I’m Now Thinkin’ That My Ideal Camera Would Be A Cross Between A Fujifilm X-T5 And an OMD/Olympus OM-1

I think when the best haptics, engineering, features and performance of the Fujifilm X-T5 and the OMDS
OM-1 are cobbled together, it would make just about perfect picture taking machine!

Indulge me in my exercise of fantasy, if you will?  This post is long but I think interesting.

After using more digital cameras (and film cameras for that matter) than I can remember and most recently using a Fujifilm X-T5 in combination with an OM Digital Systems OM-1, I have come to the conclusion that my ideal camera would be some of what’s in one combined with some of what’s in the other.  Both of these cameras are terrific tools and both have wonderful attributes.  Both make excellent images.  Neither, however, does everything better than the other and a camera with attributes from each would be perfect for me.

I think I'm going to call my new hybrid camera the "X-TOM-15!"  Or something silly like that.  Lol

In the past I’ve written that I thought my ideal camera is the Fujifilm X-T5.  You can read that here.  It still is my overall favorite digital camera but after using the OM-1 for a while, I've discovered it does some things better than the X-T5.  I’ve now modified that view a little as I think there are aspects of the OM-1 that work better for me than how they are presented or engineered in the X-T5.  Both are really good cameras but each has differences in how they are designed and engineered.  This is my attempt to explain what the differences are and why I would like a camera that is a combination of the two.

Disclaimer: I’m not a video guy.  I don’t care anything about video so none of my considerations address either cameras’ video capabilities.  If video is important to you, you're on your own in finding how they compare.

This list represents only my preferences.  I’m not saying what I prefer is right for anyone else and certainly isn’t the ‘right’ way to do things.  These are only my preferences based upon my likes, the way my brain works, my past experience and the types of photography I practice.

First, here are the camera attributes I considered with which camera I think has better implementation.  Below the list is a full explanation of why I chose each.  I certainly didn't consider every little thing but things that stand out to me when I'm out photographing.

 Camera Attribute                                                   X-T5                           OM-1

Body Size                                                                  X

Body shape                                                                                                    X

Camera Controls                                                       X

Customizability                                                                                             X

Custom Settings Banks                                                                                 X

Lens Controls                                                            X

Shutter Button Position                                                                                 X

Shutter Capabilities                                                   X

Electronic Viewfinder (EVF)                                                                        X

EVF Display                                                              X

LCD                                                                           X

LCD Display                                                             X

Sensor Size                                                                X

Sensor Type                                                                                                   X

Number of Pixels                                                      X

Image Shape                                                                                                  X

Color Science/film simulations                                 X

Image Modification parameters                                X

Menus                                                                                                            X

Autofocus System                                                                                         X

Autofocus Points                                                                                           X

In-Body-Image Stabilization (IBIS)                                                              X

Sequential Frame Rates                                                                                 X

Pre Shot/Pro Capture                                                                                     X

Auto Exposure Bracketing                                       X

Focus Stacking                                                                                              X

Focus Bracketing                                                     X

Live ND                                                                                                         X

Live View                                                                                                      X

Subject Detection Settings                                       X

Sensor Cleaning                                                                                            X

High Resolution Shot Mode                                                                         X

Lenses                                                                                                           X

Image Quality                                                          X                                  X

Here are more detailed explanations of why I made these personal choices.  Again, my rationale may not be yours and you may have different preferences, priorities, be at a different place in your photographic journey (I'm in year 52) and practice completely different kinds of photography than do I.  My selections are opinions and, as we know, opinions are neither right nor wrong, merely opinions.

 Body Size

The X-T5 is slightly smaller and lighter than the OM-1.  At this stage of my photographic journey, smaller is better.  As I age, I predict even smaller and fewer lenses than what I now use will be more desirable.

Body shape

I've written in the past that the body shape of the digital cameras which have a substantial grip is my preference.  The OM-1 feels good in my hand.  It just fits nicely.  The X-T5, good but not as good.  Yes, it has that old school shape that goes along with the old school controls, but that shape isn't quite as comfortable to use as the newer body styles.  This especially holds true the longer and heavier lenses that one may mount on the camera.

Camera Controls 

 I much prefer the camera controls, dials, buttons and rotating wheels, on the X-T5.  I like the old school aspect of them.  I shot film from 1971—2001 and those were the controls that I used.  They are intuitive for me.  Also, since going digital, I have always found I much prefer a dedicated exposure compensation dial as I use that extensively.  I find myself more and more shooting in manual mode but auto ISO.  Exposure compensation allows me to  quickly adjust what ISO the camera chooses so I can better fine tune my exposure.  The X-T5 gives me that control as a third dial, the OM-1 does not.  I wish they would.  The exposure compensation dial on the X-T5 is dedicated to that purpose.  The exposure compensation function on the OM-1 can change with as the shooting mode changes.  That is not ideal.  Also, I prefer the the implementation of the 'joystick' in the X-T5.  I find it easier to manipulate, especially if I only want to move the AF point only slightly.  The OM-1 'joystick' is wider and has less relief above the camera surface.  I find it harder to use.  One other small but important thing.  The X-T5 has the off/on switch located around the shutter button, which to me, is the best place to locate it.  Your finger is already there, just rotate the switch on or off.  Perfect.  The OM-1 has the off/on switch located on the left top plate of the camera.  I’ve never figured why Olympus placed it there except on the original film OM-1, it was located there.  Needs to change, IMO.

Customizability 

Unless you have used an OM-1 and have either watched numerous instructional videos showing all of the menu items, bought someone's book about the camera or have studied the user manual extensively, you have no idea as to how many options the OM-1 gives you for not only customizing the dials, controls, etc., but also completely customizing the shooting experience.  Almost every day I discover something new about the camera.  The X-T5 doesn't come close.  The OM engineers have thought about everything you may ever want to customize, it seems.

Custom Settings Banks 

Although the X-T5 has seven custom banks of settings and the OM-1 only four, they are less useful than the C1-C4 custom banks of settings in the OM-1.  The reason is the need to physically change the shutter speed, aperture, ISO dials and the AF/MF switch on the X-T5.  The OM-1's shutter speed, aperture, ISO controls and AF functions are all electronic and lend themselves to a more robust custom bank settings.  In other words, when setting custom settings, you can set many more parameters in the OM-1.  An analogy would be the X-H2 versus the X-T5.  Because of the electronic nature of the controls, you can set many more custom parameters in the X-H2 than the X-T5.  This, of course, is the downside of having those old-school rotary dials that I love.  Trade-offs.

Lens Controls       

 I much prefer the aperture ring on the lens rather than on a dial on the camera.  This goes back to decades of shooting film and all of the lenses having aperture rings.  I find it much easier to look down and see my aperture before I turn on the camera and much easier to change apertures since my left hand is already positioned around the aperture ring as it supports the camera/lens when shooting.

Shutter Button Position

 A forward positioned shutter button, for me, is much more comfortable.  It is where my index finger naturally finds it.  I have slightly rotate my hand backwards for my index finger to find and use the shutter button on the X-T5.  If you have noticed, Fujifilm with each X-T generation, is slowly enlarging the grip and moving the button ever so slightly forward.  Just not enough yet, for my liking.

Shutter Capabilities      

 The X-T5 has many more shutter options and higher shutter speeds available.  That is my preference.  The X-T5 gives you several choices of mechanical and electronic shutter and automated switching between the two which I find is very convenient.

Electronic Viewfinder (EVF)               

 The OM-1 has a 5.76mp EVF.  The X-T5 has a 3.69mp EVF.  In practical use the differences are minor but I seem to be able to see deeper into the shadows and see more subtle highlights using the higher resolution EVF in the OM-1.

EVF Display

Hands down, the X-T5.  Why OM would put the histogram in the upper left corner of the display baffles me.  When there is a bright sky, you can't see it as it blends in with the white sky.  Also, the newly engineered horizontal and vertical indicators for horizon and level in the OM-1 don't work well for me.  Too difficult to use.  I wish they would go back to the ones they provided in the E-M1 series of cameras.

LCD     

I'm not a video guy.  There is no reason I need to flip an LCD around so I can see myself in front of the camera.  Also, when using an L-bracket, the fully articulated LCD screen of the OM-1 is rendered partially useless especially when the camera is situated on a tripod in a vertical position.  The three-way tilting screen in the X-T5 is perfect.  It tilts up, down, and on the left side, away from the camera.  I I need to shoot horizontally high, I tilt the LCD down.  If I need to shoot horizontally low, I tilt the LCD up.  If I need to shoot a vertical way above my head, I can hold the camera up with my right hand and I can see the tilted screen just fine.  It tilts down toward me.  If I need to shoot a low vertical, I can hold the camera down with my right hand and the screen tilts up toward me for visibility.  It works perfectly for me.  Another reason I don't like the fully articulated screen is that it is off-axis when you are using it to carefully line up a composition.  That doesn't work well with my brain.  The 3-way tilting screen stays directly in line with the lens axis and I find using it to precisely compose much easier.

LCD Display

 I just like how the Fujifilm display is laid out.  This is not much of big deal, only what works better when I'm trying to look at something.  Both can give you a clean shooting display with nothing showing in the LCD, which I think is important.

Sensor Size

 Physics says the bigger the sensor the better or should I more accurately say the larger the pixels the better.  Although the differences in the current generation of digital cameras is slight to none, I will always take bigger if I have the choice.  The APS-C size sensor, on the surface, would seem a better choice.  As I've written before, the sensors in these two cameras give me everything I want and need in my photographs and full frame won't make my photographs nor my photography experience any better.       

Sensor Type          

 This may be heresy for fellow Fujifilm users, but I prefer a Bayer Array sensor.  There are just too many workarounds that have to be done using the X-Trans sensor.  I really don't see much of an advantage to it any longer (there might have been initially when dealing with moiré, but that was when sensors had much less resolution than now).  I don't suspect Fujifilm will change as they have an entire line of cameras invested in the the X-Trans sensor system.  As an aside, they did choose a Bayer sensor for their GFX medium format line.  Hmmm.  I wonder why?

Number of Pixels

 I like the 40.2mp sensor of the X-T5.  Although the OM-1's 20.2mp sensor, in reality, has enough resolution for 99% of what I do, I like the extra pixels.  An analogy would be having a spare tire in your vehicle.  I may never need it but it brings peace of mind in case I do.  Interestingly enough, the pixels in the OM-1 are actually larger (3.3µm) than those in the X-T5 (3.04µm).  However, we know pixel size alone isn't the final word.  You have to consider the algorithms in the image processor as well when judging image files.

Image Shape

I actually have come to prefer the 4:3 ratio over the 3:2 ratio of 35mm.  That is especially true for vertical images.  I think the 3:2 vertical image is 'too long.'  It doesn't look right to me.  I always crop mine to 4:3 or 4:5 ration.  The 4:3 ratio is more pleasing to my eye.

Color Science/Film Simulations

 I do love the film simulations in the X-T5.  The OM-1 gives you limited control over color science and I find their greens and yellow too saturated.  I always seem to have to turn down the saturation of green foliage and yellowish grasses in my images.  With the X-T5, I have almost unlimited options when it comes to how I want my images to look.

Image Modification Parameters      

 The X-T5 wins this easily.  The ability to add clarity, modify the shadows and highlights, add Color Chrome effects, grain effects as well as the other extensive controls is a nice advantage when 'designing' my final image parameters.

Menus

 In the past, the Olympus menus were cumbersome, to say the least.  You had to spend a considerable time and effort 'learning' them to easily and efficiently use them.  Well, they have modified their entire menu system, color coded each major category, added controls to quickly jump from category to category and provided five pages of "My Menu."  The best thing OM did with the menu system is to provide you with pop-up text telling you why you cannot invoke a particular feature.  You no longer have to stand there and try to figure out why you can't turn on a certain feature.  Typically you have to turn off or change another setting and they now tell you what that is.  The X-T5 menu is pretty good, but I now think the OM menu is better.  If I remember, the menu in the X-T1 was in color.  Fujifilm dropped that so now they all look alike in black and white.  

Autofocus System

 The Olympus/OM autofocus system has always been, hands-down, better than Fujifilm's.  In my experience it has always been faster and more accurate.  Fujifilm, for whatever reasons, just seems to be a generation behind everyone else when it comes to autofocus.  Autofocus abilities seems to be the one consistent aspect of Fujifilm cameras that comes up as comments from YouTube videos and blogs.  As I've written in the past, Fujifilm had some serious issues with AF accuracy and consistency.  I don't have those issues in my X-T5 or X-H2S, but nagging in the back of my mind is doubt.  Always a bit of doubt and a habit of double checking my focus when using the X-T5.  "Trust, but verify," as a past POTUS once stated.

Autofocus Points

The OM-1 has 1053 AF cross-type AF points whereas the X-T5 has 425.  I'll take more over less.  Additionally, OM gives me 4 programmable custom focus point/patterns that I can make any square or rectangular size I desire.  I can make them skinny and horizontal (think photographing snakes! lol), tall and thin or any combination of horizontal and vertical focus points that work for me.  This is in addition to the small, medium, cross-type, large and full focus patterns that are pre-programmed.

In-Body-Image Stabilization (IBIS)

Although other companies are getting much better, I still believe the OM-1 has the best IBIS on the market, especially when used with lens IS that is fully integrated and coupled to the camera's IBIS—called Sync-IS.  Disregarding other companies, I feel the OM-1 has better IBIS than does my X-T5.  However, the XT5 is close.  One other thing.  The OM-1 gives me four different choices of types of IBIS from Auto to Horizontal Only to Vertical Only, etc. but the X-T5 only has off/on.

Sequential Frame Rates 

The OM-1 has much more flexibility and options when it comes to shooting at high frame rates.  No 1.29X cropping as in the X-T5 when wanting to shoot at very high speeds.  I can shoot up to 50fps and have AF and exposure calculated between each shot.    

Pre Shot/Pro Capture

 The OM-1 gives you much more control over Pre Shot/Pro Capture capabilities.  With the X-T5 it is either on or off.   With the OM you can choose the number of images before fully pressing the shutter button and then limit the number after if desired.  Also, I can shoot up to and including 120fps.

Auto Exposure Bracketing

The X-T5 has more useful autoexposure bracketing controls whereas the OM-1 is limiting in my opinion.  Much of the time, I want to bracket only from normal and overexposed (2 frames, 3 stops apart) or from normal and underexposed (2 frame, 3 stops apart).  With the OM-1 I have to bracket underexposed/normal/overexposed only.  Three frames minimum.  Many times I don't need three frames.

Focus Stacking

 The OM-1 provides for in-camera automated focus stacking.  Yes, it is a JPEG image, but the convenience to handhold the camera and have a finished focus stacked image is a really nice feature.  Just for the record, I find the JPEGs in the OM-1 terrific.  Expose your images correctly and they can easily substitute for a raw file.  Very useable 90% of the time.  Focus Stacking is slightly different from focus bracketing, which I'll address below.

Focus Bracketing

 The X-T5 provides for automated Focus Bracketing.  I can focus on the closest object I want in focus, press the 'Okay' button, then focus on the farthest object I want in focus then press the 'Display/Back' button, and then the camera calculates how many exposures are needed and how much focus change (distance differential) between exposures is necessary.  I still have to merge them in Photoshop or another program, however.

Live ND                   

The X-T5 doesn't offer an electronic, built-in neutral density type feature so the OM-1 is my selection here.  I find it a very useful feature instead of having to carry multiple ND filters.  Works well in my tests.  Kind of amazing!

Live View

The OM-1 allows, in dark situations where longer shutter speeds are necessary, to watch the exposure go from black on the LCD, watch it brighten as light is gathered and then end it when the exposure is right.  There is no need to keep taking test exposures for proper exposure.  I can see on the LCD that the exposure is right.  It is very cool to watch the LCD go from black to showing you a correctly exposed image.  Nice.

Subject Detection Settings

The X-T5 give greater control over subject detection, lock-on and AF tracking settings.  The OM-1 has minimal settings, -2/-1/0/+1,+2 (for stickiness on the subject), where the X-T5 has settings for Tracking Sensitivity, Speed Tracking Sensitivity and Zone Area Switching as well as five preset factory tested settings for various types of subjects and conditions.  That said, I have found that the OM-1 gives me a slightly higher 'hit rate' when tracking birds.  So there's that.

Sensor Cleaning

 I've had Olympus/OM cameras almost continuously since 2012.  I've never had to clean the sensor.  'Nuf said.

High Resolution Shot Mode/Pixel Shift

The OM-1 is the winner here.  I have experimented extensively with the OM's 50mp handheld high resolution mode as well as the 80mp tripod mounted high resolution mode.  The resulting images are excellent.  Two things that people sometimes miss are that the high resolution images benefit from a multi-stop noise reduction (from the combining several images as happens also when you do it in Photoshop) as well as a bump in dynamic range.  I find this feature a bit more versatile than we are led to believe by the reviewers.  Even the JPEGs are excellent.  Even better, the several individual exposures are combined in-camera!  You don't have to use a separate piece of software to combine them as you do with the Fujifilm high resolution shot mode (Pixel Shift).  Also, in my experiments with my X-T5, I found fatal flaws in the final images.  A crosshatch type of artifact could be seen in all of my 160mp images.  I believe the crosshatch pattern is created in the Fujifilm Pixel Shift Combiner software.  I will add, it may have been fixed in later updates of that software than when I ran my tests.  I haven't gone back to check.  I guess I should.

Lenses

I want to include lenses as lenses are just important to a photographic system as are cameras.  I think the Olympus/OM lenses are, as a general statement, better and provide a larger variety than the Fujifilm lenses.  That doesn't include the Panasonic or all of the other third party lenses available.  Over 300, by my recollection.  I have never used an Olympus or OM lens that hasn't been pin sharp.  They focus fast and accurately, are smaller, lighter weight, have faster apertures (for the most part) and provide excellent image quality.  Also, Olympus/OM gives me a lens such as the 12-100mm f/4 PRO lens.  That is the equivalent field of view of a 24-200mm full frame lens.  It is excellent at all focal lengths, edge to edge, corner to corner and from wide open until f/11 where you can just start to see a tiny bit of softening from diffraction.  It is the best all-around and travel lens I've ever used.  That lens is pretty much 'glued' to the OM-1.

I'm not saying the Fujifilm lenses are not excellent, they are.  My 16-55mm f/2.8 lens is my workhorse.  My 150-600mm super telephoto zoom is first class.  The 70-300mm f/4-5.6 is sharp as a tack.  However, my 10-24mm f/4 lens is good but not as good as the Olympus 8-25mm f/4 PRO lens.  

As for primes, you really can't beat the f/1.2 Olympus primes if you want to spend that kind of money for them.  However, the newest Fujifilm primes are excellent.  

All of this said, there still are questions as to how many of the Fujifilm lenses really can resolve all 40.2mp in the X-T5 and X-H2?  Originally, according to UK Fujifilm Marketing Manager Andreas Georghiades, the Fujifilm lenses were designed to resolve a maximum 33mp.  Newer lenses were designed with more pixels in mind for the future.  Some of those original lenses have now been also recommended to be used on the 40.2mp cameras with the phrase, "...to get the maximum benefit...".  That, to me, still doesn't say they can resolve 40.2mp.  Just sayin'.  There is no doubt the Olympus/Om lenses can resolve all 20.2mp.

Image Quality 

Finally, I want to mention image quality.  Even though the X-T5 has a larger sensor and more pixels, I find that in general everyday photography I can't tell any difference between the images I make with the two cameras.  They both have excellent dynamic range and their noise profiles are quite similar.  In my opinion for the kinds of photography I do, one doesn't reign over the other.  It's a tie.  If you micro4/3 doubters question that, you really need to rent an OM-1 and a lens and see for yourself.  You will be amazed at how good the image quality is with this camera.

Wrap Up

I haven't considered all the differences/attributes but I count 34.  I prefer 15 of them in the X-T5 and 20 in the OM-1, a pretty even split.  But which of these attributes are more  important than others?  That depends upon what I am photographing and which camera will better serve that individual purpose.  

In the end, for just going out and generally wandering with no specific photographic task in mind, I still prefer the haptics and controls of the X-T5.  That camera just feels better in my hand.  However, in the future, if I ever decide to scale down my photography, sell most of my kit, no longer go out specifically to photograph but just carry a camera, the OM-1 and the 12-100mm lens will be what I grab and go.  That is strictly because of the lens.  Amazing lens.  Amazing combination.  I wish Fujifilm would make a very high quality 16-135mm f/4 lens as that would be a perfect one lens to carry.  Oh well.

Well, there you have it, a cobbling together the best attributes, as I see them, of both cameras for a better combination of haptics, features, controls, menus, camera systems and lenses.  If I could create what I've written it would make the ideal camera for what I do.  Your mileage may vary and you may have different priorities.  

If you have questions or discover I’ve made an error, please let me know.  Is there a camera or combination of cameras that you feel would make an ideal camera for you?  Do you disagree with my choices?  I'm sure many of us would like to hear from you.

Oh!  Thanks for sticking with me through this very long post!  I appreciate your interest.

 Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

 Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

 Dennis A. Mook  

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