OM-1 best 10bit mode - Hybrid LOG Gamma better than OM-LOG?

[Andrew Reid]

Since I got lucky on a mint OM-1 for 900 euros, so about 750 quid... I thought I'd see what the best modes are for video.

The 4K/60p and 8bit are indeed softer, but not end of the world softer if you set IBIS to mechanical only and turn off DIS.

Rolling shutter is remarkable, something like 5ms?

OM-LOG is a bit funky. Too much macro blocking in the shadows (on the colour chart in the blues you can pixel peep it).

Bitrate too low?

Hybrid LOG Gamma mode however fairs a lot better to my eye.

Higher black level like Canon LOG. Grades better. Better tonality in the highlights.

HLG 10bit 100% crop (graded):

OM-LOG 400 100% crop (graded):

It feels like to me that OM-LOG is being clipped in the NLE.

The blacks are more crushed than in Hybrid LOG Gamma.

Highlights as well seem to clip really harshly.

[ac6000cw]

17 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

The 4K/60p and 8bit are indeed softer, but not end of the world softer if you set IBIS to mechanical only and turn off DIS.

I agree (and 10-bit UHD/DCI 24/25/30p are noticeably sharper).

17 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

Rolling shutter is remarkable, something like 5ms?

Yes (and for me one of its best features) - test results from this review: https://www.optyczne.pl/59.3-Inne_testy-OM_System_OM-1_-_test_trybu_filmowego_Użytkowanie.html (Google translated - Matrix = Sensor):

Re. Natural versus HLG versus OMLog400 - these are contrast curves from the same review (in the 'Tonal Range' section here - https://www.optyczne.pl/59.3-Inne_testy-OM_System_OM-1_-_test_trybu_filmowego_Użytkowanie.html ). The differences are pretty obvious at the black end of the chart.

Natural: 

HLG :

 

OMLog400 :

[dreamplayhouse]

@Andrew Reid some questions about the OM1.
1. Can you shoot video with touch to focus?
2. How good is it in C-AF and subject detection?
Thanks

[Andrew Reid]

C-AF is very good, as in as fast and sticky as a latest Sony camera.

The subject detection isn't as good though, it's not as reliable as the best in class systems.

It keeps seeing faces on my camera shelf.

Who knows maybe my lenses have become sentient?

There's a neat trick I've found for the video mode... You can make the 1/2 function switch act as a stills/video mode toggle.

So one click to go between the modes rather than rotating through the mode dial to Movie.

You can also assign the 1.4x crop-mode to a function button to quickly get a second focal length in 4K with no loss of detail. Nifty.

[ac6000cw]

29 minutes ago, Andrew Reid said:

The subject detection isn't as good though, it's not as reliable as the best in class systems.

If you haven't updated to it already, firmware 1.7 did make some improvements to subject detection (certainly for wildlife, which I often use it for - it's noticeably more reliable and sticky). It also adds an option to assign the 'Menu' function to the 'Trash can' button.

39 minutes ago, Andrew Reid said:

There's a neat trick I've found for the video mode... You can make the 1/2 function switch act as a stills/video mode toggle.

That's been possible since at least the E-M1 ii (I've been using it since then). But they've removed it on the OM-3...

43 minutes ago, Andrew Reid said:

You can also assign the 1.4x crop-mode to a function button to quickly get a second focal length in 4K with no loss of detail. Nifty.

Even better, you can turn it on and off while recording - there's very short freeze in the video when it changes, but much better than having to stop record - change crop mode - start record. It's a pity they didn't also keep the video-only 1080p pixel:pixel option from the E-M1 ii/iii (a 2.83x crop).