Olympus / OM System Grainy Film I Black and White - A Review of ART Filter 5

This is the third article in which I review the built-in ART filters on my Olympus e-m1 mark ii. In my last two reviews, I was pleasantly surprised by the results I got. Looking back at those photos a few weeks later, I can confidently say the ART filters are growing on me. This week, I tried another filter, ART Filter 5 - Grainy Film I. My camera has two versions of the Grainy Film filter, the first, which is highlighted in this article, has more contrast. I may do a review of Grainy Film II in the future.

As I mentioned in my first article, where I reviewed Art Filter 13 - Vintage I, I’ve never taken the Olympus ART filters very seriously. I always saw them as a gimmick, but having tested them, I’ve found them more enjoyable than my initial impressions led on.

Olympus’ Grainy Film I is a black and white filter which artificially adds grain to the final JPEG file. The grain is definitely noticeable, especially when cropping. I’ve never shot film, so grain isn’t something I’m used to seeing in my photos. That said, I enjoy the look, and it makes these images of north Africa look as if they could have been taken a few decades ago. It gives a timeless aesthetic to the modern world.

This is not a filter that offers a lot of latitude. Highlights and shadows are hard to preserve. The sky has a tendency to blow-out, and the shadows love to dive into blackness. If you aren’t planning to edit your images in post, you will have to pick whether to save highlights or shadows in camera, you’ll have a difficult time trying to save both. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you want the “dramatic look” this filter will give it to you. You may find Grainy Film II a more usable every-day filter.

One thing I really like about shooting JPEG on my Olympus e-m1 mark ii is the file sizes. The average JPEG photo is only around 8 megabits.

Verdict: I really enjoy the grain effect on this ART filter and the way it gives photos a timeless aesthetic. The extreme contrast will keep me from using it for everyday photography, but I don’t doubt I’ll employ it again when I’m feeling creative (and dramatic).

Sample Shots with Olympus ART 5 (Grainy Film I) -

*All sample shots are straight out of camera. These were taken with an Olympus em-1 mark ii and the Panasonic 14mm f/2.5.