Some Thoughts After Using The Olympus E-M1 Mark III For A Couple Of Months

All images are Olympus press images.

Some of you may have realized that recently I bought an Olympus E-M1 Mark III (I'll call it the 1.3 for brevity).  Mainly, there were two reasons.  First, I happened to get an excellent price for it and second, I bought it after Olympus announced their intention to enter into an agreement with JIP and transfer their imaging division to that company.  Because I think so highly of Olympus cameras and lenses I thought that, in case for some reason all future Olympus camera manufacturing stopped, I would have a newer, more advanced M4/3 camera than my 3 1/2 year old E-M1 Mark II.  I have no intention of selling my Olympus gear.  It won't all of a sudden not be a great system if Olympus stops making cameras and lenses.  My Olympus gear gives me excellent service in a wide variety of situations and I expect it to do so for many years in the future.

That said, a few readers who noticed I bought it asked if I was going to review it.  The answer is no, not really, but I will provide you with some of my thoughts about it here.  Again, this is not a review, but my thoughts on the camera as a tool and how its been using the camera in a variety of situations over these past couple of months.  Since most of us are still restricted as to where we can go, what we can do and what is or isn't open, I have had less use of the 1.3 as compared to how much use a new camera would normally get.  As of now, I've made just over 2000 exposures with the 1.3, so I feel comfortable at least telling you my thoughts about it so far.

When Olympus first introduced the 1.3, I was critical of Olympus and had several negative things to write about Olympus and the camera.  You can read about them here.  I couldn't understand why Olympus would introduce a new camera with the older sensor and older EVF.  From what I saw and read, the image quality would be the same.  Why would anyone with a 1.2 buy it?  The 1.3 does have a brand new and very powerful image processor, however.  Also, I thought it was overpriced when compared to the current prices of full frame and APS-C cameras.  Since those initial thoughts, I have changed my mind about the camera as well as camera pricing.

In a nutshell, if you liked the E-M1 and/or the E-M1 Mark II, you will like this camera even more.  The E-M1 Mark III camera feels and acts just like my E-M1 Mark II except most things about it have been improved or is better.  It is just as robustly built if not built  better, has all of the goodness of its predecessors but more and/or improved features.  The 1.3 is the same exact body size as the 1.2 which means I can use my L-bracket that I purchased for the 1.2 as well as other accessories on the 1.3.  Additionally, the battery also has not changed so my aftermarket dual battery charger will work with the 1.3.  Most importantly, I had  no time lost or shots missed due to not being familiar with the camera, menus, controls, buttons, etc.  It feels great in my hand as did its predecessor. 

First, let me address the price.  In the past, I equated camera price strictly with sensor size.  The larger the sensor, the more I could justify the camera's cost.  Smaller sensor cameras should cost considerably less.  I now believe that is the wrong way to look at value for your money, not just in cameras but across the board.  I've proven over and over again that one can make excellent images, big enlargements, focus fast, track subjects, do all kinds of wonderful things, etc. with just about any size sensor.  Sensor size, to me, is no longer the most relevant component in a digital camera.  In fact, it is way down the list.  Sensors, in today's digital cameras, are more than adequate for 99% of our needs.  Again, I now think that basing value on sensor size is the wrong way to estimate a camera's value to its user.

Camera value, to me, is about the entire package, so to speak.  A camera is a tool.  It is a means to an end.  It is about what features in a particular camera bring capabilities to my photography that matter to me.  It is more about how a particular tool fits my overall needs.  In reference to digital cameras, it is about how it feels in my hand, how easily can I navigate the menu system, where the buttons and dials are placed and are those buttons and dials where my brain expects them to be.  It is also about what lenses are available that I need, how large and heavy the camera and lenses combined are.  Notice I didn't mention sensor size.  Full frame, APS-C and M4/3 all will produce outstanding images in today's cameras.

If you follow the "sensor size should dictate price" logic, then a pickup truck should cost more than a Porsche 911 S, a large Victorian home in Omaha, Nebraska should cost more than an oceanfront bungalow in Malibu.  After all, both are bigger.  But it doesn't work that way.  A mansion in Omaha isn't going to work for you if you want to surf daily.  Nor will a pickup truck handle well at the racetrack if your intent is to race your vehicle.  It is not just the sensor that is important, its the entire package and what value that package brings to your photography.

Since I am writing about Olympus here are some features the company includes in my E-M1 Mark II that I actually use:  Pro Capture, the best IBIS in the industry, High Resolution (tripod mounted) imaging, Live Composite, Live Time, the best weatherproofing in the industry, extremely fast focus, 15 fps for birds on the wing photography and some of the best lenses with the best build quality available all in a tight, compact package.  I could go on but you get my point.  All of those features bring value to me.  The sensor is just what brings them all together and if I'm happy with the images I can produce, then sensor size is just fine.  I don't believe one should use sensor size as the only gauge to determine value.

As for the 1.3, here are some of the things it brings to the table that I value or weren't available to me in the past:

—Olympus has improved 5-axis IBIS in the 1.3, which was already best in the industry.  They now claim 7.5 stops of image stabilization.  Is it now 7.5 stops?  I don't know but it is better than ever, in my opinion.

—Olympus has also improved the sensor Dust Removal function as well (already by far the best in the industry—I've actually never had had to clean a sensor in any of my Olympus cameras since I bought the E-M5 in 2012.  That simply is an amazing statement to make!)

—I think there is an improvement in image quality. I can't exactly put my finger on why I think that but it might be the new TruPic IX image processor and it might be that Olympus has also tweaked some of their algorithms between the introductions of the 1.2 and 1.3.  It also might be "new gear" syndrome where everything seems better, but believe I'm seeing some differences in dynamic range, a bit less noise and smoother tonal transitions.  

An analogy to this is that many pros swear that the Fujifilm X-H1 has better and a slightly different image quality than the X-T2 (or was it the X-T3?) even though both have the same sensor and image processor.  Fujifilm may have tweaked those as well in between models.

—Olympus added a joystick.  Not having a joystick on a new camera is a deal breaker for me.  It makes a big difference in moving my focus point around quickly and accurately.

—Olympus added a My Menu section to the menu system.  Another deal breaker for a future camera not to have this.  I can't describe the difference it makes to have all of your most used (and most looked for) settings at your fingertips and listed in the order you prefer.

—The new image processor is much more capable and faster.  It does almost what the two processors do in the E-M1X.

—Olympus added a handheld 50mp (optionally 25mp) RAW (or JPEG) high resolution mode (works very nicely) along with the 80mp (optionally 50mp or 25mp) tripod mode.  Again, RAW or JPEG.  I've used this and I think it adds significant value to the camera.  It only works because of Olympus' excellent lenses.  Lesser lenses wouldn't resolve these higher resolution files.  (The UK Fujifilm product manager said recently that their lenses can resolve up to 32mp.  What will they do after their cameras reach that pixel density?)  

What I find fascinating is how the 50mp handheld feature works.  The camera quickly makes 16 exposures, then composites them in-camera.  The camera is counting on very slight hand movements in between individual images.  You can output your images as RAW files as well.  Being that the camera composites 16 separate images, there is a noise reduction in the image file.  Olympus claims 2 stops difference.  In other words, if you are making the 50mp High Resolution image at ISO 1600, effectively the final image file will have the noise profile of an ISO 400 image file.  I've manually used this same basic technique, using Photoshop, using the "Mean" algorithm.  In effect what is happening is that anything that is not in all 16 images is removed, which includes random noise.  You can see an example of when I've used this technique to photograph a dark museum exhibit at ISO 6400 here.

Sixteen images are taken in very rapid succession, then composited in-camera to give you to a 50mp RAW file.  The algorithms count on very minor camera movement to capture slight differences.  Additionally, there is an approximately 2-stop noise reduction over a single image by compositing.

—Live ND (simulated neutral density filters to create blurring in moving objects such as water).  Yes it works and it is a nice feature to have at your fingertips.  There is a choice from a two stop to a five stop reduction in light.

—The EVF now refreshes at 120FPS.  Very little to no lag when panning or following a subject.

—18 frames per second using the electronic shutter, 15 using the mechanical shutter, both with AE and AF in between shots.  Birds on the wing, extremely fast action stopping ability. 

—That battery now gives you a few more frames due to Olympus increasing efficiencies, I suspect.

—Thirty-five frames can be buffered before fully pressing the shutter with Pro Capture mode.  I've used this feature quite a bit and it is really nice as I age and my reflexes slow.  I'm sure I'll use it even more in the future and for a wider variety of situations.

—Expanded focus stacking in-camera.

—Face and Eye tracking focus has been improved.  I noticed it right away.  Olympus improved the algorithm over the 1.2 even with the recent firmware upgrade for the 1.2.  

—Low light focus has been improved.  Olympus says to -6 EV when using an f/1.2 lens at ISO 100 in AF-S mode.  

—Custom AF targets—this is a very handy feature as I can now program in custom patterns of focus squares according to my subject.  I can set it anywhere between 1x1 yo 11x11 focus points.  I've already used this when out photographing raptors.  Additionally, I can now skip focus points to make patterns that spread out but have fewer points if necessary.  It can skip 1 row, 2 rows, etc.  See the third image below.  Here are some examples:

—Starry Sky AF.  I don't do much astrophotography but I'm no encouraged to do more.  I've never been a fan of focus-by-wire lenses with focus rings that never stop.  You just don't know when you are at infinity or the lens' closest focusing distance.  This feature puts you at infinity.

—In-camera battery charging.  Always appreciated.

—Improved shutter life—400,000 actuations.  That is a huge number!

—Lots of video upgrades but I have no interest so I haven't kept up with what it can do.

All in all, a nice upgrade that, I believe, is worthwhile to me.

My final word is that Olympus packed a boat load of upgrades and excellent features into a small,  lightweight, well designed and well engineered camera.  In my view, the 1.3 has enough upgrades and additions to make it worth my while to purchase it.  To me, it is worth the price as it allows me to create the images I desire to create.  I'v already used the 50mp handheld high resolution mode as well as the Live ND mode several times.  As I said, I have no plans to sell my Olympus gear.  It still is my "go-to" kit for "grabbing a camera and going out" as well as travel and bird/wildlife photography.  This camera future proofs my gear for the next several years.

If any of you have the 1.3 please leave a comment and tell us your experience so we all can benefit.

Join me over at my website, www.dennismook.com. 

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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