A highly subjective look at some of my camera equipment…
I say in my bio that I use a variety of cameras because I get a buzz out of using different equipment. I suppose it’s to be expected that some cameras will be used more than others, possibly for different reasons, and so it is for me.
The cameras that I use most at the moment are my Olympus mirrorless cameras – an OM-D E-M10 III, and an OM-D E-M1X, as well as a Sony RX10 IV bridge camera.
I’ve loved Olympus digital cameras ever since I bought my first, an Evolt E620, back in 2011. I still have it, love it and give it an occasional outing. Something about the design, ergonomics and build quality of Olympus cameras sets them apart from the competition, which has made using them a really satisfying experience for me while producing images of excellent quality.
Of the three models listed above, the one I bought most recently is the OM-D E-M1X. Released in 2019, it was a bit of a curiosity in its design, with its built-in battery grip. But Olympus had thought the design through, so that all of the buttons involved in controlling and making the exposure are replicated around the grip, in the same positions as in the conventional orientation, meaning that you can hold the camera in portrait mode without arching your hand, as in conventional designs. It’s a small point, which takes some getting used to, but when you do you wonder how you ever did without it.
The E-M1X was technically one of the most advanced cameras on the market when it was first released and was classed as a professional camera. I guess the competition has caught up in the interim, but it remains a very capable machine. Despite selling well at the time, though, Olympus seemed to get cold feet and withdrew it from their range in 2022. Most cameras make it to at least a Mk. II, but sadly not in the E-M1X’s case.
Like most cameras, my Olympuses have their quirks. For example, the E620 doesn’t have a Movie mode, which is no real problem for me, as I don’t shoot movies. Never have, and I don’t plan to start. The E-M10 III has a tilting screen, but not fully articulated, which is a slight shame. The E-M1X has a fully articulated screen, and it makes a huge difference (more of that below…). But the E-M1X is the only camera I know of that has no Auto mode. I never use Auto on any of my other cameras so, again, it’s no real loss. But it took me a while to notice that it was absent. Neither does it have a built-in flash. It does have a hot-shoe, so you can add a separate flash gun, should you need it. The only time I use flash is for filling in shadows, so it would have been handy, but it’s not a show-stopper.
There are lots of other positives that I could drone on about at great length, but one of the best things is that I can use all the Four-Thirds lenses from my E620 with the Micro Four-Thirds E-M10 III and the E-M1X with an adapter, with no loss of quality or functionality. That alone saved me a fortune in new glass. Plus, the old Four-Thirds lenses all use the same 58mm-thread filters, again saving me money and having to carry different-sized filters.
Buying the E-M1X enabled me to sell my Canon EOS 5D III and its associated lenses. It was a lovely camera and the image quality was superb, but several things about it irked me. Like the E-M1X, it had no built-in flash, but a bigger problem was the screen’s complete lack of articulation. I’m getting on in years now, and getting down for the low shots is becoming more difficult, not to mention getting back up again. The 5D was becoming very difficult to use from that perspective. The Canon lenses had a variety of filter thread sizes too, which meant carrying a range of similar filters or step-down rings.
Olympus stopped making cameras a couple of years ago, selling their camera division to a company which, thankfully, continued with the development of the existing range under the name of OM System. It’s to be hoped that their commitment continues, and that we see the release of the kind of beautiful cameras that we have seen from Olympus over the years.
