OM Digital Solutions has announced an update to their lens map, and macro photographers will be excited about what’s there. In addition, they have a new Linear PCM recorder.
I always laugh at the doomsdayers and internet nerds who prophesied the demise of OM Digital Solutions (OMDS) when it split from Olympus. Of course, YouTube videos with negative titles will attract viewers – too many negative people like to promote other people’s misfortune – and more viewers means video producers will be rewarded. pay. Of course they were wrong. That business is growing and some great new kits are coming out of their barn. OMDS has been listening to what customers want and is providing. Now, two new products have been announced that further strengthen their position in the market.
Because of the crop factor, the macro always attracts people according to the Micro Four Thirds standard. Amazing photographers like Geraint Radford and Ethan Beckler use the system. OM Systems already has two macro lenses in their arsenal, 30mm f/3.5 Macro and many admirers 60mm f/2.8 Macro prime lens. But so far, there is no professional macro lens. So they are adding a new macro lens to their lineup: the ED 90mm F3.5 Macro IS PRO.
If you don’t understand macro photography, here is a quick explanation. With real macro, you take a picture where the subject is the same size as the sensor. For example, if you take a picture of a wild elephant, the image on the sensor is much smaller than the elephant itself. If you step closer and capture only its tusk, the image will be magnified, but it will still be smaller. If you move so close that you place a small rectangle of tusk right above the sensor, that’s how a genuine 1:1 macro photo will appear; that’s an extreme close-up. (I don’t recommend this experiment; elephants are unpredictable beasts.)
A lot of so-called macro lenses don’t produce this 1:1 magnification. They only create images that are half, third, or quarter sized, which are 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 respectively.
However, this new telephoto lens has 2x magnification, which is 2:1. So it doubles the 1:1 magnification. Furthermore, and I know there is an old and very sad debate. boring about this with a lot of discussion elsewhere, a double crop factor effectively doubles the magnification again when compared to a full-frame camera. Effectively, it gives a 4:1 magnification compared to a similar lens on a full frame system.
What can we expect from this lens? Firstly, as part of OM-System’s PRO lineup, in addition to having the outstanding image quality expected of any premium lens, it will match IP53 water and dust resistance. unmatched. It is essential for those who go outdoors in any weather to take pictures.
Furthermore, it will feature in-lens image stabilization, which will work in conjunction with in-body image stabilization (IBIS). With the OM-1, we were able to get seven stops of image stabilization with the unstabilized glass. So it will be interesting to see how many more stops are added when using this lens. The OM system already allows focusing in handheld cameras. So this extra stabilization will give macro photographers even more flexibility.
Being telephoto, one wouldn’t have to get close to the subject to achieve 1:1 or 2:1 magnification.
We can also expect the lens to have an all-metal construction unless OM-System decides to use the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic of its flagship lineup. M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO. Either way, this lens will be much smaller and lighter than equivalent lenses on other systems, ideal for macro tasks where compact portability is required.
Something that we should not overlook, it is also a prime telephoto lens. It will have a viewing angle equivalent to 300mm on a 35mm camera. I find that a great focal length for some telephoto wildlife, summary and landscape photography.
With the announcement of this lens, OM System also released its new lens roadmap, details all its current and future models. That suggests two future telephoto zooms, possibly in the 50-200mm range, which I’m very much looking forward to.
Voice Recorder LS-P5
If you shoot video with a camera or smartphone, you know that the sound quality is more important to your audience than the picture. Try watching a video with poor audio and you’ll turn it off. However, viewers will live with a slightly poor image in most situations. That’s where the digital recorder comes into play.
I’m using the now-discontinued Olympus LS-P4, OM SYSTEM LS-P5’s predecessor, for a few years. It’s a compact and versatile device that delivers great results. Recording audio along with video footage on my camera takes audio quality to the next level. In the past, high-quality audio meant bulky equipment, but now broadcast-quality recording is available in a device a little larger than the first two fingers of my hand. It records up to 96 kHz in 24 bit, which is better than what you get from a CD. I use my device not only when I’m recording video, but it’s great for recording interviews, giving results that are much clearer than what I can achieve with my smartphone. me.
LS-P5 is the latest advancement that brings new features to an already feature-rich device.
It has three microphones, and one can change recording from a wide angle to just what’s right in front of you. The microphone is also very responsive, recording sound pressures up to 125 dB, which means you can use it to record at a rock concert or a pneumatic drill without distortion. 125 dB is the starting threshold of the pain threshold for the human ear. It’s also sensitive enough to capture the faintest whispers. 
The LS-P5 has 16 GB of internal memory but can be expanded up to 2 TB with a Micro SD card.
The device also has Bluetooth connectivity, so you can pair it with headphones, thus allowing you to wirelessly monitor what the LS-P5 hears as it records, and it can do this from the device. up to 32 feet. At the same time, the LS-P5 can also connect to an Android or iPhone app, allowing remote access to all the recorder functions.
Although very similar in appearance to the LS-P4, the design difference with the LS-P5 is that instead of a retractable USB-2 plug for attaching to a computer, it has a micro-USB port. to transmit data. You can also use it to charge the IC recorder, and it also functions as a desktop microphone.
With two rechargeable AAA batteries fitted, the LS-P5 has twice the power capacity of the LS-P4.
The unit has a line-in socket, which I use to connect an external microphone, and a line-out socket that also serves as a headphone socket. The output socket can be used to embed the LS-P5’s audio into video.
This recorder is more than just a device designed to appeal to professional audiophiles. Like most cameras, it has different auto modes, making the device easy for beginners. The new Smart mode detects and analyzes room acoustics and sets up the device fully automatically.
Some great videos from Gavin Hoey shows more advanced operations of the OM System LS-P5.
