There’s a certain charm to modern cameras that embrace the retro aesthetic of film cameras from back in the day, making them very popular with younger and older photography enthusiasts alike. As such, it’s no surprise seeing new releases looking to take advantage of this quasi-vintage renaissance, just like the new OM System OM-3.
Styled to look like vintage Olympus SLRs straight out of the 70s and 80s, the MFT mirrorless camera combines the nostalgia-inducing aesthetics with modern performance. That way, you can walk around the streets like you’re working with a retro camera, while actually enjoying all the conveniences of modern camera features, making for quite an attractive travel camera option.
The OM System OM-3 houses a 20-megapixel BSI Live MOS MFT sensor and TruePic X image processor, a combo that allows it to shoot up to 120 frames per second with locked focus and up to 50 fps with continuous autofocus. It has an ISO sensitivity range of 200 to 25,600 and a Pro Capture mode that pre-captures up to 70 frames, as well as a 1,035-point cross-type phase-detect autofocus with 100 percent autofocus coverage. The camera can also do 4K video capture up to 60 fps in either 8-bit DCI or 10-bit 4:2:0, so it’s every bit the modern camera for all your content creation needs. Do note, 10-bit is only available for internal recording, so you’ll have to stick with DCI if you want to save directly to an external medium.
It has five-axis in-body image stabilization with 6.5 stops, which can go up to 7.5 stops when used with Sync IS lenses, ensuring you can perfectly stable, jitter-free handheld shots in both photo and video modes. Speaking of those two modes, you can easily switch between them using a video and stills dial, so you can take a quick picture of a scene and follow it up with a full-fledged video recording. The same dial also allows access to Quick Motion and Slow Motion video modes, making it easy to switch to different types of recordings in a pinch.
The OM System OM-3 has a dedicated computational photography button, giving you quick access to multiple creative features (e.g. live ND, live GND, focus stacking, HDR, multiple exposures) with just a few presses, along with a creative dial that lets you easily switch film profiles, use the color creator, and more. It also gets a 2.36-million dot OLED viewfinder, which offers adaptive brightness, three selectable styles, and adjustable color temperature, along with a 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen panel for live view and access to the depth of its menu settings.
Dimensions are 5.5 x 3.5 x 1.8 inches (width x height x thickness), so it’s pretty compact, all while tipping the scales at just 17.5 ounces with the battery and memory card inserted. Other features include IP53 weather-sealed construction, a single UHS-II SD card slot, built-in wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth), and a heat management system that allows continuous filming for up to 30 minutes at 104 degrees Fahrenheit without overheating (no limit at 77 degrees and under), making it viable for those hot days out in the field.
The OM System OM-3 comes out late February, priced at $1,999.99 for the body only.
