And Atomos gives it some ProRes RAW love!
The original Olympus Corporation has been around for more than 100 years. It has made a ton of stuff, from medical equipment to scientific instruments and consumer cameras.
Starting in the 1930s, Olympus introduced its first camera, but in the modern camera world, it has struggled to match the competition from Canon and Sony.
Then in late 2021, Olympus sold off its camera imaging division to Japan Industrial Partners and it relaunched as OM Digital Solutions, branded as OM System.
Now, OM Digital Solutions has revealed its first new camera. The Micro Four Thirds Olympus OM-1 takes on the namesake of the original SLR camera, a nod to the legacy it must now uphold. As the last camera bearing the Olympus name, it marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.
But that’s not the only news. Atomos has also announced that the NINJA V and NINJA V+ will support recording of Apple ProRes RAW for the new system.
We recently discussed the possible demise and resuscitation of the MFT format, but now it seems OM Digital Solutions has joined Panasonic to help the sensor thrive.
Olympus OM-1Credit: OM System
The New Olympus OM-1
Featuring a newly designed 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS sensor with a stacked BSI design, the OM-1 hopes to achieve improved dynamic range and readout speeds than previous designs. These new changes should also help noise levels.
The TruePic X Processor is said to have three times the processing speed, which helps support the on-sensor phase-detection AF that uses a Cross Quad Pixel system. To increase performance, this tech splits each pixel into four sub-pixels, helping the camera system focus in difficult lighting conditions.
Olympus OM-1Credit: OM System
Shooters are also assisted by the in-body 5-axis image stabilization, which is said to compensate for up to 7 stops of camera shake. An additional stop is also provided by IS-enabled lenses.
If that’s a lot of tech jargon all at once, so here’s a handy list to keep things organized:
- 20.4MP Stacked BSI Live MOS MFT Sensor
- DCI/UHD 4K 60p 10-Bit 4:2:0 Video Recording
- Full HD Recording up to 240 fps
- 12-bit raw output with Atomos Ninja V or Ninja V+
- HLG picture mode offers in-camera HDR recording
- Includes OM-Log gamma for greater color grading range
- Cross Quad Pixel Phase-Detection AF
- 5.76m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
- 3.0" 1.62m-Dot Swivel Touchscreen LCD
- 5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization
- IP53 Weather-Sealed & Freezeproof Design
- Dual UHS-II SD Card Slots
- 3.5mm microphone and headphone ports
All of these features are packed into a lightweight magnesium alloy body that is IP53 rated for shooting in tricky weather conditions.
The addition of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, both in 5Ghz and 2.4GHz, gives shooters the option to transfer files wirelessly or control the camera remotely via the OI.Share app.
Olympus OM-1 WiFi and BluetoothCredit: OM System
The OM-1 Collaboration with Atomos
On the heels of the OM-1 announcement, Atomos has also revealed it will support the new camera with ProRes RAW over HDMI with its Ninja V or Ninja V+.
Both Atomos and OM System have stated they “are committed to supporting the full capabilities of ProRes RAW,” and will offer White Balance and ISO support for creatives working in Final Cut Pro. Unfortunately, these features might not be available for Adobe Premiere and DaVinci Resolve.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed, though.
Another bump in the road is that ProRes RAW will not be available out of the box. However, a firmware update slated for the first half of 2022 is set to activate this feature.
When this feature does release, creatives will have expanded workflow options to achieve their creative vision.
Olympus OM-1 w/ Atomos RecorderCredit: Atomos
Should You Buy the OM-1?
It’s always hard to say when a new camera is first announced. The market already has strong contenders in the MFT format, such as the upcoming Panasonic GH6 and the still robust BMPCC 4K.
OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mirrorless Camera
- 20MP Stacked BSI Live MOS MFT Sensor
- DCI/UHD 4K 60p 10-Bit Video Recording
- 10 fps Shooting, 120 fps with E. Shutter
- Cross Quad Pixel Phase-Detection AF
- 5.76m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
- 3.0" 1.62m-Dot Swivel Touchscreen LCD
- 5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization
- High-Res Shot, Live ND & Composite Modes
- IP53 Weather-Sealed & Freezeproof Design
- Dual UHS-II SD Card Slots
We will have to get our hands on a production model to really see if this camera will meet the demand of modern creatives.
But it’s always healthy to have more competition, and it seems that OM System has come to this party ready to play.
