The Olympus OM-1 goes full frame OM

[ArashM]

I find the timing for this article pretty funny, 

I was recently re-working a few files from my old E-m1x and was reminded of how much I liked the look and feel of them, Yes they are technically inferior to the current generation but there is something about them.

So just picked up an OM system brand Olympus OM1 and 12-40 this past weekend..... waiting for them to arrive from Japan!

[MrSMW]

I had one for a while and whilst I didn’t much care for the video compared with my full-frame Lumix at the time (S1H), I did like the stills files, but most of all, the form factor; the weight, ergos, build and sheer ‘rightness in the hand’ of the thing.

Also the lenses, both the fast primes and the zooms.

If I was ever going to do 4/3rds, it would be the OM-1 without having to think about it.

[Andrew - EOSHD]

9 hours ago, ArashM said:

I was recently re-working a few files from my old E-m1x and was reminded of how much I liked the look and feel of them, Yes they are technically inferior to the current generation but there is something about them.

So just picked up an OM system brand Olympus OM1 and 12-40 this past weekend..... waiting for them to arrive from Japan!

I may do a comparison on the blog about the E-M1X and OM1.

The E-M1X is... different.

[Snowfun]

The original Olympus OM3 was one of the finest cameras I ever owned. Didn’t need a battery except for the meter (if I recall correctly). Even seeing “OM” brings back memories of long gone days… ironically given the debates about MFT, FF s16 etc, I sold it to get a Bronica MF. 
Anyway, sorry, totally irrelevant to the post.

[fuzzynormal]

Oly cameras are charming.  I have had plenty come and go.  I don't like NOT having at least one.  Currently own a EM10iii.  The intangibles just make them "funner" to use.

[FHDcrew]

On 12/17/2025 at 2:48 AM, Andrew - EOSHD said:

I may do a comparison on the blog about the E-M1X and OM1.

The E-M1X is... different.

The EM1X seems like such an underrated beast. Does the image hold up well in 8 bit?  I’m sure the IBIS performance is legendary. 
 

@Andrew - EOSHDdo you think the EM1X IBIS outdoes the Gh7?  Or at least is comparable?

[Andrew - EOSHD]

I don't have a GH7, but I remember it being better than the GH6.

[FHDcrew]

Interesting; I'm tempted to pick one up.  "Side-grading" from my Nikon Z6.  I gain insane IBIS.  I already own an Atomos Ninja V...could throw it on for prores raw when I truly need the color depth.  Sigma 18-35 w/speedbooster would bridge the lowlight gap a fair bit.  Camera seems like a joy to shoot with.  I take it it is super comfortable in the hand too.

[FHDcrew]

@Andrew - EOSHDhows the EM1X 8 bit hold up for grading?

[FHDcrew]

Well I just ordered an EM1X, sigma 18-35 and speedbooster off of MPB. Trading in my Nikon Z6 setup so I am almost breaking even. Will update the group on my thoughts on the camera. Seems like a beast. 

[FHDcrew]

Cancelled my EM1X order. I was definitely interested, but turns out Viltrox speed boosters don’t work in video AF on Olympus bodies 😕

 

I am contemplating a G9 II instead or simply holding out with my Nikon Z6 for a while more. 
 

End tangent. I don’t wanna derail this thread haha. 

[FHDcrew]

Has anyone had success with the Viltrox EFM2 and an Olympus PDAF body in video?

 

I may still order the EM1X. I want to get the sigma 18-35 and speedbooster. But if AF doesn’t work I’ll need to get the Olympus 12-40mm 2.8 instead. 

[ac6000cw]

On 12/24/2025 at 12:27 AM, FHDcrew said:

Has anyone had success with the Viltrox EFM2 and an Olympus PDAF body in video?

 

I may still order the EM1X. I want to get the sigma 18-35 and speedbooster. But if AF doesn’t work I’ll need to get the Olympus 12-40mm 2.8 instead. 

I currently own an E-M1 iii and OM-1 (mk1). I'd just get a used OM-1 and the 12-40mm F2.8. It's just a great combo for handheld video. If you want even better stabilization, use the 12-100mm F4 instead as that supports Sync-IS (Oly/OM equivalent of Dual-IS), but it has the downside of extra size and weight.

Having recently acquired a Pana S9 I still think Oly/OM has the best stabilization - it's almost uncannily good sometimes - but the S9 runs it pretty close most of the time. Main difference for me is that the S9 needs more decisions about which stabilization modes to use in a particular situation, whereas with the OM-1 + 12-40mm I usually enable sensor + e-stabilization (M-IS 1) to minimise corner-warping and set the stabilization level to +1 and let it work out the rest for itself. With the 12-100mm the Sync-IS means sensor-shift only stabilization (M-IS 2) is much more usable at the wide end and stabilization level 0 is usually enough (which is more flowing/less sticky).

[FHDcrew]

3 hours ago, ac6000cw said:

I currently own an E-M1 iii and OM-1 (mk1). I'd just get a used OM-1 and the 12-40mm F2.8. It's just a great combo for handheld video. If you want even better stabilization, use the 12-100mm F4 instead as that supports Sync-IS (Oly/OM equivalent of Dual-IS), but it has the downside of extra size and weight.

Having recently acquired a Pana S9 I still think Oly/OM has the best stabilization - it's almost uncannily good sometimes - but the S9 runs it pretty close most of the time. Main difference for me is that the S9 needs more decisions about which stabilization modes to use in a particular situation, whereas with the OM-1 + 12-40mm I usually enable sensor + e-stabilization (M-IS 1) to minimise corner-warping and set the stabilization level to +1 and let it work out the rest for itself. With the 12-100mm the Sync-IS means sensor-shift only stabilization (M-IS 2) is much more usable at the wide end and stabilization level 0 is usually enough (which is more flowing/less sticky).

Maybe will do that. Seems like a fairly affordable setup, the OM1 plus 12-40mm. I keep going back and forth with cameras at a rapid pace haha. May be best to rent tbh just to figure out what I really want. 

[MrSMW]

1 hour ago, FHDcrew said:

OM1 plus 12-40mm

It’s a great combo 👍

[FHDcrew]

Question for you guys.  OM1 with 12-40 IBIS performance vs Panasonic S9 with e stabilization on high. What is better?

[Strangways]

In the article,

"The OM-1 appears to automatically detect the focal length of adapted manual focus vintage lenses. It doesn’t have the usual entry in the menus to add a focal length for a non-CPU lens like on Panasonic, Sony or Nikon cameras. At least I haven’t found it."

It does not automatically detect the focal length, and if it is set to compensate for a much longer focal length than what you have mounted, it will actively blur your images/footage, rather than stabilize them. There are a couple of ways to set the focal length, either quickly from the IS settings, or by creating a lens profile and switching to it, so that the name and maximum aperture of the lens you are using will be added to the EXIF data.

"The gain in aperture is significant too, an F1.2 lens turns into an F0.76."

As per the Metabones website, "with a maximum output aperture of f/0.80 when an f/1.2 lens is used."

https://www.metabones.com/products/details/mb_spef-m43-bt3

[ac6000cw]

3 hours ago, FHDcrew said:

Question for you guys.  OM1 with 12-40 IBIS performance vs Panasonic S9 with e stabilization on high. What is better?

It's hard to say which one is better - they are both excellent but behave differently. I think the OM1 is better at working out what you a doing e.g. are you panning (when it lets the stabilization 'flow') or stationary (when it tries to hold it static). The amount of crop the OM1 adds in e-stabilization is less than the S9 adds in 'high' e-stabilization mode, but the probably S9 degrades the image less in that situation.

Really, the big difference between the two cameras (ignoring the lack of EVF and mechanical shutter plus the limited physical controls on the S9) is that the OM1 is maybe 80% stills and 20% video orientated, where the S9 is more like 60% video and 40% stills. The OM1 is very well built, feels great in the hand, is fully weather-sealed etc. but you'll curse it's video limitations at some point. For example, to get the sharpest video you need to use 10-bit mode, but that is *only* available as 4:2:0 HEVC in either HLG or OMLog400, and you can't adjust anything in those modes. The 8-bit modes are basically the same as the E-M1 iii, but the output looks a bit cleaner. There is no way to save custom sets of video settings - the custom sets only work for stills, but at least most settings are kept separate between stills and video modes, including button and control wheel customizations.

 

[MrSMW]

I’d prefer the OM-1 for stills and the S9 for video but the OM-1 is a vastly better built bit of kit.

[FHDcrew]

Decided to get the best of both worlds and splurge for a used Panasonic G9II. A cheap gh7. Got the gold build quality and ergonomics and decent high ISO performance and great IBIS etc etc etc. Just makes so much sense for me as an a cam.