This article shares a selection of images captured handheld using the E-M1X’s Bird AI with the M.Zuiko 75-300 mm f/4.8-6.7 II zoom lens.

Using this particular M.Zuiko zoom lens with an E-M1X camera body may seem like an odd pairing. I used this combination specifically to test whether the E-M1X’s Bird Detection AI would make any noticeable difference to image sharpness. The M.Zuiko 75-300 mm f/4.8-6.7 II is quite a competent lens, especially for its size/price. Having said that, it is the least sharp M.Zuiko lens that we own.

It occurred to me that shooting with this lens wide open, fully extended to 300 mm (efov 600 mm), when using Bird Detection AI, would be an interesting observational test. Typically shooting wide open at maximum focal length with any long telephoto zoom lens challenges it to the maximum.

All of the images in this article were shot handheld on a predominantly overcast day. I did not do anything special to these photographs in post and utilized my standard bird settings. In fact, I actually did less than I normally would do with bird images in post with most of the photographs displayed in this article. 

Let’s have a look at a selection of photographs. These images are representative of both the species I often photograph, and shooting distances I typically use for this subject matter.

Obviously this is not a scientific test, but rather an observational exercise. None-the-less I found it very instructive.

I was surprised with how much of a difference using the E-M1X’s Bird Detection AI technology made to the sharpness of the images I captured with the M.Zuiko 75-300 mm f/4.8-6.7 II zoom. Not only was there a noticeable difference to my eye, but I ended up doing less in post than I normally would, simply because the extra work was not needed.

Based on this little exercise, it seems logical to me to think that a photographer using the E-M1X’s Bird Detection AI technology would get better results from any given telephoto zoom lens, than they would using the traditional auto-focus system on another M4/3 camera body when photographing perched birds.

Some folks may wonder why I almost never mention M4/3 gear other than Olympus. I have limited experience with Panasonic cameras, but did own a Panasonic GH4 for a short period of time before I returned it for a refund. One of the main reasons for that decision was the auto-focusing performance that I experienced with the GH4 when attempting to photograph perched birds. It was simply unacceptable and noticeably inferior to the Nikon 1 V2 bodies I was using at the time. This was especially true in lower light situations.

It has been recognized for a long time that lenses perform to different levels depending on the body with which they are tested. This small exercise indicates that new imaging technology in the firmware of a camera can also have an impact.

Technical Note

Photographs were captured hand-held using camera gear and technology as noted in the EXIF data. Images were produced from RAW files using my standard process. Crops are noted where appropriate.

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