Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark III
Could computational photography rescue MFT?
ON 12 October 1919, in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo in Japan, the Takachiho Seisakusho company was founded. In 1921, it introduced the Olympus label for its optical products, and in 1949 changed its name outright to Olympus Optical Co Ltd. Thus was born one of the best-loved brands in photography.
This, of course, means that 2019 will mark Olympus’s centenary. It probably explains why 2018 has been a quiet year for the firm, with just the entry-level PEN E- PL9 being released. Quiet spells like this usually indicate feverish activity behind the scenes.
Last year we hoped for an OM- D E- M5 Mark III, and I’m guessing it’ll be the next model to arrive, in time for the CP+ 2019 trade show in Yokohama in February. Then in October, to celebrate the centenary itself, it would be time for a new flagship: the OM- D E- M1 Mark III.
Image quality is key
The E- M1 Mark II is a staggeringly good camera, and it’s difficult to see how Olympus might improve it. Adding an AF joystick is pretty much essential, and it would be great to have easier access to the camera’s more advanced features. But the biggest issue the company needs to address is the imagequality disadvantage of the smaller sensor. Using a back-illuminated design to capture more light would be one solution, as would be the ability to use lower native sensitivities than ISO 200. However the most radical solution would be to implement the kind of multi- exposure computationalphotography techniques seen on the latest smartphones, that can radically improve the image quality. In other words, the muchanticipated handheld high-resolution multi-shot mode.
Of course, I would also love to see a full-frame model that looks like an OM- 4Ti. Sadly, Olympus is adamant that this won’t happen. But we can still dream.