OM1 or Em1X with Big White

Which camera did I like using with the big white. Big white is a nickname that has been given this lens and it seam to be sticking. You would otherwise know it as the OM System or Olympus 150-400mm f4.5

[simon]

Hey man!
Love this level of technical insight! I hope you are beating the cancer and wish you and your family well!

[hagentrondheim]

Wish you all the best with your fight against cancer and hoping photography can lift you a little upp

[JG-odxy]

Thanks for these videos over the years. You and Rob are great people and your videos have been a blessing to me

[robinell]

Thanks for the amazing video as always buddy. Don’t give up. We love you. Cheers from Cyprus 🇨🇾

[allanc]

Nice to see you and Rob out enjoying what you both do so well.📸

[johnniewelbornjr.]

I have never regretted buying the E-M1X and I really don't even think about the size or weight when out and about. The controls in both orientations are well placed and I like having the battery and card capacity. It even did well on a cold night when out playing with my first aurora images. I certainly appreciate your previous videos that helped me make the decision to obtain the body, for even though it's perhaps not quiiiite the equal to the newer Mark II's, all the pros have outweighed the cons. Both your and Rob's vids have been helpful regarding various glass choices and the general controls and menus. Using this to shoot wildlife has been a real pleasure and waiting for it to buffer is certainly never an issue, either.

Glad to hear the cancer battle is going well and hope for a full recovery soon, for I know it's been a long road. Thanks to you and Rob both for all the helpful insights!

[RTFM]

Glad Rob had a chance to visit you and try the lens. He was very impressed with it. Thanks for making the video Ben 📸👍

[romangeber]

Still happy to have chosen the E-M1mk2 back when it was new(ish). Still don't feel like I'd need an upgrade. So I guess any body will be a good choice. I'd probably go with the 1X due to the integrated vertical grip. That's the only weak spot on the mk2 failing me a lot more then I'd like.

I sometimes wonder about some astro photography with it on a budget. How do normal lenses compare to dedicated telescopes? Are there any drawbacks or advantages to using a general purpose lense over for example a refractor telescope?

[mkphotography]

Glad your cancer is getting better good riddance to that. I too have permanent Neuropathy and it's difficult so strangely I agree with you I recently got the EM1-X and it helps a great deal. Although heavy in itself it's a beautiful camera so well made and thought out.
Keep improving in your health best wishes from the UK

[dasaen]

I think you should get it. I jumped the gun with the 40-150 f2.8 and been loving it. My next goal is 300mm f4. The Om pro lenses are really a satisfying jump in image quality.

[Raysnature]

I'm so glad you got to play with the BWL. We first spoke about three years ago when I got mine (or possibly it was on order). Since then I've used it with the 1X and the OM1, I part exed the 1X for the OM1.
I completely agree with you on the ergonomics of the 1X, it is by far the nicest camera body I've used in that regard in fifty or so years of photography. Indeed it's what sold it to me; I wasn't sure if it was worth the upgrade from the EM1 Mkii but I had the opportunity to handle the first one to come through my local camera shop, so I brought the second one. It fits me like a glove.
However the big issue for me has always been the EVF, they really should have improved it for the flagship model that was the 1X. I think it's appalling. It is probably the main reason I went for the OM1. I rather hope they will bring out an OM1X but I'm not holding my breath.
The 1X does balance perfectly with the BWL and I think you are correct in assuming they were designed as a pair, it certainly feels like that. The OM1 comes close with the addition of the battery grip. I prefer a gripped body anyway and have always added them when not built in so that was a natural for me anyway.
Which body would I chose? I'd go for the OM1 for the better EVF, slightly better bird detect/autofocus and more intuitive menus but if you told me I could only use the 1X I wouldn't loose any sleep.

[rikardpersson]

“There is no barriers between me and the camera” is so true also for me! When I’m using the E-M1x it instantly feels as an extension of me while picking up the OM-1, even though also being a great camera, requires me to “get used to it” every time! Keep in fighting! Cheers Rikard

[georgebowden]

Hi & Hello from Oz, thankyou for that interesting insight, especially the info re the battery grip being useable without having a battery installed, that was news to me.
I do hope you get your astro OM-1 & wish you all the very best with your health issues, I'm sure photography must help you focus (excuse the pun) on the more enjoyable things.
Take care & cheers from Oz

[philellinger]

From what I see of other photographers' experiences, I must be unusual, because I actually prefer the smaller bodies. For me the balance with the 150-400 is just fine. I often carry it comfortably on long walks, and I appreciate the reduced weight and bulk. I had an opportunity to try the EM-1X back when I had an EM-1iii, and I expected to really like it, but I was disappointed: to me it just felt unnecessarily heavy and bulky. I tried again with the battery grip that came as a bonus with my OM-1ii, and again it just didn't feel right to me. I strongly recommend to anybody thinking of getting one of these cameras, just go and try both types: it's clearly quite subjective and your hands will tell you very quickly which feels right for you!

Thanks for an interesting video and best wishes for a full and quick recovery.

[alandimery]

Thank you for your inspiring videos. I have the om1 and the big white.
I want to get a goto mount for it.
I am looking at the benro polaris astro. Because it doesn't need polar alignment (apparently). I have read that this device can control cameras. Do you know please, can the om systems om1 be connected and control by this device. Thanks.

[zayacz]

I agree with you about the battery grip for the bigger lenses. I have the 150-600 and the OM 1. I have learned to make sure the battery grip controls are locked. The heel of my right hand has taken many pictures without me knowing it.

[slothlovechunk]

Do you think the Alice Camera will make a good body to sometimes use as an astro camera?
I think it has the same sensor that is in some dedicated astro cameras (gh5s sensor), and seems to have really goood tethering capabilities.
Just curious if you have any thoughts?

[ScrapYardDog]

I bought my son an EM1-II about 7 years ago with Olympus 60mm macro lens, he used it for about a month and then bought a drone, and he never used it again since, your video made me order 2 new batteries, hope that it will at least take some Lunar photos through my Vixen 90M, I doubt it would work on my 12 inch dob.

[TheSannaeriksson]

Perhaps you could decorate the buttons on your OM 1 with self-adhesive beads of different size and feel, and attach them with some kind of thin tape that won't damage plastic materials like camera bodies. Here in Sweden, there are occupational therapists who are really clever and often help patients with various injuries and disabilities in different ways. Perhaps there are even special aids for just such purposes, i.e. helping patients feel different surfaces due to reduced sensitivity in the fingertips.
I always enjoy your videos, thank you for charing your thoughts and knowledge.

[rasmuswi]

One eye opener was the first time I picked up a Canon 1D X with a 600/4 attached to it. That kit probably weighed around 1.5 kg more than my E-M1 MK I with the Olympus 300/2.8 attached to it, yet it felt a lot easier to lift and carry around due to the weight of the camera body making the whole kit feel evenly balanced! My Olympus kit, in contrast, is pretty straining to carry, with nearly all the weight in the front of that 300/2.8, and the tiny E-M1 weighing almost nothing. I even considered getting a few of those little weight you can buy that thread into the tripod socket. The E-M1X is the ONLY camera I have that feels even remotely balanced when using that lens.

On the other hand, the E-M1x is the only Olympus camera I have that drains batteries when turned off. I haven't used mine for some time and just noticed that both batteries were totally empty!