OM System OM-5 Review
A 20 MP Micro Four Thirds body with 121 AF points, 4K30 video, up to 30 fps and one SD card slot.
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The Verdict
A 20 MP Micro Four Thirds body with 121 AF points, 4K30 video, up to 30 fps and one SD card slot that takes UHS-I and UHS-II cards.
Owners describe it as small, light and easy to handle, value the weather sealing, and point to its computational modes, such as handheld high-res, Live ND and Starry AF. Some find the small body cramped in the hand (see What owners report).
- Overall
- 7.5/10
- Image quality
- 7.2
- Autofocus
- 6.8
- Video
- 7.0
- Speed
- 8.0
- Handling and build
- 8.6
| Imaging | |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 20MP Micro Four Thirds |
| Processor | TruePic IX |
| ISO Range | LOW–25,600 |
| IBIS | 5-axis sensor shift |
| Autofocus | |
| AF System | 121 points |
| Burst Speed | Up to 30 fps |
| Video | |
| Max Resolution | 4K30; C4K (4096 × 2160) at 24p |
| Recording Format | MOV (H.264) |
| Profiles | Flat, OM-Log400 |
| Body | |
| Weather Sealing | IP53 (with a splashproof lens) |
| Freezeproof | −10°C |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1037K dots |
| EVF | OLED, approx. 2.36M dots |
| Battery | BLS-50, 310 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 414 g with battery and card (366 g body only) |
| Storage | |
| Card Slots | 1x SD (UHS-I / UHS-II) |
What We Like
- Small, light and easy to handle, owners report (see What owners report)
- Weather sealing that owners value (see What owners report)
- Computational modes owners point to, such as handheld high-res, Live ND and Starry AF (see What owners report)
- Physical controls that owners like (see What owners report)
Trade-offs
- Video up to 4K30; the OM-1 Mark II records 4K60
- One SD card slot; the OM-1 Mark II has two
- 121 AF points; the OM-1 Mark II has 1053
- Some owners find the small body cramped in the hand (see What owners report)
- Some owners found the manual hard to use while learning the camera (see What owners report)
Performance Breakdown
Image Quality & Computational Modes
It uses a 20 MP Micro Four Thirds sensor. For photos other people took with it, see Sample photos.
Owners are pleased with its images, and some single out the colours. They also point to its computational modes, such as handheld high-res, Live ND and Starry AF (see What owners report).
Handling & Build
Owners describe it as small, light and easy to handle, like the physical controls and value the weather sealing. Some find the small body cramped in the hand, and some found the manual hard to use while learning the camera (see What owners report).
It has one SD card slot, which takes UHS-I and UHS-II cards.
Autofocus, Burst & Video
The OM-5 has 121 AF points and shoots up to 30 fps; video goes up to 4K30. Owners say the autofocus works well (see What owners report).
By the maker specs, the OM-1 Mark II has 1053 AF points and records 4K60.
Sample photos from other photographers
Photos that other people took with the OM System OM-5 and published on Wikimedia Commons under free licences. We chose them; we did not take them. The settings under each photo come from the file's own metadata.
What owners report
We read 48 public posts and reviews on 24 Oct 2026: reddit.com/r/OMSystem (36), bhphotovideo.com (12). Each point below came up from at least two different people; the wording is ours.
Praised repeatedly
- Owners describe it as small, light and easy to handle. [1][2][3][4]
- Owners are pleased with its images, and some single out the colors. [1][2][3][4]
- Owners value the weather sealing. [1][2][3][4]
- Owners point to its computational modes, such as handheld high-res, Live ND and Starry AF. [1][2][3][4]
- Owners say the autofocus works well. [1][2]
- Owners like the physical controls. [1][2]
Complained about repeatedly
- Some owners find the small body cramped in the hand. [1][2]
- Some owners found the manual hard to use while learning the camera. [1][2]
These are public posts. We do not check whether the people who wrote them bought or used this camera.
How this score is put together
7.5 out of 10
- Image quality Weight 25% 7.2
20MP Four Thirds sensor
- Autofocus Weight 20% 6.8
121-point contrast AF
- Video Weight 20% 7.0
4K30, no 4K60
- Speed Weight 15% 8.0
30 fps electronic
- Handling and build Weight 20% 8.6
5-axis IBIS, weather sealed, 414 g with battery and card
Scored against Micro Four Thirds cameras. The overall figure is the weighted mean of the rows above — it is computed, not set by hand.
How It Compares
| Spec | OM System OM-5 | OM-1 Mark II | Panasonic G9 II |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 20MP MFT | 20MP MFT Stacked | 25.2MP MFT |
| Video | 4K30 | 4K60 | ProRes 5.7K / 4K120 |
| AF Points | 121 points | 1053 points | Phase detect + DFD |
| Burst | 30 fps | 120 fps | 60 fps with AF (75 fps fixed) |
| IBIS | 8.5 stops | 8.5 stops | 8.0 stops |
| Buy | Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon |
OM System OM-5 FAQ
Both have a 20 MP Micro Four Thirds sensor; the OM-1 Mark II's is stacked. The OM-1 Mark II records 4K60, the OM-5 4K30. The OM-1 Mark II has 1053 AF points, the OM-5 121. The OM-1 Mark II has two SD card slots, the OM-5 one.
The OM-5 has one SD card slot, which takes UHS-I and UHS-II cards.
They describe it as small, light and easy to handle, value the weather sealing, like the physical controls and point to its computational modes, such as handheld high-res, Live ND and Starry AF. Some find the small body cramped in the hand, and some found the manual hard to use while learning the camera (see What owners report).
Recommended Accessories
Essential gear to maximize your OM System OM-5 experience:
SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SD
An SD card for the OM-5's single SD slot, which takes UHS-I and UHS-II cards.
OM System BLS-50
The battery this camera takes.
M.Zuiko 12-45mm f/4 PRO
A 12-45mm f/4 zoom for Micro Four Thirds.
Peak Design Slide Lite
A camera strap.
More gear guides: Best TripodsBest Camera BagsBest SD Cards
Final Recommendation
A 20 MP Micro Four Thirds body with 121 AF points, 4K30 video, up to 30 fps and one SD card slot.
Buy it if: You want the computational modes owners point to, such as handheld high-res, Live ND and Starry AF, in a body they describe as small, light and easy to handle; owners also value the weather sealing (see What owners report).
Skip it if: You need 4K60 video or a second card slot; by the maker specs, the OM-1 Mark II records 4K60 and has two SD card slots. Some owners also find the small body cramped in the hand (see What owners report).
