Small and weatherproof: the new OM-5 mirrorless system camera for outdoor photographers

It should be available in late November 2022, but OM Systems has already announced its new OM-5 camera. As with the company’s other models, like the similar but three-year-old OM-D E-M5 Mark III, this is a Micro Four Thirds system mirrorless camera.

According to the small sensor, OM does not participate in the revived megapixel race: 20 MP is required, the native resolution is 5760 × 4320 pixels. With the new “Portable Hi-Res Shot” feature, multiple shots can be combined in-camera using software, resulting in an 8160 x 6120 image or, according to marketing, 50 megapixels. This is saved as JPEG and RAW. The sensor shift feature provides even more data, so it’s 10,368 × 7776 pixels.

Still ready to shoot at minus 10

Since the camera is protected against dust and splash water to IP53 and should also work at minus 10 degrees Celsius, OM Systems recommends it together with handheld mode as an outdoor companion. At a good 400 grams for the body and battery, it’s also very light. The battery in question is the BLS-50 model known from other OM cameras, which is sufficient for 310 shots according to the CIPA test. If you don’t want to take several with you, you can charge the camera battery, for example with an external battery. However, only an outdated micro-connector for USB 2.0 is available for this. This is slow for transferring images, but still sufficient for use as a webcam, which the OM-5 can do without its own drivers or apps.

The flip and swivel touch screen with live view measures 3 inches, the OLED viewfinder displays 1024 × 768 pixels. Focusing is done using phase detection AF with 121 cross points. 5-axis image stabilization works via the moving sensor and is good at 6.5 f-stops according to CIPA, OM Systems specifies 7.5 stops. This should also be responsible for the new hi-res mode. There is also an ND filter in the software which, with the exception of ND16, is suitable for long recordings, for example. One of the OM Systems sample images should have been built with it.

4K movies but not Raw

OM can’t escape the trend of filming either, so now there are 4K recordings with up to 30 frames per second, and in Full HD there are also 120 frames per second for slow motion recordings. SD card is always saved with MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, there is no raw mode for videos. But there is no time limit either: the duration of the OM-5 on one battery charge and without overheating is also the first test. as with DPreview not to be taken.

The OM-5 It is available in retro-look silver or black, the body costs 1,299 euros, together with the also weather-resistant lens kit with 12-45 millimeters and a continuous f/4.0 aperture you have to pay 1,699 euros.

(hold)