Back on a Mission

Many of you photography enthusiasts likely contemplate new cameras, lenses, or other gear to improve your craft, but may not blog about it. Here at Open Source Photography, I do just that, aiming to share my experiences to help others make informed decisions amidst the uncertainty.

Currently, I have both the Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f4-6.3 and the Olympus 100-400mm f5-6.3 lenses. I initially got the Leica, but it had an issue that has since been resolved. I bought the Olympus due to the Leica problem and because it allows for converters, increasing its reach to 560mm, though with a smaller aperture, from f6.3 @ 400mm, and with MC14 to f9 @ 560mm.

Mission I :

In this new mission, it’s all about the new OM System 150-600mm f5-6.3 lens. Should I buy it? Do I need it? What are the pros and cons? And what should I do with my old 100-400mm lens—keep it or sell it?

There are many reasons to consider when deciding whether to buy a new lens. Cost is a big factor, but even if you have the budget, it’s important to ask yourself if you really need it. Otherwise, it might just end up being another lens that you rarely use.

I’ve put together a table below comparing the four major lenses from Olympus/OM System, including the ones I own, the new 150-600mm lens, and the expensive 150-400mm lens, just to compare their specs.

Things to Consider :

• The 100-400mm is usable up to and including the MC14, above it is more blurred.
• The 300mm can easily use the MC14 and MC20 and is then in the same range as the 150-600mm
• I would primarily buy the 150-600mm to use without TC

Well, I also looked at some picture results from the two most expensive lenses because the price difference between them is quite significant. Admittedly, the 150-400mm lens delivers exceptional results, but the 150-600mm isn’t far behind. In fact, considering the price difference, I personally find the advantage negligible. Additionally, the 150-600mm has a much greater range. However, if you want the absolute best and have a budget like D. Trump, then a few thousand dollars more or less probably won’t matter.

Comparing the 150-600mm to what I currently have, the combined range and similar light sensitivity make a big difference. The most remarkable feature is probably the incredible image stabilization. When you consider everything, the price is actually reasonable. But for me, the biggest issue is the weight, which is significantly higher. The 100-400mm and the 300mm were just manageable for handheld photography, but anything heavier would cause problems after a while.

The 100-400mm lens delivers relatively good results, and so does the 300mm, which I don’t use enough. The 300mm already has better stabilization and is also slightly sharper, even with teleconverters, putting its range with the MC20 at the same level as the 150-600mm. I also reviewed my own photos to see how often I needed a longer range, and honestly, not that often.

Conclusion :

The 150-600mm lens would be a great choice if I didn’t already have long telephoto lenses. But the fact that I prefer my Leica 100-400mm for its compactness and weight, makes me realize that what I currently have provides sufficient range linked to my physical capabilities. It also made me realize I need to use my 300mm more often.

My advice for other photographers is, if range is an issue, and if money and weight aren’t issues, go for the 150-600mm.

Otherwise, buy the Olympus 100-400mm or the 300mm Pro with teleconverters, and you won’t be dissapointed. Also, consider the Lumix Leica Vario 100-400mm, it is astonishingly small and delivers spectacular results, it is a lens that will never let you down.

Resouces :

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/67505309

https://www.sulasula.com/en/category/articles/olympus-gear/

https://www.espenhelland.com/wildlife-photography-blog/mzuiko-150-600mm-f5-63-is-ed-lens-initial-thoughts

https://www.tesniward.co.uk/the-olympus-150-400mm/

https://smallsensorphotography.com/m-zuiko-150-600-vs-100-400-comparison

Mission II :

The second point is about my new OM-1 MKII and selling my older camera. Actually, I’m a bit conflicted. Since getting my new OM-1 Mark II camera, I initially planned to sell my Olympus E-M1 Mark III. However, after a few days, I’m having second thoughts. I also have a nearly new E-M1X. Even though these two cameras are quite different, I’d like to keep one as a backup to the OM-1. What seemed like a simple decision is turning out to be quite difficult.

The difficulty lies in the fact that while the E-M1X is older, it’s slightly more capable and, in some cases, more pleasant to use than the E-M1 Mark III. Additionally, the E-M1X has bird, airplane, and motorcycle/car recognition features. On the downside, it’s much heavier, and its larger size can sometimes be an advantage, but not always. It’s a real dilemma!

My first thoughts on the OM-1 Mark II :

With this camera, I approached things a bit differently than with my previous ones. Before I even got the camera, I bought a third-party dual battery set with an external charger. At the same time, I also got two new Lexar 128GB 1800 Pro memory cards, so the camera was ready to go as soon as it arrived.

When I first turned it on, I only set up the basics like language and time, and chose both RAW and JPEG for initial testing. I figured I’d adjust other settings later based on my experience using the camera in different situations and then save these settings as four presets.

The camera now has image recognition that works without needing to set up tracking. The autofocus is impressively fast and accurate. I noticed the colors look richer and the sharpness has improved. The camera feels good in my hand, and the slightly larger grip makes it easier to handle than the E-M1 MKIII, especially with longer telephoto lenses. It also has a nice, large viewfinder. However, I have mixed feelings about the command wheels. The ones on the E-M1 felt sturdier—it’s hard to explain, but the new ones seem a bit fragile. And what about dust or water that can get into the gaps between the slot and the wheel ? I also noticed it uses more power, possibly because of my settings and frequent use of image recognition. I need to look into this further.

Since I like to keep my cameras in great condition, I got a screen protector for the LCD. However, even though the protector was very thin, it made it difficult or almost impossible to close the screen properly. For now, I’m keeping the screen closed with the LCD side facing up—something to keep in mind.

Overall, my first impressions of this camera are very positive. I’m glad I went for it, even though it’s quite expensive—the original OM-1 is currently €1000 cheaper, which is significant. Plus, my E-M1 MKIII was practically new with only 1600 shots.

However, the mind-blowing bird/animal recognition and the super fast AF make the camera so much better than the E-M1 Mark III that it is a no brainer. I just love it!
Unless you already have the original OM-1, Upgrade !

The article about the Spitfire, my most viewed video on YouTube !

The New OM-1 Mark II in action, the Lumix Leica Vario 100-400mm still my number 1.

This article was written by Marc R.
While I primarily speak Dutch and have some knowledge of English and a little French, ChatGPT helps ensure my writing is grammatically correct. I often mix Dutch and English in my drafts, and ChatGPT steps in to translate and correct.

La Gallerie

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