OM SYSTEMOM-5 Micro Four Thirds System Camera, 20 MP Live MOS Sensor, Improved 5-Axis Image Stabilisation, IP53, Handheld High Res Shot, Black

The OM SYSTEM OM-5 Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera, paired with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm f/4.0 PRO lens, is a fantastic combination that combines portability, high performance, and advanced features.I have been a fan of Olympus (now OM-System) cameras for over a decade. Starting off with their TG-2 sport camera for when I go snorkelling. I have been wanting to move from “point and shoot” type cameras for a while now, and having done some research, I opted for this OM-5. I wanted something that could use different lens, without going to a full-size DSLR, so that I had something that was more portable. While it may not have the flagship status of the OM-1, the OM-5 slots in as a versatile, mid-range model that balances performance, portability, and affordability.In terms of its key features that I wanted, the OM-5 boasts a 20.4-megapixel Live MOS sensor, 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS), 4K video recording, and advanced autofocus technology. It’s capable of capturing high-quality images and videos in a variety of conditions, making it a great choice for an amateur/novice like me.One of the first things you’ll notice about the OM-5 is its solid, weather-sealed construction. The camera body is compact yet robust, measuring just 4.7 x 3.4 x 2.4 inches and weighing 1.12 pounds, which makes it incredibly portable for those who want to travel light or prefer smaller, less conspicuous gear. The design is reminiscent of Olympus' OM film cameras from the 1970s, with its classic, retro-inspired aesthetics, making it both stylish and functional.The weather-sealing is a standout feature of the OM-5, offering protection against dust, splashes, and freezing temperatures down to 14°F (-10°C). I have had the camera for around a month now, and I have been out in the cold where it was just below freezing, and I have also been out in light drizzle, and the camera with this lens has had no problems. Even battery life was impressive during the cold, when batteries on other cameras I have owned run down quickly. This ruggedness makes it suitable for outdoor photography which is what my main use will be (landscapes, wildlife and city sightseeing), whether you’re shooting in the rain, snow, or in dusty environments. The body is made of magnesium alloy, which gives it a premium feel while maintaining a lightweight profile.The controls on the OM-5 are taking a little getting used to, but this is more a reflection on me as someone who has only recently started to dabble more seriously beyond the “point and shoot” approach to photography. The camera has a customizable button layout and a comfortable grip, making it easy to hold for extended shooting sessions. I know some reviewers state the camera is a little small, but even with my big hands, I don’t have a problem. The 3-inch LCD touchscreen is bright and responsive, and it’s adjustable for easy composition from low or high angles. While the electronic viewfinder isn’t as high-res as some flagship models, it’s still sharp enough for accurate framing and focusing.At the heart of the OM-5 is a 20.4-megapixel Live MOS sensor. While this is lower in resolution compared to some APS-C or full-frame competitors that I looked into when researching what camera to purchase, it does strikes a great balance between image quality and noise control, particularly in low light. The sensor is paired with the TruePic IX image processor, which offers fast processing speeds and enhanced colour reproduction. I took the photo of the squirrel in very overcast weather, but the camera worked fine.The dynamic range of the OM-5 is impressive, producing images with good tonal depth in both highlights and shadows. Colour accuracy is top-notch, with vibrant, true-to-life colours straight out of the camera. For users who prefer editing their images, the OM-5’s RAW files are flexible enough to allow for significant post-processing adjustments without introducing excessive noise or loss of detail.When it comes to low-light performance, the OM-5 shines with its 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS). I have taken a few photos of the night sky (using a Olympus M.ZUIKO 7-14mm lens and a NEEWER carbon tripod, sold separately and also available on Amazon), and the detail is incredibly sharp. Even without a tripod with up to 6.5 stops of compensation, the camera allows for hand-held shooting in dim conditions without a significant increase in motion blur.The camera offers an ISO range of 200-25600, with performance up to around ISO 6400 being quite good. Noise levels are well-controlled, and even at higher ISOs, the noise is finely textured rather than chunky, which helps preserve image details.The OM-5 features a sophisticated autofocus system with 121 phase-detection points, which cover a large portion of the frame. This system is fast, accurate, and works well in both stills and video mode. It’s particularly effective in tracking moving subjects, making the OM-5 such as wildlife and bird photography.The camera also has several autofocus modes, including continuous autofocus (C-AF), single autofocus (S-AF), and manual focus, with the option for face and eye detection for people and animal subjects. In practice, the autofocus is reliable, fast, and precise, making it suitable for a wide variety of shooting situations.One of the standout features for me, is the precision in the Pro Capture Mode, which allows the camera to continuously buffer images while I’m composing a shot. Once the shutter is pressed, the OM-5 can capture up to 35 frames before the shutter was even fully pressed. This is a great feature for wildlife photography, to capture that perfect moment without missing the action.I’ve only tried the video capabilities for a few minutes, just to see what it is like, as I am unlikely to use videoing very often with this camera. That said, the OM-5 is a capable video camera, supporting 4K video recording at 30fps and Full HD at 60fps. It also offers 10-bit colour depth in both 4K and Full HD modes, which makes it an appealing choice for budding creators who need high-quality video for vlogging, content creation, or professional video work.If I do decide to get more into the video capabilities of this OM-5, then the in-body image stabilization will be particularly useful for handheld video shooting, ensuring smooth footage even when moving around. The camera supports various video features like microphone and headphone jacks, live streaming via HDMI, and full manual control over exposure settings while recording.The camera came with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm f/4.0 PRO lens which is an excellent match for the OM-5, offering a versatile zoom range equivalent to 24-90mm on a full-frame camera. The f/4.0 aperture is constant throughout the zoom range, which is a nice touch, ensuring consistent exposure levels when zooming in or out.The lens is part of Olympus' PRO series, meaning it’s built to a high standard, with weather-sealing, high-quality optics, and a metal body. It’s also incredibly compact for a professional-grade zoom lens, making it an ideal companion for travel photographers or anyone looking for a lightweight system.Image quality is excellent, with sharp details from edge to edge, even at the widest aperture. The lens handles chromatic aberration and distortion very well, producing clean, sharp images across a variety of subjects. Autofocus is fast and quiet, making it a great option for both stills and video work.Final ThoughtsThe OM SYSTEM OM-5, combined with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm f/4.0 PRO lens, is a formidable system for anyone looking for a high-quality, portable, and versatile camera. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast, vlogger, or semi-professional photographer, this camera offers excellent image quality, a robust feature set, and an intuitive user experience.While it may not offer the higher resolution or frame rate capabilities of some full-frame or APS-C competitors, the OM-5 excels in portability, build quality, and performance. The inclusion of advanced features like IBIS, high-quality video recording, and fast autofocus makes it a well-rounded tool for various creative disciplines.For anyone who values a compact, rugged, and capable system, the OM SYSTEM OM-5 with the M.Zuiko 12-45mm PRO lens is a top contender. Its balance of performance and portability ensures that it stands out in the crowded mirrorless camera market. I’ve included some of my first couple of weeks test shots. All were taken using automatic settings, as I’m still learning how to use many of the manual features.

Bought this camera and lens in the Black Friday sale 15 months ago. Bit of a learning curve as it was my first mirrorless and first MFT. I’ve got to grips with it over the past year and am amazed at how much it can do and how sharp and versatile the 12-45 f4 lens is.The camera feels good in the hands, is small enough to go in a handbag but sturdy enough for medium sized wildlife lenses, and has so many useful features. Great on the go out and about, and equally good shooting tethered for still life and macro. Surprised at how well it does in low light when coupled with a fast lens.I can’t quite believe how small, light and high quality the Olympus/OMS lenses are. When bought in the periodic cashback/seasonal promotions they are also relatively inexpensive.The SOOC JPEGs are absolutely excellent once you’ve customised your general picture settings to suit your taste. If you get caught in a tricky situation and end up having to edit your photo, the amount of data that can be recovered from the RAW files is quite amazing. Shooting tethered via the OI.SHARE app is wonderful.Any niggles? No dealbreakers. The MicroUSB charging port is fiddly, but I just bought a charger and spare batteries so I don’t have to use it. The tracking autofocus functions are not brilliant for distant wildlife, as compared to the OM5’s big brothers.I love this camera and cannot see myself ever needing to upgrade. Don’t know why OMS market it as an outdoor camera when in fact it’s a very competent all rounder that can produce professional standard images as well as general everyday photos.

Make no mistake, this is a fantastic camera from the newly named OM Systems but with a bit more effort it could have been awesome.I'm only an amateur photographer and I've been shooting with Olympus for a few years and my main camera is an O-M-D-E 1 mk 2 with a 12-100 f4. This is a bulky setup (by M43 standards) and I wanted a smaller travel camera. This new, enthusiast-range OM5 is an upgrade to the already excellent O-M-D-E 5 mk3 fits the bill perfectly. It's small and lightweight, being made of plastic, rather than metal, yet it still feels solid in my hand.Courtesy of a new processor you now get 50mp handheld hi-res, a built-in 4 stop ND filter, improved AF and up to 7.5 stops of stabilisation (all the features found on their earlier flagship camera, the O-M-D-E 1 mk 3).I bought mine with the 12-45 f4 Pro lens, which is simply superb.This is all brilliant, yet I can't help feeling slightly cheated and wonder if I could have saved a lot of money by buying a used O-M-D-E 5 mk3 in like new condition.For those new to 'Olympus' cameras they were recently taken over by a conglomerate and renamed OM Systems. They then totally reworked their flagship, professional camera, the O-M-D-E 1 mk 3, with a new EVF, sensor, processor and very importantly, a redesigned, easier to navigate menu and launched it as the OM1.Unfortunately, the OM5 has none of these upgrades and is physically identical to the O-M-D-E 5 mk3: body, viewfinder, rear LCD, controls, battery, menu, etc are all the same. For costs, I can understand not upgrading the physical controls but at least they could have added the new menu system as their current one is notoriously difficult to navigate (stick with it as it does make sense eventually). To me, this feature alone would have been the unique marker of a brand new company, yet they've not bothered.And they no longer put their superb little removable flash unit in the box, nor is there a separate charger, just a lead to charge the battery via the camera, which isn’t USB-C and takes forever. However, the battery life is fairly poor anyway so it's worth looking on Amazon for a couple of spare batteries and a charger for under £25Regardless of these slight niggles, my new setup suits my purposes exactly, which is the main reason for buying it.All in all, the OM5 is a five-star camera which I'm happy to own.