Oh......oh...... 🤩 OM-3

[Skygod44]

Still two weeks before release, and I've had my grubby little hands on one.


It's significantly longer than my E-P7, but feels pleasantly "weighty".


All the "OM Systems ambassadors" I've watched have sung its praises internally, but there MUST be an aftermarket leatherette grip available before I buy one.

It's wonderfully balanced in the hand, but there's no chance in a mud-bath that I'd be comfortable holding one as is.

But having said that, aftermarket grips are cheap as chips (a Brit expression; look it up ), so, yes indeed, it shall be mine, in due course.
[Insert very demonic laughter here]

Cheers for now,
Simon

 

[Skygod44]

A couple more snaps.

 

[Sadworld]

Absolutely gorgeous

 

[Joeseph]

Wonder when Canon will make an AE-1 equivalent?

 

[Lester Wareham]

Still two weeks before release, and I've had my grubby little hands on one.
View attachment 142890

It's significantly longer than my E-P7, but feels pleasantly "weighty".
View attachment 142891

All the "OM Systems ambassadors" I've watched have sung its praises internally, but there MUST be an aftermarket leatherette grip available before I buy one.

It's wonderfully balanced in the hand, but there's no chance in a mud-bath that I'd be comfortable holding one as is.

But having said that, aftermarket grips are cheap as chips (a Brit expression; look it up ), so, yes indeed, it shall be mine, in due course.
[Insert very demonic laughter here]

Cheers for now,
Simon

I do like the styling Simon, reminicent of the old film cameras like my old Ftb but with all the modern bells and whistles.

 

[Skygod44]

I do like the styling Simon, reminicent of the old film cameras like my old Ftb but with all the modern bells and whistles.

Based on the original OM-1 from, I think, 1972(?).

Yes.
I think they've cracked it.

There were a LOT of people outside Japan saying that MFT is dead, pointless, too limited, ad nauseam.

But it's massively popular here, so...


All it needs is something for my forefinger to roll onto, and it'll be perfect.

More on the OM-3 later in the year.....

 

[Skygod44]

Well, well, well...
I just checked my local camera shop, and with my points card, the OM-3 has come down from the initial price which equated to about US$2,000 to $1,500.

A bit more, and I could justify it for the potential fun...
...the only fly in the ointment, is that since I restarted with FoPF, I've been using my "almost dead" Olympus OM-D E-M5 mk2 a lot, and the screen issue has gone away, and the on/off lever has stopped being temperamental.

So do I wait....
Or do I sneak a fourth camera body into my "Simon's Toys" room, without telling Missus Skygod mk3?

 

[pauhana]

Did you dive in? Tempting, oh so tempting.

 

[Skygod44]

Did you dive in? Tempting, oh so tempting.

@pauhana

I'd love to, but unfortunately today is the day my car has its obscenely expensive "Government Required Bi-annual Inspection"
Then next month I have to pay the exorbitant "Government Demanded House & Land Tax" bills.
June will be time to pay my son's university investment premium...
...and then, (maybe July or) in August I can justify an OM-3.

"All good things come to those who wait".

Cheers for now,
Simon

 

[Greyswan]

Well, well, well...
I just checked my local camera shop, and with my points card, the OM-3 has come down from the initial price which equated to about US$2,000 to $1,500.

A bit more, and I could justify it for the potential fun...
...the only fly in the ointment, is that since I restarted with FoPF, I've been using my "almost dead" Olympus OM-D E-M5 mk2 a lot, and the screen issue has gone away, and the on/off lever has stopped being temperamental.

So do I wait....
Or do I sneak a fourth camera body into my "Simon's Toys" room, without telling Missus Skygod mk3?

I'm sure that temperamental on/off switch is just biding it's time...

 

[Skygod44]

I'm sure that temperamental on/off switch is just biding it's time...

Possibly.
Probably...

But in fact, I'm just home from seeing another cruise ship, and I sat down, held my E-M5 mk2 in my hand, and said out loud, "Such a great camera...hmmm... "

I bought a bullet train ticket today too, for Saturday's work trip up north, and in the same building is my favourite camera shop...
...so I had another play with the OM-3 too.

I have to say, it is a tiny wee bit bigger than I'd hoped.

If the price drops below ¥200,000 then all the extra bells and whistles would become VERY MUCH "great to have".
But for now, (yes!) my PEN E-PL 8 & E-P7 plus E-M5 mk2 make for an amazingly compact kit.

 

[pauhana]

@pauhana

I'd love to, but unfortunately today is the day my car has its obscenely expensive "Government Required Bi-annual Inspection"
Then next month I have to pay the exorbitant "Government Demanded House & Land Tax" bills.
June will be time to pay my son's university investment premium...
...and then, (maybe July or) in August I can justify an OM-3.

"All good things come to those who wait".

Cheers for now,
Simon

Bi-annual inspection. That’s sounds painful and expensive

I guess it’s good we don’t have a local OM dealer that I couldn’t see and OM-3. I don’t think my wife would understand the importance of another new camera

 

[Greyswan]

Bi-annual inspection. That’s sounds painful and expensive

I guess it’s good we don’t have a local OM dealer that I couldn’t see and OM-3. I don’t think my wife would understand the importance of another new camera

I have to agree, it's probably good for my bank account that local camera shops are no more. No impulse buying! Although irritating when you really need that one piece of equipment.

 

[Skygod44]

Bi-annual inspection. That’s sounds painful and expensive

I guess it’s good we don’t have a local OM dealer that I couldn’t see and OM-3.

Yes. It was expensive. But I knew it was coming, so had planned for it.

I don’t think my wife would understand the importance of another new camera

It's a mystery isn't it?

None of my wives have ever tried to understand why anything I do, is "important".

But as the French say, Vive La Difference.

Catch you soon,
Simon

 

[Skygod44]

The price is coming down...
Looks like ¥500/day.
Or thereabouts.

Another 45 days, and I could consider it...
...but I'll want a spare battery, juicy memory card, and detachable grip.

So let's say 60 days.

 

[Skygod44]

Well, well, well...
...the OM-3 is now available for only ¥201,100 here (equivalent to about US$1,360 / £1,030 / €1,180) and I've realised I don't want one.


I've played with it many times now, in the local photography shops, and although the stacked sensor and many, many upgrades to all my current gear are amazingly tempting, the actual shape is..........
...too close to my Oly E-M5 mk2.

And the faults with that body seem to have been caused by me, not using it enough.

So my gear acquisition syndrome is under control...for now.

BUT, if OM Systems brings out a PEN F Mk2 in 2026...?



Has anyone else decided against a purchase recently?

Cheers for now,
Simon

 

[Wilt]

Well, well, well...
I just checked my local camera shop, and with my points card, the OM-3 has come down from the initial price which equated to about US$2,000 to $1,500.

NYC prices still US$2000 ...we have those pesky tariffs, y'know

 

[Skygod44]

NYC prices still US$2000 ...we have those pesky tariffs, y'know

Well, I'm not going to raise the ugly head of politics here, Wilt.
But in a way, I'm pleased that the release price of the OM-3 was a tad on the high side, because it gave me time to think deeply about which toy, err, I mean, necessary camera body upgrade I should aim for.

And now that my Oly OM-D E-M5 mk2 is behaving itself again, I think I'll wait until something more akin to a PEN F-2 is released.

Cheers for now,
Simon