OM System sent me the OM5 Mark II for review. This is a nice upgrade from the OM 5. For the advanced amateur or photographer that is looking for a lightweight yet capable camera, in my opinion, this is a winner.

OM System OM-5 Mark II — Initial thoughts

After traveling and using this camera for a few weeks I’m a fan. After getting used to a few control differences and layout from my OM 1, it performed well. Focus is clean, although I miss my bird tracking from the higher end camera, it performed well. I’m considering buying one to have as a travel and long hike camera.

OM. 5 Mark II with optional 12-45mm f/. lens. As of this writing $1599.
OM 5 II top view. Solid, convenient controls. Auto Modes include Scene and Art specialty setting. CP button allows for quick activation of the last used Computational Photography Mode. Ho;ding the button and turning the front dial allows to scroll though all CP Modes.

Pros

  • Solid imaging chip 20+MP
  • High res 80 MP
  • High res handheld 50 MP
  • Light weight
  • New grip
  • New menus
OM 5 Mark II Grip is easier to hold than OM 5.

Cons

  • Single SD card slot
  • Hard edges for long time hand-holding
  • No subject detection
Back view of the flip out screen.

OM System OM-5 Mark II — Technical Specifications

  • Effective pixels 20.4 Megapixels
  • Image Stabilization Built-in 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization
  • Video Quality 4K, C4K, Full HD, High Speed Movie FHD
  • Lens mount Micro Four Thirds
  • Dust reduction filter – Supersonic Wave Filter
  • Type OLED Electronic Viewfinder – Resolution 2.360K dots
  • Monitor type Vari-angle LCD – Touch Panel – Resolution 1037K dots
  • Super Control Panel
  • Image Stabiliser – Type Sensor shift – Effective Compensation Range Up to 7.5 EV steps Sync IS
Up to 6.5 EV steps
  • Sensitivity – ISO LOW – 25600 in 1/3 or 1 EV ISO steps
  • Shutter type Computerized focal-plane shutter – Electronic shutter – Shutter speed 1/8000 – 60s
  • High res shot – Resolution JPEG: 10368×7776 / 8160 x 6120 / 5760 x 4320 RAW: 10368 x 7776
Equivalent to 80M / 50M / 25M pixel sensor (8 shots combined into a single JPEG using sensor shift) Available in P/A/S/M mode
  • Handheld High res shot – Shutter type Electronic shutter
  • Shutter speed 1/8000 – 60s
  • Resolution JPEG: 8160 x 6120 / 5760 x 4320 RAW: 8160 x 6120
Equivalent to 50M / 25M pixel sensor (8 shots combined into a single JPEG using sensor shift)
Available in P/A/S/M mode
Flash cannot be used
  • Sequence Shooting – Speed (H) Approx. 10fps Max. number of frames: RAW 149 / JPG (LF): Up to card capacity – Speed (L) 6fps Max. number of frames: RAW / JPG (LF): Up to card capacity
  • Computational photography features: Live ND, Starry Sky AF, Live Composite, Hi-res 50MP shot, HDR, Focus stacking and on.
  • Image Size RAW 5184 x 3888 compressed – Large
  • Movie Recording format MOV(MPEG-4AVC/H.264)
  • Freeze proof -10°C
  • Dimensions / Weight – Width 125.3mm – Depth 49.7mm – Height 85.2mm – Weight 418g (including battery and memory card) – Weight (body only) 366g (body only)
  • Available Colours Black, Silver, Sand Beige
Super long range with the new OM System M.Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8 lens with 2.0 teleconverter. Shot handheld at 400mm 1/30th sec. f/13 ISO 200

OM System OM-5 Mark II — Ergonomics and Build Quality

The OM 5 II is lightweight. Coming in at just under one pound it’s about 3/4 of a pound less than the OM 1. When you are really watching weight this is significant savings. With a magnesium alloy frame and a glass-reinforced polycarbonate outer shell this camera is solid.

The body feels just a bit small for my hands so there was a little discomfort with long handholding sessions. I have found in the past though that with more use your hands find the comfort spots as it gets more use. It was getting better in each session I had it out.

OM5 Mark II has an IP53-certified weather sealing. It’s resistant to dust, rain, and snow, and freeze-proof to -10 °C. It can handle splashes of water along with general weather but don’t play with this camera underwater.

Shooting into the sun and with the HDR capture able to have detail in the highlights and shadows with a bit of post processing. OM 50-200mm f/2.8 lens 1/800th sec. f/9.0 ISO 200.
Twisted Juniper backlit by the morning sun.

OM System OM-5 Mark II — Computational features

  • The OM 5 II has a solid set of computational features which add to your creative possibilities. High Res shot, handheld at 50 MP and tripod 25MP, 50MP and 80MP can boost the file sizes. Not for use in windy landscape conditions as it uses multiple image capture and sensor shift to accomplish.
  • Live ND Shooting from ND 2 to ND 16 can allowsfor slowing moving water without additional filters and attachments.
  • In-camera Focus Stacking for those macro captures. In-camera HDR composites or captures of up to 7 frames at 2 EV.
  • Pro Capture for ‘shooting into the past’ to help prevent ‘bird butt’ images when you are a bit slow to predict the launch of avian life from their perch.
  • And for the night sky folks a huge benefit is the Starry Sky AF feature paired with the night vision setting makes compositing and capturing night sky landscapes much easier! (a person fav!)
  • I’ll refer you to the OM 1 Mark II review I wrote to see some of these features more in-depth.
dragonfly flight photo
Pro Capture allows me to get dragonflies in flight… It’ll be better when I increase the shutter speed to freeze the wings. Next time! 50-200mm f/2.8 lens @ 400mm f/5.6 1/2500th sec. ISO 1600

Yours in Creative Photography,

Bob