OM SYSTEM OM-3 Announced – Bringing Enhanced Video Capabilities

Camera News

by Heath McKnightFebruary 10^th, 2025

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OM SYSTEM has unveiled the OM-3, with a retro, SLR-style look similar to those from Olympus. It features a 20 MP stacked BSI Live MOS MFT Sensor, 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS), 4K filming at 60p internal (internal recording at 8-bit DCI and 10-bit) with Art profiles, 1053 AF points with AI Detection AF for subjects including people, animals, and objects, and more. Let’s take a closer look!

If you’re not familiar with OM SYSTEM,  it is essentially Olympus, the legacy camera manufacturer in Japan. Between 2020 and 2021, they worked with an investor to transfer the Olympus Imaging division to a new subsidiary and rebranded as OM SYSTEM. Since 2022, they have introduced new cameras, including the OM-5 and OM-1 / OM-1 Mark II micro four-thirds mirrorless cameras, in addition to a variety of lenses. The company also kept the PEN line of cameras and added the OM-D E-M10 Mark IV and Tough TG-7.

OM SYSTEM OM-3 – features 

The main features of the OM SYSTEM OM-3 include the 20 MP BSI Live MOS MFT Sensor, 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS), 4K video capture up to 60p in 8-bit DCI or 10-bit 4:2:0 internal, fast autofocus of 1053 points (found in the OM-1 Mark II) with AI Detection AF technology, and more. According to the company, it can shoot up to 30 minutes at 104° F without overheating or 77° F indefinitely, thanks to the camera’s heat management system.

The camera itself has a very retro, SLR-style design that reminds me of my high school and college photography classes. I owned a Pentax K1000 (the go-to, entry-level-style film SLR) and later a Canon 35mm SLR, shooting both color and black-and-white photos.

• 20 MP (megapixel) BSI Live MOS MFT Sensor, 17.4 x 13mm.
• TruePic X Engine.
• ISO sensitivity range of 200 to 25,600.
• Creative Dial with color and monochrome profiles plus video profile options.
• DCI 4K filming up to 60p and 8-bit 4:2:0 (see below for full video capture features).
• Sensor-shift, 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS)
• 3-inch 1.62m-Dot swivel touchscreen LCD.
• 2.36m-Dot OLED electronic viewfinder.
• 1053-point Cross-Type On-chip Phase Detection Quad Pixel AF.
• AI Detection AF for people, pets, birds, motorsports, and more.
• Phase detect and contrast-detect AF.
• High-speed sequential shooting at up to 120 fps with AF tracking up to 50 fps.
• Starry AF for nighttime photography, including astrophotography.
• Computational modes: High Res Shot (up to 80 MP on a tripod, 50 MP handheld), Live ND Shooting, Live GND Shooting, Focus Stacking, HDR, and Multiple Exposure.
• White balance presets: AWB, Custom, Flash, Fluorescent, Overcast, Shade, Sunlight, Tungsten, Underwater.
• Shutter speed: Mechanical Shutter 1/8000 to 60 Seconds, Electronic Front Curtain Shutter 1/320 to 60 Seconds, Electronic Shutter 1/32000 to 60 Seconds.
• Exposure modes: Aperture Priority, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority.
• Exposure compensation: -5 to +5 EV (1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps).
• Metering range: -2 to 20 EV.
• IP53 splash and dust resistance.
• Olympus OM lens mount.
• Recording / tally lamp.
• Dual slot SD /SDHC / SDXC (UHS-II).
• 1x Micro-HDMI output.
• 1x 1/8″ / 3.5mm TRS stereo microphone input plus 1x 1/8″ / 3.5mm TRS stereo headphone output.
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities.

OM SYSTEM OM-3 video features

The OM SYSTEM OM-3 can record in DCI 4K internally up to 60p in 8-bit 4:2:0 and 10-bit 4:2:0. It records in FLAT, HDR-HLG, and OM-LOG along with 24-bit 96 kHz PCM audio. It supports OM-Log and the company released OM-Log400, which is a LUT file that can be graded in DaVinci Resolve (H.264 and H.265). Additionally, it films in Standard, OM Cinema 1, and OM Cinema 2.

There are art video profiles (part of the OM-Cinema Mode) that mimic different film stocks, including instant film, bleach bypass, partial color, and others. They are also customizable. This and other features can be accessed by the Creative Dial next to the lens.

Internal recording modes:

H.264/H.264 Long GOP/MOV/MPEG-4 AVC 4:2:0 8-Bit

• DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) at 24.00/25/30.00/50/60.00 fps [102 to 205 Mb/s]
• UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 24.00/25/30.00/50/60.00 fps [102 to 105 Mb/s]
• 1920 x 1080 at 24.00/25/30.00/50/60.00 fps [30 Mb/s]

H.265/H.265 Long GOP/MOV 4:2:0 10-Bit

• 4096 x 2160 at 24.00/25/30.00/50/60.00 fps [77 to 155 Mb/s]
• 3840 x 2160 at 24.00/25/30.00/50/60.00 fps [155 Mb/s]
• 1920 x 1080 at 24.00/25/30.00/50/60.00 fps [162 Mb/s]

External recording modes:

4:2:2/4:2:0 8/10-Bit via HDMI

• DCI 4K (4096 x 2160)
• Compatible with Atomos NINJA, NINJA ULTRA, NINJA V, and NINJA V+) for DCI 4K60p in ProRes RAW.

Price and availability 

The OM SYSTEM OM-3 is available to pre-order and retails for $1,999.99 (without lens) or as a kit with a 12-45mm f/4 lens for $2,299.99.

What are your thoughts on the retro styling of the OM SYSTEM OM-3 MFT mirrorless camera? Have you used Olympus cameras and lenses in the past, either film or digital? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!