Owners of the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and OM-D E-M1X cameras can now experience improved performance on their devices with the firmware updates just released for both cameras. Now available for download are Version 1.1 for the OM-D E-M1X and Version 3.0 for the OM-D E-M1 Mark II. Also available is an updated Version 1.1 of the Olympus Workspace software. Users can now access these version updates and download them for free from Olympus’ support pages.
The E-M1 Mark II and E-M1X are the two professional members of Olympus’ OM-D series, which are turning out to be worthy contenders in the increasingly crowded mirrorless camera market. The new version updates bring a long list of interesting enhancements to each camera.
The firmware updates put the E-M1 Mark II, released in 2016, effectively on par with the company’s 2019 flagship camera – the E-M1X. With the update, the E-M1 Mark II now uses the same autofocus system algorithm as that of the E-M1X. Olympus says that the autofocus system algorithm was developed to meet the shooting needs of professional photographers.
Firmware Updates Improve Performance for the E-M1 Mark II and E-M1X
For one, the firmware update dramatically improves the autofocus performance and overall image quality of Olympus’ E-M1 Mark II. Additionally, the camera’s AF Target mode includes Group 25-point support which aids better capturing of birds and other small subjects.
C-AF Center Priority, which continually repeats the autofocus with the center point in Group 5-point, Group 9-point, or Group 25-point modes as a priority, is now available. This means that the peripheral points in the group area assist when AF is not possible on the center point; this is great for capturing fast-moving subjects.
There’s also the C-AF+MF1 which supports the fine-tuning of the desired focus while in C-AF by instantly switching to manual focus (MF) with a turn of the focus ring. In addition to improving the performance in photographing fast-moving subjects, autofocus precision for stills when using S-AF is also improved for various subjects when compared to the OM-D E-M1 Mark II’s Version 2.3 formware. Using data from the On-chip Phase Detection AF Sensor leads to an enhanced video AF performance.
Additional Features
Photographers can now work with a -6 EV (ISO 100 equivalent for S-AF) low-light autofocus when using an f/1.2 lens for really dark scenarios. The availability of Low ISO (Detail Priority) processing will enable photographers to record finer details with minimal noise.
In addition to the enhancements on operability, other new modes help to further customize shooting and ease the work. Examples include the inclusion of Anti-flicker mode, ISO L100, OM-Log400, and much more.
The Olympus Workspace image editing software update also has some useful new functions. Focus stacking, for instance, helps to combine composite images shot in Focus Bracketing. Lighten Composite and Darken Composite options make images similar to Live Composite on your camera.
The USB RAW Data Edit is to enable speedy processing of raw data by using the TruePic VIII image processor of a connected camera. To top it all off, both the E-M1 Mark II and E-M1X support the new functions of the Olympus Workspace update. Olympus says that the new version reduces the noise from shooting at high ISO sensitivity by ⅓ when compared with OM-D E-M1 Mark II Firmware Version 2.3.
