If you’re looking for an affordable, highly capable and classically handsome interchangeable-lens mirrorless camera to shoot super-sharp high-res images and nice clean 4K video with, the new midrange OM-5 is an attractive choice. It’s a lightweight and durable 20MP Micro Four Thirds model that looks a lot like its nearest predecessor, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III, but with a few notable upgrades that give it a competitive edge.
What hasn’t changed
Along with its body design and layout, it’s clear that the OM System OM-5 has inherited much of its feature set from the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III too, including the same 20MP MFT sensor, five-axis in-body image stabilization, 121-point AF system, 2.36 million-dot OLED EVF and more.
What’s changed
This is the first OM System camera to fully discard the Olympus moniker, both in the name of the model and the one that appears on the face of the camera itself, signalling a new direction in the brand’s marketing strategy going forward.
The OM-5 also features a more powerful image processor, the TruePic IX, which in turn allows for the addition of some cool new AI-driven features, including Live ND and a Hand-held High Res Shot mode. The latter lets you shoot handheld while the camera captures eight shots in rapid sequence while shifting the sensor by half a pixel between each frame to deliver super-sharp high-res 50MP results.
Although the autofocus system remains essentially the same, it does boast more precise face and eye tracking, even when your subject isn’t looking straight into the camera.
The OM-5 can still capture 4K video up to 30p, but now with vertical orientation and no recording limit. You can also use this camera as a plug-and-play webcam just by connecting it to a computer with a USB cable, no additional software required.
With new and improved weather sealing, the OM-5 boasts an impressive IP53 weather-protection rating. Along with the ability to keep dust, sand and spraying water out, it also offers freezeproof performance in temperatures down to -10 C, making it a safe choice for photographers working outdoors and especially in Canadian winters.
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