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Re: [OM] Is the OM system dead?

Subject: Re: [OM] Is the OM system dead?
From: Richard Schaetzl <Richard.Schaetzl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 19:45:12 +0100
Ken Norton wrote:

> The viewfinder
> display, although it doesn't show lens opening, is by far the most
> comfortable of any currently produced displays, (however the new EOS-3 may
> challenge that with dual scales showing ambient vs flash lighting).

It´s still on the side of the finder, like it used to be with the EOS-1.
Better than the Nikon ones (not difficult), but rather small and
inconvenient to look at, especially if you are using glasses.
 
> The RGB 3D matrix metering of the F5 has pushed metering technology into a
> new realm that is simply amazing.  It's hard to fool this meter.  It can be
> done, but not easily.  This meter/camera has a very good sense of what is
> going on and rarily lets you down--but does make for lazy photography,
> since you don't have to "gray matter" the image as much.

Ken did you remember the Minolta CLC system?
Every time photo industry has a new type of build-in-meter, they try to
convince us, that it will solve all of our exposure "problems".
If there is one thing A. Adams  has tought us, than there is no such
thing as a "proper" exposure. The photographer is the person who is
responsible for the distribution of highlights, shadows and tonality of
an exposure, by choosing film (and development) and exp. time.
By photographing slides someone will recognise, that there is nearly
always more than one possible and valid exposure, guess why people
bracket ? (Now, that I´v said the unspeakable word, apologies to all)

> The flagship wonderbricks are just that--bricks.  They are built like the
> perverbial brick outhouse--very usable, 

As an former EOS-1 owner, I would call this camera an ergonomicall
accident. I guess the EOS-1n isn´t any better, because the awful way you
change metering pattern, exposure mode and transport speed hasn´t
changed.
Not that Nikons are so much better...

> Anybody who thinks that today's wonderbricks
> are whimpy plasticy feeling disposables hasn't held one of the flagships.
> Granted, a Rebel-X is pretty flimsy, but the EOS-1n sure ain't. 

Yes indeed, for an plastic covered camera (in contrary to a 1000lastic
camera as the Rebel), the EOS-1 is very nice build, but did you test the
DOF preview?
The DOF preview is such an flimsy ramshackle plastic button, you wouldn?t
expect such on a $3000 camera.
On ALL Nikon F cameras the DOF preview works just in two modes, Manual
and Aperture-priority. Pretty bad for plus $3500 cameras.

> But you
> would probably pack the Rebel-X in your knapsack when you are on a light
> hike as it weighs less than a butterfly.  (we have big ones around here-<g> )

My OMs look always a little bit lost in my not-to-big camera bag
(already to big to fit completely under an airline seat). The EOS could
just be crammed in, especially with the motordrive/booster (I had to
remove separators).

I never would take "plastic Rebels" with me, I have OMs.
 
> Much of the Zuiko lineup is competitively priced with
> the latest Canon/Nikon lenses, but the Zuikos are not of current design,
> and many probably are years and years old.

Most of Canons and Nikons high-end lenses are no new designs either.
There are some new designed AF lenses, but they are in tendency of worse
optical quality (no comment necessary on plastic lens mounts). 
 
> Is the OM system dead?  Hardly, but to most professional photographers it
> isn't an option anymore. 

Depends on your application.
For P&S style news photography, some use P&S cameras (aka F5) and get
P&S results.
You guessed it, I´m pretty unimpressed by contemporary news photography,
E.Salomons times are long gone (pre OM).


> Much of my style of photography is pretty old (mid-80's look) and as hard
> as I've tried to adapt the new styles, I come up short because of the
> cameras.  This is not a copout, but the facts.  If I am to succeed as a
> professional photographer I must produce what the market wants--and that
> ain't the mid-80's look.  How much is the photographer and how much is the
> technology?  Go to the art shows, look at Wired magazine, etc., that will
> show you the current "styles."  Now try to produce those styles with an
> OM-1.  Any questions?

Looking at new style photos I notice, that there are many new features,
which are in the majority camera independent. crossprocesing, weird
color films, "ugly" look, sharp-unsharp, blur, casual scenes, at least
that´s what the young wild photographer do (Nadine Goldiner, Tilmanns,
etc.) 

Regards

Richard



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