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 THE OM SYSTEM GUIDE TO

BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY

ELEVATE YOUR BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY

You love watching birds. You love photography. And you’ll love this handy page. Whether you’re getting started or you’ve been shooting in the field for years, you’ll learn something new.

THESE TIPS WILL INSTANTLY MAKE YOU A BETTER BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER

01.

Start in your backyard

Your backyard is the perfect place to begin to learn your equipment and also bird habits and actions! Put up bird friendly bushes. Setup a blind (a place to hide away from the sight of the birds in order to watch them behave more naturally). A tele or a tele zoom lens with a focal length of 300-600mm (35mm equiv.) is recommended.

02.

Photograph early in the morning or later in the afternoon

The light is typically better during these times creating a nice soft light or even golden hue during the “golden hour”. Birds are also usually more active during these times of the day.

03.

Photographing birds in flight

Be aware of shutter speed – know if you want to freeze action or show movement. Did you know that you need a shutter speed of minimum 1/1600-1/2500s to stop the wings movement? The smaller the bird the faster shutter speed is needed.

04.

Learn your camera

Birds can be photographed with an entry level to mid range camera, provided the user learns the equipment and knows how to work around the shortcomings.

ALL THE FEATURES YOU NEED TO PHOTOGRAPH BIRDS

Our mirrorless OM camera systems are up to half the size and weight of other 35mm format flagship camera systems. For bird photographers this gives them more flexibility, more energy, and more shooting time in the field to get the perfect shot.

WEATHERSEALED DESIGN

Lousy weather often takes you by surprise. The OM Series and our PRO lenses have you covered. They’re splashproof, dustproof and freezeproof (down to 14 ̊F / -10 ̊C), so there’s never a need to carry protective gear.

COMPACT LIGHTWEIGHT SIZE

Let the OM Series set you free. Our compact mirrorless cameras and small lightweight lenses boast the performance of pro DSLR systems. You'll have greater freedom of movement to take better bird photos and the near silent operation to avoid disturbing your subject or other people in a hide for example.

NEVER MISS A SHOT

Our time machine-like Pro Capture Mode ensures you nail the best shot. Press the camera's shutter button halfway to start buffering a running series of images. Once you see the precise moment you want to capture, fully press the shutter to capture that image plus the previous up to 70 frames all at once (99 frames with the OM-1 Mark II). Perfect for images of birds taking off!

KEEP UP WITH FAST-FLYING BIRDS

The continuous shooting speed of the OM-1 blows away most DSLR cameras. Capture an astounding 120 frames per second with S-AF and 50 frames per second with C-AF using the silent electronic shutter. It's easy to keep up with fast-moving subjects.

PRECISE AUTOFOCUSING

Photographing birds in flight requires a responsive and fast autofocus system. The OM-1 features all Cross Quad Pixel AF that blanket the image sensor. Together with the AI Detection AF that recognizes birds makes the OM-1 the best option for capturing those difficult bird in flight shots.

TECHNOLOGY HAS REPLACED THE TRIPOD

Leave your tripod behind! Our industry-leading 5-Axis Image Stabilization allows you to shoot tack-sharp photos, all handheld. With up to 8 shutter speed steps of compensation for tripod-like stability, you have more freedom for better results.

YOU DON'T NEED A LOT OF GEAR TO

BE A SUCCESSFUL BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER

  • OM-1 Mark II
    OM-1 Mark II
    For on-the-go Pro's

    The OM-1 Mark II is a statement of blazing fast speeds, unparalled computational capabilities and tactile usability with refinements through out the camera. What the OM-1 Mark II presents is a true wonder of outdoor photography equipment that will perform wherever you go.

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  • M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25X IS PRO
    M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25X IS PRO

        This high-spec PRO lens was developed to be the ultimate super telephoto performance. Resolution that meets the demands of professional photographers has been achieved across the entire zoom range, with support for the world’s strongest 5-axis sync IS that delivers up to 8 shutter speed steps [2] of high compensation performance. This is the first Olympus interchangeable lens with a built-in 1.25x teleconverter, enabling up to 1000mm equivalent [1] handheld super telephoto shooting. It has a compact, lightweight, incredibly mobile design for such a large aperture super-telephoto lens. In addition to excellent controls, it features dustproof, splashproof, and freezeproof performance as well. This one lens offers the best performance in a wide range of scenes such as wildlife, nature, and sports photography. [1]: 35mm equivalent[2]: According to CIPA standards. When attached to OM-D E-M1X, with yaw and pitch applied to camera, half-press IS set to Off, and focal length set to 150mm.

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  • M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO
    M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO
    High Performance

    With excellent optical performance packed in a compact, lightweight, dustproof, splashproof, and freezeproof construction, this M.Zuiko PRO super-telephoto lens lets you shoot outstanding-quality images even in the harshest environments. This is the first Olympus interchangeable lens to be equipped with in-lens IS (image stabilisation). 5-axis Sync IS[3], a collaboration of in-lens IS and in-body 5-axis IS, achieves the world's most powerful[2] image stabilisation equivalent to 6 shutter speed steps. With excellent mobility, these features make previously difficult hand-held super-telephoto shooting possible. When combined with the MC-14 1.4x Teleconverter, the lens can be used as an 840mm[1] super-telephoto lens.   *1: 35mm equivalent*2: According to CIPA standards. When correction is carried out on two axes (yaw and pitch), image stabilisation during halfway press: Off. Camera bodies: OM-D     E-M1 V4.0/E-M5 Mark II V2.0 (as of December 2015)*3: 5-axis Sync IS compatible camera bodies: OM-D E-M1 V4.0/OM-D E-M5 Mark II V2.0 or later (as of January 2016)

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  • M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20
    M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20

    M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20 Double the focal length of the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO or M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO with the 2x teleconverter MC-20. Maintain outstanding image quality, High speed AF, and Image Stabilization performance while carrying a minimal amount of additional gear. Compatible with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO and M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO lenses. Compatibility information as of January 2020. IMPORTANT NOTICE: In order for the MC-20 2x Teleconverter to function correctly, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO and M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO lenses might require a firmware update. Incompatible firmware will result in a blacked out viewfinder. M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO requires v1.3 or later M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO requires v1.4 or later To check your lenses firmware version using your OM-D or PEN camera, go to MENU > Setup Menu (wrench icon) > Firmware and check the version next to Lens.

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  • M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14
    M.Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14

    A teleconverter that provides extended magnification while maintaining excellent image quality. The MC-14 extends focal length of attached master lenses to 1.4x. The thin body constructed by metal, constructed of rich 6 elements in 3 groups (1 HR lens) promises virtually no image degradation. It also features dustproof, splashproof and freezeproof performance.

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  • EE-1 Dot Sight
    EE-1 Dot Sight

    This externally-mounted dot sight is perfect for super-telephoto photography of wild birds. This accessory assists in framing when photographing far-away subjects. The brightness and position of the reticle can be adjusted. Because it is powered by a coin-type battery, it can be used when attached to the hot shoe.

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  • HLD-10 Power Battery Holder
    HLD-10 Power Battery Holder

    This power battery holder features an IP53 dustproof, splashproof, and freezeproof design, offering the same controls in the vertical position as the horizontal position. It has the same IP53 dustproof and splashproof performance as the OM-1 when attached to the camera body. This accessory can be attached and removed when necessary, such as using the camera body on its own to maintain mobility, or with HLD-10 attached when frequently switching the vertical/horizontal position or when taking a lot of shots. When two batteries, in the camera and the HLD-10, are used together, approximately 1,000 shots (based on CIPA tests) can be captured. When HLD-10 is attached, an optional GS-5 Grip Strap can be used. When attached to the OM-1*, the BLX-1 battery can be charged inside HLD-10. Cannot charge BLX-1 in HLD-10 when not attached to the camera.

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