[Additional] I have a Nikon D810 and some Zeiss Milvus lenses; they are exceptional products but are big, bulky and heavy. By no means am I the first person to note that full frame cameras and their equipment have the disadvantage of size and weight.


After reading a number of reviews on the B&H website, and reading other reviews from various sources, I decided to give the micro 4/3 system a try. Although some reviewers have commented on the menu system of the Olympus being quirky I did not find it difficult to get used to. Although the camera is small, it is not at all difficult to hold; the thumb rest on the rear of the camera leads to a comfortable grip. I have fairly large hands and have no complaints about the grip.


The IBIS five axis stabilization system is amazing; as many others have claimed, one can hand hold the camera in quite low light situations. Another two features that add to the value of the camera are the in camera focus stacking system and the high resolution mode.


A husband and wife team that produce numerous U tube videos some years ago predicted the micro 4/3 system would disappear. I have noticed many other commenters also like the OM-5. I think the OM-5, the just released OM-1 mark II and the expected release of the OM-10 will demonstrate the folly of making predictions about the demise of the micro 4/3 system.

[3-Year ] I recently gave my Olympus OM D M5 MKIII to my daughter as an upgrade from her Lumix G7 since she is now using her camera more seriously. I really like the Olympus and it was my primary camera body for all of my Macro Photography due to its compact size. So this was the perfect excuse for getting the newer OM System version. As much as I didn’t think it was worth upgrading from the Olympus, now that I have it I have to be honest and say I really do appreciate the minor but great improvements. Starting with the new TruePic IX Processor, which does slightly improve the overall image quality (honestly, mostly in the specs, not enough that I’ve actually seen yet, more shots will let me know).
The 50 megapixel Handheld High Res shot mode will come in handy from time to time.
Probably the nicest new feature that I will use more often is the Live ND. Also having a higher rated weather proofing at IP-53 is a big plus. Even the image stabilization is improved by a full stop from 6.5 to 7.5EV with Sync-IS lenses (up from 5.5 to 6.5EV with any lens).
So overall I am more than happy with this newer version that OM System has introduced.
Would I have upgraded knowing now what I do having the newer camera in my hands, still probably not but if this is a new camera decision for you I definitely recommend this fantastic camera! This compact, lightweight and incredibly great image quality and solidly built.

[Additional] So far all expectations from learning on E-M1 Mark III met. Fun to use. Sturdy.

[Parts & Labor] My full frame cameras became to heavy and bulky for traveling. The OM 5, even with several lenses, is a lighter more manageable system. The image stabilization lets me leave the tripod home while allowing me to get sharp photos. Highly recommend.

[Parts & Labor] I take and use my OM-5 everywhere I go. Street and city-scape photography all around the Baltimore area. I've taken photographs in pouring rain, heavy snowfall, chilly Fall days. It is a trusted travel companion. Paired with M.zuiko prime or telephoto zoom lenses, it's simply terrific. I've photographed everything from ice crystal macros to the moon, cityscapes and birds. Compact and capable. An absolutely wonderful camera.

[3-Year ] The OM5 is a Swiss Army knife among $1000 class cameras. It does not excel at much, but does a whole lot of things well. Think of it as an EM-1 Mark 3 stuffed into a smaller body. That definitely is not a bad thing, as the Mark 3 is a very competent camera, and the smaller size and weight make the OM5 a more discrete tool. The electronic shutter is highly functional, and silent, since sensor read-out is rather speedy and rolling shutter usually is not an issue.
The menu has been panned as being too complex, obtuse, etc., but I have never met a camera menu that was really straightforward and simple (to me). The camera begs to be customized to the user's preferences. That means that a beginner who uses the camera in green mode will surely miss out on some neat features.
Image quality, of course, lags slightly behind IQ from larger sensors, but most people would never know the difference, since Micro-Four-Thirds sensors deliver better IQ than many people expect.
The lens eco-system has many options for glass and few photographers would be disappointed at the selection. The weather sealing takes the worry out of being outdoors with the camera, assuming the lens in use is also weather sealed.
The OM5 is not a world-beater, but is is a very nice, small, surprisingly capable, camera.

[Additional] I bought the OM-5 as a smaller, lighter companion to the OM-1. The OM-5 lacks subject detection (birds, mainly, for me), but I plan to use it as an everyday-carry and fun camera that nonetheless has image quality that's about equivalent to that of the OM-1. Not bad. Some people complain about the outdated USB connection and the older Olympus menu system. Yes, USB-C would be faster and more modern. And yes, the menu system of the OM-1 is more intuitive. But I am looking to set up the OM-5 so that it's basically customized to the ways I shoot, and for that its menus are OK. I'm not trying to master every nook and cranny of the camera's capabilities. I have set the camera up to meet my needs for now (as I have the OM-1), and will explore new features when I need to know about them. The OM-5 is a refresh of the Olympus E-M5 iii, which is an excellent camera and is available used at attractive prices. But in the end, even though the OM-5 is just a refresh/update of the E-M5 iii, the OM-5 is a better camera-- better weathersealing, improved processor, hand-held high-res, starry sky AF, etc. You can find other cameras that improve on the OM-5 in some ways. However, it's hard to find another camera this small and light, with IP53 weathersealing, outstanding image stabilization, a huge range of lenses available (new and used), and all in this price range.

[Additional] A high quality camera with all the right settings, compact size, and super image and video quality. I bought this for underwater use with an Ikelite housing, but above or below the water the ease of use, compact size, and picture quality are terrific.

[3-Year ] The 2-year Protect Plus Support with ADP provides reasonable protection for a lens that must go to where good photos are taken.

[Parts & Labor] I upgraded from the M5-3. It handles the same way, but operationally it's just like my M1 .3 just in a smaller package.