“The right digital camera… for me.” That was the headline to my OM System OM-3 evaluate.
I am conscious that I is usually a bit hyperbolic at occasions, however that is as a result of I actually love taking footage and utilizing nice gear. So once I’m reviewing cameras and lenses, I am not evaluating them empirically and dispassionately like a scientist with a clipboard. And I am not testing them solely for the aim of telling different individuals whether or not they’re good or not.
What I am additionally doing is take a look at driving them for myself. As a result of I purchase quite a lot of cameras, and I am a jammy bastard in that I get to evaluate them for a residing. So each digital camera that lands on my desk is one thing I would doubtlessly buy. Which implies that I have a look at each one among them from the angle of, “Would I purchase this?”
So, the headline wasn’t simply hyperbole; after reviewing the OM-3, I used to be so impressed that I went out and spent my very own cash on one. As, actually, did quite a few different journalists who reviewed it – as a result of it truly is that good.
What makes the OM-3 the proper digital camera (for me)
The opposite day, a pal of mine requested me when and why I take advantage of the equipment that I take advantage of – taking into account that I juggle OM, Canon and Hasselblad cameras. My reply was that my OM equipment – and the OM-3 particularly – is probably the most agile and inventive digital camera that I personal.
Being nimble is essential in the way in which I shoot – each when it comes to bodily dimension and efficiency. To the primary level, I am a portrait photographer and I take advantage of primes 90% of the time. And as soon as I’ve bought the photographs on my shot listing, I begin to freestyle – which implies hot-swapping my 4 favourite primes (the M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8, 25mm f/1.8, 45mm f/1.8 and 75mm f/1.8).
I can actually have all 4 of those primes in my pockets, as a result of Micro 4 Thirds lenses are so small. I am unable to try this with RF lenses or Hasselblad lenses. I can whack them on and off the digital camera with out wanting, virtually one-handed, so I can go, “Proper, 90mm is not working – let’s attempt 50mm”).
Clearly these lenses all pair completely with the compact OM-3 (though it is giant for a Micro 4 Thirds digital camera, and I would not need one which was any greater). However the way in which they carry out on it’s simply easy as silk.
My favourite portrait digital camera was all the time the Olympus PEN-F, for one easy motive: the Inventive Dial. After I’m capturing spontaneously, I flick between the varied colour profiles and filters to get the look I need in-camera. However the PEN-F has a contrast-based autofocus system that, whereas completely usable, simply is not as quick because the algorithmic AF on trendy cameras.
So the OM-3 provides me all of the inventive juice of the PEN-F with the autofocus and efficiency and picture high quality of the flagship OM-1 Mark II, with which it shares the identical know-how. And it supercharges these little lenses, making them extra responsive than ever earlier than.
It additionally fits my wants extremely effectively for on a regular basis video once I do not wish to accept my smartphone – not least as a result of I can simply dial in a preset or profile if I am pushed for time.
After I have to shoot guns-blazing video for consumer work, I will go for my Canon EOS R5. However for a lot of the video I shoot day-to-day – TikTok nonsense, behind-the-scenes footage, one thing fast for a Story or Reel – the OM-3 takes nice video whether or not I am slumming it in 1080p or I need one thing 10-bit and 4K.
On prime of that, I can take the OM-3 out within the rain as a result of it is correctly IP53 licensed (not like the nondescript “climate sealing” on different cameras that I would not belief in 100 years), the battery life is nice and it is so handsome that it turns into a conversation-starter – I’ve already had a handful of individuals begin chatting to me as a result of they thought it was an analog digital camera.
So, $2,000 later, is that this nonetheless the proper digital camera for me? Completely. It doesn’t matter what I ask of this digital camera, it may well do it – whether or not it is decision (80MP Excessive Res Shot), shallow depth of subject (with my 75mm or f/0.95 lenses), wildlife (unbelievably correct topic detection) and even simply wanting fairly on my shelf. It was the most effective two grand I’ve ever spent on a digital camera.
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