First hour of shooting my new om5 mark ii in Hongkong.
Really loving this small, terrible low light performance camera. Insanely good colors and the perfect amount of grain for my taste.
Photos shot in RAW with very little edits in Lightroom. (Color curves, saturation)
Soo happy I went from Sony to M43!!
Really really happy with my decision to get the OM5 Mark ii with the 14-150mm kit lense.
It was already dark out when I was able to give it a first go and the first shots were terrible. After a while I got a feeling for it and then I just couldn’t stop taking photos.
Images shot in RAW, only tweaked color curves a little bit and added saturation sometimes + vignette. no grain added, only in the bw photo. 25% sharpness level in Lightroom.
I love the bad low light performance. Forces me out of my Sony comfort zone, which is great.
Also I’m really surprised how good the images look straight out of camera. Especially the reds!
Looking forward to testing it in the daytime.
Love this little camera a far.
Regards from Hongkong
Does anyone have experience buying OM System cameras in Japan from stores like Bic Camera, Yodobashi, Map Camera, etc.?
I’m looking at the OM System OM-1 Mark II kit with the 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II lens, and I’m trying to figure out whether the cameras sold in Japan are usually the international/worldwide versions with full language support, including German, or the Japan domestic versions with only Japanese and English.
For example, Bic Camera currently lists the OM-1 Mark II + 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II kit for 358,000 JPY. With tax-free shopping and a 7% coupon, it would come down to around 297,140 JPY / €1,605.
Right now I’m in Hong Kong, where I can get the same kit for around €1,690 new, and that one is definitely the worldwide/multi-language version.
So I’m mainly trying to understand whether buying in Japan makes sense, or whether the lower price only applies to the domestic Japanese version. Has anyone bought OM System or other camera brands in Japan knows how this usually works?
Basically, should I buy it right now in Hongkong, knowing it has the German menu or wait to buy it in Japan cheaper in a few days.
Thanks for reading. :)
Hey,
I’m looking at the OM System OM-1 Mark II kit with the 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II lens.
In Japan, Bic Camera lists it for 358,000 JPY. With tax-free shopping and a 7% coupon, it would be around 297,140 JPY / €1,605.
In Hong Kong, I can get the same kit for around €1,690 new, definitely as the worldwide / multi-language version.
Does anyone know if OM System cameras sold in Japan by stores like Bic Camera, Yodobashi, or Map Camera are usually international versions with German language support, or Japan domestic versions with only Japanese and English?
(1) Budget, country, and currency:
Around €1,600–€1,700. I’m from Germany, currently in Hong Kong, and will be in Japan soon.
(2) What equipment, if any, you have now and why is it no longer meeting your needs?
I currently use Sony gear, but I’m looking for something more fun for photography. I like the OM-1 Mark II’s handling, buttons, ergonomics, and weather sealing.
(3) What kinds of subjects do you intend to shoot?
Travel, street, landscapes, everyday documentary photos, and some video.
(4) Is it primarily for photography, videography, or both?
Primarily photography, with some video.
Hey,
has anyone bought an OM-System Camera in Japan and knows if the version that biccamera shows on their website is the international (with multi language support, German) version or the Japan domestic version (only Japanese and English).
Biccamera Price is 358.000 yen but since I’m a foreigner I get 10% tax refunded and another 7% coupon is available.
Equals: 297.140 JPY (1605€)
It’s not clear visible to me if that is the price for the worldwide version or not though. If it is, I’ll buy it there.
Right now I’m still in Hong Kong and I can buy the same om1 mark ii here with the 12-40 mm F 2,8 Pro 2 lense for 1690€ new. worldwide version with all languages.
(1) Budget, country, and currency:
Ideally under €2,000.
I’m from Germany, but I’m currently in Hong Kong, so I may be able to buy locally and get a better deal.
Currency-wise, EUR or HKD is fine.
(2) What equipment, if any, you have now and why is it no longer meeting your needs?
I currently use Sony gear, including a Sony A7 III and several Sony lenses.
I’ve been shooting for around 14 years. I started with photography, but after 1–2 years I moved heavily into video. I’ve been doing professional video work for about 12 years now — documentary style, commercial work, etc.
The Sony system is technically great, but for photography it feels a bit too clean and boring to me.
My A7 III is also too big to casually carry around. Even something like the A7C II still feels like more of the same to me. And once I put good glass on it, it’s not really that small anymore either.
I want something I actually want to bring with me and take out.
(3) What kinds of subjects do you intend to shoot?
Mostly travel, street, everyday life, people, details, documentary-style photos, and maybe some nature/wildlife/detail shots.
I also like the idea of shooting longer focal lengths sometimes, like 300mm. That’s why Micro Four Thirds seems interesting to me, because of the crop factor and smaller lens sizes.
(4) Is it primarily for photography, videography, or both?
Primarily photography.
Video does not really matter for this camera. I already have Sony gear for professional video work.
I’m mainly looking for a camera that makes photography feel fun again.
Lately, video has started to feel a bit boring to me, and I really want to get back into photography as a hobby.
Not for work. Not for specs. Just for the feeling of going out, carrying a camera, and enjoying the process again.
I want a real “camera feeling” — something physical, fun, and inspiring to shoot with.
What I’m looking for:
Interchangeable lenses
Small enough to want to carry often, but it does not need to fit in my pocket
Good enough image quality, but I care more about the feel of the photos than megapixels
Real camera feeling
Fun to shoot with
Ideally under €2,000
Photography-first
Autofocus does not need to be insane, but it should not be annoying for quick everyday shots
Used or older cameras are totally fine too, even 10–15 years old if they are still worth it.
Right now I’m leaning toward the OM System OM-3.
I like the idea of Micro Four Thirds because the system can stay small, and the crop factor seems useful for longer focal lengths.
The OM-3 also looks like it has the kind of fun, physical, photography-focused feeling I’m looking for.
But I’m unsure.
Some people seem to love the OM-3, while others say it is overpriced or really dislike the layout.
Also, many YouTube reviews feel almost too positive, like everyone is being paid to praise it.
I’ve also considered Fujifilm, especially the X100VI, but the fixed lens is kind of a dealbreaker for me.
I know Fuji colors and recipes are a big part of the appeal, but I’m not sure I want to feel locked into one focal length or into a specific “Fuji look”.
Leica is interesting too, but probably too expensive for what I want right now.
Ricoh GR IV is also interesting, but in my opinion it feels a bit too boring, and again, no interchangeable lens.
What camera would you recommend?
Thanks for reading.