The OM System OM-3 camera combines vintage style with an advanced stacked sensor.

OM System has unveiled the OM-3 mirrorless camera in Micro Four Thirds format, which combines a classic Olympus-style design with the most advanced stacked sensor technology. This new model offers users many features from the company's flagship, the OM-1 Mark II, which is priced at $2,300, but at a slightly lower cost.

The OM-3 marks the beginning of a new product line for OM System, positioning itself between the OM-1 II and the OM-5. Additionally, its aesthetics are more appealing than its predecessors, reminiscent of the coveted Olympus PEN-F model. Like the latter, it lacks a prominent grip, forcing users to rely on the synthetic leather texture and a finger rest to keep the camera steady. For travelers, the OM-3 is quite lightweight, weighing only 17.5 ounces (496 grams) without a lens, slightly less than the Fujifilm X100 VI.

The OM-3 body is equipped with a variety of dials and switches, including a couple of dials for photography, a mode dial, and another for toggling between photo, video, and S&Q modes. A notable feature is the "creative dial" on the front, which allows users to select from five modes (standard, mono, color, art, and color creator), thus opening on-screen menus for further customization.

Inside, the OM-3 is essentially a compact version of the OM-1 II. It includes a 20.37-megapixel BSI stacked sensor that enables fast shooting at 50 fps with continuous autofocus. It also has a 1,053-point phase-detection autofocus system, as well as pre-capture capability for up to 70 frames. Despite its small size, it features five-axis in-body image stabilization, although its performance is less (6.5 stops instead of 8) compared to the OM-1 II.

One of the most significant drawbacks is its 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder, which is somewhat disappointing given its price category (the OM-1 II has a 5.76-million-dot viewfinder). It only has one UHS-II memory card slot. However, it sports the same 3.0-inch vari-angle screen as the OM-1 II, which is valuable for content creators, in addition to an IP53 weather-sealing and the same BLX-1 battery, allowing for up to 590 shots in standard mode.

Regarding video, the OM-3 can record in 4K up to 60p using the full width of the sensor with 10-bit log recording (although it cannot record 10-bit video in standard mode like the latest Panasonic models). It also offers slow-motion modes in 1080p up to 240 fps, although with a crop. If used with an external recorder, it can capture 4K RAW video at 60 fps. Like the OM-1 II, the OM-3 exhibits minimal rolling shutter effect in all video modes, making it an excellent choice for action capture.

The OM-3 is now available for pre-order at a price of $2,000 (body only), or $2,300 in a kit that includes the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm f/4 Pro lens. Shipments are expected to begin in late February. Additionally, Olympus announced an updated and more robust version of its 100-400mm zoom lens, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS II, priced at $1,500, along with new weather-resistant prime lenses, the M.Zuiko Digital 17mm F2.8 II ($550) and the M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F1.8 II ($500).