In this OM System PEN review, I take OM System's new interchangeable lens Micro Four Thirds camera out on location in Sydney to test it for street photography, portraits and video. The PEN keeps the classic Olympus PEN look in a compact everyday camera, and it launches alongside the new M.Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III kit lens, which I also tested.
Below you'll find OM System PEN sample photos (unedited and edited), the full specs, build and handling, autofocus, video specs, a look at the new 14-42mm lens, and how the PEN compares to other everyday cameras. This review isn't sponsored by OM System, and they didn't see it before it was published.
OM System PEN review: quick verdict
The OM System PEN is a beautiful, compact, photo-first camera that makes a great everyday and travel camera. It produces lovely 20MP files with great colour straight out of camera, has a mechanical shutter, 5.5 stops of in-body stabilisation and an electronic viewfinder, and you can change lenses when you want a different look.
- Best for: everyday carry, travel and street photography, and anyone who wants a stylish camera with interchangeable lenses
- Strengths: classic PEN design, great image quality, mechanical shutter, EVF, 5.5-stop IBIS, Computational Photography button, weather sealing
- Trade-offs: limited video specs, a UHS-I card slot and a new battery, plus a few things I go through in the video
OM System PEN price
| USD (B&H) | AUD (OM System Australia) | |
|---|---|---|
| OM System PEN (body only) | $999.99 | $1,499 |
| OM System PEN + 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III kit | $1,099.99 | $1,799 |
Prices checked in October 2026, available in black or silver. Prices change often and vary by country, so check your local retailer before you buy.
OM System PEN specs
| Sensor | Micro Four Thirds, 20.4MP effective (21.8MP total) |
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 |
| Shutter | Mechanical up to 1/4000s, electronic up to 1/32000s |
| Flash sync | Up to 1/250s (mechanical shutter) |
| Burst | Up to 30fps (JPEG), Pro Capture records up to 12 frames before you press the shutter |
| Stabilisation | 5.5 stops in-body (IBIS) plus digital stabilisation for video |
| Autofocus | 121-point phase detection, people and animal detection (stills), people (video) |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | Flip-out touch screen |
| Video | 4K up to 30p (16:9), 4K 24p (17:9), Full HD up to 60p, 8-bit 4:2:0 |
| Card slot | 1 × SD (UHS-I) |
| Ports | Mic jack, micro HDMI, USB-C |
| Weather sealing | Dust and splashproof |
| Battery | BLS-7 (new) |
| Weight | 393g |
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds |
OM System PEN image quality and sample photos
The PEN uses a 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and shoots in a 4:3 aspect ratio. I normally shoot full frame in 3:2, and I've really grown to love 4:3: it pushes me to compose differently and I'm a fan of the look now.
I really enjoy the photos this camera produces. They look great straight out of camera, with a nice level of sharpness and good colours. I shot these samples around Sydney with the OM 20mm f/1.4, the Olympus 45mm f/1.2 and the new 14-42mm, using the mechanical shutter for the whole shoot. Every edited photo was edited with my Havana Lightroom preset pack, and some show the unedited original next to the edit. In the video I also show 100% crops straight out of camera.
OM 20mm f/1.4 samples
The 20mm f/1.4 (a 40mm full frame equivalent) was one of my favourite lenses on the PEN. It has a lovely high quality look while still keeping the kit small.
UneditedEdited with Havana
OM System PEN + 20mm f/1.4: unedited (left) and edited with Havana (right).
OM System PEN + 20mm f/1.4, edited with Havana.
UneditedEdited with Havana
OM System PEN + 20mm f/1.4: unedited (left) and edited with Havana (right).
Olympus 45mm f/1.2 samples
For more background blur, I paired the PEN with the Olympus 45mm f/1.2 (a 90mm full frame equivalent), which is a beautiful lens for portraits and picking out details on the street.
UneditedEdited with Havana
OM System PEN + 45mm f/1.2: unedited (left) and edited with Havana (right).
OM System PEN + 45mm f/1.2, edited with Havana.
OM System PEN + 45mm f/1.2, edited with Havana.
OM System PEN + 45mm f/1.2, edited with Havana.
Shutter, burst and Computational Photography features
The PEN has a mechanical shutter, which I'm always happy to see, going up to 1/4000s, while the silent electronic shutter reaches 1/32000s. Shooting RAW with the mechanical shutter, you get about 25 frames at 5fps before it slows to about 2fps, and you can shoot up to 30fps in JPEG with certain settings and lenses.
With the electronic shutter you also get Pro Capture, which records up to 12 frames before you fully press the shutter button, so you don't miss the moment. It even works in RAW, at a slower frame rate.
Like the OM-3, the PEN has a dedicated CP (Computational Photography) button, giving you quick access to hand-held high res shot, focus stacking, HDR, multiple exposure and more, all processed in camera.
Build, design and handling
This is a truly beautiful camera that keeps the classic Olympus PEN look. It weighs 393g and is roughly the same size as the Fujifilm X100VI and Lumix L10, although those have fixed lenses and the PEN's size is without a lens. It's not pocket-sized, but it's a comfortable size and weight for a daily camera, it fits easily into a small bag, and the little grip makes it comfortable to shoot with.
- Top: two dials, a photo/video switch, a record button and a hot shoe
- Front: a tally light and a colour mode dial
- Back: a rear dial, buttons and a D-pad (no joystick, but you can move the focus point with the D-pad or touch screen)
- Viewfinder and screen: a 2.36M-dot OLED EVF and a flip-out touch screen
- Ports: mic jack, micro HDMI and USB-C
- Weather sealing: dust and splashproof
There are two things to know before you buy. The single SD card slot is UHS-I, a slower standard you don't often see on new cameras, and I noticed it while shooting, especially with video. The PEN also uses a new BLS-7 battery, so it isn't interchangeable with batteries from other OM System cameras. The good news is that battery life is very good.
OM System PEN + 14-42mm, edited with Havana.
OM System PEN autofocus
The PEN has 121-point phase detection autofocus with people and animal detection for stills, and people detection for video. I tested it with the new 14-42mm and the 17mm f/1.8, and for everyday shooting like the photos in this post, it was perfectly capable. I also compare it to the OM-3's autofocus in the video.
M.Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III kit lens review
The new M.Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III gives you a full frame equivalent of 28-84mm, a really versatile range. At 14mm you have plenty of room for environmental shots, landscapes and vlogging, and at 42mm you get extra reach and compression.
- Weight: 125g, with a retractable design that makes it even smaller
- Controls: zoom ring and focus ring, no buttons or switches
- Filter thread: 46mm
- Minimum focus distance: 13cm at 14mm, 30cm at 42mm
- Aperture blades: 7, circular
- Weather sealing: splashproof
It pairs really nicely with the PEN and produces nice, sharp images, which makes it a good all-rounder if you want a small, easy zoom. Because it starts at f/3.5 on a Micro Four Thirds sensor, you won't get a very shallow depth of field, and I show how it handles backlight, chromatic aberration and out-of-focus areas in the video.
The 14-42mm at 14mm (left) and 42mm (right), edited with Havana.
UneditedEdited with Havana
OM System PEN + 14-42mm: unedited (left) and edited with Havana (right).
OM System PEN + 14-42mm, edited with Havana.
OM System PEN + 14-42mm, edited with Havana.
OM System PEN + 14-42mm, edited with Havana.
OM System PEN video specs
The PEN is a photo-first camera that can film video when you need it. 4K records in 8-bit 4:2:0, so I filmed everything in the standard picture profile rather than LOG.
| Mode | Specs |
|---|---|
| 4K 16:9 | Up to 30p, LongGOP 8-bit, up to 102Mbps |
| 4K 17:9 | 24p, LongGOP 8-bit, up to 237Mbps |
| Full HD 16:9 | Up to 60p LongGOP (52Mbps), or 30p All-Intra (202Mbps) |
You get 5.5 stops of IBIS plus digital stabilisation for video. I show the crop from digital stabilisation, a vlogging test and a low light ISO comparison, with noise reduction both on and off, in the video.
OM System PEN + 14-42mm, edited with Havana.
Is the OM System PEN worth it?
If you want a stylish, compact everyday camera that takes great photos and lets you change lenses, the OM System PEN is a lovely option. It has some limitations, mainly around video and the UHS-I card slot, which is a balance you'll find in most small cameras. With the right lens, though, the kit is small enough to carry every day without weighing your bag down.
If you're comparing everyday cameras, you might also like my Lumix L10 review and my Lumix L10 vs Fujifilm X100VI comparison.
OM System PEN FAQ
How much does the OM System PEN cost?
At the time of writing, the OM System PEN is $999.99 USD (A$1,499) body only, or $1,099.99 USD (A$1,799) with the M.Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III kit lens.
How many megapixels is the OM System PEN?
It has a Micro Four Thirds sensor with 20.4 effective megapixels (21.8MP total) and shoots in a 4:3 aspect ratio.
Does the OM System PEN have a viewfinder?
Yes. It has a 2.36M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder as well as a flip-out touch screen.
Does the OM System PEN have IBIS?
Yes. It has 5.5 stops of in-body image stabilisation, plus digital stabilisation for video.
Is the OM System PEN weather sealed?
Yes, it's dust and splashproof, and the new 14-42mm III kit lens is splashproof too.
How much does the OM System PEN weigh?
It weighs 393g, roughly the same size as a Fujifilm X100VI, without a lens.
Can the OM System PEN shoot 4K video?
Yes. It films 4K up to 30p in 16:9 and 24p in 17:9, in 8-bit 4:2:0, and Full HD up to 60p.
What battery does the OM System PEN use?
It uses the new BLS-7 battery, which isn't interchangeable with batteries from other OM System cameras.
Want your photos to look like the edited samples in this review? They were all edited with Havana. You can browse all my packs in the Lightroom Presets for Portraits collection, and if you're stuck between a few, you can buy any 3 presets and save 10%.
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