Advantages vs disadvantages
What are the disadvantages of FF system and advantages of micro 4/3 format, from my perspective?
Weight
When I walk in the forest or mountains for wildlife photography the weight is reducing my creativity and fun with photography. I also miss some opportunities because I am not in position at the right moment.
Micro 4/3 – format is a far more lightweight system than Nikon FF. If I bring my D850 with a tele-like 150-600mm Sigma sport, I have a total weight close to 4 kg, just for one lens! With the new OM-1 camera with a Olympus Zuiko 300mm, PRO (600mm FF eq ), I have a system of 1,7 kg. Full frame cameras and tele lenses are super heavy!
The OM-1 and the full Olympus Zuiko PRO lineup, with 7-14mm, 12-40mm, 40-150mm, 300mm and 60mm macro is all together just about the same weight as only the D850 with a battery grip and the 150-600mm. For the next trip I maybe care to bring all optics out in the field!
Weather sealing
OM-1 is the first system who have industry standard weather sealing. Its dust and moisture proof with IP 53. That’s a very important advantage for outdoor photography in Norway.
Price
For some time, I have wanted to switch to a mirrorless system. And I think, ff budget had no limitations, I guess I probably buy a Z9 and a Nikon 400mm, 2.8 or equal. But with the prices for Z9 and a full lineup with pro-optics, is total out of reach. You almost get OM-1 and the full series of Olympus Zuiko PRO optics for the same price as for buying the Z9 house….
Optics
Olympus Zuiko have an impressive line-up of affordable(?) PRO series lenses and this is also well known among users of other systems. The Zuiko line-up is light weight, well built, and have optics of very high quality. If you include IP 53 weather sealing and a class-leading stabilization system, the Zuiko line up is a very attractive option witch do not stand back compered to other brands.
Stabilization
Olympus and OM-1 has a class-leading stabilization system, and this makes it possible to shot handheld in almost every situation. I hate to use tripod, and I hate carrying tripods on long hikes. So this is a big advantage for my type of photography. With OM, I can shoot handheld with a 600mm eq at 1,4 meter at 1/50 sec at a static subjekt with no problems and have a tack sharp image, I think thats quite impressive.
Features
Processor power is developing fast, and all new camera-systems have introduced AI to make high performance auto focus and well performing tracking. Olympus have always been in front introducing new advanced features in their cameras. OM-1 claim they want to follow the same line for the future.
As for OM-1, I was very interested in the “time-machine” (Pro capture), which make it possible to buffer pictures before things happen and you press the shutter. With this function its a lot easier to capture the moments you almost always miss with other systems. Like take-off or landing of birds or waiting for a wet animal to shake his head. In my initial testing, this is an extremely nice function who makes impossible pictures possible.
The last features who attracted me to the OM-1, was the built in 6 stops ND-filter and live composition. I seldom use filter, because I always forget them at home, so I look forward to test this more intensively.
High resolution shots
I also want to highlight the high-res option(this is for static subjekts only). But its nice to have the possible to shot 50 MP pictures handheld at low stops when I need it, for instance for landscape.