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OM System OM-1 II Comparison Review

The OM System OM-1 II is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was officially introduced in January 2024 and is equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. It offers a resolution of 20.2 megapixel.

camera

Is the OM System OM-1 II a good camera? The OM-1 II has a Camera Elo of 2932. This rating puts the OM-1 II among the top 20 percent of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (Four Thirds cameras), the OM-1 II ranks among the top 10 percent.

Headline Specifications
OM System OM-1 II
Mirrorless system camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses
20.2 MP, Four Thirds Sensor
4K/60p Video
ISO 80 - 25 600 (80 - 102 400)
Electronic viewfinder (5760k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1640k dots
Swivel touchscreen
10 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization
Weathersealed body
500 shots per battery charge
135 x 92 x 73 mm, 599 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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Body comparison with a credit card

The physical dimensions of the OM System OM-1 II relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are presented. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

OM System OM-1 II vs credit card front
OM-1 II versus credit card top view
OM-1 II and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the OM System OM-1 II alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
    Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
OM System OM-1 II 135 mm 92 mm 73 mm 599 g 500 Y Jan 2024 US$ 2 399 amazon.com
2.
 
Nikon Zf 144 mm 103 mm 49 mm 710 g 380 Y Sep 2023 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 II 134 mm 91 mm 67 mm 574 g 440 Y Sep 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 III 134 mm 91 mm 69 mm 580 g 420 Y Feb 2020 US$ 1 799ebay.com
5.
 
OM System OM-1 135 mm 92 mm 73 mm 599 g 520 Y Feb 2022 US$ 2 199ebay.com
6.
 
OM System OM-5 125 mm 85 mm 50 mm 414 g 310 Y Oct 2022 US$ 1 199 amazon.com
7.
 
Panasonic G9 137 mm 97 mm 92 mm 658 g 400 Y Nov 2017 US$ 1 699ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic G9 II 134 mm 102 mm 90 mm 658 g 390 Y Sep 2023 US$ 1 899 amazon.com
9.
 
Panasonic G95 130 mm 94 mm 77 mm 536 g 290 Y Apr 2019 US$ 999ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH5 139 mm 98 mm 87 mm 725 g 410 Y Jan 2017 US$ 1 999ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GH5 II 139 mm 98 mm 87 mm 727 g 400 Y May 2021 US$ 1 699 amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The OM System OM-1 II was launched in the US market at a price of $2,399. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

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Check OM-1 II price at
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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The OM System OM-1 II features a Four Thirds sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the OM System OM-1 II among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.

OM System OM-1 II sensor measures

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for most cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of alternative cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
    Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
OM System OM-1 II Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.413.6174978
2.
 
Nikon Zf Full Frame 24.3 6048 40244K/60p25.414.7324396
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 II Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.712.8131280
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 III Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.313.1135676
5.
 
OM System OM-1 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.413.4155377
6.
 
OM System OM-5 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.413.4162278
7.
 
Panasonic G9 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.112.8113874
8.
 
Panasonic G9 II Four Thirds 25.0 5776 43365.7K/60p23.413.5171078
9.
 
Panasonic G95 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.213.0127375
10.
 
Panasonic GH5 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.913.080777
11.
 
Panasonic GH5 II Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.713.1113679
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The OM-1 II indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the OM-1 II can use is 4K/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the OM-1 II has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 5760k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.82x. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the OM System OM-1 II and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
    Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
OM System OM-1 II5760 n3.0 / 1640 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
2.
 
Nikon Zf3690 n3.2 / 2100 swivel Y 1/8000s 14.0/s n Y
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 II2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 18.0/s n Y
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 III2360 n3.0 / 1037 swivel Y 1/8000s 18.0/s n Y
5.
 
OM System OM-15760 n3.0 / 1640 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
6.
 
OM System OM-52360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
7.
 
Panasonic G93680 Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
8.
 
Panasonic G9 II3680 n3.0 / 1840 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
9.
 
Panasonic G952360 n3.0 / 1240 swivel Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Panasonic GH53680 n3.2 / 1620 swivel Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
11.
 
Panasonic GH5 II3680 n3.0 / 1840 swivel Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The LCD screen on the OM System OM-1 II is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD is hinged on the side and can be flipped out for odd-angle shots in both portrait and landscape orientation. Also, this fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment is often appreciated by videographers for its flexibility. Moreover, v-loggers like the design because the screen can be turned to be front-facing.

articulated screen
Flexible screen on the OM-1 II

One feature that differentiates the OM-1 II from many older cameras is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The OM-1 II reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while cameras without IBIS have to rely on optical image stabilization in OIS-equipped lenses to achieve the same effect.

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Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the OM System OM-1 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
    Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
OM System OM-1 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.0Y-Y
2.
 
Nikon ZfYstereo / monoYYmicro3.2Y-Y
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.0Y--
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1Y-Y
5.
 
OM System OM-1Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.0Y-Y
6.
 
OM System OM-5Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
7.
 
Panasonic G9Ystereo / monoYYfull3.0Y-Y
8.
 
Panasonic G9 IIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
9.
 
Panasonic G95Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0Y-Y
10.
 
Panasonic GH5Ystereo / monoYYfull3.1Y-Y
11.
 
Panasonic GH5 IIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y

It is notable that the OM-1 II has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Further information on the features and operation of the OM-1 II can be found in the free online OM System OM-1 II Manual or on the OM System support site.

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Expert reviews

While the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the OM-1 II in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
     Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
OM System OM-1 II............ Jan 2024 US$ 2 399 amazon.com
2.
 
Nikon Zf4.5/5..4.5/590/1004.5/55/5 Sep 2023 US$ 1 999 amazon.com
3.
 
Olympus E-M1 II5/5+ +5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-M1 III5/5..5/583/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2020 US$ 1 799ebay.com
5.
 
OM System OM-15/5....87/1005/54.5/5 Feb 2022 US$ 2 199ebay.com
6.
 
OM System OM-55/5..4.5/583/1005/54.5/5 Oct 2022 US$ 1 199 amazon.com
7.
 
Panasonic G9..+ +5/585/1005/55/5 Nov 2017 US$ 1 699ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic G9 II5/5..4.5/587/100..4.5/5 Sep 2023 US$ 1 899 amazon.com
9.
 
Panasonic G954.5/5+4.5/583/1004.5/54.5/5 Apr 2019 US$ 999ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH54.5/5+ +..85/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2017 US$ 1 999ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic GH5 II4.5/5..4.5/585/1004.5/55/5 May 2021 US$ 1 699 amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Check OM-1 II price at
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OM System OM-1 II FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the OM-1 II.

What technology is the imaging sensor in the OM System OM-1 II based on?

The camera is build around a Stacked BSI-CMOS (Stacked Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used in the OM System OM-1 II to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

OM System equipped the OM-1 II with the TruePic X image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the OM System OM-1 II?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 25600.

Does the OM System OM-1 II have a selfie-friendly screen?

Yes, the LCD-screen of the OM-1 II is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the OM System OM-1 II?

OM System mentions a shutter rating of 400 000 actuations for the OM-1 II. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the OM-1 II over, say, three years, one would have to take about 400 pictures each and every day.

How do I find the shutter count on my OM System OM-1 II?

OM System embeds the number of shutter actuations in hidden menus. You can check the number of shots that your OM-1 II has taken up to now by carefully following the steps described on the OM System OM-1 II shutter count page.

Is completely silent shooting possible with the OM System OM-1 II?

The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the OM System OM-1 II?

No, the OM System OM-1 II has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the OM System OM-1 II?

The OM-1 II offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.

Does the OM System OM-1 II feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the OM System OM-1 II for flash photography?

The OM-1 II's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.

Does the OM System OM-1 II support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-II cards, which provide for data transfer speed of up to 312 MB/s, in both of its card slots.

Which battery does the OM System OM-1 II use?

The camera gets its power from the OM System BLX-1 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Is there a vertical grip available for the OM System OM-1 II?

Yes, OM System offers the HLD-10 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.

Where can I find the best deals for the OM System OM-1 II?

Grey imports from Asia, as found on ebay, are often very attractively priced. However, these cameras come without a warranty from OM System.

Camera to camera comparisons

If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model OM System OM-1 II
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date January 2024
    Launch Price USD 2 399
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology Stacked BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 225 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 20.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5 184 x 3 888 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.34 μm
    Pixel Density 8.96 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/60p Video
    ISO Setting 80 - 25 600 ISO
    ISO Boost 80 - 102 400 ISO
    Image Processor TruePic X
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.82x
    Viewfinder Resolution 5760k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 1640k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen
    V-logging Friendliness Front-flip possible
    Touch Input Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peaking
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy400 000 actuations
    Silent ShootingElectronic Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots
    UHS card support Dual UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 3.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed body
    Battery Type OM System BLX-1 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)500 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 135 x 92 x 73 mm
    (5.3 x 3.6 x 2.9 in)
    Camera Weight 599 g (21.1 oz)

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