- Retro design inspired by the original Olympus OM-1 movie SLR from 1973
- New line to OME system, has a creative color mode disc as in PEN-F
- Sits between the OM system about-1 II and OM-5, priced £ 1,699 only (US / AU pricing to follow)
- Three lenses get Mark II treatment; M.zuiko Digital 17mm F1.8 II, 25mm F1.8 II and ED 100-400MM F5.0-6.3 IS II
The about system doubled right at its retro appeal with a new OM-3-mirror-free camera. It’s a great takeover of the original Olympus about-1 movie SLR from the 1970s, and the closest fans come to a reboot of 2016’s popular Digital Olympus Pen-F.
Cost of £ 1,699 Body only or £ 1,999 with 12-45mm F4 Pro lens (USA and Australia Pricing to follow), OM-3 sits between the flagship of-1 II and the enthusiast level about-5. It delivers about -system functions we already know; The same stacked the 20MP Micro Four Thirds Sensor and TruePic X processor as about 1 II, along with class-leading image stabilization in the body, rated up to 7.5ev and Quad-Pixel Autofocus with AI-Subject Detection, wrapped in a robust IP53-rated weather stock body.
OM-3 also has a creative dial à la pen-f. The Olympus was in front of the curve with Pen-F as we now see them as Fujifilm X-T50 and Panasonic Lumix S9, which benefits from the interest in custom color profiles with dedicated controls that give quick access to a catalog of custom look.
In OM-3 we get a creative dial with four modes; Color profile, monochome profile, art filters plus color protected. Color profile has four customized settings that emulate film appearance, as well as the monochrome profile with its four black and white looks.
There is a lot to suffer from OM-3. It packs the same power as the more expensive about-1 II for a more affordable, retro body with direct access to key features. This is a camera as if -system fans have been waiting in particular, and a compelling Fujifilm alternative.
More than a beautiful face
OM-3 is a stunner that weighs below 500 g and is smaller than about-1 II, but its appeal is not only the surface deep. It is a very sturdy metal camera that is dustproof, splashproof and freezeferboof, plus it has a well thought out design with direct access to many of its powerful, modern features.
There is a new dial for photo, video or slow and fast movement options, with slow movement up to 60 fps in 4K and up to 120 fps in Full HD. Whether System has introduced new cinema modes with log color profiles for video that maximize the camera’s dynamic range for classification clips later.
There is also a new button to access computer photography features directly, with the full package of the system with states by hand; Live ND filters with six levels of strength from ND2 to ND64, the graduated ND filter effect, fashion. These are smart features that minimize the accessories you need and spent time editing on a computer.
Price wise, OM-3 is collected against like Fujifilm X-T5 despite its lower pixel numbers and smaller sensor size, which will always be a strike for some. However, I can’t think of a faster camera for the money-this 120FPS-shooting stunner could be the ultimate travel and outdoor camera, especially for those with an eye for design. Whether System also launched Mark II versions of three of its lenses along with the camera, all of which add weather seal to the original versions; M.zuiko Digital 17mm F1.8 II, 25mm F1.8 II and ED 100-400MM F5.0-6.3 is II. I can see that 17 mm lens is a nice mating with OM-3 especially for street photography. We are currently implementing a full OM-3 review that will be coming soon.
