Article LinkGreat review, Jon. You reminded me of the many positives that I’ve simply gotten used to with OM.
It looks like OM System has created another great creative-oriented, advanced, lightweight body, ideal for travel and street use. I only wish they had put the various Computational Modes onto a dial for easy selection.
However, I think your only criticism—location of the ON/Off switch on the left side—is perhaps overstated. "
But sometimes, it’s the smallest details that can make or break a love affair with a camera.” Really? A love affair, or not, is based on one feature? A feature that a non-OM user wouldn’t be used to in the first place? And, "
The OM-3’s left-side power button completely disrupts this dance [of street photography]”. Actually it doesn’t at all because once you turn it on for the day, you can leave it on . . . read on . . .
I think the opinion you gave of someone unfamiliar with OM not knowing where the on/off is located, is about as relevant as say, a driver, new to a car, not knowing which side the gas goes in. Think of the last time you rented a car and went to fill it up for the first time. Once you know where it is, you know where it is. BTW, with OM, it becomes intuitive: just turn it on when you’re going shooting and leave it on, because . . .
The concern about leaving the camera ’ON’ and running the battery down is unfounded. The ’fourth compromise’ (the one you didn’t mention) is, in fact, no compromise at all—it’s the way we OM shooters work! Set the camera's SLEEP MODE! There's an option of 1, 3 and 5 minutes and off. So, it is not a "
missed opportunity for right-handed shooters". But I get it, you’re a newbie to OM!
We won't hold it against you!
I’ve had my OM-1 ’ON’ all day, letting it sleep between shooting and the battery (same BLX-1 battery as OM1ii, OM-3 and OM-5, which should also be pointed out) is not drained. Touching the shutter release brings it back to life in the time it takes to raise the camera to my eye. I’ve left the camera ’ON’ overnight with virtually no battery drain (too small to notice) as it automatically went into its usual sleep mode.
Even today, I was out shooting in –5°C cold for a couple of hours of sporadic use and battery use was 6%.
Anyway—thought it might be helpful to clarify.
Cheers,
Terry
