OM SYSTEM cameras have almost always had their styling inspired by their film-era models; this is something its fans adore. Not wanting to deviate from that route, the new OM-3 camera is an almost exact replica of their classic OM-1 film SLR, the first camera launched by them in 1972. Further reinforcing their commitment to the genre, the OM-3 mirrorless camera retains the m43 sensor size that the brand has championed over the last decade and a half now. But it’s not just this camera that OM System is launching this month; the company is also launching updated versions of two of their lenses that are over 10 years old.
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The OM-3: Classic Elegance Meets Creative Possibilities
The OM SYSTEM OM-3 aims to strike a fine balance between classic design and modern innovation. The body draws inspiration from the iconic Olympus OM-1 film SLR. The untrained eye would even say it’s a clone. Its sleek, compact design, complete with the iconic pentaprism silhouette, tactile top dials, and that unmistakable delta-shaped body, clearly shows where the inspiration came from. The OM-3 integrates technology in a high-quality, compact, lightweight body. I’d say it looks more like the OM-1 film SLR than the OM-1 mirrorless camera does. Beyond its retro aesthetics, the OM-3 aims to deliver impressive performance, customizable features, and strong video capabilities, making it a versatile tool for m43 photographers and videographers.
Tech Specs Of The OM System OM-3
| Sensor | 20.4 Megapixel 4/3 Stacked BSI Live MOS |
| Processor | TruePic™ X Dual Quad Core Processor |
| Image stabilisation | 5-Axis Image Stabilisation with up to 7.5 Shutter Speed Steps Compensation |
| Dust reduction | Super Sonic Wave Filter |
| Weatherproofing | Dust, Splash and Freezeproof (IP53 Rated) |
| Viewfinder | Eye-level OLED electronic viewfinder, approx. 2.36M dots |
| Rear monitor | 3.0-inch vari-angle monitor (electrostatic capacitance touch panel), Approx. 1620k dots (3:2) |
| Focusing system | High-speed imager AF: Imager phase detection AF and imager contrast AF used in combination |
| Focusing points | Cross-type phase detection AF (1,053 points) |
| AI Detection AF | Human, Formula cars, rally cars, motorcycles / Aircrafts, helicopters / Bullet trains, standard trains, steam locomotives / Birds / Dogs, cats |
| Creative features | Color dial available Color filter effect: None/8 colours (Red, Orange, Yellow, Yellow-Green, Green, Cyan, Blue, Magenta) with 3 steps Shading effect: 11 steps (-5 ~ +5) Film grain effect: Off/Low/Med/High Monochrome colour: Normal/Sepia/Blue/Purple/Green *Settings can be stored individually to MONO1/MONO2/MONO3/MONO4. Settings of High- light & Shadow Control can be stored as well. Color profile control: Saturation of 12 colours can be adjusted in 11 steps (-5 ~ +5) Shading effect: 11 steps (-5 ~ +5) *Settings can be stored individually to COLOR1/COLOR2/COLOR3/COLOR4. Settings of Highlight&Shadow Control can be stored as well |
| Sequential shooting | [Sequential shooting] approx. 6 fps with selectable 1-6 fps [Silent sequential shooting SH1] approx. 120 fps with selectable 30, 60, 100, 120 fps [Silent sequential shootingSH2] approx 50 fps with selectable 12.5, 16.7, 25, 50, fps |
| Weight | Body only: 413g |
| Dimensions | Approx. 139.3mm(W) x 88.9mm(H) x 45.8mm(D) *Based on CIPA standards: excludes protrusions |
The OM-3 isn’t just a camera for the modern urban creative; it hopes to be an extension of your lifestyle. The portable design and vintage-inspired aesthetics make it the perfect companion for everyday adventures, whether you’re just shooting bustling streets, or jetsetting to a foreign country for a holiday. With the creative dial giving you quick access to 4 color modes, 4 monochrome profiles, and various other color filters, your creativity is limited only by your imagination. The various AI-enabled subject detection modes ensure you don’t easily miss focus in your photography with the OM-3
Images taken on the OM System OM-3 can be seen below:
Three New Lenses Are Coming Too
In addition to the OM-3, OM System is also launching newer editions of three of their lenses, two of which are least are long overdue for an upgrade. Two of these are wide-angle primes. The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm F1.8 II and 25mm F1.8 II lenses (35mm equivalent 34mm and 50mm focal lengths, respectively) will be available in late February 2025 for $549.99 and $499.99. Both these lenses are IPX1-rated for splash-proof performance and have a dust-proof design. These focal lengths would certainly be on the lists of street photography and portrait photography enthusiasts.
The third lens also being released this month is the M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS II, the predecessor to which was a powerful superzoom perfect for sports and wildlife photographers. We gave it a whole five stars in our review, and hopefully the new version will exceed all expectations and outshine the earlier model. The 35mm-equivalent focal range of 200mm to 800mm, makes it ideal for wildlife, birding, sports, and even landscape photography. Coupled with the 120fps stills photography burst rate (in silent shooting modes) on the OM-3 you can be sure that fast-moving subjects don’t have a chance of escaping your frame. Moreover, this lens lets you even focus as close as 4 feet. It’s compatible with the MC-14 and MC-20 teleconverters, extending the reach up to a 35mm equivalent focal distance of a whopping 1600mm.
Images taken with the ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS II can be seen below:
February 2025 is sure to be an exciting month for OM system fans. The OM-3 and these new lenses will be much in demand. Keeping to their tradition of producing small yet powerfully designed cameras and lenses, OM System continues to give a lifeline to m43 users and fans. Head over to Adorama today to place an order for the OM-3
Images seen in this article have been provided for use by our OM System reps