Category: Gear

  • New Firmware releases from Olympus.

    New Firmware releases from Olympus.

    Olympus announced a new lens last Tuesday, the M.Zuiko 100-400mm f5.0 – 6.3 Is zoom. It has a built-in IS and this new firmware for several different cameras will make the cameras compatible with that IS. Also, the new firmware makes it possible to use Focus Stacking with the new lens.



    The cameras that got a new firmware are Olympus E-M1X, E-M1 MKIII, E-M1 MKII, and E-M5 MKIII.

    Here is what Olympus site says about the firmware and the M.Zuiko 100-400mm f5.0-6.3 IS lens.

    • Possible to use in-camera focus stacking mode with “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS”.

    • Image stabilization performance when using “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS” has been improved.

      • * Roll compensation is available with the image stabilization function of the body, along with the pitch and yaw image stabilization function of the lens.

      • * The “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS” is not compatible with 5-axis Sync IS.

    • * Roll compensation is available with the image stabilization function of the body, along with the pitch and yaw image stabilization function of the lens.

    • * The “M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS” is not compatible with 5-axis Sync IS.

    Interesting thing is that the new lens is not compatible with 5 axis IBIS. Even though it is not SyncIS it still communicates with the camera. Part of the stabilizing comes from the lens and part of it is from the body.

    So it is actually a limited or partial SyncIS. It is also interesting that E-M1 MKIII got a bit different firmware upgrade than the other cameras. It is only about Focus Stacking.

    edit: The E-M1 MKIII as the newest model is already compatible with the IS on the 100-400mm IS lens. It does not need an upgrade o that feature.

    The firmware can be upgraded via Olympus Workspace. You also need the Olympus Updater software for upgrading.

    In the video below I explain how to upgrade the firmware in your Olympus camera.

  • Two new products from Olympus: E-M10 MKIV and 100-400mm zoom lens.

    Two new products from Olympus: E-M10 MKIV and 100-400mm zoom lens.

    Olympus has launched two new products today. A new camera and a new telephoto zoom lens. Olympus OM-D E-M1 MKIV is the new entry-level camera. The M.Zuiko 100-400mm f5.0 – 6.3 IS zoom is the much-waited zoom lens.

    In the videos below I go through both of the new gear.

    Both will available later this month.

    Get your Olympus 100-400mm 5.0-6.3 from Amazon: (affiliate links)

    M.Zuiko 100-400mm f.5.0 – 6.3 IS: https://amzn.to/2XEjUVV

  • Vintage lenses on Olympus cameras.

    Vintage lenses on Olympus cameras.

    Vintage lenses are old lenses. There has been a huge amount of lens makers in the world. Usually, vintage lenses differ from modern lenses in two ways. Vintage lenses do not have the same coatings that improve image quality. Also really old lenses are not very well suited for color photography. Those lenses were made in the era when black & white photography was the way to go. Vintage lenses are mostly manual focus. There is also an aperture ring to change the aperture.

    You should try vintage lenses.

    Using vintage lenses is something that you should try if you have never tried it. What is good about the m4/3 system is that you can attach almost any lens that was ever made to your m4/3 camera.

    All you need is a vintage lens and an adapter. Adapters can be found in many camera stores that sell used gear. One great place is a Finnish camera store, called Kamerastore, that is specialized in vintage gear.

    Kamerastore also has a very good selection of adapters for my combinations.

    Why Vintage lenses?

    There are several reasons why using vintage lenses is a great thing.

    The first reason is that manual focusing will slow you down. We tend to rush with automated cameras and having a manual focus lens will make your photography a lot slower. Slower photography means more thinking. More thinking leads easier to better images.

    Using vintage can give you a bit different looking images. Old lenses have all kinds of faults and they might have a very interesting character. The image quality might not be perfect but that is the whole point. the look and feel can be very unique.

    The third reason is that using vintage lenses can be a lot of fun. When having fun you most likely will get better results.

    There is more about vintage lenses in the video above and you can also watch it from this link.