Support for OM System OM1

[nordkapp]

Hi Mario,

is there a way that OM1 files can be read by IMatch. It is a new camera, neither windows nor macos supports that file. And OM System will not provide a WIC Codec I suppose.

Libraw recently provides support for this camera (https://www.libraw.org/node/2708), but not in their latest LibRaw 202110 snapshot.

It looks like the snapshots ar generated only one or two times a year. I guess IMatch only uses the offical released snapshots which I can understand.

Is there a way that I can modify a file on my own PC so that IMatch can use the latest build provided on github and I am able to see at least the thumbnails of my images? Maybe just change a dll or something.

Thanks, Ralph

[Mario]

I have never seen an .OM1 file, please send one to support email address.
Since Olympus gives a shit and does not provide WIC codecs for their RAW formats, you are fully dependent on 3rd party tools, Microsoft for including support for the .OM1 RAW variant, or LibRaw...

IMatch currently uses 0.21.0-Snapshot202110 of LibRaw. I don't use nightly builds and stick to the official and fully tested snapshot releases.

I have a couple of sample images from the OM1.
Windows WIC fails to process the pixel data with an ominous "Failed to CopyPixels" error and LibRaw 0.21.0 fails with error -100009 (Input/output error).
Apparently, only a late patch from April which is not part of the official distribution / official releases of LibRaw supports this new ORF variant.

I will make some tests and see if I can roll-in the latest snapshot for the next regular IMatch update.

[nordkapp]

Thanks for the quick reply.

That is fine to hear that you are already looking into it.

With OM1 files I meant the .ORF Raw files from the Olympus OM1. As you already have some files from this camera I think you don't need another one from me.

btw. I made some HighRes shots with that camera, where the camera produces a Raw with higher megapixels. Together with that HighRes Raw the camera saves one "original" 20mpix file with an extension .ORI. This file I can see in IMatch without any problems

[Mario]

I have no .ORI sample files in my library.

I expect all these proprietary RAW formats to become an archival nightmare for users in a few years time.
Or we all will be forced to enter into a life-long Adobe subscription to process and view the RAW files produced with the cameras we good money paid for.
Because, camera vendors don't supply WIC codecs and users don't care and let them get away with it.
How hard can it be for a camera vendor to create and ship a WIC codec?
LibRaw is a one person project...

[Jingo]

I confirmed that a sample OM1 .ORF file from this site: https://www.photographyblog.com/previews/om_system_om_1_photos does not load correctly in IMatch.

Strange that Olympus would change the ORF file format for a new camera... RAW is such a nightmare now and TBH - JPG output from cameras are nearly just as nice.

[Mario]

I confirmed that a sample OM1 .ORF file from this site: https://www.photographyblog.com/previews/om_system_om_1_photos does not load correctly in IMatch.

These files load fine with the latest LibRaw snapshot (I will include this in the next release).

Strange that Olympus would change the ORF file format for a new camera... RAW is such a nightmare now and TBH - JPG output from cameras are nearly just as nice.

It happens quite often that camera vendors change the RAW format for new cameras. And sometimes even when a new firmware is installed.
This would not be a problem if they would also provide a WIC codec at the same time.

But most camera vendors (except Nikon) give a shit about their user base and leave them to find some software which handles the RAW format their cameras produce.
They say: "If you actually want to process your RAW files you have created with the camera you have paid us for, use either our crappy software to pay for Lr, C1, DxO or whatever".

If users would not accept that, I'm sure each camera vendor would spend a few thousand $ per year to create and maintain well-working WIC codecs.
They all have software departments which write the firmware code that produces the RAW file. And developers a JPEG preview. It should be easy to wrap that code in a WIC codec and ship it.