OM-3 Assessment : Person Expertise + Artistic Potentialities
Nicely, howdy there OM-3. Simply introduced by OM SYSTEM, this new digital camera is a recreation changer for creatives and I’m going to share my current 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 digital camera features appear like.
When you take pleasure in experimenting, taking part in with color, seeing the world with a inventive eye and producing photos with a constant tone, you’ll need to hold studying. There’s a lot inside this compact (and cute) digital camera!
Only a fast word, I’m an OM SYSTEM ambassador, nevertheless that is an expertise and consumer evaluate. I knew there can be a whole lot of deal with the technical specs in different opinions of the OM-3, in order you’ll see all through the phrases beneath, I’ve taken the inventive 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 celebration (which was additionally the case), nevertheless, I wished 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 digital camera and all that it presents 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. Certain, it was lupin season and my Instagram feed was stuffed with the colourful shores of Lake Tekapo, however it felt like the perfect topic that will enable me to immerse myself in nature and use the digital camera to its full potential.
First Impressions of the OM-3
Whereas I’ve been capturing with Olympus/OM SYSTEM since 2017 and have used numerous digital camera fashions on this time, I’ve by no means really used the PEN-F, so upon opening the field and seeing the retro look of the OM-3, thought it was the cutest digital camera I’ve ever seen. Now, you’re probably not right here for that groundbreaking perception that it’s cute, however after all, one instant 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 probably improve how I method taking images. The very first thing I did was cost the digital camera, pop a reminiscence card in and begin urgent buttons, I wished to see all the chances inside!
Exploring the menu I used to be pleased to see a whole lot of the features I exploit for panorama images can be found, with the Dwell ND and GND filters there, plus the Excessive-Res Mode, enabling 50 megapixels when capturing handheld. These are all necessities for the kind of images I do, and I really like that it now presents the possibility to mix these with the inventive color profiling.
The Tech Specs of the OM-3
The OM-3 is slightly magnificence, mixing inventive instruments with progressive features, and as famous above options many devices and goodies inside that exist within the OM-1 and OM-1 MKII. When you’ve been studying The Wandering Lens or following my work for some time, you’ll know I’m much less in regards to the technical specs and extra in regards to the inventive prospects. I can reply something you’ll want to know in regards to the inventive course of and your method, however ask me a tech query on the spot and I’ll probably want a second to suppose it via – however that’s the fantastic thing about images and artwork, all of us work in another way and our method is exclusive! Anyway, that was simply to say, I’ll word the spectacular tech specs of the OM-3 beneath after which proceed on with my consumer expertise beneath.
- 20.4MP Decision
- TruePic™ X Processor
- 4K 60fps Video – With an ‘S&Q’ choice on the dial for fast entry to Sluggish + Fast recording occasions…so useful!
- Artistic dial with the Color, Artwork + Mono Profiles
- ISO as much as 102400
- Inside Stabilisation – Up 7.5 stops EV with Sync IS lenses and 6.5 stops EV internally.
- OM-3 delivers unimaginable speeds, with 120 fps sequential capturing in S-AF mode
- IP53 Climate sealing
- Splashproof | Freezeproof | Dustproof
- Tremendous Sonic Wave Filter to guard the interior components
- Computational Pictures button
- Dwell ND | GND | Excessive-Res Mode making it attainable to shoot both 80MP with a tripod or 50MP handheld
You’ll discover the total record of particulars accessible on the OM SYSTEM web site right here.
Color Palettes + Artistic Potentialities
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 reside, precisely just like the Dwell ND means that you can see the motion flowing via the body, colors are adjusted in real-time so you may see the influence 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 publish processing on Adobe Photoshop. I take pleasure in producing heat pastels, someday on the extra vibrant facet, however by no means too darkish or contrasted, I really like working with softer palettes. One of many first issues I wished to trial was whether or not or not I might produce an consequence just like what I sometimes edit, inside the digital camera itself. An instance beneath of golden hour with the lupins…zero enhancing on these photos, solely the changes in digital camera, the left facet is utilizing the softer extra muted profile, the precise is the extra vibrant, heat tones.
These are some screenshots taken at dwelling whereas specializing in a print to spotlight the options…there have been no icebergs or boats with purple sails in Lake Pukaki that day 🙂
Only a fast word – The OM-3 additionally has common modes like aperture, guide, auto and unimaginable video capabilities. You may choose to make use of the color and artwork options, or not. I wished to notice this incase I acquired overexcited relating to the color profiles and it got here off as the one chance, it does all of it AND has the bonus inventive instruments 🙂
Beneath you’ll see some examples of the varied color prospects. Entry to color changes are through the color wheel and tone curve, plus you may enhance or lower distinction, sharpness and shading.
Whereas I take pleasure in capturing vibrant scenes, taking part in with the Monochrome profiles produced some attractive outcomes. I’ve at all times cherished the black and white artwork filters within the different fashions, and these are a set of 4 superbly crafted outcomes that allow a film-like tone, softer tone, and basic monochrome. The darker ‘MONO 2’ profile is my favorite, significantly when paired with an alpine panorama, or rugged textures, even once I was capturing contained in the automotive utilizing the mirrors, the outcome had such depth.
Utilizing the OM-3 Within the Discipline
To make sure sooner 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 wished to make use of these as clear examples of the variability that may be achieved in just some clicks. These are the 5 profiles I set.
- C1 Customised to match the smooth, heat tones within the model I sometimes produce with post-processing.
- C2 The Color 2 Profile (preset)
- C3 A profile with barely muted saturation and vibrancy
- C4 Robust, vibrant tones to experiment on the depth of color accessible
- C5 Cooler tones with an consequence that felt like movie.
To create these I firstly photographed just a few scenes to evaluate how the filters, tone curve and numerous inventive controls labored. When enhancing, the tone curve is definitely the device I exploit most, it’s develop into a behavior to tweak this and produce the brightness, or general 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 one in all my favorite viewpoints of Aoraki/Mount Prepare 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 anticipate was a bluebird day with nearly 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 great motive to sit down and experiment with the GND filter and color settings.
For sundown, I wished to see if the nice and cozy tones can be attainable 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 as a result of 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 automotive earlier than sundown hit; this offered the possibility to get slightly arty and use the windscreen and rear-vision mirror as my topics to assist body the panorama creatively. These photos labored rather 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 inventive instruments was such an sudden supply of motivation. When photographing I’m at all times placing myself in odd positions making an attempt to scout frames inside the scene via branches, bushes, 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 inside the body with a distinct method.
You’ll discover a whole lot of the photographs 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 inside the composition.
Closing Notes on the OM-3
When you’re out there for a digital camera that does all the things, and gives the possibility to get inventive and actively concerned within the consequence of every picture, this could completely be thought-about and when you’ve acquired any questions in any respect, you’re welcome to depart a remark or DM through Instagram @the_wanderinglens.
The OM-3 isn’t just for nature and outside images, it’s really an excellent digital camera for metropolis wanders and concrete environments, suited to purses and digital camera backpacks alike. I believe the artwork filters and color choices would work superbly when you’re occupied with portrait images too!
Being able to customize color palettes while nonetheless gaining access to the progressive Dwell ND and GND filters is kind of merely a recreation changer. Releases like this are one of many many causes I really 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 know-how, however they’re placing that data into instruments and features which might be 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 goal of images, capturing moments, and recollections, 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 corresponding to Lonely Planet, Wanderlust and the Sunday Instances, Lisa based The Wandering Lens to share vacation spot guides to the worlds most photogenic locations and outside experiences.
