The OM System OM-1 has always been one of the most exciting cameras of the year, and it seems to have heeded that hype. But does it measure up to its more natural rival, the excellent Fujifilm X-T4? Both cameras are smaller and more affordable than their full-frame rivals, so we've compared their specs to see which you should buy.
The OM System OM-1 and Fujifilm X-T4 are mirrorless cameras designed for shooting stills and videos. But there are also important differences. The X-T4 is much older, having launched in February 2020, while the OM-1 landed on February 15, 2022. And while Fujifilm's camera has a larger APS-C sensor, its rival from the OM system brings the first "stacked". Four Thirds. chip.
The latter is key to some performance improvements that OM System says will help the OM-1 close the gap in sensor size with APS-C rivals (such as the X-T4) and even full-frame cameras. , whose sensors are four times larger. .
While we'll have to do some extensive testing with the OM-1 to see if it can back up these claims, a spec-based comparison with the X-T4 is still an eye-opening way to tease out the key differences between them. powerful mirrorless cameras. If you're looking for a versatile hybrid, both are likely to be good companions, but which one suits your needs better?
Award
There's a big price difference between these two cameras, partly due to their relative age, which could influence one or the other.
The OM System OM-1 'Olympus' will be available to buy in early March for £2,199 / £1,999 / AU$3,299 for the body only. That's a pretty big jump from its natural predecessor, the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, which launched for $1,799 / £1,599 / AU$3,099 in 2020.
Meanwhile, the Fujifilm X-T4 launched for $1,699 / £1,549 / AU$2,999 in 2020. But now you can find it for around 10% less than that, making it good value for money on the market. world without a mirror
The OM-1, however, comes with a new 'stacked' sensor which adds to its cost, but brings some advantages in burst shooting and computational tricks, as we'll see.
Design, EVF and Battery
The OM-1 and X-T4 are relatively small weather-sealed mirrorless cameras with fully articulating touch screens, but there are subtle differences between their designs.
The OM-1 is slightly lighter, weighing 599g with battery and memory card, compared to 607g for the X-T4. And while both chambers are roughly the same width and height, the OM-1 is deeper thanks to its thicker grip. If you shoot a lot with longer lenses, the OM system may be more comfortable in your hand.
When it comes to the electronic viewfinder (EVF) and the rear touchscreen, the OM-1 has the upper hand as it is the newer camera. OM System's camera features a 5,76 million-dot electronic viewfinder at 0,83x magnification, which is brighter and larger than the X-T3,69's 4 million-dot viewfinder at 0,75x magnification. of 3x. Both cameras have a rear 1,62-inch, XNUMX million-dot touchscreen.
OM System OM-1Fujifilm X-T4Size134,8mm x 91,6mm x 72,7mm134,6mm x 92,8mm x 63,8mmWeight599g (with battery/SD card)607g (with battery/SD card )EVF5,76 m dots, 0,83x3. 69 million points, 0,75x Battery Life (CIPA Rated) 510 shots 500 shotsBoth cameras are weather resistant, making them ideal companions for shooting outdoors. On paper, the OM-1 might have a slight edge thanks to its official IP53 rating, which is a first for a mirrorless camera. However, this rating, which means it is highly resistant to splash water, dust, and extreme cold, only applies when the camera is used with the new 12-40mm f/2.8 II or 40-150mm lenses. f/4. With all other lenses, the rating drops to IPX1.
It is difficult to compare this waterproofing to the X-T4 as Fujifilm does not provide an official rating for their camera. However, like the OM-1, it can survive temperatures down to -10°C and is 63-point sealed to keep it dust and moisture resistant. In our experience, the X-T4 is capable of surviving all but the most extreme shooting situations, but the OM-53's new IP1 lens and camera combinations may give it a slight advantage in terms of ruggedness.
Finally, both cameras have similar battery life, based on their CIPA ratings; the OM-1 can go on for up to 510 shots, the X-T4 manages 500 shots in "normal" mode (or 600 in "Economy" mode). Both cameras also support USB charging from PD-compatible power banks, though the OM-1 can keep running while charging (something the X-T4 can't). If you tend to take long shots, you can also buy battery grips for both cameras.
In general, these two cameras have similar designs, with the OM-1 ahead on paper due to its new EVF and strong weather sealing. But they also offer different shooting experiences, with the X-T4's more dial-centric approach best for those who prefer a retro, tactile shooting experience.
Features and autofocus
The Fujifilm X-T4 has a larger sensor than the OM-1, allowing it to preserve image quality in low light, but that larger sensor and its age mean the OM system camera can offer tricks calculation and more powerful burst shots. This means the OM-1 leans more towards software tricks like LiveND, while the X-T4's in-camera processing is more about adding a film-era look to your photos with its film simulations. .
Both cameras have powerful built-in image stabilization systems (IBIS) that rival the latest full-frame cameras. The OM-1 promises seven stops of compensation from your camera body, or eight stops with compatible lenses. On paper, that's slightly better than the X-T4, which can max out at six and a half stops of stabilization with all 18 lenses supporting that upper limit. Fujifilm's other lenses vary between five and six stops when used with the X-T4, which is still enough to let you shoot with slow shutter speeds handheld or eliminate micro-jitters in video.
The OM-1 also has the upper hand when it comes to burst rate of fire. When using its electronic shutter, you can shoot at 50 frames per second with full autofocus and auto exposure. The caveats here are that this is only possible with six OM System Pro lenses, and that the OM-1's buffer also fills up after 96 raw files in this mode (less than two seconds of shooting). If you don't mind locking your autofocus on the first frame, you can even go up to 120fps, which we only saw on the Nikon Z9.
By comparison, the Fujifilm X-T4's continuous shooting is a bit more modest, but it's still perfectly capable of tracking most moving subjects. Its faster 30fps frame rate results in a 1,25x crop, bringing the sensor size closer to the OM-1's Four Thirds chip, and the buffer can only swallow 33 raw files at those speeds. Even at top speeds of 15fps with its mechanical shutter, the X-T4's buffer will last less than three seconds.
OM System OM-1Fujifilm X-T4IBIS8 stops (with compatible lenses)6,5 stops (with compatible lenses)Maximum burst shooting speed (buffer)50fps (96 raw/97 JPEG)30fps (33 raw/60 JPEG)Shooting in burst (mechanical shutter) 18fps15fpsIt's a bit difficult to compare autofocus systems without side-by-side testing, but the OM OM-1 system was definitely a step up from the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III on which it's based. That's largely thanks to the Quad Pixel AF system made possible on the OM-1's new Quad Bayer sensor, giving you 1,053 cross-type autofocus points.
OM System says it has also improved the face and eye detection algorithms in the OM-1, while the list of subjects it recognizes for tracking is longer than the X-T4's; you get animals, birds, cars, planes, helicopters, and even trains. The X-T4, on the other hand, has 425 phase-detection focus points and generally locks on and tracks moving subjects well, but lacks the subject-tracking powers of the OM-1.
The software features of the two cameras also reflect their different styles. The OM-1 has many computing features that make it a good choice for those who prefer not to carry additional accessories such as tripods and ND filters. Its LiveND feature, for example, now digitally simulates ND filters with a strength of up to ND64 (that's six stops), which is great for blurring moving water. Other features are also included, such as Live Composite (for freehand light painting and long exposures) and High Resolution Shot Mode (which combines multiple shots to give you a 50MP file).
By contrast, the Fujifilm X-T4 is a much more traditional camera, offering fewer in-camera processing options, but satisfying moviegoers with its Film Simulation modes. These are based on movies from his past and are a fun way to get jpegs of characters right out of the camera.
Image and video quality
Judging the respective image and video quality of the OM-1 and X-T4 will require more real-world testing, but we can make broad comparisons based on their specs. In short, the X-T4 offers higher resolution 26MP stills from a larger sensor, although it's a bit more complicated than that.
The OM-1 brings the world's first "stacked" Four Thirds sensor and OM System claims this enhances its photographic performance to the levels of APS-C and even full-frame sensors. This sensor apparently offers an extra stop in dynamic range and a two stop increase in noise performance, compared to the E-M1 Mark III.
We're keen to see if these claims hold up in reality, but at the very least it means we should see improved ISO performance approaching APS-C cameras like the X-T4. That would be very welcome, as low-light performance was one of our biggest complaints with cameras like the E-M1 Mark III; on this model, we even found shots at ISO 3200 that showed a significant drop in quality.
The X-T4, on the other hand, is better known: its 26,1 MP X-Trans IV BSI has long been our favourite...