The Complete Guide to the OM System OM-1 Mark II

By Tony Phillips

If you want to master your OM-1 II, this book was written for YOU!

Get it all without days of trawling the web – from an expert who’s written multiple books on this camera lineage. Someone who can spot, and explain the difference – and make clear how everything works. And better yet, how to use it! And all in language meant for humans, with a book structure designed for subject mastery.

It is way more than just a Manual on Steroids… In it, I assume you are a photographer, so I build on that knowledge. This book clearly highlights the differences between the OM-1 Mk II & Mk I. PLUS major differences from Olympus E-M1 cameras.

This 484-page full-color book:

* Is packed with over 900 tips and tricks to help you master photography with an OM-1 II.

* Covers every mode, menu, button, function, switch and socket.

* Covers Lighting – even Manual flash & light modifiers!

Plus

* Discover all my camera settings - including why I do it that way.

* Covers every essential of shooting – IE: ISO, Focus, WB, Metering, flash modes – and the more esoteric ones too.

* Understand how and why to customize buttons and menus.

* Read a great treatise to help you master the ins and outs of RAW, and RAW specific shooting.

Grab this book and have at your fingertips 484-pages of full-color OM-1 info, with detailed Table of Contents, Indexing, and extensive hyperlinks. There is no better way to learn how to get the most out of what is arguably one of the best-designed cameras on the planet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 9, 2024
• ISBN: 9781304561510

Book preview

E:\DesktopPhotog&Pics\Pics\Lornas Images Tas SA Albany\DSC01860m45mm.JPG

Gratitude

A heart-felt thank you to my models, Jayne, Levi, Beth, Joel, Jessie, Elise, Meghan.

Simply saying thank you isn’t enough. But I want to thank my wife Lorna for her enormous support. By now, she could surely write a book titled: Chasing a Shutterbug :-)

For Those Who Bought the Printed or E-reader Version

There are a LOT of illustrations in this book that lose their effectiveness somewhat when converted to black-and-white print, or e-book reader screens like the original Kindle.

To offset these problems the Publisher offers a free, full-color, instantly- downloadable .pdf file of this eBook to all customers who bought printed books (either color or black-and-white), or who purchased an eBook through Amazon Kindle, Apple, Barnes and Noble, or other e-reader store. (The.pdf offers a far superior user experience. Think of it as the director’s cut – the way the author intended the work to be seen.)

To get your free .pdf file, just email ([e-mail]). Attach the receipt of the book you bought (if you didn’t buy it from the FriedmanArchivesPress.com website, then Friedman Archives does not have your customer information), and we’ll send you a download link. 

Cover: Striking architecture at the Mona Museum, Hobart AU. The incredible colour is rust! Residents of the state have free entry!

https://mona.net.au/

E:\Desktop\Sony a57\Pics\zz My Pics for inclusion in book\LA\PA150926mTONY.jpg The Author

E:\Desktop\Pics\Family\SOURCE\07 Rear thru Canopy.jpg

Tony is an author, photographer, pilot, teacher, and lecturer, and has a long-standing passion for photography. He has dozens of published books on photography. He is recommended by MirrorLessons as one of 6 Authors of Mirrorless Camera Manuals Whose Books You’ll Actually Enjoy Reading. His book on the X-Pro2 was headlined in Fujifilm’s blog as The Most Comprehensive Guide on the X-Pro2. He conducts photographic seminars on the fundamentals of digital photography through to advanced lighting.

Anyone can take great pictures if they have the desire. And, it is not the equipment (though important), rather the person, that makes those pictures great.

Tony is widely travelled, a businessman and entrepreneur. He now spends much of his time writing, teaching, travelling, lecturing, and hunting great images.

Visit www.TonyPhillips.org to learn more. Or email Tony at: [e-mail] .

Tony’s YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/TonyPhillipsPhoto

Some of Tony’s photography books.

This Book

If you’re a seasoned OMS/Olympus shooter, you know there are many, many settings in this camera, it is hugely customizable, and sometimes there are many ways of achieving the same end result. This book exists to streamline your experience, and lessen the grade on that steep learning curve.

A Big Thank You

As a thank you for buying this book, I’m offering several author (only) bonuses - usually a $9.95 value

The first is an .xls spreadsheet listing all the OM-1 M2 II’s settings with brief explanations, my own settings, section references to the book, and a column to note your own settings.

Additionally, as the ultimate portable go-anywhere guide, I’m offering a copy of Companion Settings For OM-1 M2 II – a 70 page optimized for phone screens, PDF eBook, listing all the OM-1 M2 II’s settings, with brief explanations, and links to the appropriate sections in this book.

How to Obtain Bonuses?

Since I don’t know where or when you purchased this book, simply send a copy of your receipt to [e-mail]  with "OM1m2 Book bonuses" in the subject and I’ll blast you a download link.

Enjoy!

Book Updates:

From time to time I write updates when something significant changes in a firmware release. If you want to be notified when I do, email me at [e-mail] with "OM1m2 Update Notification" in the subject.

If you request bonuses, I automatically add you to the notification list.

Next Page: Desert Cliffs along Australia’s massive coastline. These cliffs face ocean in the south, and desert to the north. The sea is wild here. It takes between 2 and 4 days driving from any capital city to reach this isolated location along the Southern Ocean. See map Figure 3-29.

Table of Contents

Gratitude

For Those Who Bought the Printed or E-reader Version

The Author

This Book

A Big Thank You

Table of Contents

Chapter 1      OM-1 M2 Key Features

1.1

      

Focus on Subjects…

1.2

      

Stabilization

1.2.1      IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization)

1.2.2      IS (In-Lens Stabilization)

1.3

      

Focus Brilliance

1.3.1      Fast S-AF

1.3.2      Manual Focusing

1.3.3      Focus Stacking

1.4

      

LCD & EVF

1.4.1      Electronic Viewfinder

1.4.2      Articulating LCD

1.4.3      TouchScreen

1.4.4      Mouse Mode – Touchscreen & The EVF

1.5

      

Image Modes

1.5.1      Computational Photography

1.5.2      Simulating ND & GND filters

1.5.3      Art Filters – Snap-seed it up!

1.5.4      50Mp / 80MP High-Res Stills

1.5.5      Live BULB / Live TIME / Live Composite

1.5.6      Pro Capture – For Action Bracketing

1.5.7      Multiple Exposure & Image Overlay

1.5.8      HDR - High Dynamic Range Images

1.5.9      Time Lapse

1.5.10      In-Camera Editing

1.6

      

Menu – THE Menu

1.7

      

Flash

1.7.1      Flash Sync Speed

1.7.2      Wireless Flash

1.8

      

Body, Controls, Customization

1.8.1      HUGE Superman Battery

1.9

      

But Wait! There’s Always More

1.9.1      Zebra Exposure Warning

1.9.2      In-camera Lens Correction

1.9.3      Fast Shutter Speeds - 1/8,000th second

1.9.4      Silent Electronic Shutter

1.9.5      Buffer & Sequential Shooting

1.9.6      Wi-Fi & Bluetooth

1.9.7      Additional Features

Chapter 2      Camera Configuration

2.1

      

Some Essential Configuration

2.2

      

My Camera Settings - Tables

2.3

      

Shooting Menus 1 (Camera Icon)

2.3.1      Basic Settings/Image Quality 1-1

2.3.2      Picture Mode/WB 1-2

2.3.1      ISO/Noise Reduction 1-3

2.3.2      Exposure 1-4

2.3.3      Metering 1-5

2.3.4      Flash 1-6

2.3.5      Drive Mode 1-7

2.3.6      Image Stabilizer 1-8

2.4

      

Shooting Menus 2

2.4.1      Computational Modes 2-1

2.4.2      Other Shooting Functions 2-2

2.4.3      Bracketing 2-3

2.5

      

AF Menus - AF

2.5.1      AF  1

2.5.2      AF  2

2.5.3      AF  3

2.5.4      AF  4

2.5.5      AF  5 – Movie AF

2.5.6      AF  6 – AF Target Setting & Operations

2.5.7      AF  7 – MF

2.6

      

Video Menus (Movie Icon)

2.6.1      Basic Settings/Image Quality  1

2.6.2      Picture Mode / WB 2

2.6.3      ISO/Noise Reduction 3

2.6.4      Image Stabilizer 4

2.6.5      Sound Recording/Connection 5

2.6.6      Shooting Assist  6

2.7

      

Playback Menu

2.7.1      File  1

2.7.2      Operations  2

2.7.3      Displays  3

2.8

      

Operations Menu

2.8.1      Operations  1

2.8.2      Operations  2

2.8.3      Live View  3

2.8.4      Information  4

2.8.5      Grid/Other Displays  5

2.9

      

Tools Menu

2.9.1      Card/File/Folder  1

2.9.2      Information Record  2

2.9.3      Monitor/Sound/Connection 3

2.9.4      Wi-Fi/Bluetooth 4

2.9.5      Battery/Sleep 5

2.9.6      Reset/Clock/language/Others 6

2.10

      

My Menu ★1-5

Chapter 3      Quick Start Guide

3.1

      

Quick Menus – SCP & LV SCP

3.1.1      Changing Settings With the SCP

3.2

      

Focusing Essentials

3.2.1      How Does the camera know what to focus on?

3.2.2      Focusing Modes

3.2.3      AF+MF

3.3

      

C-AF Tracking

3.3.1      C-AF Sensitivity – Tenacity mode for C-AF

3.3.2      C-AF Center Priority – For Predictably Moving Subjects

3.3.3       C-AF Speed

3.4

      

Touchscreen

3.4.1      Shooting Stills With The Touchscreen

3.4.2      Shooting Movies With the Touchscreen

3.4.3      Touch & the Viewfinder

3.5

      

Subject Detection

3.6

      

AF Illuminator

3.7

      

Controlling AF Targets

3.7.1       AF Target Mode Settings – Disable Targets

3.7.2       Orientation Linked [∙⁝∙] (AF by Camera Orientation)

3.7.3       [∙⁝∙] AF Set Home

3.7.4      AF Area Pointer (Hide the green AF Frame)

3.7.5      Alter AF Target Selection – [∙⁝∙] Select Screen Settings

3.8

      

MF Assist – Crisp Manual Focus

3.8.1      Magnify

3.8.2      Peaking

3.8.3      Peaking Color

3.8.4      Highlight Intensity

3.8.5      Image Brightness Adj.

3.9

      

Shooting Modes – P-A-S-M

3.10

      

Drive Mode

3.10.1      Related DRIVE Menu Items

Release Priority S-AF & C-AF

Changing Sequential fps & other Settings

(Low Speed) Sequential fps & other Settings

Sequential SH1 & SH2 fps & other Settings

ProCap fps & other Settings

Low ISO Processing

3.11

      

Image Review (Playback Image Review)

3.12

      

Shooting Display Views

3.13

      

Image Stabilization

3.13.1      Stabilization for Stills Shooting

3.13.2      Stabilization for Movies

3.13.3      (Burst Mode) Image Stabilization

3.13.4      Half-Press Image Stabilizer

3.13.5      Handheld Assist

3.13.6      Lens I.S. Priority

3.14

      

Detailed Settings (Image Quality & Compression)

3.14.1      Setting JPEG Size & Compression

3.14.2      Changing Image Quality in the SCP

3.15

      

Memory Card Settings (Stills)

3.16

      

The AEL Button

3.17

      

The AF-ON Button

3.17.1      Back Button Focus with AF-On

3.18

      

Bracketing

3.19

      

The Basics of Shooting RAW

Chapter 4      Shooting Essentials

Chapter 4

4.1

      

How a Camera Sees light - Metering Modes

4.1.1      Metering Modes

4.1.2      Lock Spot Metering to the AF Target

4.1.3      AEL Button & Metering Mode

4.1.4      AEL Auto Reset

4.1.5      AEL by half-pressing SHUTTER

4.1.6      Combining AEL & Spot Metering

4.2

      

Primary Exposure Variables

4.3

      

Aperture – A Mode

4.4

      

Shutter Speed - S Mode

4.5

      

Exposure Variables – The Tradeoffs

4.6

      

ISO Essentials

4.6.1      High ISO Noise Levels

4.6.2      Manual ISO

4.6.3      Extension ISO

4.6.4      Auto ISO

4.6.5      Auto ISO in Manual Exposure Mode

4.7

      

ISO - Related Menu Items

4.7.1      ISO-Auto Set

4.7.2      ISO Step

4.7.3      ISO-Auto

4.8

      

Controlling Exposure in P-A-S Modes

4.8.1      Exposure Compensation

4.8.2      Program Shift – for Creative Control

4.9

      

Manual Exposure Mode

4.10

      

The Histogram

4.10.1      Protect Brightness

4.10.2      The Histogram Exposed

4.11

      

White Balance

4.11.1      Auto White Balance and Pre-Set White Balance

4.11.2      Fine Tuning White Balance Presets

4.11.3      Custom White Balance

4.11.4      One-Touch White Balance

4.12

      

WB - Related Menu Items

4.12.1      All WB +/-

4.12.2      WB Auto Keep Warm Color

4.12.3      WB Bracketing

4.12.4      Color Creator

4.13

      

Flash Essentials

4.13.1      Fill-In

4.13.2      Slow Sync Flash (SLOW, Slow2 & Red-Eye Slow)

4.13.3      First Curtain & Second Curtain Flash Sync

4.13.4      Flash Compensation (Flash Intensity Control)

4.13.5      Manual Flash

4.13.6      Reduce Red-Eye

Chapter 5      Playback

Chapter 5

5.1

      

INFO Button - See It Your way

5.1.1      Playback Info

5.1.2      Thumbnail Settings (Index)

5.2

      

The Touchscreen in Playback

5.3

      

Image Rotation

5.4

      

Playback Zoom

5.4.1       Info Settings -

5.4.2      Pixel Peeping – Zoom Ratios in Playback

5.4.3       Dial Function

5.4.4       Function (Playback and the Movie Button)

5.5

      

Selecting Multiple Images

5.6

      

Deleting images

5.6.1      RAW+JPG Erase

5.7

      

Protecting an image

5.8

      

Sharing Images

5.9

      

DPOF Print Order

5.9.1      Stamping the Date or Time on Prints

5.10

      

Edit Pictures In Camera! Playback Popup menu

5.10.1      RAW Data Edit

5.10.1      Image Overlay (RAW Files only)

5.10.2      JPEG Edit

5.10.3      Share Order

5.10.4      Rating

5.10.5      Key (Icon) – Protect an Image

5.10.6      Microphone (Icon)

5.10.7      Rotate

5.10.8      DPOF (Printer Icon)

5.10.9      Copy

5.10.10      Erase

Chapter 6      The Secrets of Outstanding Images

Chapter 6

6.1

      

It’s All about Light

6.2

      

Putting What Where – Composing an Image

Chapter 7      Cool Core Features

Chapter 7

7.1

      

High-Res 50MP+ Still Images

7.1.1      Processing High-Res .jpg and .ORI files

7.2

      

Pro Capture – Action Bracketing

7.3

      

Time Lapse Shooting

7.4

      

Multiple Exposures and Overlay

7.4.1      Multiple Exposure Shooting:

7.4.2      Overlay – Multiple Exposure from Different Locations

7.4.3      Multiple Exposure in Playback

7.5

      

Keystone Compensation

7.6

      

Live ND– Simulate ND filter Shooting

7.7

      

Live GND Shooting

7.8

      

HDR – High Dynamic Range

7.9

      

(Silent) Electronic Shutter

7.8.1      Silent Shooting:

7.8.2      Electronic Shutter Shooting:

7.8.3      Limitations

7.8.4      Electronic Shutter Settings

7.10

      

Picture Modes

7.9.1      Custom Picture Mode

Gradation

7.9.2      Tri-X High Contrast Monochrome (HCM)

7.9.3      Other Films – Tweaking Suggestions

7.9.4      Shooting B&W - Monochrome Mode

7.9.5      Portrait

7.9.6      Picture Modes – Wrap-up

7.11

      

Art Filters

7.10.1      Using Partial Color I-III – ART Filters 14-16

7.10.2      Tweaking Art Filters

7.10.3      Art Bracketing

7.10.4      Art LV Mode

Chapter 8      Movie Mode

Chapter 8

8.1

      

The Quick Guide

8.2

      

To 4K or not 4K

8.3

      

Picture Modes for Movies – Flat/Log/HLG/In-Camera grading

8.3.1       2  OM-Log400 Picture Mode

8.3.2       3  HLG Picture Mode (Hybrid Log Gamma)

8.3.3       1  Flat Picture Mode:

8.3.4         In-Camera Grading (Picture Modes)

8.4

      

Choosing a Movie Mode

8.9.1       Video Specification Settings

BUT FIRST the Technical Mumbo-Jumbo.

Menu --> 1 -->   What to choose?

8.9.2      Selecting Video Mode with the SCP

8.5

      

Slow Motion / Fast Motion - Movie Shooting (Slow/Fast)

8.6

      

Other neat things the OM-1 M2 brings to video.

8.7

      

Use Touch Screen to Pull Focus

8.8

      

Movie IBIS

8.9

      

Focusing in Movies

8.10

      

Controlling Exposure in Movie Mode

8.10.1      Automatic Exposure For Movies

8.10.2      Aperture Exposure For Movies

8.10.3      Shutter Exposure For Movies

8.10.4      Manual Exposure For Movies

8.10.5      Zebra Stripes for Exposure Control

8.10.6      Silent Shooting - Touch To Control Exposure

8.10.7      Thoughts on Lighting and Exposure

8.11

      

Movie Button/Dial/Lever

8.12

      

Sound Recording Settings

8.12.1      Recording Volume

8.12.2      Volume Limiter

8.12.3      Wind Noise Reduction

8.12.4      Recording Rate

8.12.5      Mic Plug-In Power

8.12.6      Camera Rec. Volume

8.13

      

Headphone Volume

8.14

      

Time Codes

8.15

      

Movie Display - Info Settings

8.16

      

Playing Movies

Chapter 9       Other Important Topics

Chapter 9

9.1

      

Customizing the Camera

9.1.1      Customizing Fn Buttons for Stills Shooting

9.1.2      Reassigning Dials

9.1.3      (DIal) Loop in Menu Tab

9.1.4      Dial direction

9.1.5      Fn Lever Function

9.2

      

Multi-Function Button

9.2.1      Highlight and Shadow control

9.2.2      Color Creator

9.2.3      ISO and WB dial swap

9.2.4      Magnify

9.2.5      Image Aspect

9.2.6      S-OVF ( LV Mode) (DisabLE Live Preview)

9.2.7      Peaking

9.2.8      LV Close Up Mode (Magnify)

9.3

      

Bracketing

9.3.1      AE Bracket (Automatic Exposure)

9.3.2      WB Bracket (White Balance BKT)

9.3.3      FL Bracket (Flash BKT)

9.3.4      ISO Bracket (ISO BKT)

9.3.5      ART BKT (Art Filter BKT)

9.3.6      Focus Stacking & Focus Bracketing

9.4

      

Awesome Time Exposure Modes

9.4.1      Light Painting with LIVE Time

9.4.2      Live Composite Mode – The BEST way to Paint

9.4.3      Light Painting with Live Composite

9.5

      

Time Exposure Menu Items

9.5.1      BULB/TIME Focusing

9.5.2      Bulb/Time Timer

9.5.3      Live Composite Timer

9.5.4      Bulb / Time Monitor

9.5.5      Live Bulb & Live Time

9.5.6      Composite Settings

9.6

      

Noise Reduction

9.6.1      Noise Reduction. (long Exposure NR)

9.6.2      Noise Filter - High ISO Noise Reduction

9.6.3      Low ISO Processing

9.7

      

Artist & File Naming

9.7.1      Copyright Info

9.7.2      Edit Filename

9.8

      

Card Formatting

9.9

      

Custom Modes

9.9.1      Assigning a Custom Mode (C1-4)

9.9.2      Recall a Custom Mode

9.9.3      BackUp & Restore Custom Settings

9.10

      

Image Aspect (or Aspect Ratio)

9.11

      

Color Space

9.12

      

Anti-Shock

9.13

      

Quick Sleep Mode

9.14

      

Viewfinder Diopter (Dioptre)

9.15

      

Sensor Dust – Checking & Cleaning

9.16

      

Flicker Reduction (Anti-Flicker LV Shooting)

9.17

      

Flicker Scan

9.18

      

Tech Topics

9.18.1      Resetting the Camera

9.18.2      AF Scanner

9.18.3      AF Limiter

9.18.4      AF Focus Adjustment.

9.18.5      Pixels Mapping – Stuck Pixels

9.18.6      Memory Cards

9.18.7      PC RAW (Process RAW with the Camera)

9.18.8      Software

Chapter 10      Wi-FI and Tethered Shooting

Chapter 10

10.1

      

Set Up a Connection (Pairing)

10.2

      

Subsequent Connections

10.3

      

Remote Control Shooting

10.4

      

Importing Photos to Phone

10.5

      

GPS Tagging - Geotagging

10.6

      

Tethered Shooting

1

Chapter 11      Lighting – Using Flash

Chapter 11

11.1

      

Flash Models

11.2

      

TTL vs Manual Flash

11.3

      

TTL Flash

11.4

      

Flash Compensation

11.5

      

Manual Flash Mode

11.6

      

Getting flash off-camera

11.6.1      Off-Camera Key Concepts

11.6.2      Off-Camera Methods

11.7

      

OMS Wireless Flash

11.7.1      Setting Up the System

11.7.2      Wireless Channels

11.7.3      Using Groups

11.7.4      The RC Screen Decoded

11.8

      

Manual Wireless Radio Triggering

11.8.1      Third Party Manual Flash Models

11.9

      

Godox Flash – Wireless TTL!

11.10

      

OMS Wireless TTL

11.11

      

Light Modifiers

11.11.1      Umbrellas & Softboxes

11.11.2      Reflectors

11.12

      

Super Focal Plane Flash

11.12.1      HSS benefits

11.12.2      Flash Power

11.12.3      Shooting FP (HSS) flash

11.13

      

Flash Menu Items

11.13.1      Flash Exposure Compensation + Exposure Compensation

11.13.2      Flash + White Balance

11.13.3      Balanced Flash Metering

11.13.4      Disable Exposure Preview For Manual Flash

11.13.5      (flash) X-Sync

11.13.6      (Flash) Slow-Limit

Chapter 12      Lens Considerations

Chapter 12

12.1

      

OM System Lenses

12.2

      

Clutched Lenses

12.3

      

Third-Party MFT Lenses

12.4

      

Adapting Non-MFT Lenses

12.4.1      Using Modern Glass

12.4.2      Adapting Legacy Glass

12.5

      

Lens Info Settings

12.6

      

Lens: Other

12.4.3      Wide Angle from Fisheye Lens

Chapter 13      Digital Imaging Topics

Chapter 13

13.1

      

An Introduction to RAW

13.2

      

How Cameras Create JPEGS

13.3

      

Image File Types – RAW, TIF, JPG

13.4

      

JPG Artifacts

13.5

      

Shooting JPEGs

13.6

      

RAW Processing

13.7

      

Image Resolution - Viewing & Printing

Chapter 14      Additional Resources

Chapter 14

14.1

      

Internet Resources

14.2

      

Tony’s Books

14.3

      

Epilogue

14.4

      

What’s in a Book?

Chapter 1      OM-1 M2 Key Features

Most unexpectedly, the OM-1 Mark II popped onto the scene early 2024 – maybe in time for that travel venture you have planned!

It’s certainly the camera for it!

As photographers, we grab snaps – to remember our travels and family gatherings; "forensic" images – to show what things were like; and art images – to create mood, feeling, emotion… to evoke a response from those who view. As videographers, we step out, evolving a story to draw viewers through the story to another place.

Over time, photography has changed almost unbelievably, with the availability of high-end mobile phones challenging everyone’s idea of what a camera should/could be. And of course, there’s the plethora of remarkable digital cameras, with onboard computers that pack more punch than our first ventures to another world, when the Eagle touched down in Serenity in 69, and human boots cut deeply into alien soil for the first time.

Whether it’s snaps, forensic, or artistic photography you prefer, capturing an image has become something of a process. A paradox if you like - between the desire to create substantively right-brain images and art, and the imperative to master scads of left-brain technology to get the job done.

So the OM-1 M2 Mark II is not just a camera, is it?

It’s a way of thinking. It’s a computer with menus and firmware and glass; with algorithms, buttons, dials, and knobs, all driving those fantastic features that combined, allow you to capture images in a way you like to work.

So what do all these controls and functions do?

And how do we use them ALL to create art and images?

That’s where this book comes in.

My aim in these pages is to demystify all the OM-1 M2 can do. Follow along as I delve into the camera’s features, providing what I hope are clear explanations of what everything is, what it’s for, and how to use it – even the hard stuff. There are hundreds of tips and tweaks to help you get up to full speed, and maximize your enjoyment, comfort, and skill with the camera – so that when you’re in the mud shooting, everything feels normal, and you know where to look for THAT feature you NEED right now to make the shot work.

So buckle up and enjoy the ride………………….

OM-1 Aware users TIP: For readers well familiar with the OM-1 camera, notable changes/additions are highlighted in blue.

What is it that sets the OM-1 M2 apart? For me, it is:

-      Image Quality – of course.

-      Stabilization – shoot slower and lower (low shutter or low light)

-      Speed – new processor, more speed. New AF routines – even more speed.

-      Fast, accurate S-AF and Subject Detect.

-      After-dark time exposure modes – worth owning just for this.

-      Astonishing stabilization in video – almost a Steadicam.

-      50MP HANDHELD stills!

-      Customizability.

-      Easy, great wireless flash.

-      The best articulating LCD!

-      Superman battery.

-      Small system size. Small body, small lenses. Easy to carry. And,

-      In your hand, on a rig – a perfect fit.   

OK. That’s enough. There’s more. But you get the point.

TIP: There are >900 tips sprinkled throughout this book. Some are big tips, some small. Browse through, or, if you have an electronic book, search for TIP: – or just look for TIP boxes such as this one.

I’m told that browsing them is a great trains, plains and backseat drive pass-time.

Let’s jump right in:

1.1      Focus on Subjects…

One of the claims OM System make for the Mk II is that focus on Subjects is accurate and fast. And this includes people!

Indeed, the entire Subject detection feature has been revamped and upgraded – and all subjects, including people, are now in the Subject Detection menu.

What’s not immediately apparent is that even though this is the same list of subjects from the OM-1, they are now detected faster, across a wider range of views and angles, with notably faster autofocus. Face detection now nails faces behind sunglasses and under a hat. Dog detection from almost any angle, etc.

TIP: Subject Detection in the SCP. Quick switch subjects here too.

Subject Detection gives the camera full control over what to focus on. While we are all now familiar with the idea of Face Detection, detection of other subjects was only introduced in the OM-1. Which makes this 2nd generation a considerable upgrade.

New in the OM-1 M2 is the concatenation of face detection INTO subject detection. Think of it as face detection for humans, dogs, cats, puppies, kittens. But also trains, planes and automobiles. With a touch of birds (but no bees), and choppers & choppers (motorcycles, helicopters), all thrown in on the side.

TIP: Assign a Fn button to Subject Detection to enable/disable this mode. Hold and rotate the front dial to select another subject category.

It is more though. I had outstanding success when the camera could not see (say) dog faces, but other aspects of a dog we humans recognise as dog-like markers. Detection works on things outside the direct subject listing too!

Subject Detection is remarkably good, which increasingly makes this a great feature to use. Certainly, great for family gatherings, and almost all kinds of informal photography – which is one of the strengths of this camera.

TIP: Since human face detection is now in subjects, what happened to eye detection? The camera does this automatically, and marks the eye it is focusing on.

See Section 3.5 for the skinny on Faces. And ways to think tall on giraffes and grubby on ATVs, and hopefully encourage you to do some weird, weird things of your own.

TIP: OM System specifically identifies Intelligent Subject Detection AF subjects as: Aircrafts, Bullet trains, Birds, Cats, Dogs, Formula cars, Helicopters, Human, Motorcycles, Ralley cars, Standard trains, Steam locomotives

1.2      Stabilization

Movies and stills stabilization is a standout feature of the OM-1 M2, AND both IBIS and IS stabilized lenses play well together. Sync IS lenses like the 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO further extend the range of achievable stops.

1.2.1      IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization)

One of the standout features of Olympus, and now the OM System cameras is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). And OMS has upgraded their tech in the OM-1 M2, giving it IBIS which yields up to 8.5 stops of additional benefit! Up from 7.5!

What this will amount to for most, is the ability to shoot at much very low shutter speeds in low light, thereby keeping ISO to a minimum for highest picture quality.

The OM-1 M2’s image stabilization system moves the sensor in 5 axes; left-right, up-down, yaw, roll, and pitch. 

Indeed, the OM-1 M2’s IBIS is probably the best currently available, but the true beauty of it is that it works with any lens you attach.  So you’ve got an classic SMC Takumar 1.4/ 50mm (etc)?  No problem.  Put it on with an adapter and take advantage of the stabilization system. You’ve got a new Tamron, Sigma, Voightlander or Laowa – with or without AF. Throw it on. All stabilized too!

The value of IBIS also extends to: auto-panning detection, which disables certain aspects of the stabilization so you can deliberately create motion blur; plus there are, additional electronic stabilization corrections during movie shooting, - thereby further eliminating camera shake which can be quite distracting during playback. Of course, this is not Steadicam quality dampening, but you really have to try it to believe it. IBIS in movie mode goes a long, long way to steadying out the shakes for video work, giving you the kind of hand-held shots that are almost unheard of for an undampened hand-held camera.

And if that isn’t enough, the developers invented another use for stabilization technology, putting it to work to capture high-resolution images with a 20MP MFT sensor! More on that soon.

1.2.2      IS (In-Lens Stabilization)

M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm and 12-100mm F4.0 lenses are both 5 axis Sync IS compatible. Meaning their internal IS and the camera’s in-body IBIS systems cooperate to give up to 8.5 stops of stabilization. What this means in practice, is you can hand-hold a 600mm (Full Frame equivalent) lens for shooting!

The M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II gives 8.5 stops of stabilization at 40mm even though it is a Non Sync IS lens.

TIP: Feeling a little shaky? Read up on being stable in Section 12.1, and even more on IBIS in Section 3.13. If it’s movies that move you, 3.13.2 will help even things out.

TIP: There are only 5 Sync IS lenses at this time. See here for the full list: https://explore.omsystem.com/au/en/lenses?spec_5_axis_sync_is=1141

IBIS for Non-Olympus/OMS lenses – TIPS:

TIP: For non-Olympus lenses that do NOT communicate with the camera, remember to enter the focal length to maximise IBIS for each lens. Enter lens details in Menu --> 2 --> Lens Info Settings. Remember to select this lens each time you attach it.

Now, lens info (name, focal length, min aperture) is added to EXIF when you attach the lens. Importantly, focal length informs IBIS so it will work accurately.

TIP: One lens remains selected by default in this menu. So if you remove (say) an Olympus lens, and attach an adapted lens, it will default to the selected lens. So no need to dive in here and change it if you’re working with only one adapted lens.

See Section 12.5 for more on Lens Info Settings.

1.3      Focus Brilliance

The OM-1 M2 is optimized for both autofocus and manual focus shooters.

1.3.1      Fast S-AF

As we’ve seen, new hardware and algorithms provide for fast and accurate Subject Detection AF. But it doesn’t stop there.

The OM-1 M2’s sensor has 1053 cross-type phase detection focus points, and 1053 contrast AF focus points – and points can be selected from single target, 9, 39, 63, 165, or all targets.

This allows for blistering high-speed stills sequential shooting with fast, accurate autofocus between shots – and upgraded accuracy in Subject Detection.

TIP: The original E-M1 sensor has 37 phase detection focus points grouped at the centre of the sensor, and 81 contrast AF points.

TIP: AF working range for the OM-1 M2 is -8 to 19 EV for the Mk2!

1.3.2      Manual Focusing

The OM-1 M2 also provides two great manual focusing aids.  Magnify - for zooming in to check critical focus; and Peaking – to highlight areas of contrast. Both of these are brilliant! (Section 3.8 details these.)

TIP: The magnify/zoom feature works in both MF and AF modes!

Magnify:

Allows zooming in to fine tune manual focusing. There are several ways to engage this – either automatically, or manually. Section 3.8.1 zooms in on automatic zoom when you rotate the focus ring.

Zoom (Magnify) Using a Button:

Assign Magnify to a function button for greater control. Once assigned, simply press the button to see a green rectangle – which you move with arrows, joystick or touch on the LCD touchscreen.

TIP:  When magnified, roll the rear dial to alter magnification. Options are 3, 5, 7, 10, or 14 times magnification.

TIP: Long-press the zoom button, or press OK to dismiss zoom.

Using the touchscreen makes controlling magnification easy. Simply touch to zoom. Additionally, the magnification level is adjustable from 3x to 14x by dragging on the gauge on the LCD, or with either dial once zoomed.

You can move the zoomed area by dragging the green rectangle on the screen, or with the arrow keys.

TIP: In manual exposure mode, the INFO button shows aperture and shutter info in zoomed mode, allowing you to monitor your settings.

TIP: Magnify is one option you can assign to the Multi-Function button. This is what I do. I use the ISO Fn button for this. Now I press it for zoom in Manual or Autofocus.

Why sacrifice the ISO button – TIP: ISO is easily set in the SCP. I use zoom in MF and S-AF quite a bit more, and there’s no SCP shortcut for that. Also, I assign Highlight&Shadow and Peaking to the Multi-Function button.

Peaking:

Focus peaking is one of the standard, awesome features that manual focus shooters can rely on. It’s accurate and easy to use.

Just rotate the focus ring, and things that are in-focus (have high contrast) are highlighted in a snow of red, white, yellow, or black. Of course, since it’s really highlighting high-contrast outlines in these colourful snowflakes, it’s not entirely foolproof. But it is quite good.

There are three settings you are going to want to tinker with in Menu --> AF 7 --> Peaking Settings.  Section 3.8.2 peeks further into peaking.

Really Valuable Peaking TIP: Quickly change peaking color, intensity, and screen brightness on the fly by pressing the INFO button when any peaking mode is visible in the finders! A popup allows you to change options.

TIP: Normal intensity is called STD in this popup menu – not Norm…

TIP: This works in MF mode, and AF+MF mode equally.

1.3.3      Focus Stacking

This is brilliant! Frequently used with macros to create a wide Depth of Field - which is difficult to capture at close range, focus-stacking compiles images captured at slightly different focus distances into one composited image. There are a lot of options. Section 9.3.6 will have you stitching a stack in no time – or even building a Bracket so you can stitch the stack yourself!

1.4      LCD & EVF

1.4.1      Electronic Viewfinder

After using an EVF for so long now, it’s hard to appreciate just how much this has changed photography. You get to see what the camera sees as you change picture modes, white balance, tone curves, dynamic range, aspect ratio. Basically, what you see in the viewfinder, is what you get. (WYSIWYG, for the old-timers among us! And What You See Is What You Get – a once-common computer acronym - for everyone else.)

Of course, the big deal with an electronic viewfinder is you see a live view of what you are shooting, overlaid with relevant shooting information that once only appeared on a rear screen.

The EVF also displays playback – reducing chimping (moving the camera from your eye to view the last capture on the LCD), since you can see it right in the viewfinder. For this to work, set the review option in MENU --> Setup Menu --> Image Review to something other than OFF. Of course, you can always press the Playback button to review images in the EVF too.

Menu --> 3 --> Eye Sensor Settings --> EVF Auto Switch Options:

TIP: On: auto switches between EVF & LCD as you put your eye to the EVF.

TIP: Choose On if you use the EVF exclusively. With the LCD closed, it remains dark. The EVF remains dark too, conserving battery till your face activates the IR sensors, and it turns on. A great feature for an EVF lover.

TIP: With the LCD against the body, but visible, On switches between LCD and EVF.

TIP: Hate all this auto switching between LCD and EVF? Disable it all by selecting Off. This requires pressing the Live View button to switch between LCD & EVF.

TIP: The sensor is easily triggered by fingers, jackets etc, so there are issues when using a neck or shoulder strap.

TIP: Long-press the button (left of the viewfinder) to rapidly access the EVF Auto Switch options. The manual calls this the View Selection button.

MORE:

TIP:  If you find the EVF to be dark (or bright) right out of the box, put your eye to the EVF, and increase/decrease the brightness in Menu --> 3 --> EVF Adjust --> EVF Auto Luminance --> Off (use left arrow), then tweak EVF brightness with the up/down arrows.

TIP: Also, change EVF colour hue in the EVF Auto Luminance screen by pressing the INFO button.

One significant benefit the EVF brings to outdoor videography is you don’t have to strain to see a sun-washed LCD on a bright day. Simply switch to EVF! Or if you are really into videography, you might invest in a field monitor with hood, to mount to the video rig you invariably need, to get the job done. Right?

The OM-1 M2’s viewfinder is one of the essential ingredients that makes it a joy to use this camera. With it:

1.      You can see how your image will look before you shoot (exposure, white balance, depth of field, etc),

2.      You get a live histogram for ultimate exposure management,

3.      You have great tools for manual focus,

4.      You have compositional guidelines and a digital level should you want,

5.      You can display customizable shooting information,

6.      The EVF is great for shooting in low light, or bright light.

The various viewfinder and LCD display modes are covered in Section 3.12.

Preview and Contrast - TIP: You can use the EVF for more than just previewing an intended image. Switch to RAW+JPEG and Monochrome picture mode, and more easily see what’s happening with tones in your composition. This is great for monitoring contrast in a scene for accurate metering, and RAW still gives all the colour data to work with for greatest exposure management.

1.4.2      Articulating LCD

In general, I love articulating LCDs. I know some people hate them. I’ve heard people say not professional, and even threaten to tape it flat. But for me, it’s a keep the mud off your nose and clothes kinda deal. I’m not that keen on crouching tiger photography. (Or is that grouchy tiger photography?)

This LCD is about as good as it gets, and allows great flexibility shooting at unusual angles. It also rotates for selfies.

Unlike some articulating screens I’ve used, the OM-1 M2’s implementation works well with a tripod – not jamming on regular ball heads, and great for low tripod work in portrait and landscape – keeping me out of the mud – while I can still see what I’m shooting.

TIP: Knowing where to put a camera to capture an image plays a huge part in the art of photography. Capturing images at eye-height through a viewfinder offers a certain kind of shooting for certain kinds of circumstances. There is nothing special about that idea that gifts photographs with added awesomeness, or users with added photographer-ness. Indeed, in the days of film with no LCD and no playback, I recall getting a bunch of leery top-down portraits/shots, and crouching a lot.

If you understand camera placement for portrait photography, you know it can be difficult getting the camera to where you need it to be if you are tall, and are anywhere other than a studio. I truly value the ability to flexibly place the camera where I want to capture the shot I have in mind.

And while I’m bucketing on about this, recall those film cameras where you looked down into the viewfinder? Almost perfect portrait placement right there.

Selfie Mode - TIPS:

TIP: Enable selfie mode in Menu --> 3 (Live View) --> Selfie Assist --> On.

TIP: This reverses the screen for self-portraits. IE, the screen becomes a mirror-image of what you ordinarily see. Presumably because people are used to that view of themselves.

TIP: Folding the screen out for selfie mode disables the IR sensor so the camera won’t switch to the EVF if you get close to the sensor. Flip the screen back and the eye sensor comes back to life allowing you to use LCD or EVF as required.

TIP: Using the touchscreen in Selfie Assist has slightly nuanced features to previous. Use it to focus, capture a shot, engage Subject mode etc.

Tech TIPS:

TIP:  Just as you can manually adjust the brightness and color temperature of the EVF, so too with the LCD. Do this in Menu --> 3 --> Monitor Adjust.

TIP: Adjustments apply to both Movies and Stills shooting.

The OM-1 M2’s screen has touch of course, and I give a quick overview of that next, and get quite touchy - feely with it in Section 3.4 (shooting) and 5.2 (playback).

1.4.3      TouchScreen

The LCD responds to your touch! Well, it is also a touchscreen… BUT, as with current touchscreen implementation on most brands, touch is not fully integrated into the camera’s operating system. There’s little menu integration, for instance. But it functions well in the SCP – up to a point. Further, there’s some, but not complete, playback integration. (Section 3.1 covers the SCP.)

Where the touch screen shines, is:

-      in shooting movies, where pulling focus is as easy as it’s ever been;

-      in playback. There’s no pinch-zoom, but you can double-tap for zoom and poke about with a sliding a scale. There’s the familiar swipe to navigate, and swipe up/down through thumbnails; and,

-      for certain types of stills shooting, where touch provides rapid access to focus frame relocation, and touch-to-take-pictures.

Read up on shooting stills with touch in Section 3.4.1. Section 3.4.2 covers movies and touch. Section 5.2 plays with touch in playback.

TIP: If you focus-recompose, you might find yourself modifying that with the touch screen. I mean, focus-recompose is a work-around around a camera limitation, isn’t it! If the camera knew what you wanted to focus on, the focus point would be where you need it every time.