OM System launches its latest PEN camera aimed at both enthusiasts and newcomers, offering a blend of style, portability, and modern features , though its autofocus remains a point of contention.
OM System’s new PEN is a compact Micro Four Thirds camera pitched at two audiences at once: enthusiasts who want a small body with direct controls, and first-time buyers who want something approachable. The result is a camera that feels thoughtfully specified, but not entirely uncompromised. It combines a 20.4-megapixel sensor, in-body stabilisation rated at 5.5EV, a built-in electronic viewfinder and burst shooting up to 30fps, while keeping the body light and travel-friendly.
That balance of simplicity and flexibility is where the camera becomes more interesting, and also more awkward. According to DPReview, the PEN borrows styling cues from the original film PEN-F and the later digital PEN-F, but in a more stripped-back form. It is built to remain small with lenses attached, which suits the Micro Four Thirds system well, and the review says the camera can form a genuinely compact kit with lenses such as the 14-42mm zoom, 17mm F1.8 and 12mm F2.0.
The main weakness is autofocus. DPReview says the system asks for more adjustment of focus area, point position and subject-recognition settings than many modern users will expect, and that it is less dependable than the best current rivals. The review also argues that the camera could have done more to hide technical quirks from beginners, particularly shutter shock behaviour, which still requires the user to understand when anti-shock modes are needed.
Even so, the broader appeal is clear. At around $1,000 body-only, the PEN undercuts cameras such as Fujifilm’s X-E5, which DPReview says is the closest alternative in spirit, but at a much higher price. That makes OM System’s model one of the few current options for buyers who want a small camera with a viewfinder, a conventional control layout and enough flexibility to carry as a daily or travel companion. The trade-off, as the review makes clear, is that its autofocus and user guidance lag behind the strongest modern competitors.
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