OM System makes some of the most rugged Micro Four Thirds cameras in the industry. Cameras such as the OM-1 Mark II, Pen F, and OM-D E-M10 Mark IV are great models that have received some praise for their performance and build. However, it seems that one of OM System’s cameras may no longer be in production. Which model is it? Let’s find out.
According to Asobinet, OM System’s OM-5, a camera launched in 2022, is a mid-tier camera for enthusiasts. The report states that MAP Camera, a Japanese camera store, listed it as discontinued. There is no official statement on the OM System’s Japan and USA websites. There is also no word from Amazon and Adorama about the same.
One of the reasons hinted by Asobinet has been the camera’s Micro USB port, and also the hint of a successor. But since there has been no official announcement, it is quite hard to gauge its future. However, if MAP camera says it’s discontinued, it has happened in that past that such devices gradually run out of production. And if, this does happen in Japan, the USA store will also reflect the same.
The OM-5 had some great features, such as handheld high-res, live composite, and Starry AF, which have been trickled down from high-end cameras to this budget-friendly line. However, it also had its challenges with autofocus, which was not designed for sports photography, as well as the limited battery life. As we said in our article, “parts of this camera feel half-hearted. It really should have had animal eye AF and a better battery. It’s OM System’s mid-tier model, but the lack of those two features makes the camera feel a bit more entry-level than mid-level, and the price doesn’t reflect that. Ultimately, the shooting modes and durability will make the OM-5 a good choice for travel and landscape photography.”
Although the camera is on sale on Adorama, it remains to be seen how many people actually purchase it now, since there is the recently launched OM3. There is also the Fujifilm X-Half, which sounds far more exciting, and is also of the same amount as the OM5. The only difference is that the X-Half has a far smaller sensor and lacks some features that make the OM System an ideal option. Either way, discontinuation leaves lots of potential for a new device. So we just have to wait and watch.
