OM SYSTEM has announced its new OM-3 Digital Camera. It features a vintage style design from the 80’s. Maybe M4/3 isn’t dead just yet, but it’s still a fairly niche market in 2025 for video professionals.
At $1,999.99 USD this is expensive for an M4/3 camera and on par with the Panasonic Lumix GH7. The price seems expensive especially when you can get a Nikon Zfc Mirrorless Camera with 28mm Lens for almost half the cost. Even the full frame Nikon Zf is around $200 USD cheaper.
The OM System OM-3 is claimed to deliver flagship-level performance, customizable creative tools, and robust video capabilities. It is being touted as a good all-around camera for diverse scenarios such as cityscapes, street scenes, and urban nature settings.
Key features
- 20MP Stacked BSI Live MOS MFT Sensor
- TruePic X Engine
- 3.0″ 1.62m-Dot Swivel Touchscreen LCD
- 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
- 5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization
- Computational Photography Button
- High-Res Shot, Live ND & Composite Modes
- IP53 Weather-Sealed & Freezeproof Design
- Single UHS-II SD Card Slot
It features a 20MP Stacked BSI Live MOS MFT Sensor, TruePic X engine, and the 1053 AF points that are found in the OM-1 Mark II.
The OM-3 was designed to invoke the timeless elegance of the SLR camera. Its design repurposes the traditional dials to provide valuable access to customizable tools, such as a creative dial that allows easy transition between color and monochrome profiles, an intuitive button that unifies computational features such as Live ND and GND, focus stacking, and more.
According to the company, the camera has been optimized for video creators You can record 4K video at up to 60p. There is mode switching, heat management for extended recording, and new OM-Cinema video profiles. The dedicated video dial makes switching between still, video, and S&Q mode easier. You can also record slow or quick motion videos at frame rates ranging from 1 to 120 fps.
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 OM-Cinema Mode adds new video color profiles meant to help the user achieve cinematic quality with advanced settings tailored for professional storytelling.
Gamma modes include: FLAT, HDR-HLG, OM-Log
The camera has Dual Slot: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II) card slots and a Micro HDMI output.
Below you can see what resolutions, frame rates, and bitrates it is capable of:
Internal Recording
H.264/H.264 Long GOP/MOV/MPEG-4 AVC 4:2:0 8-Bit
DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) at 24.00/25/30.00/50/60.00 fps [102 to 205 Mb/s]
UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 24.00/25/30.00/50/60.00 fps [102 to 105 Mb/s]
1920 x 1080 at 24.00/25/30.00/50/60.00 fps [30 Mb/s]
H.265/H.265 Long GOP/MOV 4:2:0 10-Bit
4096 x 2160 at 24.00/25/30.00/50/60.00 fps [77 to 155 Mb/s]
3840 x 2160 at 24.00/25/30.00/50/60.00 fps [155 Mb/s]
1920 x 1080 at 24.00/25/30.00/50/60.00 fps [162 Mb/s]
External Recording
4:2:2/4:2:0 8/10-Bit via HDMI
DCI 4K (4096 x 2160)
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.
High-Res Shot allows 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 that allow 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.
There is a computational photography button, so users can access a wide array of creative tools, such as capturing light trails free from urban light pollution or combining various focus points to capture the wonders and details hidden in the world of macro photography.
The OM-System 5-axis image stabilization provides up to 6.5 shutter speed stops of compensation for the center and 5.5 stops for the corner. When paired with compatible lenses, the camera supports Sync IS delivering even more powerful image stabilization at up to 7.5 shutter speed stops at the center and 6.5 stops at the corner.
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.
Additional Features
- IP53 splash and dust resistance, ensures reliable performance in harsh conditions
- 1053-point Cross-Type On-chip Phase Detection Quad Pixel AF
- AI Detection AF for subjects including people, motorsports, birds, and pets
- Starry Sky AF for astrophotography
- High-speed sequential shooting at up to 120 fps with AF tracking at 50 fps
- Pro Capture Mode to capture up to 70 frames before fully pressing the shutter
- Custom Mode Labels for personalization of settings
- Custom setting options for activating video modes Supports integration with video recording lights
Price & Availability
The OM SYSTEM OM-3 is now available to pre-order for $1,999.99 USD. The OM-3 will also be available bundled with a kit lens, the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-45mm f/4 PRO lens for $2,299.99 USD,
Three New Lenses
Released alongside the new camera are three M.ZUIKO DIGITAL lenses, the 17mm f/1.8 II ($549.99 USD) and 25mm f/1.8 II ($499.99 USD) prime lenses and the ED 100-400mm f/5.0-6.3 IS II super-zoom lens ($1,499.99 USD). 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.
