OM-D Art Scene Portraits

[Johnmcd]

Just mucking around with Art scenes and OM lenses. My daughter and son were over for dinner and while we were chatting after, I took a number of unposed portraits from across the table. After a while I switched to the 'grainy film' filter and was very pleased with the results. No PP except for resize and unsharp.

First some colour to set the scene.

24/2.8 @ 1600 iso



50/1.4 @ 1600 iso



Grainy Film







Sepia





Cheers - John

[Keith]

John ... you do realise this is being a little unfair to the people who can't get their hands on an OMD currently.

Yay! My battery grip is on it's way and should be here next week.

[Keith]

The other thing I've noticed is I'm starting to get used to the MFT format ... I particularly like portrait orientation. My initial reaction was to keep cropping back to the conventional 35mm format but I'm warming to the camera's native output.

[Johnmcd]

Originally Posted by Keith

John ... you do realise this is being a little unfair to the people who can't get their hands on an OMD currently.

Yay! My battery grip is on it's way and should be here next week.

Hi mate. Yeah, I suppose so

Pleasantly surprised at not only the quality of the results but the ease of use. I think somebody has said this before, but the camera just does not 'get in the way'. These shots were taken as we chatted. So relaxed and easy.

The ease of manual focus is the biggy for me. The 24/2.8 is nice and sharp wide open, so it looks like I got myself a '50mm'.

[donz]

now maybe this one is the best bet ...I tried them both OMD and XPRO 1
i think i like the OMD with the Grip on!

time to save up !

thanks for the pic john

[boomguy57]

The second preset is far too contrasty for my taste, but maybe that's just a personal preference.

[Harry Caul]

Originally Posted by boomguy57

The second preset is far too contrasty for my taste, but maybe that's just a personal preference.

There are actually two grainy B&W options... Grainy Film I and Grainy Film II. The second one is not so aggressive. Also, if you shoot RAW + jpeg you can go back and apply any filter you want either directly on the camera or on the computer.

Some photographers may turn their nose up at the art filters, but I find them a great asset. And the processing is instant on the OMD. I used Grainy Film quite a bit on my E-P2, but it took about 2 seconds to process each shot (locking up the camera in the meantime) after you took it. With the OMD I can snap away with any of the filters with zero lag.

[PaulW128]

You guys are making it very difficult for me to continue to try to ignore the OMD. It keeps pulling me in, calling my name.

And you guys are NOT helping!!

Paul

[boomguy57]

Originally Posted by Harry Caul

There are actually two grainy B&W options... Grainy Film I and Grainy Film II. The second one is not so aggressive. Also, if you shoot RAW + jpeg you can go back and apply any filter you want either directly on the camera or on the computer.

Some photographers may turn their nose up at the art filters, but I find them a great asset. And the processing is instant on the OMD. I used Grainy Film quite a bit on my E-P2, but it took about 2 seconds to process each shot (locking up the camera in the meantime) after you took it. With the OMD I can snap away with any of the filters with zero lag.

I wasn't turning my nose up at them...to each is/her own, really. And it wasn't anything against the shots themselves, either; really it was just a comment on the art filter itself from my personal view.

[Trius]

It seems the Zuikoholic club is developing a second chapter ...

[Harry Caul]

Originally Posted by boomguy57

I wasn't turning my nose up at them...to each is/her own, really. And it wasn't anything against the shots themselves, either; really it was just a comment on the art filter itself from my personal view.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. My first paragraph was in response to you to let you know there are less aggressive (i.e. slightly less contrasty) modes.

The second paragraph was just a general comment on art filters. It wasn't directed at you and I didn't take your comment as critical of Olympus for including them. I just have read surprisingly critical comments in the past from people who brushed them off as gimmicks.

[soelin]

Originally Posted by Keith

John ... you do realise this is being a little unfair to the people who can't get their hands on an OMD currently.

I bought the OM-D and X-Pro 1 at the same time. I sold the OM-D after a few days because I had an E-PM1. Funny thing is, I placed an ad for the set in Boston Craigslist, priced at $1200 and no one bought it. So, I sold it through RF Forum (here).

A couple of months later, I realized what I was missing, so I ended up purchasing one again. I have a great relationship with the local camera store (in Boston) and they were able to get the OM-D (silver with 12-50 lens) TWICE for me in 2 months time. If possible, order through your local store and chances are you'll get your hands on one quicker than ordering through large online retailers.

It's an amazing camera!

[Johnmcd]

I must admit I have never been a fan of these filters on my E-P1 but my partner used them all the time.

It just seemed to suit the moment and I was pleasantly surprised with the look. For some people who spend a huge amount of time trying to get that effect, it's nice to know that the camera makes a very quick and interesting alternative. And of course, not to every ones taste.

Perhaps the point I was trying to make is that I'm pretty happy with a couple of very impromptu portraits with no set up and existing light and old zuiko lens - and the OM-D just performed it with ease.

[Johnmcd]

Originally Posted by Keith

The other thing I've noticed is I'm starting to get used to the MFT format ... I particularly like portrait orientation. My initial reaction was to keep cropping back to the conventional 35mm format but I'm warming to the camera's native output.

Not that far from the 6x7 aspect which I am used to.

[daveleo]

Good to see some folks experimenting.
Like everyone else, I like some of these more than others, but I really like #5 . . . the process brings out the expression !

Also like the colors in the first few in that the camera even captured the greenish tint on her face due to local reflections. Was the camera on Auto WB or did you set it manually?

[Johnmcd]

Originally Posted by daveleo

Good to see some folks experimenting.
Like everyone else, I like some of these more than others, but I really like #5 . . . the process brings out the expression !

Also like the colors in the first few in that the camera even captured the greenish tint on her face due to local reflections. Was the camera on Auto WB or did you set it manually?

I set it manually to incandescent. Probably not exact and there was a large yellow bag that you can see the edge of. I think the auto's choice was too warm.

I'm not sure of my favourite. I love the distinct eyes but then again the one where she is looking down is probably the one I keep coming back to.

Cheers - John

[kuzano]

Olympus introduced the art filters some time ago. Couple of years. The use of these filters have always been optional on any image captured. I think the Art filter first came on the E30 DSLR, or possibly on the E620. Continued on most or all of the PEN m4/3.

It's always fascinated me at the fuss they created, and yet many people work long and hard to create those same effects in Post Processing.

Don't like them.. don't use them.

The presence of the Art Filters does not detract from an already phenomenal camera. That's true on their presence on the last few PEN models and a couple of OLY DSLR models.

One nice aspect of the art filters is that they allow a significant head start on Post Processing for each affect, and then they can still be manipulated in PP on the computer.

I think they are well thought out and excellent in application IN the camera.

Olympus came up with a great in camera tool with the Art Filters. Various models for the last couple of years have had varying numbers of these filters built in, based on model level. "Yes Agnes, you can even get the Art Filters on the lowly E-PL1, 2 and 3 PEN models".

Good examples here. Thanks.

[heed]

I enjoy shooting in the B&W art filter because the extra contrast aids in focusing my legacy lenses when using the back OLED.

I prefer Nik for making the B&W's from raw, though. I guess I really am weird.

[robert blu]

Originally Posted by PaulW128

You guys are making it very difficult for me to continue to try to ignore the OMD. It keeps pulling me in, calling my name.

And you guys are NOT helping!!

Paul

No,not helping !
robert

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Trius

It seems the Zuikoholic club is developing a second chapter ...

You may be right Earl!

And it's very different to the fuss over the Xpro where there's this constant bickering over what the camera can and can't do and a lot of people entering threads purely to express their dislike of the camera or their disappointment.

So far ... the OMD threads do seem to be a bit of a love fest!

After seeing the images John has been posting of late I've changed my tune about about using legacy lenses on it and have ordered an OM to MFT adapter!

[darya150]

I really like photos 4,5, and 6- never knew those art filters were that good! I am pretty new to rangefinder forum. I've been reading the commentary about the OMD EM5 with avid interest. I also read Ming Thein's blog, and he also gives the OMD excellent marks, accompanied by examples. The only thing stopping me from getting one, and this may sound ridiculous when so much is right about that camera, but the evf is really hard on my eyes. Have any of you focused using the lcd? Do you have any suggestions for me?

[heed]

Originally Posted by darya150

I really like photos 4,5, and 6- never knew those art filters were that good! I am pretty new to rangefinder forum. I've been reading the commentary about the OMD EM5 with avid interest. I also read Ming Thein's blog, and he also gives the OMD excellent marks, accompanied by examples. The only thing stopping me from getting one, and this may sound ridiculous when so much is right about that camera, but the evf is really hard on my eyes. Have any of you focused using the lcd? Do you have any suggestions for me?

I mainly use the LCD (actually it's an OLED) for shooting, even with legacy lenses. I've set the Fn2 button on the top plate to Zoom, so I hit it twice to zoom in on the center (or wherever I want) for fine focusing. Then I can hit it again to zoom back out and recompose or just click the shutter if I don't need to. You can even change the size of the zoomed area. It's very intuitive and fast once you get the hang of it.

As for the "OM-D lovefest", we all have our niggles; it's just that there are some many amazing aspects of the OM-D that it easily overcomes the negatives. My negatives are all aspects of positive design directions: size is slightly TOO small: I don't have huge hands, but sometimes I have a hard time gripping it; camera is TOO customizable: I'm used to an old Canon EOS DSLR and a rangefinder, plus two OM's, and this thing has 18 pages of custom functions(!!); buttons feel squishy, but it's because of the weather sealing.

[darya150]

Thanks, very helpful.