OM SYSTEM Announces Vintage OM-3 Digital Camera, Three New Lenses

OM SYSTEM is hearkening back to its heritage with its latest release, the OM-3 Mirrorless Camera, which delivers advanced performance and creative versatility while drawing design inspiration from the iconic Olympus OM-1 SLR film camera of the 1970s. The company is also releasing updated versions of three lenses—17mm f/1.8 and 25mm f/1.8 primes and a 100-400mm f/5.6-6.3 super-telephoto zoom—to complement the release of the new interchangeable lens camera and to help creators to share their view world.

The OM-3’s vintage exterior contains a set of digital components ideal for creative expression. Building out from a 20.4MP stacked BSI CMOS Four Thirds sensor, the camera leverages its powerful TruePic X image processor—the same from the OM-1 mirrorless camera—to produce the scope of color profile controls and computational effects that distinguishes this system.

These color and monochrome profile controls enable users to make artistic adjustments to the image, allowing users to recreate the feel of film photography directly from the camera. In addition to both color and monochrome presets, users can adjust the saturation of 12 colors across 11 levels, along with highlight & shadow control, shading effects, a film grain effect, and a Monochrome color effect. A wide selection of Art filters are also available to apply via in-camera post-processing.

Further creative control is possible with the post-processing computational effects. High-Res Shot allow users to create images of up to 80MP in tripod mode and 50MP in handheld mode. Live ND and GND are two neutral density modes allowing for slow shutter effects in daylight and selective adjustments to manage difficult lighting within the frame. Other modes include Focus Stacking for broad depth of field, Multiple Exposure mode, and Live Composite mode.

These creative possibilities are emphasized in the camera’s design, which features both a Computational Photography button and a Creative dial, allowing users to directly access these settings without recourse to the menu.

The camera’s power processor also yields subject detection autofocus driven by AI, featuring six different subject categories with 1053-point phase detection. An additional autofocus mode, Starry Sky AF, is available for astrophotography. The camera’s 5-axis image stabilization provides up to 6.5 stops of image compensation at the center of the frame, with an additional stop when used in Sync IS with compatible lenses.

High-speed sequential shooting tops out at 120 fps, and the camera can shoot up to 50 fps with AF tracking engaged, while Pro Capture mode provides up to 70 frames of capture before fully pressing the shutter. The OM-3 also excels at video, offering 4K recording at up to 60p, in addition to Slow & Quick motion videos and the option for color profiling in either of the two OM-Cinema modes. Additionally, the camera’s heat management system permits continuous filming for up to 30 minutes at 104° F or indefinitely at 77° F without overheating.

The camera’s handsome, vintage design—which houses an electronic viewfinder in the iconic pentaprism—is by no means precious, and the compact, lightweight OM-3 continues the manufacturer’s dedication to building robust, weather-sealed cameras. The magnesium alloy body is IP53-rated for resistance against dust and water, with additional freeze-proof functionality down to 14° F. The camera runs on the same BLX-1 as the OM-1 digital camera and supports direct-to-camera USB-C charging.

Released alongside the new camera are three M.ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses, the 17mm f/1.8 II and 25mm f/1.8 II prime lenses and the ED 100-400mm f/5.0-6.3 IS II super-zoom lens. The two primes are full-frame equivalents of 35mm and 50mm, respectively, offering bright maximum apertures and bokeh effects in wide-angle and normal-length perspectives. Both lenses are compact, lightweight, and feature an IPX1-rated water and dust-resistant design for use outdoors.

Compact, lightweight, and well-balanced for its reach, the ED 100-400mm f/5.0-6.3 super-zoom offers a 200-800mm full-frame equivalent focal length, extendable to 1600mm with an optional MC-20 2x teleconverter, and with its robust, IPX1-rated construction, is an ideal companion for wildlife photography in demanding outdoor conditions. Also well-suited for sports and other distant subjects, the lens supports 5-axis Sync IS, offering up to 7 steps of shake compensation.

Rounding out the slate of Olympus releases is the RM-WR2 Wireless Remote Control, compatible with the OM-3 and other OM SYSTEM mirrorless cameras, affording users wireless trigger release in slow-shutter exposures and other no-shake scenarios.

The OM-3 will also be available bundled with a kit lens, the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-45mm f/4 PRO lens. For more information about the new camera, lenses, and accessories, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product pages. Or drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all your comments and questions.