Olympus & OM System Mirrorless Camera Roundup - 2024

Back in the days of film photography, Olympus made a name for themselves with a number of high-quality compact offerings, and in the digital age they have kept this ball rolling, with their popular range of Mirrorless cameras. With these cameras, which often look just like a rangefinder or DSLR camera of old, Olympus, which are now known as OM System, manages to expertly meld the two key features of this blossoming segment - portability and power.

There are quite a few models available in this Micro Four Thirds range, and whether they are branded as Olympus or OM System, they all feature a notable retro charm; it can be hard for a beginner to spot the difference. Today we attempt to make the differences between these models clearer, so you can add the right mirrorless camera to your camera bag.

• 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Sensor
• Built-in 5-Axis Image Stabilisation (8.5 Stops)
• Up To 120 Frames per second Continuous
• 4K Video Resolution

Built for nature photography, the OM System OM-1 Mark II tackles the wilds with unwavering resolve. Ruggedly built to withstand dust, splashes, and even the extreme cold, this OM System mirrorless camera fearlessly captures fleeting moments with rapid-fire shooting reaching 120fps. Double the buffer compared to its predecessor ensures seamless bursts, letting you frame nature's drama without missing a fleeting beat. This is a camera built for the untamed corners of the world, where resilience meets relentless speed.

This OM System for wildlife photography offers swift and dependable autofocus, which tracks your subject with unwavering accuracy, while its intelligent AI Subject Detection anticipates your focus, instantly adapting performance for birds in flight, racing cars, or still and serene landscapes. With image stabilization boasting an astonishing 8.5 stops, the OM-1 Mark II lets you embrace spontaneity, confident that every shot will reveal the world's exquisite detail, unmarred by tremors. With highlights including 4K video recording and high-res photo modes, this mirrorless camera with stabilisation can do it all, whether you need large-scale prints or classy video content to share online.

• 20MP Micro Four Thirds Sensor
• Built-in 5-Axis Image Stabilisation (4.5 Stops)
• 15 Frames per second Continuous
• 4K Video Resolution

The Olympus E-M10 series of mirrorless cameras is a great place for beginners to start their Olympus Journey. The latest offering is this OM-D E-M10 Mark IV, and despite being incredibly company and simple for a novice to get the hang of, it includes numerous features that make it seem like a more advanced model.

As well as the 20MP Live MOS Sensor, this camera includes a built-in 5-Axis Image Stabilisation system, so you can capture high-quality, blur-free images, while still learning the basics of photography. Not just good for stills, this camera can record video, in 4K resolution no less, and it can capture up to 15 photos per second in a burst, which is speedy enough for kids and pets - most moving things for that matter. Other important additions include both a flip-down LCD screen and an EVF for composing images, and speedy autofocus. This is an entry-level offering that you can grow with.

• 20MP Micro Four Thirds Sensor
• Built-in 5-Axis Image Stabilisation (5.5 Stops)
• Rugged, Weather-Sealed Build
• 4K Video Resolution

Similar to the E-M10 Mark IV above, this Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is a portable mirrorless camera, which is perfect for anyone wanting to upgrade from a compact digital camera for better photos, without settling for something heavy or bulky - this model is great for travel photography. Although portable, the E-M5 Mark III is tough enough for outdoor shooting, thanks to its weather-sealed build. 

Once again, this camera has an EVF, while the LCD screen can be fully-articulated for shooting from tricky angles or using the 4K video on offer. Image stabilisation is once again built-in, with a slightly improved 5.5-stops of effectiveness, while in a unique feature, the 20MP Live MOS sensor can be used to capture a 50MP high-res file using sensor shift technology - a trusty tripod is necessary to use this feature.

• 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Sensor
• Built-in 5-Axis Image Stabilisation (7 Stops)
• Rugged, Dust, Splash and Freeze-proof build
• UHD 4K/30p video

Anyone looking to use their Mirrorless camera to explore their love of sports and action photography should consider adding the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III to their wishlist. The 20.4MP Live MOS sensor of this camera pairs up with Olympus’ TruePic IX processor which drastically improves operating and performance speeds, as well as overall image quality. This camera features a fast and accurate AF system with 121 AF points and advanced subject tracking, and it can shoot at up to 18 frames per second in a continuous burst.

Enthusiasts will find a lot to love about the E-M1 Mark III including a rugged weather-sealed body, dual SD card slots for managing the large number of files captured while burst shooting, and an advanced 5-Axis Image Stabilisation system - this one is good for up to 7-stops of stabilisation!

• 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Sensor
• Built-in 5-Axis Image Stabilisation (7 Stops)
• Rugged, Dust, Splash and Freeze-proof build
• UHD 4K/30p video

To all of you demanding and serious gear enthusiasts, who are looking to explore the compact Micro Four Thirds range in order to cut back on the size of your DSLR gear, we recommend taking a look at the portable and powerful Olympus OM-D E-M1X.

This camera is one of the most powerful of the bunch, both in terms of its premium weather-sealed build, and the fact that it includes a built-in battery grip - this feature allows it to utilise two batteries,  so it can capture around 870 shots before needing to stop to recharge. It is comfortable and intuitive to use both in the vertical and horizontal orientation, and it includes various points of customisation for professionals to tweak to their fancy.

The E-M1X is a match for advanced users, with UHD 4K video recording on offer, as well as 18 frames per second continuous shooting when using AF/AE tracking. The fast and accurate 121-point AF system which we have seen in previous Olympus models is borrowed for this camera, and it helps users to explore the burst shooting and video recording successfully. Once again, Image Stabilisation is built into the body of this camera, while pairing it with certain compatible Olympus lenses can see an increase of stabilisation from 7-stops to 7.5-stops.

• 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Sensor
• Built-in 5-Axis Image Stabilisation
• Rugged, Dust, Splash and Freeze-proof build
• 4K60p video

The Olympus OM-1 is a culmination of all of the features and functions that Olympus have been fine-tuning and crafting up to the time of its release; we are talking about excellent imaging and impressive portability. The OM-1 is suited to all creative purposes under all constraints, thanks to its brilliant 20.4MP MFT BSI Live MOS sensor and highly effective stabilisation system, which provides up to 8-stops of shake reduction when paired with select stabilised lenses.

With the OM-1, you can get lost in the moment, and you know your camera is ready and willing to come along for the ride, with impressive speedy functions such as a 1053-point phase-detection AF system and rapid-fire continuous shooting rate of up to 120 frames per second. Rather than forcing you into a certain way of shooting, the Olympus OM-1 can slot into your dream workflow with minimal fuss, thanks to its large and bright EVF for eye-level viewing, tilting and touch-sensitive LCD screen that is great for POV shots, and dual memory card slots for managing the large and plentiful files created.

While lightweight, the Olympus OM-1 is as tough as they come, with a magnesium alloy body and IP53 dust and splash-proof construction. Advanced videographers and vloggers will appreciate the OM-1, with 4K60p video recording available, Full HD 240p video for slow-motion results, and microphone and headphone ports for pro-level audio capture.

• 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Sensor
• Built-in 5-Axis Image Stabilisation
• Rugged, Dust, Splash and Freeze-proof build
• UHD 4K30p video

The OM System OM-5 is a perfect choice for anyone looking for a portable, yet reliable mirrorless camera to accompany them to any location on the itinerary. With its super sturdy build, the OM-5 won't back out even when the next stop on the adventure might be to an unpredictable, and less than comfortable climate, and as the camera weighs in at around half a kilo with a standard zoom lens attached, you will never regret packing this camera for the trip.

The OM System OM-5 is capable of stunning photo and video quality, with a 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and 4K resolution video recording. The advanced sensor combines with a TruePic IX image processor to provide stunning detail throughout the broad 200-25600 ISO range, while the camera also offers tremendous processing speeds, fast and accurate AF speeds, and blistering continuous shooting speeds.

The OM System OM-5 can do wonderful things when in the hands of more advanced photographers, thanks to including a range of functions, such as Live ND filters and a bulb setting for exploring motion photography, and a 50MP handheld high-res mode, which can help users to produce stunning poster-sized prints.

Think you’ve found the camera of your dreams on this product roundup? Don’t forget to check out our lens buying guide if you need help selecting lenses to pair with your new camera.