Gear of the Month | January 2024

The major headline for January must be the OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II. When this camera’s predecessor, the OM SYSTEM OM-1, arrived on the scene, it wasn’t all that clear what we should expect from it. The Olympus Imaging Division was sold to OM Digital Solutions and the brand’s future was cloudy at best. But, sure enough, the OM-1 was a hit with its top-tier specs, compact and ergonomic body and surprising list of features.

The OM-1 Mark II has a modest range of upgrades and additions. Among these, OM SYSTEM has upgraded the live ND (neutral density) feature, increasing the maximum ND to ND128. They also added a new live GND (graduated neutral density) feature, increasing the camera’s versatility and reducing the need for extra equipment.

They have upgraded its AF system accuracy and included intelligent human AI subject detection, bringing the OM-1 Mark II to the industry standard of AF performance. They also increased the IBIS capability to 8.5 stops of image stabilisation, which at the time of writing is the best on the market! Physically, there’s not that much different but it’s what’s inside that counts.

Joining the 100-400mm and 40-150mm in OM SYSTEM’s camera lens lineup this 150-600mm offers the furthest reach from the entire range. Not to mention with the use of MC teleconverters, this lens will provide up to a whopping 2400mm (35mm equiv.) This lens effortlessly brings distant subjects into clear view. 

Despite that focal reach, it’s surprisingly compact and its weather-sealed build pairs perfectly with the OM-1 Mark II. In fact, combine this lens with the new AI subject detection and upgraded image-stabilisation of the OM-1 Mark II and wildlife photographers are going to have a field day.

It’s safe to say that most super-wide-angle lenses are pretty big, heavy and quite expensive. Not this one. While its predecessor was small at 79.5 mm x 73 mm and weighing 280g, this second generation 9-18mm is significantly smaller at 56.2 x 49.3 mm and weighing just 154g. 

Despite the smaller size and weight, this lens offers even clearer and sharper wide-angle shots. OM SYSTEM has also optimised the lens for video shooting with a Silent MCS mechanism. And with a slightly closer minimum focusing distance, like the previous version, this lens offers creative close-up options outside of the expected landscape photographs.

The DJI Mic is a piece of kit we use quite a lot at Wex so naturally, we were pretty excited to get our hands on the DJI Mic 2. Jonny, a presenter on our YouTube channel, had the chance to use this new product and gave us some feedback from his experience. 

We had the kit with the charging case so charging both transmitters and receiver only needed one USB-C cable. And, the components sync in the case so they were ready to go as soon as we arrived on location; a field next to Heathrow airport. 

The design is slick and the see-through cover that shows the components inside appeals to my child of the 90s aesthetic – think see-through Gameboy colour. We tested it using just the clip-on mic (no extra lavaliere) and the results were excellent. I particularly like that the mic has a magnet-clip attachment that holds the mic in place. Although If I were running or cycling I would probably use the standard clip for safety.

With the production model we had, we range tested to 169m (the retail model has a range of 250m). The signal did cut at 100m when I went brick wall but it came back as soon as there was a line of sight with the receiver. We didn’t lose any audio though. No, my transmitter was recording internally so I have my incessant wittering about whether the wall will be an issue in glorious 32bit floating base audio. And finally, the mic kept my voice crisp and clear even when coming up to the road and next to Heathrow Airport.

Sennheiser continues to demonstrate its understanding of sound engineering its customers’ needs with the HD 490 PRO Headphones. They’re designed for all-day comfort and offer the accuracy needed for a professional studio. They have an impressively accurate reference sound and with its wide frequency response, they respond well to any genre of music. You also get use of the ‘dearVR’ plugin which allows you to test mixes in virtual spaces and hone your sound.

Hasselblad’s legacy continues to grow with the addition of the Hasselblad 907X 100C. With double the resolution of the Hasselblad 907X 50C, it’s clear that this model is going to be capable of producing some stunning photography. This model features an improved auto-focus system with phase detect and face detection. It’s quicker and more powerful than the 50C, and it is well-equipped for those large file sizes with a 1TB SSD inside and a CFexpress card slot on the back!

Hasselblad decided to remove video features of the 907x and this isn’t a bad thing. Let’s face it, this camera isn’t designed for video. It’s a true photographer’s camera and it doesn’t need to pander to the everything-must-be-hybrid theme dominating the camera industry at present. 

About the Author

Leo White has been a member of the Wex Photo Video team since 2018, working in a variety of roles ranging from the contact centre to the product setup team. With both a photography BA and MA, Leo has a wealth of knowledge he's ready to share.