OM Digital Solutions, the new company formed after Olympus sold off its camera business to a Japanese investment fund, has announced its first camera. The OM System OM-1 is a flagship Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera that serves as a successor to previous high-end Olympus models like the O-MD E-M1 Mark III.
The OM-1 name will be a familiar one to Olympus shooters — a 35mm SLR camera with the same name launched the OM line in 1972. The new OM System OM-1 still has the Olympus name on the body, though the company tells DPreview that this is likely to be the last model where that’s the case.
The OM-1 has a new 20-megapixel stacked CMOS sensor and an upgraded processor that lets it shoot stills at 50 frames per second with autofocus and auto exposure, or at up to 120 frames a second with focus and exposure set at the first frame — at least when using the electronic shutter with certain Pro-series lenses attached. The OM-1 can also shoot 4K video at 60fps for up to 90 minutes on a battery or two hours with external power.
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The body has been redesigned but still looks largely in line with earlier Olympus cameras. Its weather sealing is rated IP53. The viewfinder has been upgraded to a 5.76 million-dot OLED panel, and there’s a 1.62 million-dot 3-inch articulating touchscreen that displays a reworked menu system.
At $2,199 for the body alone and $2,799 in a kit with a refreshed 12-40mm f/2.8 lens, the new OM-1 is likely to be a hard sell for photographers who aren’t already invested in Olympus cameras. But it also looks like a big upgrade for those who are — it’s a significant overhaul that brings the Micro Four Thirds line up to date and suggests the new ownership is serious about continuing Olympus’ legacy. It’ll be available early next month.