This is not the camera that Olympus hypes up with its new cameras when it sells its camera division. The new camera, called the OM-5, will be launched late next month and looks like a shrunken version of the original Olympus camera. I think it will be a good camera, but I feel depressed when I look at it.
The first camera release of the OM System was the OM-1. It is proud to wear the OM System name on its forehead, something that is sure to please a small group of people.
This still seems like a holdover from Olympus. Run through a few things.
The two-year-old OM-D E-M1 Mark III has the same sensor size. Do you check? Is that the same system as the camera? Do you check? The OM-D E-M5 Mark III has a 2.36-million dot screen. Do you check? There is a 121-point hybrid phase and contrast detector. Do you check? Is it the same video that tops out at 30 frames per second? Do you check? Computational photography-lite features from prior Olympus models are the same as LiveND. Do you check? Is it possible to join the OM-1 and go for something simpler? That is wonderful, and I support it.
One of the biggest additions is support for vertical video, which means you don't have to manually change the orientation of the file later. The new OM-5 camera is the first of its kind that can be used as a webcam, and it has been rated for waterproofness. I am looking for more reasons to find the OM-5 appealing for anyone other than the people who already have a bunch of compatible Zuiko lens and are looking for an affordable upgrade.
There is nothing wrong with having some features trickle down to a lower price point, but in a time where much of the excitement around cameras is focused around systems with larger sensors, this camera feels a little uneasy.
The Micro Four-thirds system is a camera line that looks like it could slowly fade away, especially with Panasonic's attention more focused on niche box cameras and its full-frame offerings in dire need of refresh.
We will soon see some really interesting things from the OM System and I hope we run out of old Olympus leftovers. We need something cool to distract ourselves from that cringe-inducing wordmark atop the camera because, right now, I fear it only makes me mourn the legacy of Olympus cameras that's at risk of slipping away
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