With the best Olympus cameras (or OM System, as the lineup is gradually being renamed), not only do you get iconic style and impeccable design, but also immaculate image quality and some of the smartest computational features on the market. While these cameras are geared more toward stills than video, they offer everything you could ask for, whether you're a beginner, enthusiast, content creator or working professional.
Since the transition to OM System, new life has been breathed into the range. The recent OM System OM-1 Mark II is one of the most unique professional cameras we've seen, and more than proves that Micro Four Thirds is a worthy rival to full-frame. It's one of the most impressive cameras I've tested recently, and is complemented by an ever-growing selection of superb Olympus / OM System lenses.
I've included an explainer section at the bottom of this guide for those who are new to the range, and have also added a quick run-down of my personal picks across the system – having been an Olympus / OM System user for years now, it's safe to say I have a lot of opinions! I've also included budget-friendly options, including some that are best bought on the second-hand market, so there should be something for all comers.
Your guide to Olympus kit
Your guide to Olympus kit
James Artaius
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014. As a longtime Olympus shooter, there's not much he doesn't know about the range – here he brings his expertise to our Olympus and OM System camera guide.
Lightweight, well-balanced and bursting with features, the OM-5 is the top mid-range choice for enthusiasts, amateur photographers and those who travel.
With its lightweight dimensions and intuitive UI, the E-M10 IV is still one of the best choices for beginners. Its flip-out screen means it's also great for vlogging.
If your budget doesn't quite stretch to the OM-1 II, the first iteration is still a solid choice for pros, with IP53 weather-sealing and super-fast burst shooting.
Balancing well with big telephotos, the Olympus OM-D E-M1X has remained enduringly popular with sports photographers. Its integrated grip boosts battery capacity.
Though superseded by the OM-5, this enthusiast-oriented model still has a lot to recommend it (not least the price), with a light build that's ideal for travel photography.
The PEN series are perfect everyday cameras – slim and highly capable. The E-P7 isn't available in all territories, but is well worth snapping up if you can.
The waterproof TG series have long been considered the best tough compacts you can buy – and the transition from Olympus to OM System has seen that continue.
If you're a working professional or a top-tier enthusiast, I wholeheartedly recommend the OM System OM-1 Mark II – which may well be the best all-around camera for general practice photographers, professionals included. I simply can't fault it, and trust it whether I'm working on a commission or shooting for my own pleasure.
The Olympus PEN E-P7 is a tricky recommendation, as it's not available in some territories, but I'm picking it for good reason: this camera literally comes everywhere with me, from the supermarket to my summer vacation. It's effectively an Olympus PEN-F Mark II, but it's got enough in common with the Olympus PEN E-PL10 that I would recommend that if the E-P7 isn't sold in your region.
My final recommendation is the tough-as-nails OM System Tough TG-7. How tough is this camera? I've taken it in the sea. I've taken it to a burn in the middle of the desert. I've deliberately thrown it on the ground, stomped on it and poured soda on it – and it's still going strong. Need something rugged to go where you daren't take your main camera or phone? This is it!
The best Olympus cameras (OM System) in 2024
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Continuous shooting speed: 120fps (no AF/AE), 50fps (full AF/AE)
Max video resolution: 4K 60p
User level: Advanced / Expert
Reasons to buy
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8.5-stop stabilisation system
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Software-based ND / grad filters
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Raft of clever computational featurs
Reasons to avoid
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Somewhat similar to OM-1
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20.4MP native resolution
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SD cards only
It seemed at first glance like a fairly minor update to the original OM-1 – some even heckled it as little more than a "firmware update". However, our in-depth time with the OM System OM-1 Mark II revealed it to be a very different beast. It's not just the best OM System camera – it's a camera that can do things its rivals can't.
The signature addition is the Live GND filter, a software-based version of an ND grad filters, allowing you to control bright skies to create balanced exposures of landscapes and vistas. Pair this with the IP53 weather-sealing we've come to expect from OM System, and you have one of the most capable and attractive outdoor cameras on the market. Then you've also got an improved autofocus system, a deeper buffer to take advantage of 120fps shooting, and in-camera focus stacking and bracketing that makes macro shooting so much easier.
This camera delivered on everything I asked of it, and then some. As you can see from our lab data, it more than holds its own against rivals with larger sensors. It's time to let go of pre-conceived biases against Micro Four Thirds, given that the system has now produced one of the best professional cameras you can buy.
The OM System OM-5 was the first camera not to bear the Olympus logo, but it bleeds the technological legacy of the brand. Technically it's a successor to the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III, but truthfully it has more in common with the flagship OM System OM-1 – except where the OM-1 is built for advanced photographers, the OM-5 is built for adventurers.
While the familiar 20.4MP sensor may seem conservative in pixel count, it offers 50MP handheld shooting (or 80MP on a tripod) for when you need a resolution boost. The in-body image stabilization is now a base 6.5 stops, hitting 7.5 when used with the company's Sync-IS lenses, and an upgraded processor powers the brilliant Live ND Filters, giving you up to 4-stops of ND simulation.
Autofocus systems are improved, with better face and eye recognition along with Starry Sky AF mode to make astrophotography a doddle. And the OM-5 is weatherproof to the IP53 standard, making it the official leader in its class when it comes to withstanding water, dirt and dust in the field. I've used this camera line ever since the original Olympus OM-D E-M5, and the OM-5 remains my personal favorite of the OM System lineup.
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV's predecessor, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III, was a great camera with plenty to offer. However, its aging 16MP sensor and contrast AF left room for improvement. Luckily the Mark IV is a great update, with the same 20.3MP sensor as the PEN-F and improved Continuous Autofocus.
While some improvements are incremental, the Mark IV brings some interesting new offerings to the table including a zippy 15fps continuous burst mode. I'm also a big fan of the extra-tiltable screen, which is capable of flipping 180° down to create the perfect selfie screen. And Olympus has thankfully returned silent shooting to manual mode! One of the best cameras for beginners, and a great travel camera too.
Continuous shooting speed: 120fps (no AF/AE), 50fps (full AF/AE)
Max video resolution: 4K 60p
User level: Advanced / Expert
Reasons to buy
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120fps burst shooting
+
IP53 weather sealing
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4K 60p 12-bit ProRes RAW
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8 stops of stabilization
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80MP Hi Res Shot
Reasons to avoid
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No 8K video
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Native 20.4MP resolution
While it's since been succeeded by the OM-1 Mark II, the original OM-1 is still a tempting buy for those whose budgets don't quite stretch far enough to reach the newer model – it has loads to recommend it. The world's first IP53 weather-sealed camera, with the world's first Cross Quad Pixel AF, it is also packed with bleeding-edge computational photography tech, image stabilization that blows everything else out of the water, and ISO performance that promises parity with full frame sensors.
The caveat is that this is only a 20.4MP sensor – albeit a stacked one, which can deliver 120fps shooting, 80MP pixel-shift stills and 4K 60p ProRes Raw video. This is quite simply one of the finest and most capable cameras I've ever used. You won't find this much across-the-board firepower in another camera, even one twice the size.
Best Olympus camera for big lenses
(Image credit: James Artaius / Digital Camera World)
Olympus raised a few eyebrows (mine included) when it launched the E-M1X, a big new professional camera aimed squarely at the sports and wildlife market, but with what looked like very similar specs to the existing Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. A DSLR-sized Olympus camera? Isn't the whole point of Olympus cameras that they're the most compact on the market?
Dig deeper, though, and you find the E-M1X is a very different beast, with an integrated grip for bigger battery capacity and duplicated horizontal / vertical shooting controls, dual processors that dramatically up the game for autofocus, and a new AI system to recognize and track subjects.
It also pairs perfectly with Olympus' lineup of f/1.2 Pro primes and super-small telephoto zooms, which can feel unbalanced on smaller bodies without a grip. If you need a big body for big lenses, and big battery life for big shooting sessions, this is the Oly for you – I took it with me to Africa on a photo safari, and it was a phenomenal performer.
While it has been superseded by the OM-5, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is still an exceptional camera. It uses Olympus' former flagship 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and, while the resolution might put some people off, the image quality is top notch – and this camera can shoot 50MP images via pixel shift.
Its other abilities are equally amazing, including 6.5 stops of in-body image stabilization, 30fps burst shooting (including via Pro Capture mode, with 14-shot pre-buffering), C4K and 4K video, Olympus' brilliant Live Composite modes and plenty more. This has been my primary workhorse camera for years, and remains so. With the OM-5 having been out for a while, there are some good deals to be had on the E-M5 Mark III right now.
The Olympus PEN E-P7 combines the finesse and form factor of its predecessor, 2013's Olympus PEN E-P5, with the Profile Control switch inspired by the fan-favorite Olympus PEN-F, and the features and functionality of the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV. The result is the best non-OM-D camera I've seen since the PEN-F. In fact, it's basically a PEN-F without an EVF.
The E-P7 is so stylish that you can take it anywhere, so simple that beginners can use it, and so capable that experts can get sensational results from it. It's perfect for stills, while IBIS makes recording video a breeze. This is an ideal take-anywhere, shoot-anything camera – and that's why it's literally the camera that's on my shoulder everywhere I go. The only catch is you can't yet buy the PEN E-P7 in all regions, with North America yet to see an official launch.
Virtually identical to its predecessor, the Olympus Tough TG-6
The Olympus TG-6 was one of our top-recommended waterproof cameras for a while - and this has now been reborn as the OM System Tough TG-7. The two compacts are nearly identical - but that's no bad thing, here, not least that it means the newer version is still our favorite rugged weatherproof camera. There are some neat features, too - such as a microscope mood and a sensor that records the GPS location of your images or videos and the ambient temperature. And usefully it features a 4x zoom lens, which is great for use on lands as well as under the water's surface.
It shoots 4K video at 30fps, and you can get slow motion video with the handy addition of its 1080P 120fps option, the option to shoot Full HD video at 120fps. The overall design has been improved by providing a meatier handgrip to ensure you can hold the camera securely. In our field tests, we were pleased to discover the camera is straightforward but sophisticated to use - and it remains quite simply the best waterproof point-and-shoot camera you can buy.
Olympus and OM system cameras come in three broad categories:
The flagship OM / OM-D bodies (harking back to the OM film cameras, aimed at professionals and enthusiasts)
The PEN line (super stylish, and ideal for street shooting, social media and travel)
The Tough TG cameras (fixed lens compacts that are near-indestructible, for use in any environment)
The range of Olympus and OM System cameras isn't as confusing as it looks at first glance. After the Olympus imaging division was sold to OM Digital Solutions, the brand name changed to OM System, meaning all new cameras and lenses would be sold as OM System going forward. There was no change to the lens mount or sensor standard, so the best Olympus / OM System cameras and best Olympus / OM System lenses still work exactly the same as they always did, and can all be used completely interchangeably.
All the Olympus and OM System cameras that use interchangeable lenses (which is most of them) are part of the Micro Four Thirds standard. This system, developed by Olympus in conjunction with Panasonic, is still going strong, with the best Micro Four Thirds lenses offering arguably the richest and most diverse range of any lens ecosystem.
And since Micro Four Thirds sensors are a even smaller than APS-C sensors, this means that the whole system is lighter, more compact and generally more affordable than rival camera set-ups (where even though APS-C bodies might be small, the lenses are still pretty big).
How we test cameras
We test cameras both in real-world shooting scenarios and in carefully controlled lab conditions. Our lab tests measure resolution, dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio. Resolution is measured using ISO resolution charts, dynamic range is measured using DxO Analyzer test equipment and DxO Analyzer is also used for noise analysis across the camera's ISO range.
We use both real-world testing and lab results to inform our comments in buying guides, and continue testing these cameras over the long term to gauge their ongoing performance.
FAQs
(Image credit: OM Digital Solutions)
Do professional photographers use Olympus cameras?
Yes, many professional photographers use Olympus / OM System cameras. They are particularly popular among pro wildlife shooters, where the dramatically reduced size and weight compared to DSLRs or other mirrorless cameras means they can go further with less kit – or carry more kit than would be possible with a larger camera system.
(Image credit: Alis Volat)
Are Olympus cameras good quality?
Not only do they produce great image quality, Olympus / OM System cameras also feature perhaps the best build quality in the industry. Their weather sealing, for example, is regarded as the best in the business, with IP53-rated cameras and lenses alike – the highest you'll find in this category.
James has 22 years experience as a journalist, serving as editor of Digital Camera World for 6 of them. He started working in the photography industry in 2014, product testing and shooting ad campaigns for Olympus, as well as clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal. An Olympus / OM System, Canon and Hasselblad shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and he loves instant cameras, too.
