OM SYSTEM Announces New MFT Camera: The OM-5
10/26/2022OM SYSTEM has designed its new OM-5 camera to be the go-to camera for the photographer willing to get dirty on their next adventure. Small and lightweight enough to be almost unnoticeable as you traverse mountain passes, yet with the ruggedness, weatherproofing, and reliability you’ve come to expect from OM cameras, the OM-5 features a new 20.4MP Live MOS Sensor and TruePic IX Image Processor built into a durable magnesium-alloy body that weighs less than a pound with a battery and memory card included.
Building on the success of the Olympus E-M5 Mark III, this new camera boosts performance while cutting back on size and weight. The OM-5 boasts a new image processor; updated, improved weather construction; improved body, and Sync IS. Handheld High Res Shot has been added, as has Live ND mode. Interval mode exposure smoothing, Starry Sky AF, Custom AF Target Mode, MF Assist Focus Indicator, Movie Picture Mode (OM-Log), and Vertical Video are just some of the features that have been added. Where the E-M5 Mark III could only record for up to 29 minutes, the OM-5 has no recording time limit.
Utilizing a new 20.4MP Live MOS sensor and TruePic IX image processor, the OM-5 features in-body 5-axis image stabilization to alleviate up to 6.5 stops of camera shake, and Sync IS allows for up to 7.5 stops, allowing long shutter speeds when shooting handheld. The new sensor-and-processor combination also allows for DCI and UHD 4K video recording, the former utilizing a true 24p frame rate. 50MP Handheld High Res Shooting is available, as is ProCapture up to 30 fps in continuous shooting mode. All of this is built into a camera that is more than 100g lighter!
Outdoor enthusiasts as well as land and cityscape photographers can be sure that their gear will be safe with an IP53 weatherproof construction, which ensures the camera will be dust, splash, and freezeproof down to 14°F. A live ND mode also benefits outdoor shooting by simulating the effects of an optical neutral density filter for long-exposure effects without having to carry separate filters for your lens. Live Composite mode for nighttime shooting slowly builds up an exposure over time without blowing out brighter areas of the frame, allowing you to see the exposure’s progress in live view monitoring—especially useful for light painting. The camera also supports a handheld Focus Stacking mode that records and stacks 15 frames for extended depth of field in close-up shooting.
As previously mentioned, ProCapture allows up to 30 fps shooting in continuous mode and also allows for high-speed movie shooting at up to 120 fps in Full HD. Time Lapse movie mode is also available in up to 4K resolution and 30 fps. These features are all improved, with the OM-5 having no recording time limit. Movie Picture Mode (OM-Log) and a red frame that will appear during video recording are all included to aid the videographer. A new Vertical Video mode provides a 9:16 aspect ratio for easily integrating videos on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and other similar social-media platforms.
The OM-5’s focusing system utilizes 121 phase-detection AF points and 121 contrast-detection AF points for focusing performance that is fast and accurate. All 121 phase-detection points are cross-type for improved precision in mixed lighting conditions to provide enhanced subject tracking capabilities. The OM-5 also allows for four custom target settings to be saved. Eye and Face Detection have also been improved and a Starry Sky focus mode has been included, enabling precise focusing, even in the darkest hours of the night.
The OM-5’s eye-level viewfinder has a 2.36m-dot OLED display with 27mm eyepoint relief. The 3-inch vari-angle touch panel monitor provides 1.04m dots in a 3:2 aspect ratio and allows for working at odd angles.
The OM-5 is available as a body only, as well as with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm f/4 PRO Lens.
Customers who order the camera between 10/26 and 11/30 will receive additional rewards based on their region of purchase.
US Customers:
- Promo term: October 26th– November 30th, 2022
- Reward: FREE 2 Year Ultimate Care Protect Plan
- How to Activate: Visit activation page at
https://omsystem-ultimatecare.com/activate
and redeem using proof of purchase and serial number
- Ultimate care plan: https://www.omsystem-ultimatecare.com/
Canada Customers:
- Promo term: October 26th– November 30th, 2022
- Reward: FREE 2 Year Extended Warranty
- How to Activate: Register product at https://getolympus.com/register to activate extended warranty
Are you looking forward to trying the OM-5 for yourself? Let us know in the Comments section, below.
Comments
13 Comments
How does this differ (feature-wise) from the relatively new (only a couple yrs) OMD EM-5 Mk III?
Robyn, the OM-5 is is basically an update to the E-M5 Mark III. The second paragraph lists some features that have been improved or added, but the weatherproof construction has been improved from being IP53 on the E-M5 to IPX1 on the OM-5. An additional stop has been added to both Body and Sync IS stabilization. Live ND mode, Starry Sky AF, custom AF target mode, individual AF area settings for vertical/horizontal positions, an mf focus assist indicator, and movie picture mode (OM-Log) are just a few of the features added. One of the biggest upgrades is that the recording time limit has been improved. On the E-M5, it was only 29 minutes, but the OM-5 now has no recording time limit.
Can you tell me the difference between this new OM5 and the OM1 (besides the obvious size). Thanks
The OM-5 is an upgrade to the E-M5 Mark III and shouldn’t really be compared to the OM-1. The OM-5 and OM-1 have similar megapixels but different sensors and image processors. The OM-1 has a Stacked BSI Live MOS MFT Sensor and TruePic X processor, where the OM-5 does not have a stacked sensor and utilizes the TruePic IX processor. These and the differences pointed out by Lawrence C. show that they are not a fair comparison. However, when compared to the E-M5 Mark III, the weatherproof construction has been improved from being IP53 on the E-M5 to IPX1 on the OM-5. An additional stop has been added to both Body and Sync IS stabilization. Live ND mode, Starry Sky AF, custom AF target mode, individual AF area settings for vertical/horizontal positions, an mf focus assist indicator, and movie picture mode (OM-Log) are just a few of the features added. One of the biggest upgrades is that the recording time limit has been improved. On the E-M5, it was only 29 minutes, but the OM-5 now has no recording time limit.
Could you have that wrong? On their website it is listed as OM Systems OM-1
one of us is confused
Kevin, the confusion is understandable, but if you look at the listings on our e-commerce website, the OM-1 is listed as an OM SYSTEM product, but the nameplate on the camera itself reads "OLYMPUS." The nameplate on the OM-5 reads "OM SYSTEM." This can occur during a transitional rebranding.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1688415-REG/om_system_v210010bu000_om_1_mirrorless_camera.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1730590-REG/om_system_v210020bu000_om_5_mirrorless_camera.html
I own both the E-M5 Mk III and the OM-1. I think it's more accurate to say that the OM-5 has received many upgrades which are similar to or the same as the OM-1. The two cameras don't have almost identical specs. The OM-1 has a much larger battery, BLX-1, 2280 mAh, the OM-5 retains the BLS-50, 1175mAh. The OM-1 has continuous external power via USB-C, the OM-5 retains the Micro-USB port without continuous external power. The OM-1 has two SD card slots, the OM-5 has one. The OM-1 features a 5.76 million dot EVF, the OM-5 has the old 2.36 million dot EVF. The OM-1 has 1053 quad pixel focus points, the OM-5 has 121 focus points, like the E-M5. The OM-1 has a 1.62m-dot rear LCD, the OM-5 has a 1.04m-dot LCD. The OM-1 has full magnesium metal construction; the OM-5 has a polycarbonate/plastic body. There are numerous other significant differences, and buyers should understand that the $1200 OM-5 is not "almost identical" to the $2200 OM-1.
I cannot understand your response. The OM-5 and the OM-1 are not even close to being very similar, nor do they have almost identical specs. Your response is very misleading, and it makes me think you really don't know what you are talking about. There are many reasons the OM-1 is $1,000 higher in price than the OM-5. You need to do some homework.
What if an OM user wants a bigger, heavier camera? What if the shooter has Essential Tremors that are only eased by a bigger size and heavier weight? Sure, the camera has the stabilization, but if it has to work harder FOR that stabilization, is it really an improvement?
I've used Olympus cameras since before 1980 and to be honest, they're getting harder to use with each new generation, simply because of their small size.
David, OM Systems does offer a add-on battery grip that attaches to the bottom of the camera and adds additional controls to aid in vertical shots, as well as the ability to carry a second battery in the grip, which will add a little weight.
Hi, David F. You make a very good point--smaller is not always better for many users. MFT cameras tend, with some exceptions, to be smaller than mirrorless cameras with APS-C or full-frame sensors.
The reader comment about a battery grip is helpful, although we are not certain at this point if there is a compatible battery grip available for the new OM-5.
If it's feasible, you might consider trading your OM SYSTEM gear in for a camera with a larger sensor, whose form factor will likely be larger and heavier than the reduced-size OM-5. If this is not an option for you, we recommend looking into a monopod such as the Steadicam AIR 25 Monopod ( https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1387415-REG/steadicam_steadicam_air_25_monopod.html ), which features push-pedal controlled telescoping quick height adjustment, and would easily add stability and convenience for you.
We hope this is helpful, and thanks very much for your insightful comment.
The OM-1 with the HLD-10 battery grip weighs 2.1 lbs and is larger and heavier than many Sony, Canon, and Nikon mirrorless cameras. In the previous generation, the E-M1X is a large, heavy camera at 2.2 lbs. The E-M1X is selling for $1100 off the list price, and $650 less than the OM-1/HLD-10 package. A very popular lens for these cameras, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO Lens, weighs 1.2 lbs bringing the total weight of either setup to approximately 2.5 lbs. That's a big, heavy camera, if that's what you're looking for.
Sorry, total weight of camera plus lens is approximately 3.5 lbs.