Managing the Dual SD Card Slots of the Olympus OM-1

The Olympus OM-1 has two SD card slots. It’s not required that you fill both of them–the camera will work just fine with only one SD card. But there are advantages do filling them both.

Olympus OM-1 - OM System OM-1 Mirrorless Camera. Photo by David Coleman " havecamerawilltravel.com
Text & Photos By David Coleman
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The Olympus OM-1 has two SD card slots. It’s not required that you fill both of them–the camera will work just fine with only one SD card. But there are advantages do filling them both.

Olympus is now OM System

In 2020-21, the photography business of iconic camera brand Olympus was spun off and sold. The core remaining Olympus brand is focusing on medical and scientific products. The camera and photography side was then rebranded as OM System, with the first cameras and lenses under that brand coming out at the end of 2021.

Specifically, it gives you flexibility on how the slots are used. You can:

  • Record only to a specific card
  • Record in sequence, starting on one card and them automatically moving onto the next one when the first one is full
  • Save two versions of each image with different sizes and compression ratios, one type to each card
  • Save duplicate versions of each image as a real-time backup

Here’s a rundown of the options you have for choosing how the memory card slots behave when you have both of them filled.

Changing the Card Slot Settings on the Olympus OM-1

You can find this setting on the camera’s menu under:

Wrench/Spanner Icon > 1. Card/Folder/File > Card Slot Settings

It’s right next to the card formatting setting.

Card Slot Setting Options on the Olympus OM-1

Standard

This is the default setting. It records only to the designated card. This sometimes causes confusion (including for me), because it won’t roll over automatically to the next card when the first card fills up (which is, to me, a more logical default setting).

Auto Switch

This will automatically roll over to the second card when the first card fills up.

Dual Independent Down

Saves to both cards applying their respective settings. If one card becomes full, the other cannot be saved to either.

Dual Independent Up

Saves to both cards applying their respective settings. Even if one card becomes full, the other can be saved to.

Dual Same Up

Saves to both cards applying same settings. Even if one card becomes full, the other card still be saved to.

Dual Same Down

Saves to both cards applying same settings. If one card becomes full, the other cannot be saved to either.

SD Cards for the Olympus OM-1

I’ve put together a much more detailed post on recommendations for SD cards for the Olympus for the OM-1 separately. But here’s the quick version.

The OM-1 has two SD card slots. It’s not required to fill both slots—the camera will work just fine with only one memory card—but there are advantages to doing so.

You can use SDHC or SDXC. As a practical matter, SDXC cards are probably the more logical choice simply because that designation applies to SD cards with storage capacities of 64GB and up.

Both SD card slots in the OM-1 are UHS-II slots. So to take full advantage of the camera’s capabilities, it makes sense to use UHS-II SD cards in this camera.

  1. ProGrade Digital V60 UHS-II
  2. Lexar Professional 1667x Silver V60 UHS-II
  3. SanDisk Extreme Pro
ProGrade Digital V60 UHS-II SD Card
  • Type: SDXC / SDHC
  • Video Speed Class: V90
  • UHS Bus Interface Type: UHS-II
  • Storage Capacities: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Lexar Professional 1667x V60 UHS-II SD Card
  • Type: SDXC
  • Video Speed Class: V60
  • UHS Bus Interface Type: UHS-II
  • Storage Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
SanDisk Extreme Pro V90 UHS-II SD Card
  • Type: SDXC / SDHC
  • Video Speed Class: V90
  • UHS Bus Interface Type: UHS-II
  • Storage Capacities: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB

Price & Availability of the Olympus OM-1

The Olympus OM-1 has an MSRP of $2199 for the body. It’s also available bundled with an impressive OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II kits lens (MSRP of $2799 on the bundle).

Check the current price and availability at:

Olympus OM-1 Micro Four Thirds Camera
  • 20MP Stacked BSI Live MOS MFT Sensor
  • 10 fps Shooting (120 fps with electronic shutter)
  • DCI/UHD 4K 60p 10-Bit Video Recording
  • IP53 Weather-Sealed & Freezeproof Design
  • Dual UHS-II SD Card Slots

Olympus OM-1 Accessories

These are the model numbers for the official accessories for the Olympus OM-1.

  • Battery: BLX-1 lithium-ion rechargeable battery
  • External Charger: BCX-1 (or SBCX-1, which includes a spare battery)
  • USB-AC Adapter: F-7AC AC wall adapter
  • Grip/Extended Battery Holder: HLD-10 grip
  • Remote: RM-WR1 wireless remote control
  • Eyecup: EP-18
  • Flash:
    • FL-LM3 electronic flash (the smallest of the flash units)
    • FL-900R electronic flash unit
    • FL-700WR electronic flash unit
    • STF-8 macro flash
    • FC-WR wireless commander
    • FR-WR wireless receiver

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2023-12-01 at 13:56. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Profile photo of David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel | Washington DC-based Professional Photographer

Text & Photos by David Coleman

I'm a professional photographer based in Washington DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and a bunch of places in between. I've been shooting for 30+ years, and my my photos and time-lapse videos have appeared in a bunch of different publications from major newspapers to magazines and books, billboards, TV shows, professional sports stadiums, museums, and even massive architectural scrims covering world-famous buildings while they're being renovated. You can see some of my travel photography here and here.

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