Original Text: Ugo Baldassarre – Translation: Giorgio Aprile
[Note. this article is based on direct use experience and does not represent a scientific test of the product]
Exactly a year has passed since the first Olympus OM-D E-M1X models arrived in stores and, with this little insight, I would like to take stock of the situation a bit now that the Olympus line-up is complete, and the strategy finally clear.
The launch of E-M1X was, at the time, very “disturbed” by rumors, fake news and articles that did not adequately understand what the product really was and who it was intended for.
The first rumours that began to circulate were those of a “large”, “big” camera where for large and big it seemed to refer to the size of the sensor and nothing else.
The other news, prior to the launch, also brought with it a sensationalism that did not match, to tell the truth, with the profile of the Japanese company.
Day One, or the day of the end of the embargo and therefore, of the official launch, the web was literally flooded with opinions, reviews, tests (lots of doubtful taste, quality and usefulness), made largely by non-users of the system, which created a barrier to understanding the product, which instead, precisely because of its nature, should have been analyzed and explained differently by those who, in this world, operate and act with conviction.
Olympus, fortunately, took advantage of this experience and did not repeat the mistake with the launch of the new OM-D E-M1 Mark III, whose launch campaign had a completely different, purposeful and exciting effect. And that’s why, as a new owner of this “monster” I feel the need to clarify some things further.
And in view of excellent promotional offers, and with many users very eager for an upgrade, I think it’s a great time to do it.
A year has passed, the OM-D E-M1X has arrived in stores, and, contrary to the perception that the web gives, it has sold well, considering the type of product and the price range. To be the first Olympus with a pure professional form-factor (with integrated handle and not optional), with very high profile construction and performance, the little more than 10% of the Italian market share that has carved out in these 12 months (these are the data by the distributor) is not negligible. We are talking about a market that has always been dominated by Canon and Nikon flagships: in simpler words, I am saying that every 10 super-pro machines, sold in Italy of that range, there is an Olympus E-M1X (and presumably with it a professional who begins to seriously explore this photographic system).
What is also interesting to analyse, from this point of view, is the disparity in sales from area to area, a sign that, even on the part of the shopkeepers, there has not been a complete understanding of the product and the project. And on this, perhaps, we will try to come to the rescue.
During these months I have had, and you have seen it in the various published articles, ways of using the camera on several occasions. I have never hidden my trust in the X project and in fact, once the line-up has been well defined, Olympus strategy has become clearer.
I can certainly say that, despite what they say or write, the advantages of a body like that of the E-M1X are tangible for all professional photographers, not just sports-naturalists.
If the latter can and will enjoy the best performance using telephoto lenses and make the most of the fast and flexible AF system, the advantages of a body of this level are for all those who work with photography.
ERGONOMICS
After prolonged use in various situations (wedding reportage, travel, studio and outdoor portrait) I can declare without a shadow of a doubt that the OM-D E-M1X is the best camera body ever put in the hands of a photographer.
The weight is perfect because, unlike the excellent E-M1 II or III combo with handle, all the available room has been used to position electronics and other elements. The result is a perfectly balanced body, which does not get you tired or strained even after hours of use. Keys, levers, sticks are all exactly where they should be, without ever needing to detach the machine from the face, usable with gloves and for any size of hand.
And for a portrait photographer? Honestly, after trying the X, I was no longer able to recreate that feeling with another camera. Alternating the vertical / horizontal without the slightest grip difference makes the work fluid and dynamic, fundamental for the way I manage my subjects.
Behind this camera body there is, and you can see, all the experience not only of the Olympus team, but also of all, the many, professionals who collaborate with them, providing input and advice that have been followed very well. If it were not clear enough, what has been said so far would be enough to justify the existence of the product.
RELIABILITY
As it was conceived, the X is a camera for work, moreover, to be stressed on the field. There are many tricks that delight any professional and cannot be overlooked.
And although many are also present on the other professional line, they are not implemented with this level of safety and efficacy.
The SD card compartment, to begin with, will not open if we do not want it, thanks to a security system that needs to rotate a specific cover lock to open the door.
The double battery compartment directly accessible from the cartridge also allows a much simpler management of the energy supplies (I have always used the E-M1 and E-M1 Mark II with the handle inserted, using, for convenience, only the battery slot in the HLD, effectively halving its effective capacity). The rest of the sensations of robustness, reliability, must be tried by hand, in the field, not by hearsay.
To this should not be forgotten the exclusive assistance program that Polyphoto has dedicated to its Italian customers which provides free of charge a courtesy camera in case of need for assistance on your camera body (after registering on the appropriate service).
QUALITY
Although the technical data sheets, compared, seem to tell a different story, the E-M1X has an image quality previously unheard of in the Micro 4/3 system. Just like nobody would think of saying that two laptops produced at two years distance and therefore with different CPUs, have the same performance, in the same way the choice to use two image processors makes the E-M1X different from the rest of the team. Even the optimizations on the sensor go in this direction with the practical result (this is not found on the specifications or in the web tests) that the images have more body, have richer and more detailed mediums tones and shadows.
Files that can be more “worn out” and that give more detail.
WARNING! We are talking about Olympus excellence in the field of imaging, and as such it is a body that MUST be combined with lenses of the same quality, i.e. Zuiko PRO optics or in any case of the same level (for example the 75mm f / 1.8).
The mistake that many made in judging, a priori, the camera was to consider it the new E-M1 (which has not been and is not even now), i.e. a professional camera suitable also for demanding amateurs: the E-M1X is aimed at the professional world and everything must be of the same level.
The X is also, and fortunately – I add -, a real camera, which requires the ability to be managed in the best way coupled with the best optical and software technologies available. It is a camera that grows, improves, and offers ever better results as its user becomes aware of it and manages to exploit it more deeply.
As far as I am concerned, it remains the best photographic experience I ever made since I take photograph (and I have seen, bought and used things).
With the release of the new E-M1 Mark III the choice is complete: those who wanted the best Olympus technology without all the bulk of the X are satisfied, but those who demand the maximum on all fronts, must have an E-M1X and this it’s the right time!
One year after the launch, and with several promotions implemented, it is possible to take home one of these monsters at an attractive price. Look around and ask your trusted dealer: I am sure they will surprise you with excellent proposals for the purchase of an incredible product that will accompany you for a long, long time.
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