My Current OM-1/Olympus Kit; Versatility and Image Quality In A Small Package

My current full OM/Olympus kit.  From left to right: OM 20mm f/1.4 PRO lens, OM-1 with the OM
12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II lens attached, Olympus 12-100mm f/4 PRO lens, Olympus 8-25mm f/4 PRO lens, Olympus 100-400mm f/5-6.3 lens and the OM 40-150mm f/4 PRO lens.  This combination
of lenses was specifically chosen for their size, weight, image quality and to give me the versatility
of a variety of configurations depending upon my photographic intent for the day.  (click to enlarge)

Several months ago, after trying one, I purchased an OM Digital Systems (OMDS) OM-1 camera body and lens primarily for two reasons.  First, I wanted to test if the OM-1 and Olympus 100-400mm combination locked onto and captured birds-in-flight and wildlife better when compared to the Fujifilm X-H2S and Fujifilm 150-600mm lens.  I had used the Fujifilm kit several times over the past year and haven't yet decided if I am satisfied with my 'hit rate' when trying to capture wildlife, birds in general as well as birds-in-flight.  I had read and seen many videos and blog posts from OM-1 users touting how well it worked for birds so I thought I would try it.  

Second, sometime in the distant future, I hope to eventually downsize to potentially one camera/one lens and M4/3 is the system of choice for me when that time arrives.  

I have two road trips planned for December and January to photograph migrating waterfowl and a variety of wading and shore birds on Virginia's Eastern Shore as well as in the National Wildlife Refuges in northeastern North Carolina.  Those two outings should give me the information I need to make a decision as to which system I prefer.  Whichever works better for me, I plan to sell the other gear.

As  to how I ended up with this kit, since 2012, I had photographed extensively with the M4/3 system owning and using six different cameras from both Olympus and Panasonic.  I've made some of my best images with M4/3 cameras and lenses.  I loved the system but the last time I decided to reduce the amount of gear I own (a process through which I go through on occasion), the M4/3 gear was sold.  Mistake?  I'm now thinking kind of so.  We are so fortunate as photographers to have such high quality, extremely capable gear which also has a smaller than average footprint at our disposal.  In the past, when shooting film, you had to 'go big' to get better image quality.  No longer, thankfully.

After trying the OM-1 and 100-400mm lens, I liked the results I was getting so I bought the combination for more extensive testing.  I planned on only buying one other M4/3 lens, the 12-100mm f/4 PRO, as it is the best all around, versatile, sharp corner-to-corner, travel lens I've ever used and it would be my 'go-to' lens when eventually I decided to relegate myself to just one camera/one lens—in other words, when I'm really old!  So, my intention was not to fully buy into M4/3 again but that kind of just happened.  I'm not sure how, it just happened.

Well, the 'problem' I encountered was the more I used the OM-1 the more enamored I became with it.  I still think this camera is the 'best bang for the buck' available today for general photography.  As it goes, the more I used the OM-1, the more I wanted to use it and the more lenses I wanted to use with it.  I sensed danger!  GAS was creeping in!  I am especially enamored with the image quality I get from this camera.  In my judgment it is certainly a step up from the Olympus E-M1 Mark III I sold in 2022.  So the rationale I developed was that as time passes, gear prices rise and things will cost more in the future.  It better to buy now.  :-)  So I submitted to the GAS, sought out some good deals and made the purchases.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!  lol.

Coincidentally, it wasn't long after I started looking for an additional lens or two that OM held one of their sales on their factory refurbished gear.  The prices are excellent and the lenses I've bought from them in the past always appeared brand new.  I try to wait for OM/Olympus to hold one of those sales and buy from them.  I've done that repeatedly over the years and have never had a bad experience.  Additionally, I found some excellent and well priced used lenses, rebates and/or good sales on new gear so I picked up a lens or two here and there.  It is just too easy to find and buy stuff nowadays.  :-(

All of the lenses I purchased were strategically chosen to be a compact, complete and versatile kit as well as for size, weight, image quality and price.  Since I mostly photograph landscapes, nature, travel, Americana, etc., I rarely use an aperture faster than f/4.  If I didn't photograph wildlife and birds on occasion, I would have skipped the larger 100-400mm lens altogether.  Even that lens, to me, represents a compromise as it is smaller, lighter and less expensive than similar lenses offered by Fujifilm, Nikon, Canon and Sony.  It is not the best telephoto zoom on the market but it is the best lens for my purposes.  However, if I specialized in wildlife or bird photography, I would invest in a camera/lens combination from one of those companies at double or triple the cost.  But I practice it only occasionally and I wasn't willing to spend any more more than I have.

The photo at the top of the post is all of the M4/3 gear I own.  I don't envision a time when I would need to take all that is shown.  But this camera and the lenses I now own give me a nice variety of options when going out to photograph, depending on my intent.  

Below are additional photos and an explanation of when I would choose a particular combination of lenses and the reasons.

If I were going out to specifically make photographs and wanted to cover about any
situation I may encounter, including wildlife or birds, this is what I would take.  This lens combination covers 8mm to 400mm or, in 35mm terms, 16mm to 800mm, including a fast f/1.4 prime—might I say all in a very small, lightweight kit.  I purposely chose the smaller f/4 PRO lenses for their size and image quality, which is outstanding.  This, as well as spare batteries, an L-bracket, extra memory cards and a bunch of other accessories all fit in a relatively small Lowe Pro Flipside 300 AW II backpack.
(click to enlarge)

If I were to go out specifically to photograph but knew I would not need 800mm, in 35mm terms, for photographing wildlife or birds, this is what I would take. This variation of my kit covers
16mm through 300mm with a fast f/1.4 prime for low light situations.  (click to enlarge)

To pare down the gear to even a smaller but still versatile kit, these three lenses give me coverage
from 16mm to 200mm (in 35mm terms) and a fast semi-wide angle f/1.4 prime. This can
actually fit in a relatively small sling bag and be unobtrusive. (click to enlarge)

Want to go smaller and lighter but keep a nice, versatile focal range for travel?  With these two lenses
I can capture compositions from pretty wide angle (24mm equiv.) to medium telephoto
(200mm equiv.). This two lens kit allows me to capture those tight urban scenes, wide
angle landscapes as well as enough reach to capture subjects at a distance. If I needed to
photograph  in a museum or inside of a church when traveling, I'm covered with the 20mm f/1.4
lens.  The camera and both  lenses are normally carried in a Merrill 7L Sling bag as is the camera
and lens pictured below.  (click to enlarge)

This is my ultimate goal.  I'm almost 72 years old.  I've been photographing seriously since the spring
of 1971.  I've hauled gear all over the country for decades.  Well, I'm now reaching the point where
I just don't want to haul around so much.  When I feel its time to give up going out specifically to just
photograph or to travel just for photography, I still want a camera and a lens that I can just grab as I
go out the door in case I see something interesting I want to capture.  In other words, as I age and
(hopefully not) lose most of my interest in going out to photograph, I suspect I still will want
to carry some sort of camera and lens with me and I suspect this will be it.  For those of you who say, "But what about the camera in your phone?"  Well, they are getting better but the user experience of
making contemplative photographs with a phone is terrible, in my opinion.  I'll take a camera that
feels and acts like a camera and has all of the versatility of a camera any day.  I still believe the photographic experience is just as important as the photographs themselves. (click to enlarge)

I guess my point in writing this is that with one reliable camera and a handful of high quality small, lightweight but excellent lenses, you can cover just about anything you encounter without breaking the bank or your back.  Don't let your mind get stuck in the obsolete thinking that you have to go big and expensive to achieve excellent photographs.

(For those of you who may be wondering, no, I'm not neglecting or selling my Fujifilm gear or using this kit exclusively. My X-T5 is still may favorite camera!)

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

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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