A User's Experience - The OLYMPUS OM-D

[ed9119]

i agree with DM .... the 5 axis image stabilizing is just out of this world

I shoot lousy video but the lack of shake and shudder in this clip below saved the evening (just shot it this evening ... daughter's handiwork preparing gifts of fish for her classmates )

oh ya.... LOVED the smooth zoom in and zoom out when using the electronic zoom on the kit lens .... speed of zoom can be controlled slow crawl or fast for different effects

[video=youtube_share;KsW1P2rQrHY]http://youtu.be/KsW1P2rQrHY[/video]

 

[Dream Merchant]

Ed, that was a really nice example of what the 5-axis stabilization can do!

I'll try to keep up with your daughter's handiworks and post another video later.

Meanwhile ... I decided to try something: Shoot with ONLY the Olympus 12-50mm kit lens.

While I have some very esoteric lenses or have access to them, I decided to really try out the kit lens that came with the OM-D.

Some people who only got the OM-D, thought that they might sell their kit lens ... I guess primarily for it's slower speed?

You could get much faster lenses and max apertures with fixed primes, which might cost you a whole lot more and with much less convenience, but here's the deal:

I really wanted to find out how good, or bad the kit lens was.

The following results ... may surprise you ... or not, considering the history or Olympus Optics.

This is a MISH-MASH of subject images, to show how versatile the 12-50 Kit lens can be, under varying conditions, and with various camera settings, and most are with no Art Filters applied, with the exception of a few. If I have forgotten a few caveats, please forgive me. It's very late in the morning.

A TRUE VINTAGE! Obviously, not crashed!

A 'Hide-Away' Crab Joint!

A TOTAL non-Macro user's experience with the 12-50 OM-D Kit Lens!

Macro Flower Shot (Please NOTE: I AM NOT NOT NOT A MACRO SHOOTER)

 

[Dream Merchant]

A couple more VINTAGE Shots.

[/CENTER]

 

[Dream Merchant]

 

[ed9119]

where is this joint ?

 

[Dream Merchant]

where is this joint ?

Ed, Yio Chu Kang Road, just opposite the Serangoon Sports Complex. Place is called 'Crab Party'. Can't miss it! It GLARES right across the road at night! Google Map key in 'Crab Party Yio Chu Kang Road Singapore'

 

[Dream Merchant]

Some more photos from the 12-50mm OM-D Kit Lens:

Guess who was the real inspiration behind this high-end boutique's poster model?

Funky Funky Pop Art colours PLUS Starburst effect!

ISO 2500 so clean, so rich, so clear, yet natural ... that is the rendition of the OM-D 12-50 Kit Lens!

 

[Dream Merchant]

The Rise of the Cyborgs. Yeah, corny I know, but look at the rendition!

A Virtual Hell for High ISO and Noise capabilities of a camera. Apparently, and also from other reports, the OM-D handles it very well!

Once again, look at the way the OM-D and 12-50 Kit Lens renders this image!

REDs, Blues and Greens were an Olympus Singature!

H&M, at Night.

 

[Dream Merchant]

The OM-D on AUTO WB handles it fine!

Another interesting Auto WB shot

So subtle and yet so richly hued!

Some more Vintage shots!

 

[Dream Merchant]

Moving over to Clark Quay ... a Straight Reference shot.

Macro mode on the Olympus 12-50mm Kit Lens. The 'purplish reflectios were from the scene, and not CA.

Such Beautiful hues!

 

[Dream Merchant]

One of Clark Quay's stalls

A sweeping statement

Guard at the 'Forbidden City'

Normal mode

Moderate Close Up Mode (Macro)

 

[Dream Merchant]

Moderate Extreme Close-Up Mode (Macro)

Chinese Restaurant Sing-Board (Macro)

You guys know this one!

Reminds me of 'Bumble Bee!'

A wider shot

 

[Dream Merchant]

Final Shot of Clark Quay. Not a HDR shot. One File only.

 

[Dream Merchant]

Moving on to Lau Pa Sat, let the files show you how they can perform from the OM-D and just the 12-50mm Kit Lens!

Honestly, a virtual hell for any camera's Auto WB! The OM-D did it fine.

Again, challenging the OM-D and Kit Lens's Auto WB and rendition.

BBQ Seafood anyone?

 

[Dream Merchant]

And after all the time taken to grab these photos ... some food! Again, these were all taken with the Olympus 12-50mm Kit Lens. Not a bad performer at all!

A Wasibi Prawn Salad with a Fusion Asian Twist - Ultra Crispy 'Tempeh'!

A Beautiful 'Summer Salad with Strips of Grilled Sirloin!

Desserts anyone? Mango Macaroons with a Mango and Orange Mouse! Truly delectable!

 

[Dream Merchant]

And as a finale to the Food Shots, some beautifully created Pizzas, and our very one delicious 'Satay' (on video).

[video=youtube;XNkHLJh3PGs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNkHLJh3PGs&feature=g-upl[/video]​

EDIT: HORRENDOUS YT COMPRESSION!!! GRRR!!!!! The Original was so much clearer! You could even see clear definition of the 'chao tar' marks!


Whether you keep the 12-50 Kit Lens, or not, I hops these photos will allow you to re-assess the desirability and ability of this lens, and especially since you can easily 'UP' the ISO to compensate for the slowness of the lens.

CHEERS!

 

[Dream Merchant]

This would conclude the 12-50mm KIT Lens only section. I was glad I decided to take the Kit lens out and for the most part, shoot with only that lens. Not only do you get to know the lens better, including it's strengths and weaknesses, but it is really quite a versatile lens if I may say so!

Yes, it's slow, and there's no denying it, but unlike other camera lines where sometimes lens categories tend to fall or be perceived as SLOW=consumer/beginner's lenses, and FAST=Professional lenses, the Olympus 12-50mm Kit Lens has proven itself very worthy.

I guess I hardly test for CA nowadays, but the sun was lovely as I was walking to Chinatown, and CA tests smacked me in the face!

TESTED WIDE OPEN.

 

[Dream Merchant]

Interesting 'Characters' around China Town!

And the usual ... (MACRO SHOT)

First time I saw someone rearranging his dish before a snapshot!

A Tribute to the unsung Heroines!

 

[Dream Merchant]

What would Chinatown shots be without the Indian Temple?

Simply gorgeous renditions!

MACRO Mode

Another MACRO shot

And the Last. On the whole, considering it's a really compact 3X zooming ratio with FULL Internal AF,
it's quite a feat that Olympus Engineers have incorporated a very near MACRO Mode into this lens!

 

[Dream Merchant]

Slow lens? Just UP the ISO! No problem! ISO 8000, and you guys know how this door lurks in dingy darkness, especially towards the evening!

Oh, I forgot, another MACRO Shot, this time of a 'Bone' carved knife sheath.

Of course, what would Chinatown be without food shots? Just a simple shot of a traditional candy and preserved fruits seller.

This form of 'Street Food' seems to have gotten a grip on almost the entire Chinatown, with stalls sprouting up everywhere!

$1.50 for a HUGE SLAB of flour, brushed with a thick sauce and sprinkled with spring onions! Sounds like a heavenly carbo-filled snack!

END OF KIT-LENS ONLY SECTION.