Best Olympus Camera

Best Olympus Camera

Olympus cameras are famous for their stylish design, mirrorless camera body, compact size, and micro four-thirds lenses. All Olympus cameras are divided into 3 main categories: OM-D, PEN, and Tough line of cameras. What is the best Olympus cameras for portraits and what devices are suitable for different genres? I’ve gathered 10 new and old Olympus cameras that help you take amazing photos for affordable price.

best olympus camera

10 Best Olympus Cameras

top 3 best Olympus cameras

Olympus is one of the leading manufacturers of optical and digital equipment. Their compact cameras with interchangeable lens systems help get the highest quality images. In addition, accessories of this camera brand are also widely known. M.Zuiko lenses provide the desired angle of light falling on the matrix, which gives the maximum effect. The high-speed and highly sensitive Live MOS matrix ensures perfect clarity of light and dark areas in the image. The TruePic image-processing mechanism allows you to get natural and high-quality pictures with the smallest details. All these features allow photographers achieve the best quality images. Check this list of 10 cameras and find your best Olympus camera.


1. Olympus PEN-F

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Pros+
  • Burst speed of up to 10 frames per second with a good buffer
  • Excellent built-in stabilizer
  • High-Resolution mode (50-megapixel photos)
  • High-quality flash
Cons-
  • The grip is not comfy
  • Lacks dust and moisture protection
  • No microphone and headphone jacks
 

If you want to find the best Olympus mirrorless camera, look at this device. PEN-F is a good gadget with amazing Micro-4/3 lenses. Despite its small size and relatively modest price, the device has an innovative Hi-Res mode in which eight frames are created in quick succession to take a 50MP image in JPEG format and an 80-megapixel picture in RAW format.

Many Olympus camera reviews note a good electronic viewfinder and a freely rotating touch screen as the main advantages of this model. Such display allows the photographer take a selfie or just shoot without raising the camera. It is worth mentioning that the shooting quality of this Olympus compact camera is almost perfect. Users are especially pleased with the work in poor lighting, as well as a five-axis stabilizer. PEN-F does not have a built-in flash. However, a photographer can install any external flash according to his/her requirements.

Recommended camera lens:

Olympus M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO

This lens is universal. The wide-angle focal length allows you to shoot beautiful landscape images. Its fast-moving, fixed f/2.8 aperture is designed to produce perfect portrait photos.

Olympus m.zuiko 12-40mm photo sample Photo by Olympus PEN-F

2. Olympus Pen E-P1

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Pros+
  • Large, high-quality display
  • Excellent, sharp, saturated shots
  • Relatively compact size
  • Good performance at high ISO
  • Control over digital noise reduction parameters
  • Full set of manual settings, including four types of bracketing
Cons-
  • Slow autofocus (compared to SLR cameras)
  • No optical viewfinder
  • Lacks autofocus backlight
  • Limited range of Micro-4/3 lenses
  • No external power input
 

E-P1 occupies an intermediate position between compact cameras and DSLRs because it has a small size, perfect lenses, large 4/3 resolution, and 12.3-megapixel matrix. In addition to the image stabilizer, the camera has the electronic level and face recognition, as well as many useful art filters, multi-exposure and HD video recording function. The build quality is high too.

The speed of this Olympus camera in automatic and manual mode do not cause any complaints. The device operates stably, completing all processes very quickly. However, some users noticed that after a series of shots (from three and more pictures), the camera started to work much slower. When using art styles, it may seem that the device lags behind the picture and it does not work so well, but in general, it is not catastrophically important aspect for beginners.

Recommended camera lens:

Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f/1.8

This lens can produce a classic portrait bokeh. Contrast is very decent too. The level of chromatic aberration is low, but it’s still present. In fact, there is no high-aperture optics without chromatic aberration.

Olympus 75mm photo sample Photo by Olympus PEN-E-P1

3. Olympus OM-D E-M10

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Pros+
  • Effective 3-axis matrix stabilization
  • Rotating display and large, high-quality viewfinder
  • A lot of adjustable parameters
  • Built-in flash
  • Convenient wireless control of external flashes
Cons-
  • No electronic shutter
  • Confusing user interface
 

If you are looking for the best camera for professional photography made by Olympus, pay your attention to this option. The metal camera case pleasantly cools the hands, but plastic keys do not look very reliable. The screen can be moves both directions for shooting above the head and from the lower angle.

The menu interface of this Olympus digital camera is quite complicated and beginners can get confused for the first time. By the way, this device provides a lot of art filters and several modes for those who prefer to shoot in JPEG format with minimal image editing. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best Olympus mirrorless cameras that are inexpensive.

Recommended camera lens:

Panasonic Lumix 14-45mm G f/3.5-5.6 ASPH

This lens has a portable size and high optical quality. MEGA O.I.S. optical image stabilization suppresses blur caused by shaking hands very effectively.

Panasonic lumix 14-45mm photo sample Photo by Olympus OM-D E-M10

4. Olympus OM-1

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Pros+
  • High-quality viewfinder
  • Mechanical operation
  • Excellent build quality
Cons-
  • It is difficult to find a battery for the exposure meter
  • Minimum shutter speed is only 1/1000s
 

This is one of the best professional film cameras and many photographers use it on a regular basis. Olympus OM-1 can produce good, bright and clear images. The device has a durable case, which is an undoubted advantage of this model. In addition, this Olympus camera is very easy to use.

  • If you are looking for vintage cameras or just want to take film photography, view more about good film cameras with amazing retro effects.

All that is required is to select the necessary ISO settings, adjust the aperture and shutter speed. One more notable feature is the convenient shutter speed dial, which is located around the lens mount. If you are looking for the best Olympus camera to work with film, you should consider this variant.

Recommended camera lens:

Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 Lens

This lens is very light and compact. Its small size makes it very comfy. In addition, it will take very little space in your camera bag.

Olympus zuiko 50mm photo sample Photo by Olympus OM-1

5. Olympus OM-10

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Pros+
  • Compact size
  • Good bright viewfinder
  • Silent shutter
  • Very easy to operate
  • Cheap
Cons-
  • Shutter release button is not protected against accidental pressing
  • The bulb switch lever may be accidentally touched while composing the frame
 

This camera has been producing in Japan since 1979. Even after 30 years, this Olympus film camera is still fully operational. Thanks to its design, quality, reliability and simplicity, it has become one of the most popular Olympus models. This camera Olympus has an adapter for shooting in manual mode, which allows you to set the shutter speed from 1 sec. up to 1/1000 sec.

Olympus OM-10 photo sample Photo by Olympus OM-10

6. Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II

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Pros+
  • Solid magnesium alloy body
  • Ability to connect an external flash
  • Two-axis rotatable touchscreen
  • External microphone for video recording
  • Micro-4/3 system lens
Cons-
  • No built-in flash
  • Only one memory card slot
  • Noise from the image stabilization system
 

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is a compact mirrorless device with the changeable lens of Micro 4/3 standard. The first thing I liked when I took this model was the presence of anti-slip inserts looking like leather. This design makes the usage of Olympus digital camera really comfortable and you shouldn’t worry about dropping it down. Moreover, the body is dust- and damp-proofed, which means you can easily use it in all extreme conditions.

  • Read more about good mirrorless cameras for travel that are compact and will help you take bright landscape, street, and architecture photos while travelling.

The video is another benefit. Shooters will be impressed with the given autofocus, which makes it one of the popular Olympus mirrorless cameras for bloggers. Finally, a reliable five-axis image stabilizer should also be noted. It has always been a magic stick for me in different situations. I especially like using this camera for landscape photography.

Recommended camera lens:

Olympus M.Zuiko 14-150mm f/4.0-5.6 II

Choosing this model means you won’t have to change lenses constantly for various shooting conditions. Its characteristics make the model a perfect choice for most scenes: close-ups, portraits, shooting in the narrow city streets and in nature.

Olympus 14-150mm photo sample

Photo by Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II

7. Olympus TG-5

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Pros+
  • Very solid design
  • Clear and colorful photos
  • Simple Light Painting mode
  • Convenient tracking system
  • Quick continuous shooting
Cons-
  • Solar glare gets into the lens
  • Complicated to access the battery or memory card
 

Shooters who take photos in extreme conditions may easily choose this Olympus compact camera for extreme photography. The following model works everywhere: in the depth of 15 meters, when falling from 2 meters’ height and even at the temperature of 10 degrees below zero. Moreover, this Olympus camera is dust and dirt resistant.

  • Want to take breathtaking underwater photos? Read more about the recommended waterproof cameras for taking photos and videos under water.

Most of all, I appreciate its macro shooting. But sometimes, the brightest area of the image is overexposed. Detailization is excellent. It is also one of the best Olympus cameras for recording 4K videos. Charging takes place via a USB cable. I recommend you buying a couple of extra batteries for increasing autonomous camera work. The battery is enough for taking 340 shots.

Olympus TG-5 photo sample Photo by Olympus TG-5

8. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III

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Pros+
  • Good image quality
  • Touchscreen display and Wi-Fi
  • A clear and smooth electronic viewfinder
  • Recording video in Ultra-HD resolution
  • Fast autofocus
Cons-
  • No microphone and headphone jacks
  • Too confusing menu
 

One of the main advantages of Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III is its graphics processor and GPU TruPic VIII. It allows capturing video in Ultra-HD resolution with a speed of 30 fps. Mind that sound is recorded exclusively through an integrated microphone. By the way, the shooting quality has been improved thanks to the processor.

Users will enjoy the clarity of the contours, the detailization and the noise level which remains good enough even at ISO 3200. Moreover, this Olympus camera is excellent at fast shooting. It also has practical autofocus on eyes which recognizes their location and adjusts sharpness accordingly. So be sure, you’ll get brilliant portraits and low light photos.

Recommended camera lens:

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ

The lens has a powerful 3x optical zoom and wide focal length range. Fast silent autofocus ensures even shooting, and your photos will be sharp and clear throughout the frame. The lens is perfect for shooting photos and videos.

Olympus 14-42mm photo sample Photo by Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III

9. Olympus Evolt E420

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Pros+
  • Compact design
  • Great Live View implementation
  • User-friendly interface
  • High-quality standard lens
Cons-
  • Small viewfinder
  • Undeveloped ergonomics
 

The first thing I like when I tested Olympus Evolt E420, was its high-quality build and a compact size. The camera has a 2.7 inches display, so there are no chances of image worsening at any angle. This Olympus camera has enough brightness for shooting outdoors on sunny days.

Its user-friendly interface makes this DSLR camera quite easy-in-use even for beginners. You can charge the camera once and it will be enough for a week to shoot slowly, several dozen frames per day, sometimes with a flash or the Live View.

Recommended camera lens:

Olympus ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital

This is a standard 3x zoom lens, which is the most compact and lightweight in its category. The focal length is equivalent to 28-84 mm in 35 mm format. You may use it for wide-angle shooting and classic portrait photography.

Olympus 14-42mm photo sample Photo by Olympus Evolt e420

10. Olympus PEN E-PL8

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Pros+
  • Stylish design
  • Fast speed
  • Image quality
  • Compact size and handy operation
Cons-
  • No 4K video recording
  • You can’t transfer images to a mobile device in the background mode
 

I definitely like the image quality of this Olympus camera. Even at the low noise level, it remains quite nice in poor light. This camera has two settings wheels. You can choose semi-automatic PSAM modes, as well as other creative additions, which include 14 art filters and 25 subject programs. Use the second wheel to adjust the aperture or shutter speed.

Autofocus works quickly and clearly. I have never had problems with it. At the same time, it is quite suitable for taking clear photos quickly. Unfortunately, there isn’t a viewfinder and it doesn’t have an external microphone jack.

Recommended camera lens:

Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm f/1.8

This lens allows taking high-quality pictures. You receive clear and contrasting photos with a minimal level of aberration. This 75mm lens is a great choice due to a top-quality build and outstanding optical characteristics.

Olympus 75mm photo sample Photo by Olympus PEN E-PL8

List of 10 Best Olympus Cameras

Image Camera Features  
Olympus PEN-F
Olympus PEN-F
OUR CHOICE
  • 20 MP
  • TruePic VII
Check PRICE
Olympus pen E-P1
Olympus pen E-P1
FOR BEGINNERS
  • 12.3 MP
  • Micro 4/3
Check PRICE
Olympus OM-D E-M10
Olympus OM-D E-M10
PROFESSIONAL
  • 16 MP
  • Micro 4/3
Check PRICE
Olympus OM-1
Olympus OM-1
AFFORDABLE
  • 35mm film
  • SLR Camera
Check PRICE
Olympus OM-10
Olympus OM-10
BEST FILM
  • 35mm film
  • SLR Camera
Check PRICE
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
BEST MIRRORLESS
  • 16 MP
  • Micro 4/3
Check PRICE
Olympus TG-5
Olympus TG-5
  • 12 MP
  • CMOS
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Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
  • 16 MP
  • TruePic VIII
Check PRICE
Olympus Evolt E420
Olympus Evolt E420 Camera
BEST DSLR
  • 10 MP
  • TruePic III
Check PRICE
Olympus PEN E-PL8
Olympus PEN E-PL8 Camera
EXPENSIVE
  • 16.1 MP
  • Micro 4/3
Check PRICE

How to Choose Olympus Cameras?

Digital Olympus cameras presented in this overview can be divided into the main series. Each of them has its own distinctive features and you’d better take them into consideration while choosing a device.

1. OM-D Series

It is a series of professional SLR cameras with removable optics. Thanks to innovative developments, the material from which the cameras of this series are produced, makes them lightweight and compact. It provides an additional opportunity to eliminate bulky accessories. The devices have a powerful processor, a five-axis image stabilizer and a LiveMos matrix, which make them ideal cameras for landscape photography. Meet the representatives of the OM-D series: EM10, EM1 Mark 1, EM10 MarkII and EM5 MarkII.

2. PEN Series Line-up

PEN series cameras are designed for lovers of chic, fashionable retro design combined with the latest technology. The representatives of the line-up have electronic viewfinders. They can be connected to the phone, and also allow using art filters in Live View mode, so they serve great as selfie cameras. The main models are PEN F, EPL7, EPL8.

3. Tough Series

The devices of this series will suit the lovers of an active lifestyle. Design and build are developed in a way to make these models perfect for extreme shooting and any weather conditions. Special intelligent camera plugs protect it from splashing water or snow. The interface enables a quick device turning on process and taking pictures in less than a second. Moreover, representatives of the given series have powerful batteries, high-speed lenses, improved macro shooting and a 1: 2.0 lens speed. The models are TG870, action camera TG Tracker, TG 4, TG.


Ann Young

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