Seven Year Itch - Small Sensor Photography by Thomas Stirr

The seven year itch is known in popular culture, and is defined as a decline in happiness and an increased divorce risk, after seven years of marriage. When it comes to our relationships with our camera equipment, seven years can seem like an eternity for many photographers.

Many of us don’t make it to seven years with a specific camera system. I know I’ve been guilty of not lasting that long with other digital camera gear I’ve owned in the past as the Siren’s Song lured me.

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OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 40-150 mm f/2.8 with M.Zuiko 1.4X teleconverter @ 210 mm, efov 420 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO-3200

Seven years ago this month I had the opportunity to test out some Olympus camera gear as a participant in the Olympus Pro Loaner Program. This experience was my first exposure to the Olympus M4/3 system. It was a turning point for me.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 12-100 mm f/4 IS PRO @100 mm, efov 200 mm, f/4, 1/60, ISO-5000, Hand-held Hi Res Mode

After just a couple of days of in-field testing, I knew that I had found something very special in terms of a fit with my photographic philosophy, shooting style, and equipment needs.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko PRO 12-100 f/4 IS @ 24 mm, efov 48 mm, f/5.6, 4 sec, ISO-200

It took even less time for me to choose between the E-M1X and the E-M1 Mark II bodies that Olympus had sent me as part of my Pro Loaner gear package. The comfort, handling and ergonomics of the E-M1X were simply remarkable. The camera felt like it had been custom designed for me.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 210 mm, efov 420 mm, f/8.1, 1/2500, ISO-6400, Pro Capture H, subject distance 7 metres

When using a heavier lens like the M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 with the E-M1 Mark II, I experienced cramping in my right forearm within minutes. Given the extended hours that I often spend out in the field with my gear, I quickly assessed that the E-M1 Mark II was a non-starter for me.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 40-150 mm f/2.8 with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 210 mm, efov 420 mm, f/5, 1/2000, ISO-3200

Even though I could have kept the loaner gear for a couple of months under the terms of the pro loaner agreement, I returned it well ahead of schedule. I was completely sold on the system. I didn’t want to deprive other pro photographers of an opportunity to participate in the loaner program.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro with 16 mm Kenko extension tube, f/5.6, 1/800, ISO-6400, Hand-held Hi Res Mode, subject distance 190 mm

When I first bought into the Olympus M4/3 system one of my primary needs was to be able to shoot video in 4K for my industrial safety video clients.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro, f/8, 1/1000, ISO-2500, subject distance 215 mm

It was incredibly liberating to show up for a client video shoot with all of my gear in one medium sized shoulder bag. My car wasn’t jammed full of studio lights and stands. I had no need to bring a number of long extension cords. My selection of tripods, and various camera supports, stayed in my gear closet at home. I could shoot everything handheld in available light. Creative freedom had entered my life.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko PRO 7-14 mm f/2.8 @ 7 mm, efov 14 mm, f/4, 5 seconds handheld, ISO-200

As I began to experiment with my new camera system I kept pushing myself and my gear to learn what was possible. I tried things that seemed impossible… expecting specific experiments to fail. Like shooting an early morning landscape image handheld at 5 seconds.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 @ 115 mm, efov 230 mm, f/2.8, 1 second handheld, ISO-200

Or, photographing a Hamilton steel mill at night… using a focal length of 115 mm (efov 230 mm), an aperture of f/2.8 and a handheld shutter speed of 1 second.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro, f/5.6, 1/30, ISO-200, in-camera focus stacking, subject distance 365 mm

I discovered a deep love of macro photography, and the freedom that came from no longer needing to bring a tripod or other camera support with me. I could explore this photographic genre shooting handheld.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro, f/4.5, 1/250, ISO-200, handheld in-camera focus stacking, cropped to 4774 pixels on the width

I had never used a camera with an articulating rear screen before and had no idea of how much additional photographic potential would be unlocked by using this feature for handheld macro photography.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko PRO 40-150 mm f/2.8 and M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 212 mm, efov 424 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000, ISO-2500, Pro Capture H Mode, subject distance 6.3 metres

Capturing precise moments with my bird photography through the use of computational photography technologies like Pro Capture H became a part of my everyday approach.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/2500, ISO-2000, Pro Capture H mode, subject distance 24.8 metres

I could envision an image in my mind… then confidently transform it into reality with the technology that was resident in my E-M1X camera body.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, +0.3 EV, 1/2500, ISO-1250, cropped to 3373 pixels on the width, Bird Detection AI, Pro Capture L, subject distance 51.3 metres

I had to learn to reorient my approach to capturing birds-in-flight… by waiting for a desired behaviour to occur before I fully depressed my shutter release. For quite a while it felt counterintuitive. Then… it became second nature when using Pro Capture L. Combining it with Bird Detection AI took my photography of birds-in-flight to another level.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 560 mm, efov 1120 mm, f/9, 1/2500, ISO-2000, cropped to 3609 pixels on the width, Pro Capture H, subject distance 4.2 metres

Photographing insects like dragonflies in flight became something I could do with absolute confidence. It took me some time to get used to throwing away hundreds of ‘keepers’ from a photo session and not feeling guilty about it. The simple fact was that I had far too many useable images to keep them all.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 400 mm, efov 800 mm, f/11, -0.3 EV, 1/2500, ISO-3200, Pro Capture H, cropped to 3648 pixels on the width, subject distance 2.9 metres

Now… regardless of the subject matter… once I have a sufficient number of images that I need for a new article or project, I usually discard the balance with only a cursory examination of them.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS with MC-14 teleconverter @ 420 mm, efov 860 mm, f/8.8, 1/2500, ISO-2500, Pro Capture H, cropped to 4099 pixels on the width, subject distance 4.2 metres

I’ve never owned any camera gear before that created such a strong feeling of confidence. Being able to capture the photographs I could see in my mind made my Olympus/OM kit a partner in my creative process… not an impediment.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 Macro PRO IS, efov 180 mm, f/11, -0.3 EV, 1/320, ISO-500, in-camera handheld focus stacking, cropped to 4842 pixels on the width, subject distance 410 mm

I began experimenting with Handheld In-Camera Focusing Stacking when doing macro photography… and fell in love with the technology. It is now used for much of my macro work. I had to overcome my ‘RAW snobbery’ along the way.

Splash from waves hitting retaining wall about to hit my Olympus OM-D E-M1X and M.Zuiko PRO 40-150mm f/2,8 with MC-20 teleconverter

After having my camera gear thoroughly drenched by huge splashes from waves hitting a rock retaining wall along the shore of Lake Ontario, I learned the true meaning and value of weather sealing. The creative freedom it afforded me in inclement weather was wonderful. I could keep creating when other photographers ran for cover.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 PRO IS macro and M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 180 mm, efov 360 mm, f/13, -0.3 EV, 1/2500, ISO-1600, cropped to 2569 pixels on the width, Pro Capture H, subject distance 745 mm

My experimentation grew year after year. I challenged myself to create images that I would have deemed impossible only a few years earlier… like capturing a fly launching into flight.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 PRO IS macro with M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 180 mm, efov 360 mm, f/22, 1/250, ISO-6400, cropped to 4222 pixels on the width, subject distance 315 mm

I kept pushing my new gear simply to see what would happen… like capturing a macro image of a fly using a 2X teleconverter with a 90 mm macro lens, with an aperture of f/22, at ISO-6400.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 75-300 mm f/4.8-6.7 II @ 300 mm, efov 600 mm, f/6.7, 1/8, ISO-500, spot metering, full frame capture, subject distance 5.8 metres

I became spoiled by the outstanding IBIS performance of my E-M1X, regardless of what lens I was using with it. Shooting at an efov of 600 mm at 1/8 of a second was something that I didn’t question… it felt perfectly normal.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 PRO IS macro with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 126 mm, efov 252 mm, f/11, 1/500, ISO-2500, handheld in-camera focus stacking, full frame capture, subject distance 295 mm

It didn’t seem to matter where I was, and what there was to photograph… everything seemed possible.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko PRO 12-100 mm f/4 IS @ 23 mm, efov 46 mm, f/8, -1.0 EV, 1.6 seconds, ISO-500, handheld Live ND

I started using technology like handheld Live ND and experimented with movement in my images.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 391 mm, efov 782 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500, ISO-2500, Pro Capture H, cropped to 4263 pixels on the width, subject distance 9.7 metres

My Olympus/OM gear never got in the way, but rather expanded what was possible for me.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 150 mm, efov 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200, ISO-1250, Pro Capture L, Bird Recognition AI, cropped to 3493 pixels on the width, subject distance 11.4 metres

When camera gear becomes an extension of one’s self, the experience of creating images changes. It doesn’t matter what happens… you just know that you can get your shot.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 PRO IS macro with M.Zuiko MC-14 teleconverter @ 126 mm, efov 252 mm, f/13, 1/400, ISO-6400, handheld in-camera focus stacking, cropped to 4151 pixels on the width, subject distance 350 mm

A lot of things have happened photographically for me since that day back in early May 2019 when the Olympus loaner gear arrived at my home via courier.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 158 mm, efov 316 mm, f/6.3, -0.7 EV, 1/800, ISO-400, Pro Capture L, Bird Detection AI, cropped to 4506 pixels on the width, subject distance 16.4 metres

After all of the time that has passed… and all of the experiences that I’ve had with my Olympus/OM equipment… do I have the seven year itch?

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 600 mm, efov 1200 mm, f/6.3, 1/125, ISO-1250, full frame capture, Handheld In-Camera Focus Stacking, subject distance 4 metres

Nope… I feel like I’m still on my honeymoon. Nothing else interests me in the slightest. Not even newer generation OM bodies. My E-M1X camera bodies deliver the ruggedness, performance, comfort, handling, ergonomics and creative latitude that I need. They have become an extension of my creative self.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 150 mm, efov 300 mm, f/5, 1/100, ISO-6400, full frame capture, subject distance 1.4 metres

As I’ve stated in numerous articles in the past… everyone should choose camera equipment that best meets their needs. Choice of camera gear is an intensely personal decision. This article is not intended to recommend what someone else should buy. It simply chronicles my photographic journey for the past 7 years.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 90 mm f/3.5 IS PRO with M.Zuiko MC-20 teleconverter @ 180 mm, efov 360 mm, f/16, 1/250, ISO-2500, cropped to 3560 pixels on the width, handheld in-camera focus stacking, subject distance 330 mm

I plan to be shooting with my current Olympus/OM system equipment for many years to come. No doubt cameras will continue to evolve with higher density sensors. Better low light performance. And, probably more dynamic range and colour depth.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 macro, f/5.6, 1/60, ISO-200, handheld in-camera focus stacking

Incremental improvements with performance and technology will continue to occur. Lenses will get periodic updates, and new ones will be introduced. Some folks will spend hours debating the relative merits of these changes in photographic chatrooms. Perhaps agonizing about how to spend the money that’s burning a hole in their pockets.

OM-D E-M1X + M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS @ 200 mm, efov 400 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200, ISO-16000, Pro Capture H, cropped to 4153 pixels on the width, subject distance 7.2 metres

I’ll continue to pick up one of my E-M1X bodies and rekindle the creative connection they evoke every time I have one in hand. They enable me to see and capture more of the photographic potential in the world around me. Even when looking through my kitchen window late in the day… and photographing a raptor taking flight at ISO-16000.

Technical Note

Photographs were captured handheld using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. All images were created from RAW files or out-of-camera jpeg files using my standard process in post. This is the 1525 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.

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