OM System is teasing new gear that will be released soon.
In previous years, OM System has released new cameras at this time of year. It's generated a huge amount of discussion among the system's enthusiasts.
It's been a couple of years since the OM-5 was released. It has grown in popularity but is due for an update. This pocket-sized mirrorless camera is sought after by lifestyle and street photographers. It followed on from the old Olympus OM-D E-M5 range. However, there have been calls for it to be updated with the same stacked sensor found in the OM-1 models.
The other camera desired by many users is an update to the old Olympus PEN-F. That was released way back in 2016 and is now heavily sought after, as it's considered by many to be a classic digital design. That design was inherited from the PEN-F half-frame SLR, dating back to the film version in 1963.
The publicity photo and the 15-second video hint at something small with a front-of-body dial for the picture style, which includes color, mono, and art filters. That was similar to the PEN-F. The new camera has a viewfinder and a classic central pentaprism SLR-style shape, although it will be a mirrorless camera and not a DSLR.
Although not announced officially, the general chatter on the internet calls the camera an OM-3. If that is correct, one can guess that OM System has included some new features in the camera, as Olympus did with the now sought-after original OM-3 SLR back in the 1980s.
It's good news to hear that OM System, a smaller and rapidly growing manufacturer, still produces new cameras and lenses. They don't flood the market with dozens of poorly developed cameras but put a lot of work into a few excellent-quality, highly specified models at a lower price point than comparable models of some other brands.
After it split from Olympus, the uninformed internet doom-and-gloom merchants spread false rumors about the system, claiming its demise. You still occasionally hear that poppycock, and this new camera will be more evidence that the brand is continuing to build upon its inherited Olympus legacy.
My regular readers know that I am an OM System Ambassador and am still investing heavily in their gear because of its quality. I know of the large migration to the brand from other systems. So, I am quite excited by this. OM System is gaining a reputation for being in vogue among younger photographers who don't want to carry huge cameras around with them. The ever-growing older generation of experienced photographers also appreciates the smaller form factor and high quality.
The full announcement of the new camera is on February 6. Watch this space.
This is very good news and I can’t wait for the announcement and camera specs. I would like to replace my 10-year-old OM-D E-M5 II.