New Olympus OM-1

Yes, the new OM-1 digital m43 camera was announced this week. 20mp stacked BSI quad pixel sensor providing blackout free 50 fps with AF and AE. Camera is about the same size and weight as the EM-1 III and at $2,200, cost more. In addition, OM announce a new 12-40 f2.8 pro (with stepped up weather sealing and coating) and the 40-150 f4 Pro, weighing 13.5 oz and at around 4" long when stored.

 

The camera is certainly a significant upgrade from the EM-1 / EM1X but will not satisfy those wanting an pixel count upgrade. Hi ISO maximum is up by 2 stops but it remains to be seen how much better actual high ISO / DR will be. If one can wait until next week, the Panny GH6 is scheduled to be announced with a purported 25mp sensor. In 2 years I would be interested in an EM-5 sized camera with one of these new sensors.

 

I am very interested in the 40-150 f4 Pro given it's smaller than expected weight / size, and only a $900 list price out of the gate. About 1/2 the weight of my beloved Canon 70-200 F4L IS with 50% longer reach.

Not for me at that price but so is everything else. I will always remain an M4/3 fan, have two Panasonics and a new Oly might signal some price cutting elsewhere.

Looks great. I hope to be able to get one. The 40-150 f4 is very nice, but I have the f2.8 version and the 12-100mm f4, so don't think I need it. The trouble is m43 have so many good lenses with overlapping capabilities it is very hard to decide what is the best route. The new 12-40mm f2.8 they clearly made just to have something "new" to pair with the new camera available as a kit, even though I don't think it is significantly different from the older one.

The new 12-40mm f2.8 they clearly made just to have something "new" to pair with the new camera available as a kit, even though I don't think it is significantly different from the older one.

 

Unless there's something new in terms of technology/computational-side this new 12-40mm will allow with the OM1 that the original version won't. It's never just a case of optics and housing with M. Zuikos with all the technology built into them to work with the bodies. I'm assuming there's going to be something we wind up hearing about this lens as reviewers get final production units and OM1 bodies to review, that it either does better to some extent or that the original can't do at all. Whether or not it's all that important, that's another story.

Edited February 21, 2022 by Greg M

You may be right about the 12-40mm, but somehow I doubt it. Canon did the same with their EF 70-200mm 2.8 ver 3. The old 12-40 still has max Fps, focus bracketing etc with the OMD as per the new one, so I don’t see what is different. When in doubt always claim “new coating”. The new 12-40 is better water sealed though, so I guess that counts as an improvement. We shall see though if there’s anything else.

Some think the 12-40/2.8 ii was made to put the OMDS logo on the 12-40.

With the weather sealing as an upgrade feature.

 

I don't see anything in the mk2 lens to make me want it over my mk1 lens.

The original is also sealed, although mine is old enough now it should most likely be serviced and the seals replaced.