I used the OM-3 for days on finish with none discomfort, and I do not use a digital camera strap and it by no means as soon as got here near slipping out of my fingers. Actually I might moderately hold the flat face of the digital camera to keep up the aesthetics – as was the case with the PEN-F, the place there have been no scarcity of sexy-looking third-party grips if anybody needed so as to add one.
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Clearly, the timeless design has had some fashionable mirrorless gildings. Crucially, the Artistic Dial from the PEN-F has been resurrected – sitting proudly on the entrance of the digital camera, it gives fingertip entry to a wealth of inventive instruments, from colour and mono movie profiles to Artwork Filters to the customized colour creator.
The highest of the digital camera sees a primary for OM: the addition of a devoted dial, on the top-left, to flick between picture, video and S&Q (Sluggish & Fast) modes. The OM-3 is arming you with inventive potential and welcoming you to unleash it, in no matter kind takes your fancy at any given time.
One other first is a devoted CP button on the rear of the digital camera, supplying you with fast entry to the digital camera’s Computational Pictures modes. A fast stab unlock issues like Stay ND and Stay GND (software-powered impartial density and grad filters), Excessive Res Shot (50MP handheld and 80MP on a tripod), focus stacking and a number of publicity capturing.
Not like current generations of SLR-styled OM / Olympus our bodies, the OM-3 boasts steel building for a reassuringly strong, substantial really feel that I’ve missed for the reason that E-M5 Mark II. It is climate sealed, too, rated to IP53 certification – and having used this extensively within the rain (moderately extra extensively than I’d have favored!) I nonetheless belief this model greater than some other in unhealthy climate. My one quibble is that the doorways overlaying the ports and connections will be knocked open somewhat too simply.
What would possibly shock some is the dimensions of the OM-3, because it’s notably greater than each the E-M5 / OM-5 and PEN-F, being comparable in dimension to the SLRs after which it takes its form. Nonetheless, OM / Olympus has at all times made a number of the smallest digital camera our bodies available on the market – so that is not at all a giant digital camera, only a greater one than I anticipated.
As such it accepts the bigger, higher-capacity, BLX-1 batteries of the OM-1 household – little question a requirement to energy all of the computational processing and the Quad Pixel autofocus system.
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OM System OM-3: Picture efficiency
As you would possibly anticipate, the core photographic efficiency is equivalent to the OM-1 Mark II (with which the OM-3 shares its expertise). Every little thing transfers right here and behaves precisely because it does on the flagship – though anecdotally I discovered the autofocus efficiency to be even higher.
Maybe the OM-3 is operating newer algorithms than the OM-1 Mark II, however notably with birding the AF was a lot faster and stickier at figuring out and staying with topics – even once I was utilizing the moderately previous and clunky Olympus M.Zuiko 75-300mm lens. Both approach, OM’s Quad Pixel AF tech is approaching leaps and bounds. It isn’t fairly at Canon and Sony ranges however, I inform you what, it is catching up.
Elsewhere you will discover the blistering burst modes, providing as much as 50fps with steady autofocus and 120fps with mounted focus – together with Professional Seize, the pre-shooting mode that lets you report the frames that came about earlier than you even clicked the shutter. OM debuted this expertise again in 2000, on the Olympus E100 RS, and for my cash it nonetheless does it higher than anybody else.
You additionally get issues just like the Stay ND and Stay GND modes – that are the good digital camera options I’ve ever seen – enabling you to shoot with software-powered impartial density and grad filters, and go away the cumbersome bodily glass at dwelling. Pixel shift-powered Excessive Res Shot mode lets you shoot 14-bit RAW information as much as 80MP, with 2 stops of noise discount for stunning constancy for those who shoot static topics.
Picture stabilization is rated at 6.5 stops (or 7.5 with a Sync IS lens), which you would possibly discover is a cease decrease than the utmost 7.5 (8.5 with Sync IS) boasted by the OM-1 Mark II. I want to substantiate this, however my understanding is that that is right down to the brand new CIPA measurements (which is similar motive that the Nikon P1100 is listed as having a cease much less compensation than the P1000, regardless of having equivalent expertise).
Regardless of the motive, it is as rock-solid as ever – even when photographing birds at 600mm handheld, or capturing a handheld 15-image focus stack. Virtually each digital camera lately has good IS, however the smaller sensor in Micro 4 Thirds cameras simply makes them a lot simpler to stabilize – and capturing feels much more sturdy in consequence.
Past all of the intelligent flagship tech, although, the true enjoyable – and the center of the OM System OM-3’s capturing expertise – is the Artistic Dial. I do know I sound like a damaged report, however sue me; it is good. Again when the Dial debuted on the PEN-F, the trade was snide and cynical. Naysayers mentioned that individuals who shot JPEG weren’t actual photographers, and mocked anybody for utilizing filters. Humorous how no person says that any extra, now that Fujifilm has cracked the mainstream.
Anyway, the Artistic Dial unlocks an arsenal of customizable choices. On the fore are the eight movie profile presets, 4 every for colour and black-and-white. For the previous you have bought Pure, Chrome Movie Vivid, Chrome Movie Wealthy Coloration (Velvia followers might be happy) and Chrome Movie Gentle Tone. In relation to monochrome there’s Monotone, Basic Movie B&W (very Tri-X like), Basic Movie IR and Basic Movie Low Distinction.
These will be fine-tuned for saturation, spotlight and shadow, vignetting, sharpness, distinction, tone impact and even movie grain. I do know that everybody from Nikon to Panasonic has jumped on the customized recipes bandwagon, nevertheless it’s nice to see this mode again in an OM digital camera for the primary time since 2016 – I have been utilizing my fine-tuned presets on the PEN-F ever since, and I would not be with out them.
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The dial can be your shortcut to the Coloration Creator, which lets you amplify the prevailing hues in your scene or dial out any undesirable colours – the kind of colour balancing you would possibly normally do in Photoshop, solely right here you are able to do it in-camera, as you are as you are taking the picture, empowering you to seize the scene the best way you are actually experiencing it.
instance is a sundown, the place you would possibly wish to punch up the pinks and golds. Or for those who’re capturing someplace like Dying Valley, which is a surprisingly desaturated place in individual, however you’ll be able to embellish the prevailing colours and make it look as punchy because it does in postcards – all in-camera.
And naturally there are the trusty OM Artwork Filters, a few of that are admittedly cheesy, however others (particularly the Classic, Bleach Bypass and Instantaneous Movie choices) are genuinely nice pre-production instruments. Do not take my phrase for it – Classic I is the digital camera filter utilized by Taylor Swift.
One thing value mentioning is that I used to be testing the OM-3 side-by-side with the Leica SL3-S, a really succesful full-frame digital camera. However two fascinating issues occurred in that point; to begin with, a byproduct of the OM-3’s nimble dimension and tiny lenses was that I took approach extra in-the-moment, blink-and-you’ll-miss it, “decisive second”-type pictures with this digital camera than the SL3-S.
Which is ironic, on condition that Leica constructed its fame on being the last word road digital camera. However the SL3-S is a cumbersome full-frame factor, with cumbersome full-frame lenses; simply wrestling it out of a bag is sufficient to make you miss “the shot”. However the OM-3 is so small and agile that I may whip it out of a sling bag in seconds, and so discrete that I may snap road pictures shortly and quietly.
The second factor is that I used each cameras to {photograph} purchasers – and regardless of the prevailing myths that “Micro 4 Thirds cameras aren’t correct cameras” and that “It’s essential shoot full body”, the purchasers each favored the Leica photographs however they liked the OM ones. Take that for what you’ll.
OM System OM-3: Pattern pictures
OM System OM-3: Video efficiency
As with the photographic capabilities, once more, the OM System OM-3 shares the identical tech because the OM-1 Mark II – so you’ll be able to anticipate the very same efficiency from this digital camera (with the remark that the autofocus feels ever so barely improved, in my expertise).
I really feel I used to be somewhat harsh on the OM-1 Mark II’s video specs once I reviewed it, largely as a result of it was coming within the wake of the Panasonic Lumix G9 II – which is definitely a superior system for pure videography. Nonetheless, I do not suppose the individual trying on the OM-3 is weighing it up towards the specs of the G9 II (or vice versa).
Nonetheless, the OM-3 gives loads for the content material creation crowd – together with its two video modes that, just like the Coloration Profiles, supply a level of pre-production that makes it simpler for storytellers to share their footage with out having to grasp LUTs and grading. Each modes echo OM-Log400 for dynamic vary, with OM Cinema 1 providing a extra contrasty and golden place to begin whereas OM Cinema 2 offers a softer look with a cyan bias.
The brand new capturing dial, with its quick entry to Sluggish & Fast mode, actually is an invite to dive in and have enjoyable along with your video footage. Whether or not you wish to snag an attention-getting hyperlapse at 1fps, or a shocking slow-mo at 240fps you’ll be able to shortly snap into S&Q and shoot it – all with minimal fuss.
Whereas I do not suppose anyone chooses OM cameras for his or her moviemaking chops, I do really feel that the video capabilities of the OM-3 are extra vital than different fashions. I am guessing that the gang who might be drawn to this digital camera is similar crowd that is drawn to the X100VIs of this world – the fashion aware shooter who’s primarily fascinated with stills, however nonetheless desires a succesful 4K digital camera with which to create content material.
And the OM-3 positively scores right here. No one will accuse it of being the finest digital camera for vlogging, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a really succesful one that may discover an keen viewers due to its cinema profiles, movie presets and Artwork Filters that make it simple to crank out compelling content material with minimal fuss.
OM System OM-3: Pattern movies
Because the OM System OM-3 is essentially equivalent to the OM-1 Mark II, I primarily messed round with the S&Q modes whereas capturing with a couple of totally different filters and presets within the first video.
To see what it is able to in barely extra critical settings, the second video is me filming some wildlife with the OM-1 Mark II (which, once more, has the identical specs and tech inside, so the efficiency is nearly equivalent).
OM System OM-3: Verdict
The OM System OM-3 rekindles the sort of magic not seen for the reason that Olympus glory days. This can be a digital camera that celebrates the model’s heritage by way of each appears and spirit, proving that fashion is substance, with a physique that does not simply look nice however really conjures up you to select it up and shoot with it.
And while you do, you uncover a playful, charming, charismatic digital camera that is imbued with creativity. It actually places its signature options at your fingertips – the Artistic Dial, Computational Pictures button, S&Q dial – and challenges you to exit and play with them to see what you are able to do.
I’ve waxed lyrical in regards to the PEN-F for the previous 9 years as a result of it is merely probably the most magical imaging machine I’ve ever used. It was virtually the right digital camera for me, nevertheless it lacked fashionable trimmings like part detect AF, 4K video, mic and headphone jacks, and the all-important climate sealing.
However the OM-3 has all these issues and extra, taking the tech from OM System’s flagship digital camera and including cherries on prime like computational images, algorithmic topic detection, 80MP 14-bit capturing… to not point out a physique that, whereas I will not say is sexier than the PEN-F, is definitely simply as attractive.
Which implies that, all in all, I believe the OM System OM-3 is the right digital camera for me. Whether or not it is the right digital camera for you’ll rely largely in your prejudice towards Micro 4 Thirds sensors. As a result of apart from depth of area being barely more difficult to attain, and the truth that there’s just one reminiscence card slot, there’s is solely nothing to not love about this digital camera. And I’m going to purchase one.
(As a result of OM System debuting a brand new RAW file format, we weren’t in a position to run our common suite of lab checks in time for publication. Nonetheless, the OM-3 makes use of the identical sensor and processor because the OM-1 Mark II – and on condition that my testing demonstrates efficiency on par with the flagship digital camera, I see no motive to withhold a rating. I’ll replace the assessment with the lab information, as soon as the RAW conversion software program is accessible, however till then you’ll be able to have a look at the OM System OM-1 Mark II’s distinctive lab outcomes.)
