OM System Revelations
The past few days have been quite revealing about the state of the OM System—some of these insights are public, while others are a bit more personal.
The M.Zuiko 50-200 f/2.8 PRO
Let's begin with the elephant in the room: the new M.Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8 PRO lens. I must first extend my sincere thanks to the team at OM System, as I am once again among the fortunate few to have early access to this highly anticipated telephoto zoom. And believe me when I say, it lives up to the hype. While I'm still completing my full battery of tests, what I've seen so far is not just promising—it's groundbreaking. This new lens, which I'll simply refer to as "The APO" for the rest of this post, is a near-perfect optical instrument with flawless apochromatic corrections.
“The APO” as seen from the photographer’s perspective.
From my initial impressions, this lens stands in a class of its own. It's not just a technical marvel in terms of resolving power, aberration correction, and color rendition; it also feels like a spiritual successor to the legendary Four Thirds Top Pro lenses. The optical quality, robust build, and premium price point truly bring back those classic Top Pro vibes. This is a moment I've been waiting for, and it's nothing short of a revelation. Stay tuned for my in-depth review—I promise it will be equally revealing.
Back from the dead: My M.Zuiko 7-14 f/2.8 PRO.
Now for a more personal OM System event: I've done it again. I dropped a lens—this time, my beloved M.Zuiko 7-14mm f/2.8. A fantastic, high-performance lens that I use constantly. Unfortunately, "dropped" is an understatement; in my clumsy attempt to catch it, I accidentally threw it across the room. Shortly after this incident, the mechanical shutter on my OM System OM-5 failed at 44,000 actuations. While that might not sound like many, this camera has been through some incredibly rough conditions, and it seems I was just a bit unlucky.
My “brand new” OM System OM-5 Mark I.
Thankfully, being an OM System PRO Service member gave me hope. And here comes my second revelation: Both the lens, which I had written off as a total loss, and the OM-5, which was still under its two-year warranty, were repaired. In under seven days, including shipping time, their internal components were completely replaced. Both items came back to me like new, perhaps even better, after being personally inspected by an experienced technician. This experience was a stark reminder of why, for me, there is no other option on the market.
OM System forever, and I'll see you soon for my review of "The APO."
