It was only a matter of time, you might think, before OM System put its latest 20MP stacked sensor in the OM-5. But no! The OM-5 II keeps the same (non-stacked) sensor as the OM-5 and makes do with some tech tidy-ups and a few functional tweaks.
It makes sense for OM System because this keeps the latest and best sensor for the OM-3. The good news is that the price of the OM-5 II is essentially unchanged and this is still a very compact, capable and rugged outdoor camera.
OM System OM-5 II: key features
The OM-5 II is a compact but weather-proof Micro Four Thirds camera with an EVF, vari-angle screen, excellent controls and handling for a camera of this size, and access to a wide range of very good Olympus and OM System branded lenses. It can be bought body-only or with an M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4.0 PRO lens, which is a clear cut above standard kit lens quality.
The big beef for most OM System fans will be that this is a very minor upgrade of the original OM-5, which itself was only a small step up from the OM-D E-M5 III, following the change of ownership and re-branding of Olympus’s camera division.
Inside the OM-5 II is a 20.4MP (non-stacked) Micro Four Thirds Live MOS sensor that’s been used in Olympus and OM System cameras for some years now, coupled with excellent 5-axis in-body image stabilization (smaller sensors are easier to stabilize than bigger ones). The OM-5 II also has phase-detect autofocus and can shoot 4K video, though not to the same standard as the OM-3 and OM-1 II.
OM System OM-5 II: specifications
Sensor: MFT 20.4MP Live MOS
Mount: Micro Four Thirds
Autofocus: 121-point contrast/phase-detect
Continuous shooting: 30fps
Video: 4K 30p
EVF: 2.36k-dot OLED, 1.48x magnification
Rear screen: 3-inch vari-angle, 1,037k-dot
Memory: 1x SD UHS II
Stabilization: 5-axis sensor shift
Weatherproofing: IP53
Size: 125.3 x 85.2 x 49.7mm
Weight: 370g body only
OM System OM-5 II: what’s new
This isn’t going to be a very long list. The changes are based around operational use rather than any new technologies. First, there’s a new computational photography button to offer easier access to the camera’s High-Res, Live ND, Focus Stacking, HDR, and Multiple Exposure modes. Second, the menu system has been updated to the latest OM System layout, which is actually very welcome. Third, there’s a redesigned grip (good, it needed one) and you now get a USB-C port for charging and data transfer. There are also a couple of new video profiles, though if video is your thing then the OM-3 or OM-1 II are probably going to be better.
Where to get the OM System OM-5 II
OM System OM-5 II body only: $1,199 at B&H
OM System OM-5 II with M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4.0 PRO: $1,599 at B&H