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Archive 2025 · My OM-3 Impressions

  
 
offtraildog
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p.1 #1 · My OM-3 Impressions


Preface: I own a OM1M2 (upgraded from the M1) and a Pen-F. Previously used Sony FF. I am a casual photographer capturing memories when hiking, kayaking, etc and during travel to different places. No wildlife unless I come across animals (bear, moose, elk, mtn lion, fox, wolf, bald eagle while hiking) and no sports or fast action. No video.

Primes: Lumix 9/1.7, Lumix 15/1.7, OM 17 II, Oly 60/2.8
Zooms: Oly 8-25/4, Lumix 12-32/3.5-5.6, Oly 12-45/4, OM 12-40/2.8 II, Lumix 35-100/4-5.6, OM 40-150/4

I plan to keep my OM1M2 for outdoor activities and have been using the Pen-F when in populated places during travels.

My lens kit for the OM-3 will be the 12-32, 35-100, and at night, the 12-32 and 15 or 17. I will not do any manual focusing with the OM-3.

The purpose for buying the OM-3 is to potentially replace my Pen-F for the following benefits - listed in importance to me

* ND
* Live GND
* Weather sealing
* 1053 vs 81 focus points
* anti-flicker
* same battery as OM1M2
* same menu as OM1M2
* Higher LCD resolution
* USB 3.1

I received my OM-3 Friday.

* noticeably larger than the Pen-F
* looks more svelte than the OM1
* substantial thumb rest looks like an aftermarket lick ’n stick
* LCD not integrated to the body as flush as OM1 or Pen
* Control dial damping is inconsistent. Ex. Rear dial turns much easier and faster than front dial. On my OM1, both dials has the same resistance
* Plastic covers on the left for the Mic, Headphone, USB are not as secure as the OM1. Need to deliberately and firmly press them into place.
* FN lever is mushy and does not “snap” into position like the OM1
* Top plate buttons (Movie and FN) are positioned close to other dials requiring me to use the tip of my finger to press
* Handling with the 12-32 and 35-100 is great. With the 12-45, 12-40 and 40-150 I need to support the lens from underneath.
* Easy to one-hand shoot with the 12-32 and 35-100
* CP button is useful
* Menu and Info button are slightly raised while the Trash and Play are flush.
* Arrow Pad has nice feel.
* No plans to use the Create dial at this point since I only shoot raw
* EVF is the same as the Pen-F and since I don’t plan to MF, the EVF is not an issue.
* Expert Shield screen protector enables LCD to fit flush
* Would remove the bulky and unnecessary Strap Eyelets. I plan to use a simple strap vs the Peak One setup with my OM1

At this point, I am undecided if the benefits outweigh the ergonomic and design misses.



Mar 02, 2025 at 07:57 PM
tangfj
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p.1 #2 · My OM-3 Impressions


I'm in the same boat as you and have the exact same cameras! I do love my PEN-F and am similarly torn between it and the OM-3. Have you decided what you're going to do? Keep all 3 or return the OM-3 or sell the PEN-F? I'm with you on keeping the OM-1 mk II but I'm leaning towards keeping the OM-3 and selling the PEN-F... While I do find the PEN-F to be slightly more comfortable to hand hold with small lenses attached, I do appreciate the newer sensor/tech in the OM-3 and the addition of USB-C is very nice! No more having to bring a separate charger with me when I travel!

Curious, which Expert Shield did you use for the OM-3? I don't see one listed on their website specifically for the OM-3 yet, unless I missed it...

UPDATE:
Nevermind about the screen protector question... found out that the screen protectors from my OM-1 mk II fit perfectly...

In case anyone was wondering I got these - https://a.co/d/95XPcWO

Perfect fit!



Mar 06, 2025 at 01:36 AM
BruceRH
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p.1 #3 · My OM-3 Impressions


Very nice summary of points to which I would agree. I got my OM-3 over the weekend and while I have not had a lot of time with it yet, I am pleased with it. I sold my OM-5 and my silver Pen-F (I still have a black one) prior to taking delivery of the OM-3. I see the OM-1.2 and OM-3 as perfect compliments to each other. One for the larger lenses, the other for small primes and zooms.


Mar 06, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Frogfish
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p.1 #4 · My OM-3 Impressions


offtraildog wrote:
Preface: I own a OM1M2 (upgraded from the M1) and a Pen-F. Previously used Sony FF. I am a casual photographer capturing memories when hiking, kayaking, etc and during travel to different places. No wildlife unless I come across animals (bear, moose, elk, mtn lion, fox, wolf, bald eagle while hiking) and no sports or fast action. No video.

Primes: Lumix 9/1.7, Lumix 15/1.7, OM 17 II, Oly 60/2.8
Zooms: Oly 8-25/4, Lumix 12-32/3.5-5.6, Oly 12-45/4, OM 12-40/2.8 II, Lumix 35-100/4-5.6, OM 40-150/4

I plan to keep my OM1M2 for outdoor activities and have been using the Pen-F when in populated places during
...Show more

OK your comments had me running to compare my OM1i vs my OM3 (used on a trip to Gansu province in China - just back - and I loved it) ! So anyway here's my take alongside your comments :

* looks more svelte than the OM1
YEP

* substantial thumb rest looks like an aftermarket lick ’n stick
Hmm I don't get that feeling but it's effective either way.

* LCD not integrated to the body as flush as OM1 or Pen
It's flush on the left hand side but not on the right - to enable better access I imagine.

* Control dial damping is inconsistent. Ex. Rear dial turns much easier and faster than front dial. On my OM1, both dials has the same resistance
Agreed, but it's not a lot of difference so I wouldn't say 'much'. Maybe mine has freed up a little with use. I doubt it.

* Plastic covers on the left for the Mic, Headphone, USB are not as secure as the OM1. Need to deliberately and firmly press them into place.
Yes agreed

* FN lever is mushy and does not “snap” into position like the OM1
I prefer the one on the OM3. I always found the one on the OM1 to be too stiff and need some force. It is softer but the 'click' is still there.

* Top plate buttons (Movie and FN) are positioned close to other dials requiring me to use the tip of my finger to press
Agreed. The real estate is there, I don't know why they didn't use it. The FN button is still fine actually but the Movie button far too close

* Handling with the 12-32 and 35-100 is great. With the 12-45, 12-40 and 40-150 I need to support the lens from underneath.
I don't see any need to support the 12-40/2.8 and I used it a lot in Gansu for 10 days straight.

* Easy to one-hand shoot with the 12-32 and 35-100
And with the 12-40 and 20/1.4 (my most used two lenses on the camera, in Gansu)

* CP button is useful
Totally agreed though note the OFF is never off !

* Menu and Info button are slightly raised while the Trash and Play are flush.
Yep. I wish they were all raised.

* Arrow Pad has nice feel.
Agreed!

* No plans to use the Create dial at this point since I only shoot raw
I used it a LOT in Gansu. I can't believe how much I enjoyed it (and the results) and I have always (before now) used RAW!

* EVF is the same as the Pen-F and since I don’t plan to MF, the EVF is not an issue.
I found the MF to be superb using the 'sparklies' ! An example being Blue Eared Pheasants through a bush - nailed very shot.

* Would remove the bulky and unnecessary Strap Eyelets. I plan to use a simple strap vs the Peak One setup with my OM1
I LOVE these. OM (they are the same as on the OM1) get these right compared to those on my Sony A7r5 which are far too small and fiddly. I actually have both the PD strap clips and another clip - for clipping to my backpack strap - on the same eyelet. Love them !

Goes to show how we are all different and tastes vary !



Mar 07, 2025 at 10:43 AM
offtraildog
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p.1 #5 · My OM-3 Impressions


I have decided to keep the OM-3. I have a trip in early April and I won’t need my OM1M2. Hoping the 2nd copy of the 17mm is good enough to keep.

I had a leather wrist strap from etsy that works great on the OM-3



Mar 08, 2025 at 01:38 PM
Frogfish
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p.1 #6 · My OM-3 Impressions


Thought I just post these here from the Creative Dial on the front of the OM3 - virtually SOOC bar adding border & sig with Snapseed on the iPad.

I love the dial, so easy to set up and use to change to multiple different presets depending on the situation/taste. FAR easier than using the ART feature in other OM cameras.

All shot at Labrang Monastery in Gansu Province, China. All OM3 + OM 20/1.4

https://i.postimg.cc/WpFHcbpp/IMG-5138.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/tTfvn8kH/IMG-5139.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/NFHJ6bC2/IMG-5141.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/MTXrTzyD/IMG-5143.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/BvmV4j1b/IMG-5146.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/tgqMK3J8/IMG-5156.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Z5hgctSb/IMG-5157.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/xTmhMjBp/IMG-5159.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/6pLPbjWd/IMG-5160.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/NGSZK2Cr/IMG-5163.jpg



Mar 08, 2025 at 03:55 PM
ruthenium
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p.1 #7 · My OM-3 Impressions


Frogfish wrote:
Thought I just post these here from the Creative Dial on the front of the OM3 - virtually SOOC bar adding border & sig with Snapseed on the iPad.

I love the dial, so easy to set up and use to change to multiple different presets depending on the situation/taste. FAR easier than using the ART feature in other OM cameras.

All shot at Labrang Monastery in Gansu Province, China.

https://i.postimg.cc/WpFHcbpp/IMG-5138.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/tTfvn8kH/IMG-5139.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/NFHJ6bC2/IMG-5141.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/MTXrTzyD/IMG-5143.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/BvmV4j1b/IMG-5146.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/tgqMK3J8/IMG-5156.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Z5hgctSb/IMG-5157.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/xTmhMjBp/IMG-5159.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/6pLPbjWd/IMG-5160.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/NGSZK2Cr/IMG-5163.jpg


I like several of this series of photos, some reminding the prints of James Tissot.
I am still confused about black-and-white photography. It has an undeniable artistic merit on the one hand, yet on the other hand it "fails" (in some sense) as a genre of documentary photography because it creates an uncertainty as to when the images were taken. The black-and-white images of people and places somehow make me feel that I am looking at historical photographs, maybe taken really long time ago, which is not true in the present case. This is not a critical comment by any means, more of a personal sense of confusion. It is almost as if I can say "I wish I could see some of these images in color."
Sorry for these comments, unrelated to the subject of the thread.
The out-of-camera jpegs are indeed very impressive and speak highly about the processing abilities and functionality of OM-3.



Mar 08, 2025 at 04:14 PM
Braindrain232
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p.1 #8 · My OM-3 Impressions


OTOH, I think those B&W pics are fantastic.


Mar 08, 2025 at 08:49 PM
Frogfish
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p.1 #9 · My OM-3 Impressions


ruthenium wrote:
I like several of this series of photos, some reminding the prints of James Tissot.
I am still confused about black-and-white photography. It has an undeniable artistic merit on the one hand, yet on the other hand it "fails" (in some sense) as a genre of documentary photography because it creates an uncertainty as to when the images were taken. The black-and-white images of people and places somehow make me feel that I am looking at historical photographs, maybe taken really long time ago, which is not true in the present case. This is not a critical comment by any means,
...Show more

Thank you ! An amazing (to me) coincidence was there are a couple of coffee shops in the town around this absolutely huge monastery, one of which had very similar style of photograph prints on their walls - from an American who visited in the 1930s. I took a video of the walls. I felt sort of validated !

Of course these are just jpgs SOOC but the colour RAWs are also there ... and, whereas some of my photographer friends here in Shanghai like to shoot almost exclusively in B&W (film), I mostly shoot in (digital) colour, it's what I 'see' in. Colour contrasts. complementaries etc.



Mar 09, 2025 at 01:05 AM
Frogfish
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p.1 #10 · My OM-3 Impressions


Braindrain232 wrote:
OTOH, I think those B&W pics are fantastic.


Thank you ! I haven't tweaked this pre-set yet but I think I may make some minor changes.



Mar 09, 2025 at 01:05 AM
Rlubliner
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p.1 #11 · My OM-3 Impressions


What setting on creative dial?


Mar 09, 2025 at 05:34 PM
Frogfish
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p.1 #12 · My OM-3 Impressions


Rlubliner wrote:
What setting on creative dial?


ART. 10 (ii). Dramatic Tone.



Mar 10, 2025 at 01:25 AM
SpecFoto
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p.1 #13 · My OM-3 Impressions


Rlubliner wrote:
What setting on creative dial?


Frogfish wrote:
ART. 10 (ii). Dramatic Tone.


Really good B&W photos Kevin. Luv the tonality!

To me these photos cement my desire to get OM-3 camera for travel. With a simple dial turn, custom B&W profile photos are instantly available. I have used Nik Silver Efexs for many years, bought it once, then Google took over and now the newest version by DXO needs to be bought again, so I passed on it. Plus it was always an afterthought in that a I had to have a computer to apply the B&W effects, which usually meant when I got home from the trip. But with this all being available now in camera, and the ability to quickly transfer photos to my iPhone-iPad on site, this camera becomes a buy for me. Order placed!

And the 20mm f1.4 is the perfect lens for this body!




Mar 10, 2025 at 09:33 AM
ElvisD
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p.1 #14 · My OM-3 Impressions


Very nice series. TFS.

And, thanks for specifying which setting you used.

I don't often use the Art settings, but I'm happy to have easily found the one you used on my E-M5 iii.

Turned the top dial to ART and scrolled to Dramatic Tone, #11 in my case. Not as covenient as the OM-3 dial, but still pretty easy.

If only getting to that location was so easy...



Mar 10, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Frogfish
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p.1 #15 · My OM-3 Impressions


ElvisD wrote:
Very nice series. TFS.

And, thanks for specifying which setting you used.

I don't often use the Art settings, but I'm happy to have easily found the one you used on my E-M5 iii.

Turned the top dial to ART and scrolled to Dramatic Tone, #11 in my case. Not as covenient as the OM-3 dial, but still pretty easy.

If only getting to that location was so easy...


Thank you !

Haha not the easiest but not difficult just a lot of transport changes : Shanghai airport - Chengdu airport - Heihe airport - Bus to the town (1 hour ish).



Mar 11, 2025 at 01:04 AM
Frogfish
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p.1 #16 · My OM-3 Impressions


SpecFoto wrote:
Really good B&W photos Kevin. Luv the tonality!

To me these photos cement my desire to get OM-3 camera for travel. With a simple dial turn, custom B&W profile photos are instantly available. I have used Nik Silver Efexs for many years, bought it once, then Google took over and now the newest version by DXO needs to be bought again, so I passed on it. Plus it was always an afterthought in that a I had to have a computer to apply the B&W effects, which usually meant when I got home from the trip. But with this all
...Show more

Thank you ... and I think you're going to LOVE the OM3 + 20/1.4, for me it is a pairing made in heaven !



Mar 11, 2025 at 01:05 AM
offtraildog
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p.1 #17 · My OM-3 Impressions


Frogfish wrote:
Thank you ... and I think you're going to LOVE the OM3 + 20/1.4, for me it is a pairing made in heaven !


If my 2nd copy of the 17 II is also not good, I will consider the 20/1.4 or just stick with my Lumix 15/1.8



Mar 11, 2025 at 03:28 PM
SpecFoto
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p.1 #18 · My OM-3 Impressions


offtraildog wrote:
If my 2nd copy of the 17 II is also not good, I will consider the 20/1.4 or just stick with my Lumix 15/1.8


Bought the original Olympus 17 f1.8 and 25 f1.8 about 10 years ago, was never really impressed by either, the 17 was at least built of metal and had the OM clutch. Gave away the 25 f1.8 to a young photographer just starting out and finally went with the 17 f1.2 Pro, which is excellent.

Now that I have the 20 f1.4 Pro, even though just for a week, I feel it too is excellent. I can see it will be my mainstay lens on the coming OM-3, just like the Batis 40 f2 has become on my Sony A7CR. But it is smaller and lighter and I would love for OM to make a couple more WR f1.4 prime lenses like it, say at 12 to 14mm and at 25-35mm. Then hopefully make a WR version of the Oly 75 f1.8, do Nothing else to it as it is perfect to me except for the lack of WR and my best prime.



Mar 11, 2025 at 08:16 PM
Frogfish
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p.1 #19 · My OM-3 Impressions


offtraildog wrote:
If my 2nd copy of the 17 II is also not good, I will consider the 20/1.4 or just stick with my Lumix 15/1.8


I like my 17/1.8 v1 (I have a good copy) but the 20/1.4 is another league so unless they've upgraded the optical formula (I haven't seen any reviews as yet) then I feel the 20mm is a better lens.

Pentax's most famous 3 film era lenses were the 31mm, 43mm & 77mm (the Ltds - I absolutely loved them) - updated in 2021 for digital. This equates to roughly the 15mm & 20mm so I think I'm going to add the PL15 (or DJI 15 - I want to see a head to head first) to the mix. Therefore the 20mm should be a much better fit to your kit than the 17mm.



Mar 12, 2025 at 01:01 AM
offtraildog
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p.1 #20 · My OM-3 Impressions


I tested 3 copies of the 17 series one and it never came close in IQ to the 12-45, 12-40 @17mm and the Lumix 15 was better as well so I keep the 15 as a small, compact, fast prime for low light scenes.

My 2nd 17 II just showed up and I will do some quick test shots from under my porch since it is raining and 35 degrees



Mar 12, 2025 at 05:32 PM
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