OM-5

Released November 2022

A 20.4-megapixel Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera with five-axis stabilisation, handheld pixel-shift photographs and qualified IP53 weather resistance.

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: Four Thirds
Megapixels: 20.4
Lens: Micro Four Thirds
Video: 4096 × 2160 at 24 fps
Body weight: 366 g

What reviewers say

Both praise the compact weather-resistant body, pleasing photographs and effective stabilisation, while criticising the older menus and Micro-USB connection. Amateur Photographer finds face and eye focus reliable but notes a short 30 fps buffer and artefacts when subjects move during composite shots. Photography Blog finds high-ISO images suitable for small prints and web use; Amateur Photographer would avoid the highest settings. Both find the stabilisation useful for handheld video.

From photographyblog.com and amateurphotographer.com

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Mirrorless
Sensor format: Four Thirds
Sensor type: Live MOS
Sensor dimensions: 17.4 × 13 mm
Effective resolution: 20.4 MP
Largest image: 5184 × 3888
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 200–25600
Sensor detail: Approximately 20.37 effective and 21.77 total megapixels in maker Japan table; UK rounds to 20.4 and 21.8. Japan image area 17.4×13 mm; UK gives 17.3×13 mm
Image formats: JPEG and 12-bit losslessly compressed ORF RAW; ordinary output 5184×3888. Handheld composite 50 MP JPEG/RAW; tripod composite 50 MP JPEG or 80 MP RAW developed with OM Workspace, not a single-shot 80 MP sensor
ISO detail: Manual ISO 200–25600, expanded LOW approximately 64 and 100; default Auto upper limit 6400 (maker Japan). Amateur Photographer calls values above 6400 extended, unlike the maker manual table
Image processor: TruePic IX

Lens and shooting

Lens mount: Micro Four Thirds
Stabilisation: Lens and sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst: 30 fps
Autofocus: Sensor phase/contrast detection, 121 cross-type phase positions; face/eye detection and Starry Sky AF. No animal/vehicle recognition (Amateur Photographer)
Shutter: Mechanical 1/8000–60 seconds; electronic 1/32000–60 seconds; Bulb up to 30 minutes and Live Composite modes
Burst detail: Electronic high approximately 30 fps and low 10 fps; mechanical high 10 fps and low 6 fps. Maker example buffers 18 RAW/20 JPEG at 30 fps, 149 RAW at mechanical 10 fps, with specified KIOXIA card and 12–40mm F2.8 PRO
Stabilisation detail: Five-axis sensor shift; CIPA up to 6.5 stops with 12–40mm F2.8 PRO at 40mm; Sync IS up to 7.5 with 12–100mm F4 IS PRO at 100mm and half-press stabilisation off
Exposure controls: PASM, Live ND, HDR, focus stacking and multiple exposure; Live ND2–16 (Amateur Photographer), with mode, shutter, ISO and lens restrictions

Video

Highest video resolution: 4096 × 2160 at 24 fps
Video detail: Internal H.264 MOV C4K 4096×2160 at 24p approximately 237 Mbps; UHD 3840×2160 at 30/25/24p approximately 102 Mbps. Separate FHD high-speed 120 fps; Flat and OM-Log400 profiles. No fixed clip-duration limit, with card, battery and file-splitting restrictions
Audio: Built-in stereo microphones; 48 kHz/16-bit or 96 kHz/24-bit audio; external 3.5 mm microphone socket

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 1,037,000
Touchscreen: Yes
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Fully articulated touchscreen; UK 1.037 million dots, Japan rounds to 1.04 million
Viewfinder detail: OLED approximately 2.36 million dots, approximately 100% coverage; 1.23–1.37× magnification with 50mm lens at infinity at −1 dioptre depends on finder style

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
Battery life (maker's claim): 310 photographs
Body weight: 366 g
Release detail: Japan body and 14–150mm II kit on sale 18 November 2022, 12–45mm PRO kit 10 December. Earlier worldwide day unconfirmed, so month precision retained
Recording media: One SD/SDHC/SDXC slot, UHS-I and UHS-II
Ports: USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Micro-B; micro-HDMI Type D; 3.5 mm microphone and 2.5 mm remote sockets; hot shoe
Wireless connections: Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2; location tagging from connected smartphone rather than built-in GPS
Battery life detail: BLS-50; standard 310 or low-power 660 CIPA shots with specified KIOXIA card, stabilisation on and no flash. Approximately 60 minutes JEITA video or 110 minutes with other operations disabled
Charging: USB in-camera charging with camera off; behaviour depends on supply capability
Dimensions: Approximately 125.3×85.2×49.7 mm excluding protrusions
Weight detail: 366 g body only or 414 g with battery and card, excluding eyecup; photographed kit lens excluded
Materials: IP53 when paired with an IP53 lens, IPX1 with an IPX1 lens; not an immersion rating. Operating temperature −10 to 40°C
Colours: Black and silver

Pros and cons

Pros

Sensor stabilisation and compatible-lens Sync IS
Handheld high-resolution and Live ND modes
Qualified IP53 weather resistance

Cons

Micro-USB connection
One SD slot
No headphone socket

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
PanasonicLUMIX GH6	Mirrorless	Four Thirds	25.21	Micro Four Thirds	5760 × 4320 at 29.97 fps	739 g	Mar 2022
OlympusPEN E-P7	Mirrorless	Four Thirds	20.3	Micro Four Thirds	3840 × 2160 at 30 fps	289 g	Jun 2021
PanasonicLUMIX G9II	Mirrorless	Four Thirds	25.21	Micro Four Thirds	5760 × 4320 at 29.97 fps	575 g	Nov 2023

Sources

Photo: Maker front photograph with kit lens; body dimensions and weight exclude lens

OM System OM-5, front three quarter view in Black with 12–45mm F4 PRO lens: Official maker product gallery photograph; Black 12–45mm F4 PRO lens kit, body specifications exclude lens

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