OM Systems Relaunches PEN

2026.09.09

OM Systems just revived the highly acclaimed PEN with a newly designed and thoroughly modernized model that brings it up to date with the rest of the lineup. The series is specifically a compact rangefinder style digital camera with a premium feature-set.

The new OM System PEN Mirrorless Digital Camera is a Micro Four-Thirds model built around a 20 megapixels BSI-CMOS sensor with built-in Phase-Detect AF and mounted on a 5-axis IBIS system that delivers 5½ stops of efficiency, compared to hand-held capture. This sensor appears in other OMS cameras and maintains some really unique features. The highlight of these are the Live modes such as Live-Bulb to see an exposure in-progress, plus Live ND and Live Composite.

This camera is designed to deliver a complete feature set in a highly compact body, rather than reach new heights. Among its features, there are dual control-dials, a weatherproof body, focus-stacking, HDR, bracketing, time-lapse, an interval timer and multiple-exposure modes. The one missing professional feature is dual memory-card slots. Instead, the OMS PEN features a single SDXC UHS-II slot.

The compact size of the PEN did not stop OM Systems from packing in a large number of controls, a 3" rotating touchscreen LCD and a medium-sized builtin EVF. This unit is a 0.39" OLED panel with 2.4 megapixels. It shows a full 100% coverage at 0.62X magnification. An efficient processor lets the camera capture 410 shots-per-charge. The high-speed CMOS sensor can shoot continuously at 30 FPS, albeit with a shallow 20 image buffer. Slowing down the drive speed, this can be stretched to 29 RAW files or 154 JPEG images.

It is light for a weatherproof mirrorless, that is rated at IPX1 no-less! Weighing 393g and measuring 43mm in depth this is one of the smallest interchangeable lens camera with an EVF that is currently manufactured. Fans of the Micro Four-Thirds system will be happy to know that it comes at a relatively small price too! The OMS PEN is sold for $1000 USD or $1200 CAD. Camera prices have sky-rocketed over the last five years and so this is not quite as affordable as some would wish, it still costs less a high-end cellphone!

Interested buyers can pre-order one from Adorama or B&H Photo already. The camera is expected to ship in mid-October.

• Digital Camera