OM-3 Assessment : Consumer Expertise + Inventive Prospects
Properly, hi there there OM-3. Simply introduced by OM SYSTEM, this new digicam is a sport changer for creatives and I’m going to share my latest expertise working with it to {photograph} landscapes and lupins in New Zealand. There are pattern photos plus a complete bunch of behind-the-scenes visuals to point out you what the artwork instruments and digicam features appear to be.
In case you get pleasure from experimenting, taking part in with color, seeing the world with a artistic eye and producing photos with a constant tone, you’ll wish to preserve studying. There’s a lot inside this compact (and cute) digicam!
Only a fast be aware, I’m an OM SYSTEM ambassador, nonetheless that is an expertise and person overview. I knew there can be loads of deal with the technical specs in different opinions of the OM-3, in order you’ll see all through the phrases under, I’ve taken the artistic method, sharing what I discovered progressive and enjoyable to include as I photographed.
In December I took a secret squirrel journey with the OM-3 to New Zealand. On social media I discussed it was my solo/self-employed Christmas social gathering (which was additionally the case), nonetheless, I needed to take the chance to make use of the OM-3 someplace I felt impressed to create. Someplace I knew I might stare at mountains, alpine lakes and wander within the vibrant fields to discover the digicam and all that it provides creatively.
After I came upon the OM-3 had a color wheel and progressive choices to manage and contort color palettes, I couldn’t get the visible of pink and purple lupin fields out of my thoughts. Positive, it was lupin season and my Instagram feed was stuffed with the colourful shores of Lake Tekapo, nevertheless it felt like the perfect topic that might enable me to immerse myself in nature and use the digicam to its full potential.
First Impressions of the OM-3
Whereas I’ve been taking pictures with Olympus/OM SYSTEM since 2017 and have used numerous digicam fashions on this time, I’ve by no means truly used the PEN-F, so upon opening the field and seeing the retro look of the OM-3, thought it was the cutest digicam I’ve ever seen. Now, you’re doubtless not right here for that groundbreaking perception that it’s cute, however after all, one speedy distinction is the return of the ART dial, with the Mono| Color | ART | CRT choices.
As somebody who isn’t significantly technical, this dial was so intriguing, and I knew it will doubtless improve how I method taking pictures. The very first thing I did was cost the digicam, pop a reminiscence card in and begin urgent buttons, I needed to see all the chances inside!
Exploring the menu I used to be blissful to see loads of the features I exploit for panorama pictures can be found, with the Dwell ND and GND filters there, plus the Excessive-Res Mode, enabling 50 megapixels when taking pictures handheld. These are all necessities for the kind of pictures I do, and I like that it now provides the possibility to mix these with the artistic color profiling.
The Tech Specs of the OM-3
The OM-3 is a little bit magnificence, mixing artistic instruments with progressive features, and as famous above options many devices and goodies inside that exist within the OM-1 and OM-1 MKII. In case you’ve been studying The Wandering Lens or following my work for some time, you’ll know I’m much less concerning the technical specs and extra concerning the artistic prospects. I can reply something that you must know concerning the artistic course of and your method, however ask me a tech query on the spot and I’ll doubtless want a second to suppose it by means of – however that’s the fantastic thing about pictures and artwork, all of us work in another way and our method is exclusive! Anyway, that was simply to say, I’ll be aware the spectacular tech specs of the OM-3 under after which proceed on with my person expertise under.
- 20.4MP Decision
- TruePic™ X Processor
- 4K 60fps Video – With an ‘S&Q’ possibility on the dial for fast entry to Sluggish + Fast recording instances…so helpful!
- Inventive dial with the Color, Artwork + Mono Profiles
- ISO as much as 102400
- Inner Stabilisation – Up 7.5 stops EV with Sync IS lenses and 6.5 stops EV internally.
- OM-3 delivers unbelievable speeds, with 120 fps sequential taking pictures in S-AF mode
- IP53 Climate sealing
- Splashproof | Freezeproof | Dustproof
- Tremendous Sonic Wave Filter to guard the inner components
- Computational Pictures button
- Dwell ND | GND | Excessive-Res Mode making it potential to shoot both 80MP with a tripod or 50MP handheld
You’ll discover the complete listing of particulars accessible on the OM SYSTEM web site right here.
Color Palettes + Inventive Prospects
By turning the dial to entry the Color modes, you’re introduced with 4 preset choices that may then be tweaked. What I discover so extremely progressive is that it’s all occurring stay, precisely just like the Dwell ND means that you can see the motion flowing by means of the body, colors are adjusted in real-time so you possibly can see the impression instantly earlier than urgent the shutter.
As an perception into my workflow, sometimes I’ll shoot with a hotter, brighter tone after which make minor changes in submit processing on Adobe Photoshop. I get pleasure from producing heat pastels, someday on the extra vibrant facet, however by no means too darkish or contrasted, I like working with softer palettes. One of many first issues I needed to trial was whether or not or not I might produce an final result much like what I sometimes edit, throughout the digicam itself. An instance under of golden hour with the lupins…zero enhancing on these photos, solely the changes in digicam, the left facet is utilizing the softer extra muted profile, the best is the extra vibrant, heat tones.
These are some screenshots taken at dwelling whereas specializing in a print to focus on the options…there have been no icebergs or boats with crimson sails in Lake Pukaki that day 🙂
Only a fast be aware – The OM-3 additionally has common modes like aperture, handbook, auto and unbelievable video capabilities. You possibly can choose to make use of the color and artwork options, or not. I needed to notice this incase I bought overexcited concerning the color profiles and it got here off as the one chance, it does all of it AND has the bonus artistic instruments 🙂
Under you’ll see some examples of the varied color prospects. Entry to color changes are by way of the color wheel and tone curve, plus you possibly can improve or lower distinction, sharpness and shading.
Whereas I get pleasure from taking pictures vibrant scenes, taking part in with the Monochrome profiles produced some attractive outcomes. I’ve at all times beloved the black and white artwork filters within the different fashions, and these are a set of 4 fantastically crafted outcomes that allow a film-like tone, softer tone, and traditional monochrome. The darker ‘MONO 2’ profile is my favorite, significantly when paired with an alpine panorama, or rugged textures, even once I was taking pictures contained in the automobile utilizing the mirrors, the end result had such depth.
Utilizing the OM-3 Within the Area
To make sure quicker transition between the color profiles whereas I used to be out exploring, I opted to set the 5 x customized positions within the mode dial with 5 color profiles, C1-C5. I additionally needed to make use of these as clear examples of the range that may be achieved in just some clicks. These are the 5 profiles I set.
- C1 Customised to match the mushy, heat tones within the fashion I sometimes produce with post-processing.
- C2 The Color 2 Profile (preset)
- C3 A profile with barely muted saturation and vibrancy
- C4 Sturdy, vibrant tones to experiment on the depth of color accessible
- C5 Cooler tones with an final result that felt like movie.
To create these I firstly photographed just a few scenes to evaluate how the filters, tone curve and numerous artistic controls labored. When enhancing, the tone curve is definitely the device I exploit most, it’s turn out to be a behavior to tweak this and produce the brightness, or total changes utilizing RGB channels. It felt so thrilling to see the color changes accessible by merely taking part in round in actual time with the scene earlier than me.
I frolicked at Kea Level lookout which is considered one of my favorite viewpoints of Aoraki/Mount Cook dinner, someplace I knew would have entry to open sky and an attention-grabbing foreground and panorama to work with. One factor I didn’t count on was a bluebird day with virtually no element within the sky. Plus, it was about 28 levels and I used to be roasting as soon as I reached the highest, offering a superb purpose to sit down and experiment with the GND filter and color settings.
For sundown, I needed to see if the nice and cozy tones can be potential with none further enhancing. Fortunately, the climate caught round with clear skies and golden tones. Ducking out to shoot the lupins at Lake Pukaki, I rapidly realised the temperature had dropped considerably, which was additionally because of the truth I made a decision to have a swim within the chilly lake, so was nonetheless in my swimmers because the gusty winds hit. Brrr.
All that to say, the wind pressured me into my rent automobile earlier than sundown hit; this supplied the possibility to get a little bit arty and use the windscreen and rear-vision mirror as my topics to assist body the panorama creatively. These photos labored very well with the cooler tones and mono profiles.
Photographing Lupins in New Zealand
Color has at all times been such an enormous a part of my work, so to see the outcomes occurring as I adjusted the artistic instruments was such an surprising supply of motivation. When photographing I’m at all times placing myself in odd positions attempting to scout frames throughout the scene by means of branches, timber, throughout water and many others. I’ve to say the alternatives had been flowing as a result of it felt interactive, each adjustment was an encouragement to hunt new angles or incorporate the colors throughout the body with a unique method.
You’ll discover loads of the pictures I captured are shot with a large aperture, and that is how I like to {photograph}, boosting the bokeh by integrating foreground topics. Nonetheless, with the customized color profiles, it felt like I might mess around with the outcomes, getting near the pink and purple lupins then transfer round to see how the splash of color labored greatest throughout the composition.
Closing Notes on the OM-3
In case you’re available in the market for a digicam that does every thing, and supplies the possibility to get artistic and actively concerned within the final result of every picture, this could completely be thought-about and should you’ve bought any questions in any respect, you’re welcome to go away a remark or DM by way of Instagram @the_wanderinglens.
The OM-3 isn’t just for nature and out of doors pictures, it’s truly a really perfect digicam for metropolis wanders and concrete environments, suited to purses and digicam backpacks alike. I believe the artwork filters and color choices would work fantastically should you’re concerned about portrait pictures too!
Being able to customize color palettes while nonetheless getting access to the progressive Dwell ND and GND filters is sort of merely a sport changer. Releases like this are one of many many causes I like being an OM SYSTEM ambassador. They’re on the forefront of innovation and produce gear that’s not solely making the most of leaps in expertise, however they’re placing that information into instruments and features which are extraordinarily helpful for the photographers behind the lens. OM SYSTEM are crafting cameras that allow us to discover our creativity, which is what I take into account to be the entire objective of pictures, capturing moments, and reminiscences, having significant experiences, all blended with the fantastic thing about creating.
Take a peek on the official OM-3 Particulars right here.
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Journey and panorama photographer from Australia who is much extra comfy in a pair of flippers than heels! Having labored for publications equivalent to Lonely Planet, Wanderlust and the Sunday Occasions, Lisa based The Wandering Lens to share vacation spot guides to the worlds most photogenic locations and out of doors experiences.