Olympus updates OM-D range with feature firmware

By Chris Burns/Sept. 15, 2015 10:06 am EST

This week the folks at Olympus have updated a number of cameras with brand new firmware. This sort of thing isn't unheard of in the smartphone or tablet universe – in fact it's expected. In the smart camera environment, on the other hand, it's still sort of new. Olympus appears to be leading the way with their OM-D lineup with two firmware updates that are bringing on advanced macro shooting and video capabilities for their cameras already out in the field.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1, E-M5 Mark II, and a number of lenses will be getting firmware updates starting this November. These updates include firmware Version 4.0 for Olympus OM-D E-M1, firmware Version 2.0 for OM-D E-M5 Mark II, updates to M.ZUIKO PRO and PREMIUM lenses, and Advanced Olympus Capture Version 1.1 and OI.Share Version 2.6. The whole lot of updates will bring these cameras up to speed – in some ways, not all – with the new OM-D E-M10 Mark II.

Firmware version 4.0 for the OM-D E-M1 will bring on Focus Stacking Mode. This mode captures eight RAW or JPEG shots with varying focal positions and quickly composites them into a single JPEG file. This single file then has a very large depth of field.

Focus Bracketing Mode is also included in this update, allowing a user to take between 1 and 999 shots with varying focal positions.

This update brings a new "simulated optical viewfinder (S-OVF)" mode. This mode simulates what it would look like looking through a classic viewfinder, no exposure compensation or white balance, for people who like the traditional way of viewing a scene before they snap a photo.

Advanced Focus Peaking is here in this update, turning Focus Peaking on or off quickly in live view mode. Menu Cursor Position Memory comes with this update, as does Anti-Shock Mode and Silent Mode.

Video features include Movie Image Stabilization with five-axis optical IS and digital IS, movie record start with a release cable, support for time code setting, and 24p/25p frame rate. This update also includes a movie info display that shows audio level, histogram, level gauge, and time code.

Lens updates for M.ZUIKO PRO and PREMIUM lenses includes aperture drive and the ability to disable MF Clutch and Snapshot Focus. Again, Olympus Version 4.0 for Olympus OM-D E-M1, Version 2.0 for OM-D E-M5 Mark II and Olympus Capture Version 1.1 will be available in late November 2015.