The OM-5 is the primary remaining Olympus digicam to hold the OM System model, and I am unhappy to look at it

When Olympus sold its camera division and reformed because the OM system, it excited a push into computational pictures with its new mirrorless cameras – it is not that digicam. At this time, OM System is asserting the brand new OM-5, a $1,199.99 mirrorless digicam that can launch late subsequent month and appears like a zombified husk from Olympus. I am certain will probably be digicam, however I am unable to assist however really feel depressed once I have a look at it.

In fact, the OM-1 was technically OM System’s first digicam launch, but it surely was nonetheless Olympus-branded. Now, with the OM-5, it proudly wears the OM System identify on its brow, which is bound to please solely a handful of individuals at a advertising and marketing assembly someplace.

Besides, nicely, that looks like one more holdover from Olympus’ improvement. Let’s undergo a little bit guidelines.

It isn’t that this digicam has nothing going for it, though the listing of latest options is so sparse that one of many largest additions is help for vertical video – so you do not have to manually change the orientation of the file later. The brand new OM-5 can be rated IP53 for waterproofing, matching the OM-1, and it is the primary OM System/Olympus digicam that you need to use natively as a webcam with only a USB cable. However past all that, I am squinting for extra causes to search out the OM-5 interesting to anybody aside from the Olympus stalwarts who have already got a bunch of appropriate Zuiko lenses and are overdue for an inexpensive improve.

There’s nothing flawed with having a few of Olympus’ strong options at a cheaper price, however in a time when a lot of the joy round cameras is concentrated on programs with bigger sensors, this digicam seems like a barely uncomfortable inflection level.

The micro 4 thirds system collectively developed by Olympus and Panasonic is a line of cameras that appears prefer it might be slowly dying out, particularly with Panasonic’s consideration seemingly extra targeted on area of interest cameras and its full-frame choices which might be in dire want of refreshes. .

Hopefully we’re near exhausting these outdated remnants of Olympus within the improvement cycle, and we’ll see some actually cool stuff from OM System quickly. We want one thing cool to distract us from that cringe-worthy wordmark atop the digicam as a result of proper now I am afraid it’s going to simply make me mourn the legacy of cameras Olympus which is in peril of disappearing.