Why I Shoot with Olympus Cameras ?

Having originated from the era of 35mm film cameras in the late 60s and early 70s, my photography journey predominantly revolved around SLR-type cameras. Being a big fan of Pentax cameras, I even featured the famous phrase borrowed from George Clooney on my old website: Pentax, “what else ?” At that time, I was unaware of better options. However, despite my loyalty, I found myself dissatisfied with my photography. It mainly revolved around landscapes, architecture, and macro subjects. As a photographer, I craved more diversity and decided to take a leap forward.

I purchased a Sigma 150-500mm lens for my Pentax K-3, and started exploring bird and airplane photography. Nevertheless, the lens proved cumbersome and impractical to carry around due to its weight and size. It was not suitable for casual outings or bike rides. Moreover, the autofocus system was sluggish, and the built-in stabilization of the Pentax camera fell short when it came to these longer focal lengths.

Without abandoning Pentax altogether, I started trying and testing out other camera brands. Over a span of two years, I acquired several used cameras, primarily from Fujifilm and Olympus. The turning point arrived with the finding of an almost brand new second hand Fujifilm X-H1—a fantastic camera with impressive performance. I instantly acquired a collection of lenses, including the Fujifilm 18-135mm and 70-300mm, which produced stunning results surpassing the capabilities of my old Pentax. Convinced to have found the most suitable choice, I said goodbye to Pentax and embraced Fujifilm wholeheartedly.

Nonetheless, I owned an Olympus camera, the E-M10 Mark I, an incredibly compact camera equipped with built-in image stabilization. It opened up new possibilities for me to utilize old manual OM lenses, particularly the OM 300mm f4.5. To my surprise, this little 16MP wonder enabled me to capture sharp images from considerable distances with manual focus. The in-body image stabilization (IBIS) was impressive, the magnification capability astounding, and the camera itself was lightweight and extreme portable. This piqued my curiosity about what the Olympus system could achieve with its own lenses.

Curiosity led me to explore further with the E-M5 Mark II and a Panasonic 100-300mm lens, which delivered remarkable results. However, I remained limited by the camera’s 16MP resolution. The ultimate test came when I acquired a used E-M1 Mark II and a Leica 100-400mm lens. It was a defining moment that marked the end of my search and my departure from Fujifilm. Within a few months, I found myself exclusively working with Olympus cameras, fully satisfied with their capabilities.

At present, I possess multiple Olympus cameras, with the Olympus E-M1 Mark III serving as my primary camera. Alongside that, I (still !) own the E-M10 Mark I, E-M1 Mark I, E-M10 Mark III, E-M5 Mark III, and E-M1 Mark II. Furthermore, I have the Tough TG-3, Tough TG Tracker, and an E-PL7, accompanied by over fifteen m4/3 lenses.

I tried to keep the above story as short as possible because the search was not that simple, and there were many prejudices about the Olympus system. The most important one being the sensor size. Wasn’t the sensor of my Fujifilm X-H1 much better than the smaller sensor of the Olympus ? Wasn’t any sensor better than Olympus ? Therefore, I did my research to make sure that this was indeed the right choice.

The initial assumptions about the small sensor were untrue, as prejudices often are. However, various camera brands possess distinct advantages over one another, and different systems may better suit individual photographers. This is because as human beings, we have diverse preferences and choices. Otherwise, only one type of camera would exist.

What truly sets apart my experience is the combination of Stabilization, Magnification & Mobility. Still not convinced ? I never aimed to present irrefutable evidence, as such discussions tend to be futile. Instead, why not try it out for yourself ? Perhaps a friend owns an Olympus camera that you could borrow, or you could consider purchasing one second hand. Alternatively, you might find the OM System Test and Wow program intriguing.

If you do, I hope you have a great experience as I did !

credits and copyright header picture – Olympus.be

La Gallerie

The photo gallery of Open Source Photography, Olympus micro 4/3 system, Vintage Lens Photograpy, Film Simulation, PictureFX, HDR – Photographer : Marc R.