Why Shoot With Micro Four Thirds?
Derek Smith • 11 March 2025
Many photographic commentators believed that the Micro Four Thirds small sensor digital camera format was dead and buried, especially after the Olympus brand was hived off to OM Systems, and Panasonic began producing full frame cameras. Lately though, the Micro Four Thirds system has had something of a renaissance, with Panasonic introducing the G9 mark ii, and OM Systems producing a new camera model the OM-3, together with some new lenses. OM Systems are continuing to develop, and innovate, contrary to industry speculation.
My reasons for selling my Fuji X-T3, and buying back into the Micro Four Thirds system, with an OM System OM-1, are threefold; I want to create more landscape photos, macro photos, and some bird photography (not to Harry Kerman’s level but just some passable images). For bird photography I needed a lens with a longer focal length, and for a camera with an APS-C, or full frame sensor, the lenses get heavier, and more expensive. With the Micro Four Thirds OM-1, I have bought a 75-300mm Olympus lens which equates to 150-600mm on a full frame camera, giving the reach that I needed. For landscape photography the OM-1 has in-camera ND filters, and for macro photography the camera has in-camera focus stacking which should come in useful.
The advantages of a Micro Four Thirds system are well documented, lighter compact lenses, with greater depth of field for macro, and wildlife photography. The professional Olympus / OM System cameras are rated IP53 weatherproofed, as are all the “Pro” range of lenses. There are also a dizzying range of lenses from Olympus / OM Systems, and Panasonic.
Choosing my prime lenses for the camera has been relatively straightforward, the Olympus 17mm f/1.8 (34mm full frame equivalent) was a must have, having previously owned this lens, and taken some amazing images with it. The Olympus 45mm f/1.8 was another simple choice for portraiture. However, the Olympus 25mm f/1.8 (50mm full frame equivalent) lens has been a strange choice for me, as I usually prefer a wider focal length of around 40mm full frame, but the detail rendering, and micro contrast of this lens has really surprised me. Choosing a standard focal length “Pro” lens has been much more difficult, I’ve agonised over the Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 “Pro” constant aperture lens, or the Olympus 12-45mm f/4 “Pro” constant aperture lens, finally deciding on the Olympus 12-45mm f/4 as it is smaller, and lighter, and the brighter apertures are provided by the prime lenses.
Owning the camera has been a steep learning curve, there is much to learn, and many buttons, and controls to configure. My post processing workflow has completely changed, the Olympus RAW files contain the Adobe DNG / DCP information, which was not available with Fuji RAW, so I always shot with JPEG on Fuji. Now, I always shoot RAW with the OM-1, the .ORF RAW images download to my laptop at around 20 megapixel, and the files are readily, and quickly processed in Luminar Neo by choosing from the DCP camera profile list. The resulting post processed images look very natural, and organic.
Louth Photographic Society

Chris Birchmore gave an informative, and interesting talk and demonstration of his medium format film cameras. at the beginning of the evening Chris gave a potted history of the origins of the MPP cameras he was showing us. The cameras take a 5 x 4" film stock, and looking at the cameras it seems incredible that photographers in the recent past could take excellent photographs with these. The MPP cameras were often used by the British Armed Forcies during the Second World War, and throughout the 1950s, and 60s, and some of these medium format were still being manufactured in the 1970s. The prints that Chris showed taken with these cameras were of excellent quality, with an amazing depth of field. Many thanks Chris for a fascinating evening.

Good Morning All Last week at the club we held a committee meeting, which was very productive, we made the final arrangements for the exhibition, charity night, and studio evening as well as other items on the agenda. We are holding an Exhibition opening night at Louth Museum on Friday 17th April celebrating 70 years of Louth Photographic Society. There will be a small buffet and cold drinks available, if any member would like to donate a bottle of wine to the occasion please hand it to Harry at one of our club nights. This week, Wednesday 25th March, member Chris Birchmore will be giving us a presentation. The following week is a local competition, with the categoriess of "Local Nature" (up to 25 miles radius from St James church) and "Open" (unlimited mileage) please send your entries to Harry before midnight, Sunday 29th March. Members Steve Chapman will judge the Nature category, and Dave Turner the Open category. Regards Graham

Good Morning All Last week at the club we held our monthly PDI competition judged by Martyn Wrigg, the standard of entries was very high and well done to Tony Gaskins for a first in the Architectural Detail and Derek Smith for his first place in the Open. All the results are on our website under competitions. This week, Wednesday 18th March we will be holding a Committee meeting, just committee members for this one. The following week Chris Birchmore is the speaker for the night. Harry is now accepting entries for the PDI local competition, with the categories of "Local Nature" and "Open". We judge this competition in house so if you would like to judge one of the subjects please let me know. Regards Graham

A PDI (Projected Digital Image) competition was held last night with the categories of "Architectural Detail", and "Open". Martyn Wrigg was our judge for the evening, and he competently judged the submitted images, although he diid surprise with some of his choices of placing, but that's a judges perogative. Martyn complemented members on the quality of the images presented, which had made some of his decisions difficult. First placed was "It's a Fixer Upper" in the Architectural Detail section, and "Dervish Musician" in the Open section. Congratulations to Robin Begley, who as one of our newest members submitted some impressive images, achieving a 3rd place in "Architectural Details", and 2nd in the "Open" category. All the results are now posted to our website Competition page.

Good Morning All Last week at the club member Steve Chapman gave us an insight into his life and especially his time at Ilam Park in Derbyshire photographing for the National Trust. Steve showed us many photographs he had taken of the people involved with the trust and the Peak District. The second half was dedicated to Steve's own work, some superb aircraft photography as well as many other subjects. There is a report on the evening on our blog page. This week, Wednesday 11th March we are holding a PDI competition, with the categories of "Architectural Detail " and "Open" to be judged by Martyn Wrigg of Barton. The following week is a committee meeting for the committee members only on that evening. For newer members we have two committee meetings a year. Regards Graham

Last night Steve Chapman presented a selection of images from his archives. Steve had previously been a volunteer photographer for the National Trust, and he showed many photos from the Ilam Park Estate, Dovedale, it was interesting to see some of the "behind the scenes" photos. The Jacobite reenactment battle scenes were amazing, the uniforms showed great attention to detail, and there were some real characters among the reenactors. After the break Steve showed some of his general photography, he has a great photographic eye, as some of his photos showed with different colours, shapes, and leading lines. Steve has taken many photos of agricultural machinery, and risked life and limb to create some close up aircraft photos. For atmosphere, just look at these horseriders at the top of the hill on a cool early morning. For heartstopping imagery look at these children on the side of a building, the children are photos on the side of the building, however, Steve wasted no time in capturing this stunning image. Many thanks to Steve for a fascinating evening.

Good Morning All Last week at the club I gave you a PDI (Projected Digital Image) presentation showing photographs I had taken on my travels last year, following up with some past and present photographs of Binbrook. I hope you all enjoyed the evening and maybe saw parts of England you hadn't seen before. This week, Wednesday 4th March, our member Steve Chapman will be showing us photographs he has taken. This is Steve's first time showing the club his work so will be a very good night. Harry is now accepting your PDI's for the next competition, with the categories of "Architectural Detail" and "Open". The closing date is Friday 6th March. Regards Graham

It was "President's Night" with Graham Harrison showing some of his images from short breaks, and holidays around the UK. Graham rented a holiday cottage in Newbiggin, Northumberland, and showed many of his photos from that area, including a visit to Lindisfarne, where the castle on the rocky outcrop made for an impressive photo. In Suffolk, Graham visited Pakefield, and photographed the colourful beach huts at the top of the shingle beach, he also showed several photos from the Lake District. One of my favourite photos from last night was St. Mary's Lighthouse, Whitley Bay, with the groins in juxtaposition. Thank you Graham for a very interesting evening.






