The Crossroads: OM System or Nikon for Wildlife in Scotland?

In a earlier article, I mentioned the selection that I used to be making about which system I’d find yourself utilizing as my main wildlife gear in Scotland. I wrote that article whereas I used to be nonetheless residing within the Philippines. Now I’ve had a while right here in Scotland and I’ve lastly made a alternative, but it surely wasn’t straightforward.

Yesterday I went out with the OM System OM-1 Mark II and the OM System M.Zuiko 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS II.

The actuality is that I actually loved utilizing that mixture. For the attain it provides, it’s extremely small and light-weight. I had completely no points carrying that setup for miles. It felt straightforward. It felt pure. It made me need to take it.

But what it confirmed me was one thing vital.

The Woodland Reality

It wasn’t a very gloomy day. Just common Scottish overcast mild with occasional breaks within the cloud. Out within the open it was manageable.

In the dense woodland although, it was a distinct story.

At f/6.3 on the 100-400mm II I used to be already at ISO 6400 — which is about so far as I’m comfy pushing it — and I nonetheless needed to drop my shutter pace under the best vary simply to get the publicity I wished.

And I really like woodland.

I count on to spend so much of time in woodland.

I noticed my first ever crimson squirrel final week. Red squirrels, Capercaillie, woodland deer, alongside Raptors — these are the sorts of topics I see in my thoughts once I take into consideration what I need to {photograph}.

Dim mild. Shaded clearings. Layered backgrounds, mountain environments, Smooth tonal transitions.

In that surroundings, I do know I’ll want extra mild than the 100-400mm II may give me.

So I had a option to make.

Path One: Go Deeper with OM System

In favour of the OM route is dimension, portability, computational options and unbelievable IBIS. I genuinely take pleasure in taking pictures with it.

To meaningfully enhance low mild efficiency I would wish to have a look at both:

• The OM System M.Zuiko 300mm f/4 IS PRO
• Or the OM System M.Zuiko 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO

The 150-400mm is an unbelievable lens. Fast to focus, fantastically constructed, climate sealed, sharp. A 300-800mm equal f/4.5 zoom that extends to 1000mm with the built-in 1.25x teleconverter. I’ve shot it earlier than. I understand how succesful it’s.

But it’s £6,500.

That’s a severe funding for me.

And even at f/4.5, in darkish woodland at daybreak or nightfall, I do know I’ll nonetheless be pushing ISO pretty arduous. It could be higher, little doubt. But the ceiling for low mild efficiency would nonetheless be decrease than with a bigger sensor, all else being equal.

I’d additionally nonetheless need one thing brighter alongside it, just like the 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro.

Now we’re over £7,000.

And right here’s the sincere half.

£7,000 is some huge cash to me. If I’m spending that, I don’t need reservations at the back of my thoughts.

The 150-400mm is the top of Micro Four Thirds wildlife images. It’s good. But it’s the ceiling.

After that, there isn’t actually anyplace else to go throughout the system.

That niggled at me.

Path Two: Lean Into Nikon

The various is utilizing my Nikon Z8 as my main wildlife setup.

I want attain out to 800mm ideally. I additionally want higher low mild efficiency in woodland.

I appeared on the Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S. Incredible lens. But costly, and I’m not skilled sufficient but to justify leaping straight to that stage.

What made extra sense proper now was flexibility.

The Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR provides me 600mm native attain. On the Z8, in DX crop mode, that turns into a 900mm equal area of view with roughly a 20MP APS-C file.

That already will get me past the 800mm equal I used to be utilizing on OM.

It’s heavier. By all accounts it’s entrance heavy. It’s not constructed to fairly the identical stage because the 150-400mm Pro. But optically it’s glorious, climate sealed, and it prices lower than a 3rd of the OM lens.

And sure, at f/6.3 it’s not a shiny lens. The full body benefit there may be roughly a few cease in general mild gathering when you account for sensor dimension. Useful, however not transformative by itself.

Which is why I didn’t cease there.

The 400mm f/4.5 Factor

I’ve additionally ordered the Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S.

This will likely be my woodland and low-light lens.

At f/4.5 it provides me the complete two-stop low mild benefit (over the OM 150-400mm) that full body usually has over Micro Four Thirds.

It will enable decrease ISO values (than the 180-600mm zoom) in dim woodland. It will enable higher topic isolation. It provides me the choice to cease down if I want extra depth of area — however crucially, I’ve the sunshine out there if I want it.

I can all the time cease down a bigger sensor lens.

I can not create extra mild when it isn’t there.

Add a 1.4x teleconverter and it turns into 560mm f/6.3. Shoot that in DX mode and I’m an 840mm equal area of view at round 20MP.

That flexibility went an extended technique to calming my issues about investing in a chief.

The Bigger Picture

There are different components too.

I plan to shoot extra video over time. Both my Nikon Z8 and Nikon Z6III supply video efficiency past what OM System presently gives.

It’s not the first motive, but it surely’s a part of the image.

There’s additionally the long-term query.

If I’m going deeper into wildlife images and need to enhance additional, I’m not on the ceiling of what Nikon affords. I can’t see myself ever spending £10,000+ on unique glass, however I like figuring out that enchancment is feasible.

Nikon has a bigger person base. If all of it goes improper, if I don’t dedicate the time, if I uncover I’m horrible at wildlife images, resale worth on Nikon Z glass is stronger.

That issues whenever you’re investing this stage of cash.

This Isn’t Abandoning OM

I’m retaining my OM package.

The OM System OM-1 Mark II and OM System M.Zuiko 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS II will stay my light-weight, scouting setup.

When I’m exploring new places, climbing lengthy distances, or taking pictures extra casually, that mixture makes big sense.

It’s small. It’s succesful. It’s gratifying to hold. It is optimised for some great benefits of OM System.

This isn’t OM versus Nikon.

It’s about the place I would like my main wildlife funding to sit down.

The Real Resolution

This complete course of has been about discovering the compromises I’m most comfy making.

In the tip, I’d reasonably have the potential low mild benefit out there and select to offer it up when vital, than not have it out there in any respect. Some could prioritise different components and that’s effective. I’d by no means say my alternative needs to be somebody elses. This article is just explaining my thought course of and the way I made my choice.

I’ve gone forwards and backwards on this for months. It’s been draining.

Now the choice is made.

Once the lenses arrive, the gear query is closed.

If my final session taught me something, it’s that this feels proper. Being amongst animals and the Scottish panorama is the place I really feel most at dwelling, most relaxed, most peaceable.

The gear alternative is now out of the way in which.

Now the true work begins.

Learning the land.
Learning the animals.
Getting fitter.
Getting higher.

And hopefully, discovering a little bit peace in my very own head too.