- OM System set so as to add new digicam to its lineup
- Compact, single-focal-length lenses with splash & dust-proof efficiency additionally on the best way
- Mid-range telephoto zoom lens may very well be added to lens roadmap by finish of 2025
OM System’s Consultant Director and CEO, Shigemi Sugimoto, has penned an official letter saying new digicam and lenses are coming quickly in 2025, and that the model will double down on its outside focus. That is thrilling information for OM System (Olympus) followers, however I am tempering any enthusiasm with weary warning.
4 years because it acquired Olympus and inherited a legendary portfolio of small, light-weight and rugged digicam gear, we have not seen a lot in the best way of upgrades or innovation for the micro fours thirds system lineup.
One after the other, OM System has launched new variations of present Olympus cameras and lenses, just for essentially the most notable change in new fashions to be an OM System rebrand. The OM-1 II refreshed the OM-1, which was the ultimate digicam with the Olympus title, and delivered a neat new graduated ND filter impact, however in any other case the cameras are virtually the identical.
Olympus cameras, which pack a micro 4 thirds sensor, had been already superb. But when the system is to reside on, OM System should begin discovering methods to ship significant enhancements in future gear – that is actually my hope for the subsequent digicam that is apparently coming quickly.
What can we count on from OM System in 2025?
For transparency, listed below are the related phrases of Shigemi Sugimoto within the publish on the OM System web site, dated 6 Jan 2025:
“Shortly, we plan so as to add a brand new digicam to our lineup and vivid, compact single-focal-length lenses with splash & dust-proof efficiency. All created to fulfill the challenges of harsh outside environments to make sure that you take pleasure in not solely panorama pictures within the nice outside, but additionally genuine pictures of life on daily basis. Moreover, we’re persevering with to work onerous to convey to market the long-awaited mid-range telephoto zoom lens on our lens roadmap by the tip of this 12 months.”
In order that’s one new digicam, a number of small prime lenses, plus a mid-range telephoto zoom lens.
The camera-loving a part of me hopes for one thing completely new in OM System’s subsequent digicam. It will clearly be a particularly rugged digicam – OM System is without doubt one of the solely manufacturers to listing the official IP score in its digicam specs, and outdoorsy gear is a part of the system’s DNA, whereas different manufacturers are totally imprecise on the matter. However which new digicam can we count on precisely?
Given the clear concentrate on gear for the tough outside, the almost definitely candidates are an OM System OM-5 II or an OM System OM-1X. The previous would replace our favourite journey digicam, the OM-5, which in any case needs to be changed as a result of it options the older micro USB port versus the now-industry commonplace USB-C charging port.
As for a possible OM-1X, it will be a brand new model of the obvious digicam from the Olympus micro 4 thirds line up but to be rebranded as OM System – the OM-D E-M1X. The E-M1X was the flagship mannequin for sports activities and wildlife that consequently felt massive, costly and surplus as soon as the OM-1 hit the market with a lot of the identical tech in a smaller and cheaper package deal.
Will we see killer new options and upgrades in both of these potential new cameras? I hope that my intestine intuition is confirmed mistaken, and we do certainly see one thing thrilling that positions OM System alongside the perfect as soon as extra. Higher but, how about a completely new digicam that may win over Olympus (OM System) followers, like a retro Pen-F successor, or an inexpensive entry-level mirrorless digicam? These would hit the spot in 2025.