Revisiting the OM-5... the most over-looked everyday carry?

What would you like to see from an updated OM5 in the future?

Great video - thanks for the exposure tips! I have an OM-5 and love it- so portable!!

I'm happy with the body material as-is. (I think making it heavier would be a mistake.) I never use the USB port, always pull the SD card and put it in a reader on my computer. Also pull the battery and put it in a wall charger, therefore the USB connector type is irrelevant in my usage. I don't shoot video, only stills, so don't care how few bits it records in.

What I REALLY want is an arca-swiss L bracket!! I've seen some third-party universal that sort of work but not completely. One restricts the full articulation of the screen. Another blocks the access doors on the side. If OM Systems came out with an L bracket that avoided those issues, I'd buy one in a hot minute.

Great video.. Did you set ISO limit with Shutter priority on your last photo? The reason I am asking because when I set ISO limit to 1600 on my em5iii, it most likely hit my ISO upper limit when I do night photo like you did on your last photo.

My prediction is that we won’t get an OM5II until OM3 sales cool off. Fingers crossed!!

I have the OM5.
I switched from Panasonic G9 for a smaller ligher weight body. This goes with me everywhere.
I have no issues at all with the plastic body. For my use I prefer it. I take it on long baclpacking trips where I am counting ounces.
What would I like to see:
New menu
Live ND
more tracking options
Ability to focus stack with my panny lenses
That's really about it!
Nicely done video!

As an OM-1.2 owner who really wanted them to squeeze the guts of it into a smaller body for a more EDC camera, I was a bit 'disappointed' with the OM-3 when it was released as it's (to me at least), not tangibly smaller or lighter than the OM1 to make it viable to run one alongside an OM-1. I guess there's a limit to the amount of shrinking that can be achieved without giving too much away.

I tried an E-P7 and whilst I liked it as a camera, I just couldn't get on without a viewfinder, so that went and a Lumix GX-80 replaced it.

What I'd like to see from a refreshed OM-5 would be to add USB-C, the new menus, and the OM-1 battery - simply to save having different batteries between cameras. I'd be fine with the rest as is.

What I'd really like though is for OMS to release a new rangefinder style camera with an EVF. I don't need it to be a modern Pen-F, just something in that style with an EVF would be good.

I want OM System to do more with software updates. They could change the OM-5 menu system in a 2.0 update if they wanted to, but clearly that's not a priority especially as the model is heading towards being discontinued anyway. (Alternatively, and I know this has a snowball's chance in hell of happening, I want someone to come up with a Magic Lantern-style alternative software for the OM-5)

New menus + USB-C + bigger battery capacity and I'd be super happy with an OM-5 II (or whatever they call it). Even after having my OM-5 for a year, I still hate the menus 😞

I'm sure the OM-5 is very capable for photography, but after getting the OM-1 Mk1 I donated my EM5 Mk3 and drew a line under the following features for future purchases, none of which relate to image quality:
- USB-C and operable under external USB power - didn't do my research on the EM5, so videoing a community concert required a battery swap. Thankfully it was one of two cameras
- native grip and/or external battery grip compatibility - didn't consider grip when buying the EM5 Mk3, painful
- new menu system - I deal with enough crappy UIs in my work so not going backwards there
- battery size - not keen to try 3rd party versions either
- plastic base plate - I received a Peak Design camera clip as a gift but never felt comfortable using it. The EM5 MkII would have been perfect for this

...and a flip down screen.

It's still too expensive even for a used one.

Awesome, that was great. I heard the OM 3 will come down in price once demand is declined maybe this summer, but it will still be pricey. Smaller would be nicer for these.

Year ago I bought barely used EM5III. It quickly pushed my whole hi-end Pentax DSLR setup into cabinet and replaced my travell kit with EPL6 too. Now it is my main camera with nice lens setup. Compact, light yet VERY capable beast that can do everything. Being photojournalist again, EM5III/OM5 with 12-100/40 would be my daily workhorse. And with 14-150II it is great pair for hiking or travelling light.

I do not care about microUSB or USB-C at all. I have charger and card reader. I only used this cable connector few times while travelling and sice I have other microUSB tools, I simply have cables with triple (microUSB+USB-C+Apple) connectors.

Things I like:
Size, weight, great autofocus, weather sealing, live composition, articulating LCD, wifi..



My only complaints would be:
- Image in viewfinder is sometimes a bit blown.
- It does not have proper 14 bit RAW
- Base ISO is 200
- It cannot autolevel images using IBIS like Pentax can do, which helps a lot to fix small tilt when Im shooting something fast like ice hockey matches where I do not have time to carefuly alighn every frame. Pentax can correct few degrees automatically by sensor rotation. Olympus does not. Sad.
- Single SD card slot
- Rubber on back thumb rest is slowly peeling off time to time.
- Plastic cover flaps on left hand side are flimsy
- LCD cannot be turned inside with glass screen protector properly.
- Plastic body and ON/OFF control are somewhat fragile compared to Pentax beasts. Even my plastic K20D can probably be easily used as hammer to smash EM5III into pieces and it will survive.

But I can easily live with these. And that is the point. And sure some points would be solved by OM1, but that would negate the size/weight advantage over APS-C.

Lol that new om5 mkii is deffo coming in a few weeks

Many things were already mentioned by others. What I think should additionally trickle down to the OM-5 line human subject detect. The one from to OM-1.2 and OM3.

I bought OM-5 without expectations other than being lighter than my Canon 5D. And it is half the weight, half the size, and IBIS... IBIS is amazing. Also it was my first foray into MFT, and I found that lenses are insanely good for the money you pay for them. None of that Canon's "here's the lens, it's $$$ but it's shit in anything other than scorching noon light because you have to buy a $$$$$ variant to have IS"
So when I saw all the whining on reddit about this camera how crap it is, I thought - these people are so spoiled, they probably never seen a bad camera in their life.

Did I see that this is discontinued in Japan?

Still my dream camera body

Will wait for a version with USB-C... Ain't buying this thing, as good as it may be

When I was thinking of getting the OM5, someone pointed out the persistent issue with the plastic tripod mount ie it eventually breaks? Did you have that happen?

It’s only ip53 if paired with an ip53 lens . If paired with an ip1 lens like the new 17mm for instance, it becomes ip1. Still not shabby weather sealing but not ip53

Give me a mark ii with Same body (maybe em10mkiii or mk iv grip as I find it's grip better.

Metal base plate or improve the problem of the tripod screw.

4k 60 and 1080p 180fps but with good quality. (the 1080p slow mo of the OM5 is horrendous. Looks like 720p)

New menu system.

Add grad ND and 1 stop more live ND.

I'm buying this day 1 😊

I have an OM-D E-M10 (Mk 1) and I was out shooting some skateboarding yesterday, but I found the continuous AF missed focus more often than not even at f/8 where I'd expect most things to be in focus. Are there any (very) budget friendly upgrades that you'd recommend that'd give me more accurate continuous AF? Preferably with an EVF

I adore my om-5 - it's easily the best camera I've ever owned and definitely my favourite

What are you doing in Japan? :P OM System cooking somenthing new ? :P

An updated OM-5 should have/be:
- USB-C
- useable while charging
- new menu
- better photo/video separation
- the on-/off switch on the right side
- built in flash
- more options in button customization (e.g. I would like to programm the MF on/off switch on a button like on my E-M10II)

One of the best features of my OM-5 is that the mechanical shutter is so quiet.

We also need a cheaper option (updated E-M10 with phase AF, USB-C, new menu and better photo/video separation, no weather sealing necessary).

And an updated version of the PEN-F would also be great.

I´m awaiting the OM5 Mkii to replace my ageing EM10 Mkii, providing it has subject detection AI and a reinforced tripod mount, both of which are lacking on the OM5. Paired with the 12-40 f2.8 it would be a great weather sealed day/night EDC.

OM-5 looks nice. But I prefer K-3 for all weather, cheap but good image quality. And OVF is superior to EVF.

Could not agree more. Love my OM-5 but hoping for a Mkii to bring the menus, usb-c and hopefully squeeze a bigger battery in. The more modern processor for the computational features of the OM-1 & OM-3 would be nice. I would be happy for a slightly bigger grip to cater for the battery but hopefully they can keep it close to the current OM-5 in size. Re-reading this, I don;t think I am asking for too much :-)

Line model 5 series turned to crap when they turned it into a plastic camera. I have the original omd em5 and omd em5 mk II. Great cameras, there is something special when you hold a metal camera. I was a sad day when they made it plastic.

Wondering if the om5 update suggestion is what we will be seeing released mid June! Love the content !

I like the OM-5 best of all my cameras, and the E-P7 second best. I'll probably buy an OM-3, because it has pretty much everything I'd want ... yet the size and lack of a grip don't quite fit my overseas travel and also hiking/trekking needs.

I've thought about this a lot in the last year: I'd wish for, in this order:
(Warning: TLDR max mode)

1. Not an all metal body, because of its increase in weight, but a reliable way to ensure the tripod mount is bomb-proof. Perhaps adding some metal only there would suffice. And offer technical info about why its reliable. (Don't upsize the MkII version so much that the OM-5 is no longer the only small and light powerhouse of its kind in the world.)
2. 10-bit video. I wish I could shoot video and vlog with beauty and grace in nature, towns and cities.
3. The monochrome/color features of the Pen-F/ E-P7/ OM-3 . These are revolutionary and only Olympus/OM System has them fully. To get them in a weather-sealed body (sorry E-P7) that's still small and ergonomically natural, (sorry OM-3) would ignite the bashful inner artist in me. Until then, in cities at least, I'll pack the E-P7 alongside my OM-5, when weight allows. If the mono/color user interface could copy the OM-3's design for instant artistic photography even on the street -- what a boon!
4. C2, C3, and ideally C4... And make them cover every setting technically possible, or at least ensure another button can access them, to avoid menu-diving and even SCP operations. To have separate video vs. photo assignable settings would be ideal.
4. Live GND, for landscape and sometimes cityscape shots.
5. New menu, though I'd have to learn it.
6. Earphone/monitor for video sound. But I can work around this with an external mic/monitor.
7. A flip screen for street, though there's trade-offs wrt video, and likely also market expectations.
8. USB-C, which must come anyway for Europe.

For me, no need for a new sensor.
Hmm, what am I missing? Better human AF recognition, for street? I can manage without bird recognition. That's OM-1 territory.

Lastly, I'd hope to keep the current battery, or at least something that wouldn't require a significant jump in camera size. (It's easy to carry back-up batteries.)
But there are almost certainly irreconcilable trade-offs in the above list. OM System, just do almost as brilliantly with an OM-5 Mk ii as you have with the OM-3, and we can all be glad for ourselves and for your flourishing longevity.

And thanks OM-System for launching new weather-sealed small primes. Live long and prosper.
Thanks Emily, for getting the full-on gestalt of the OM-5 and OM-3, and sharing it in your lively, warm, wholistic and...
rhythmic way.

Love this, Emily. I am all for a good deal. The OM-5 is so underrated!

Welcome to Japan! Can I know you shot the pictures i-peg or raw? because they look like Fuji's classic negative and I love it!
If j-peg, what is your j-peg settings? If you talked about your j-peg settings before on this channel, can you tell which videos?

It’s pretty similar as the EM10 which is not weather sealed, isn’t it?
I like this tiny EM10 camera a lot! It’s capable, quality of the pictures is okay and it has nice features 👍
So an updated version is welcome!
Maybe OM-System can attract customers by more promoting, advertising, etc?
I’m not sure, I’m not a marketeer ☺️

Great review, as always. I'd be happy with a mildly updated OM5 that you mentioned at the end, even if the video wasn't updated/very mildly updated.
In the sign photo that you posted, you mentioned editing on your phone. What app did you use? Also, I would love to see a workflow video.

Still haven't pick one up yet...

Emily, how did you reassign the on/off switch to a dial? I checked the menus and manual, it said you can't do this with the OM5? Great tips towards the end for low light in Japan, I'm going there soon. I suppose you'd need RAW to expose for lights and bring back in post?

I think it's great. I've learned so much with this camera, and the IBIS is reason alone to buy it - something Fuji or Sony won't give you for the same money. Now I don't worry about slow SS in low light with a 'safe' ISO. This camera nails it. I was coming from a 12yo dslr, so the IBIS, small body and lens made it a zero brainer. Going to Japan for the first time with the family in July, this was the main reason for updating from dslr.

OM-5 is listed as discontinued in Map Camera in Japan. Hopefully a successor with the new menu system and USB-C is coming soon!

This model range suits me perfectly, so I really would be interested in an updated one.

I have the EM-5 Mark III, which is almost identical, and love the size, weight, and ergonomics of this camera. It is as good a camera as I need and have not had the urge to upgrade. I don't see any reason to pick up the additional size and weight of the OM-1 or even the OM-3. The plastic body does not bother me. The plastic makes the OM-5 and the EM-5 Mark iii much lighter than earlier versions, which used more metal.

I have an OM1ii and an OM3. I love both, but am over the moon with the OM3. I think I’d only consider an OM5 if it were substantially lighter than the OM3, had usbc charging, and the new menus (so I don’t need to learn something different). If it were substantially lighter, I’d grab it when I’m on the fence about bringing a camera, but would do it if it weren’t in my way. As it is, the OM3 doesn’t weigh that much more, and I get the creative dial, so there’s no reason to add an OM5. If the OM3 didn’t exist, I might have considered the OM5 for times when I wanted something smaller than the OM1ii along. That said, I’d never choose the OM5 over the OM3. If I could only have one body, I’d get an OM3. Did I mention I love the OM3? My favorite camera ever!

Do you share your raw files at all? I'd love to try editing some of your low-light shots, see if I can use my editing tools to get the same result as you.
(Yes, I could take my own photos on my OM-1 mk2, that's not the point, the point is to test my skill in editing + photo-taking separately)

Very helpful and a joy to watch (as always). For me, smaller is better these days. The camera you have with you takes the best shots.

I really wish the om systems would make a range finder camera. It's been so long since a new micro four third range finder camera was released. I felt that the japanese dont like people taking photos, especially of them, so i did not take much photos with my camera as it was attracting attention.

I have EM-10 IV and the OM-5 is not quite there for a step up. The world needs OM-5II. Give us usb-c, better battery life, modern menus, more sophisticated AF and step up the video; that would be killer and I want one already.

OM5 II - first, magnesium body. Second, CP button, joystick, better LCD, VF etc. Third and finally - better blx battery, better video features like 4k60fps without cropping, 1080120fps etc.

Nice video as always, I don't shoot micro 4/3 but really enjoy Your videos and learn a lot. In all my years of taking pictures I have used aperture priority 90% of the time. Never shutter priority. When making video I use 180° shutter angle, that is a kind of shutter priority I guess. But never seen the benefit when taking stills. Can You expand why You like to use shutter priority?