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Bo Zarts

(26,172 posts)
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 12:21 PM Nov 2

THIS IS A TEST. PLEASE DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SCREEN.

Last edited Sun Nov 2, 2025, 01:45 PM - Edit history (1)



This is a test of my new (late July 2025) micro 4/3s (MFT) Olympus OM-5 MK-2 with a 14-150mm zoom lens. I took some photos with it last August at the fire tower, but Lightroom/Photoshop did not yet have the OM-5 system in the data base.

Finally, the last Lightroom/Photoshop update that I did added the OM-5/2 to the program profiles. This is the first image from the OM-5 that I have processed using my full, normal workflow of Lightroom => Photoshop => Topaz. I'm happy.

The OM-5 Mk-2 cameras is MUCH smaller and lighter than my other mirrorless digital cameras (mainly the Fujifilm GFX-100S, the Sony A7R3/4/5 and the Sony A1). I decided I needed a lighter, more waterproof camera when we hiked down to Thor's Well on the Oregon coast last June (with a Sony camera rig), in a cold, hard rain. Sony's are notoriously hydrophobic.

A woman that we met at the Thor's Well observation point had an Olympus OM-5 and she seemed impervious to the rain. She talked it up, so I studied up on the camera. I now have a new go-to, walking-around camera and lens.

I probably should have cleaned up this image a bit, but it's Sunday morning and I'm lazy.

Bitterroot Range - Idaho Panhandle National Forest - August 7, 2025
©2025 Bo Zarts Studio
20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
THIS IS A TEST. PLEASE DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SCREEN. (Original Post) Bo Zarts Nov 2 OP
Very cool! surfered Nov 2 #1
very nice! HAB911 Nov 2 #2
Really well done. And the rainbow is double. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Nov 2 #3
Maybe Traildogbob Nov 2 #4
Your picture people Nov 2 #5
"" AllaN01Bear Nov 2 #6
Love your ""s Bo Zarts Nov 2 #7
many times i run out of things to say so i also use the emoticons.:) AllaN01Bear Nov 2 #10
Looks pretty clean to me! TheRickles Nov 2 #8
The rainbow flag. Rainbows aren't arches they are circles. twodogsbarking Nov 2 #9
Stunning photo, my dear Bo! And with an Olympus camera! CaliforniaPeggy Nov 2 #11
A precipitous omen for America Clouds Passing Nov 2 #12
This is gorgeous? What's to clean up? Beartracks Nov 2 #13
I absolutely love Topaz, especially Studio2 (which has been discontinued, but I can still access and use it) Bo Zarts Nov 3 #19
Hey, Bo Zarts, what could there possibly be, to clean up? calimary Nov 2 #14
See my post above .. #19 Bo Zarts Nov 3 #20
📌 Wow! Bookmarking for the equipment discussion. ... littlemissmartypants Nov 2 #15
Does it have two slots? usregimechange Nov 2 #16
Fantastic! ShazzieB Nov 2 #17
Love this picture. I'm taking it as an inspiration that after all this, there's a promise of peace and hope Deuxcents Nov 2 #18

Traildogbob

(12,141 posts)
4. Maybe
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 01:08 PM
Nov 2

A hint that there will be an after the storm of our nation.
Feel pretty sure there are those that will freak over a rainbow and flag together.
Screw them all.
This is an image of hope for me. Beautiful and thanks for sharing.
Those mtns look just like mine here in WNC.

TheRickles

(3,058 posts)
8. Looks pretty clean to me!
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 02:21 PM
Nov 2

I'm curious - what would you have tweaked if it wasn't Sunday morning?

twodogsbarking

(16,654 posts)
9. The rainbow flag. Rainbows aren't arches they are circles.
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 02:23 PM
Nov 2

Stay with me for more useless knowledge.

CaliforniaPeggy

(155,704 posts)
11. Stunning photo, my dear Bo! And with an Olympus camera!
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 02:27 PM
Nov 2

Since AndyS introduced me to Olympus gear, I have not used any other brand except my iPhone.

Is your 14--150mm lens also from Olympus? I have the 12--45mm lens for my walking-around lens and I love it. But sometimes I wish I had a bigger reach.

Enjoy your new gear!

Beartracks

(14,204 posts)
13. This is gorgeous? What's to clean up?
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 02:37 PM
Nov 2

Also, how is Topaz as a tool? I've thought about getting it for doing enlargements and clarity on old family phots.

================

Bo Zarts

(26,172 posts)
19. I absolutely love Topaz, especially Studio2 (which has been discontinued, but I can still access and use it)
Mon Nov 3, 2025, 11:37 AM
Nov 3

In this image, I see a few sharpening (Topaz) artifacts on a flag stripe. This is cropped 1X1 at about 13"X13" and 300px/in. I haven't tried, but I think that Topaz Photo AI could easily enlarge this to 26X26 or 30X30.

Topaz Photo AI does a great job enlarging (they call in enhancing), assuming that there is something there to work with. My drone, for example, renders a smallish JPEG file, which I convert to DNG during the import to Lightroom. If I want a particularly good image printed for my gallery, I can usually enhance by 2X (10X15 = 20X30 inches).

But Topaz Photo AI can be used for just noise reduction (the best!) and/or sharpening, or super focus (helpful when applied to specific areas, IMO). My old MacBook Pro (2020) would not run Super Focus, but my new MacBook Pro with the M4 chip runs it very fast. Photo AI is just about the only program in the Topaz suite that I use anymore, but I use it very often.

I also use Nik Collection 6. I've used Nik since about 2010, when it was free. So my normal workflow is Camera =>Lightroom => Photoshop =>Nik Color Efex or Silver Efex =>Topaz Photo AI. If it is a particularly unique photo with flaws, I might take it into Topaz Studio and do work there with abstract and/or immpressionist filters (which can be fun).

calimary

(88,487 posts)
14. Hey, Bo Zarts, what could there possibly be, to clean up?
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 02:51 PM
Nov 2

This is a gorgeous picture! Both literally AND symbolically! I hope you’ll be taking, AND sharing, more of your breathtaking shots, whether they’re tests or keepers. You have a good eye, and your landscape “subjects” are beyond glorious!

littlemissmartypants

(30,881 posts)
15. 📌 Wow! Bookmarking for the equipment discussion. ...
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 02:52 PM
Nov 2

If it's OK I'm going to steal this for my lock screen. Is it?

Thanks for sharing all of this and the other wonderful images that you have shared, BZ. ❤️

ShazzieB

(21,953 posts)
17. Fantastic!
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 03:24 PM
Nov 2

Beautiful image, and the symbolism of the rainbow arching over the flag is moving and inspiring! 🌈 🇺🇸 💙

Deuxcents

(24,741 posts)
18. Love this picture. I'm taking it as an inspiration that after all this, there's a promise of peace and hope
Sun Nov 2, 2025, 11:29 PM
Nov 2
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