The Olympus OM-D series is a series of Micro Four-Thirds digital Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras started by Olympus Corporation. Olympus's camera division was acquired by Japan Industrial Partners in 2021 and they will continue the OM-D series in the future.
It is the resuscitation of the OM series from the 1970s and 1980s, implementing the same kind of design language, but equipped with technology that meets the standards of the 2010s, like a digital image sensor or video recording capabilities.
The OM-D series is currently the highest-end line of Olympus cameras, categorized above PEN mirrorless and Stylus point and shoot cameras.
Differences between models There are three main categories in the OM-D series:
E-M10 The lowest-end OM-D category. Beginner-friendly design. Built-in flash. Least expensive. In absolute terms, a mid-range line. Newest model: E-M10 Mark IV. E-M5 Mid-tier in the OM-D family. Made for enthusiasts. Weather resistance Moderately expensive. In absolute terms, a high mid-range line.
Newest model: E-M5 Mark III. E-M1 The highest-end OM-D category. Professional design and professional features. Large grip. Most expensive. Advanced video features. In absolute terms, a professional line. Newest model: E-M1 Mark III. E-M1X Highest-end OM-D camera based on the E-M1 Mark II, introduced in 2018. Built-in vertical grip. Very ergonomic handling and button layout. Very large EVF magnification. Almost twice as heavy as the E-M1 II. Long battery life.
The main difference between them is the ergonomics and the customizability. Most of the features are present all across the OM-D family, but the handling, the durability, and the accessibility of the features differ in favour of the more expensive categories.
List of OM-D cameras NameCategoryPhoto resolutionVideo resolutionRelease dateOM-D E-M5Enthusiast16 megapixels1080p 30 fpsFebruary 2012OM-D E-M1Pro16 megapixels1080p 30 fpsSeptember 2013OM-D E-M10Entry-level16 megapixels1080p 30 fpsJanuary 2014OM-D E-M5 Mark IIEnthusiast16 megapixels1080p 60 fpsFebruary 2015OM-D E-M10 Mark IIEntry-level16 megapixels1080p 60 fpsAugust 2015OM-D E-M1 Mark IIPro20 megapixels2160p 30 fpsOctober 2016OM-D E-M10 Mark IIIEntry-level16 megapixels2160p 30 fpsAugust 2017OM-D E-M1XPro20 megapixels2160p 30 fpsJanuary 2019OM-D E-M5 Mark IIIEnthusiast20 megapixels2160p 30 fpsOctober 2019OM-D E-M1 Mark IIIPro20 megapixels2160p 30 fpsFebruary 2020OM-D E-M10 Mark IVEntry-level20 megapixels2160p 30 fpsAugust 2020
Reviews Space.com called the OM-D E-M10 Mark IV camera "a small and neat little package that packs in excellent quality and usability", recommending it for beginners and enthusiasts when traveling.
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