Olympus America Inc. OM-3 OM System OM-3 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Lens Review

The OM System OM-3 is a beautiful camera that feels amazing in your hands, but it's a tough sell for $1700. The one thing you need to know is that you're paying a premium for a specific, nostalgic experience and rugged build, not for cutting-edge performance. Its specs are firmly mid-tier, and its scores for things like sports or video are just okay. If you're an Olympus die-hard who loves the classic look and feel, you'll adore it. For everyone else, there are better tools for the job.

Honestly, nothing about the performance surprised me in a good way. With a sensor in the 30th percentile and autofocus at the 45th, it's exactly as competent as you'd expect from a mid-range Micro Four Thirds camera. It'll get the shot, but it won't blow you away with speed or low-light prowess. The 20MP sensor is fine, but you can get more resolution and better dynamic range elsewhere for this kind of money.

It's not worth it. At $1700, you're paying for the brand heritage and the tactile experience, not for what the camera can actually do. You can get full-frame power or much better APS-C performance for the same price, or get similar Micro Four Thirds performance for hundreds less.

Look at the Fujifilm X-S20 first. For hundreds less, you get a far more capable hybrid camera with great video, stellar autofocus, and in-body stabilization. If you want to spend the full $1700, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II is in another league entirely for action and low light. Even Sony's older a7R IV, when on sale, offers a massive 61MP sensor for similar money, making the OM-3's 20MP sensor look tiny.

I can't recommend buying this camera. It's a lovely piece of hardware that's stuck in the past. Unless your heart is set on the Olympus/OM System look and you don't care about value, there's no reason to choose it over the competition. For everyone else, your money will go much, much further elsewhere.