This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,069, Sept. 10, 2026. Today's theme is, "The OM System PEN Review." I'm Derrick Story.
No, it's not the PEN-F II; it's just the PEN - a compact, well specified, Micro Four Thirds camera for everyday life adventures. It will fit in your purse, backpack, or jacket pocket. It has IBIS, an EVF, and computational intelligence. And it costs $1,000. On today's TDS Photography Podcast, we'll take a closer look at this latest offering from OM System. I hope you enjoy the show.
Digital Photography Podcast 1069
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The OM System PEN Review
For a moment, suspend all of your expectations and breathe in the goodness of modern day photography. I present to you 14 ounces of joy to capture the moments of your life that you treasure and wish to remember.
These moments can be rendered in soft film-like colors, or rich, vibrant hues, or even in moody monotone grays. If you want blurred motion, you shall have it. Do you prefer to suspend a water droplet in mid air, that too can be yours.
The OM System PEN is as cute as a giggling 2-year-old, as smart as your math teacher, and as faithful as any companion you wish to always have at your side.
This may not be a camera that you need or want. And that's perfectly fine. We all have plenty of cameras. But you may know someone who could benefit from this latest offering from OM System. And so, with that open mind, you may want to listen to my experiences with it.
Let's start with the basic specs.
- 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS Sensor
- TruePic IX Image Processor
- 5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization
- Up to 30 fps RAW & JPEG Burst Shooting
- 4K 24p Video & 1-120p in S&Q Modes
- 3" 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
- 2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
- 121-Point AF, AI-Based Subject Detection
- IPX1 Weather-Sealed Design
- M.Zuiko 14‑42mm f/3.5‑5.6 III Lens
What I like
It feels great in the hands. The front grip and the back thumb rest work wonderfully in tandem for one-handed shooting if you like, or very comfortable all day treks.
The buttons and dials are well-placed and operate well with nice clicks and knurled rings. The fully-articulated LCD allows for shooting at any angle and then folds nicely against the back of the body for protection.
The SD card slot is on side. The electronic viewfinder is bright and colorful. There's a nifty color switch on the front that makes it easy to switch to the profile you want.
Part of the joy of the PEN is that it only weighs 14 ounces (393 grams) and measures 5 x 2.9 x 1.7". If you put the 14-42mm EZ pancake zoom lens on the body, it's probably the smallest, full featured camera in your arsenal. Yet, you get a ton of technology.
Advanced technology features
- 121-point all cross-type On-chip Phase Detection AF
- The PEN series' first AI Subject Detection AF for people and animals (cats and dogs)
- Starry Sky AF
- A dust reduction system that removes dust from the image sensor, allowing lens changes without the need to worry about dust appearing in photographs
- AUTO mode, which automatically detects the scene being shot and captures images using the optimal settings
- 24 SCN modes with 6 themes which supports shooting more complex scenarios, such as starscape photography
- 16 types of Art Filters for expanded creative expression
- Pro Capture shooting (records up to 12 previous frames at a maximum of 30 fps beginning with the moment when the shutter button is fully pressed, RAW sequential shooting is compatible)
- Set custom mode name for easy recall (up to 12 alphanumeric characters)
- Easily record cinematic video in OM-Cinema1 or OM-Cinema2 picture modes specifically designed for videos
- Supports vertical video and S&Q (slow/quick motion)
There is a new battery, the BLS-7, that's a 1,285 mAh lithium ion rechargeable. It provides approximately 410 shots can be taken on a full charge (based on CIPA testing). Some OM System photographers will be disappointed that they can't use any of their existing cells in the PEN, but OM System wanted a new battery that was compact and as powerful as possible.
A few complaints
There are a few nits, however. The SD card slot supports UHS-I, not UHS-II, which is surprising this day in age. Also, existing Olympus shooters won't be able to use their super-compact FL-LM3 flash with the PEN. It isn't compatible, which is a shame. I did test my Godox iT30 Pro, however, and it fit great in the hot shoe and the TTL functions worked well.
And finally, and this really is a nitpick, but the ON switch is multifunctional, also enabling video and S&Q, but I find myself in video mode sometimes when I first turn it on. I would prefer a single-function On/Off lever.
Color Profile Control
The Color Profile switch on the front of the PEN allows the photographer to set up a favorite look, then switch to it quickly. It looks simple, but actually is quite sophisticated. The saturation of 12 separate colors can be adjusted in 11 levels to achieve the ideal tones.
This can also be combined with Highlight & Shadow Control or shading effects for an expanded range of expression. OM System offers four preset types: Film Rich Color, for rich, deep tones; Film Vivid, for vivid saturation and rich colors; Film Soft Tone, which delivers light, soft tones; and Standard (Natural).
Four monochrome presets are also available, that can also be customized, including Film B&W, which makes use of a film grain effect; Film IR, which emphasizes a red color filter effect that looks like infrared film; Film Low Contrast, which reduces the contrast for a soft impression; and Standard (Monotone).
You can see photo examples in my Live View article, If You Like Compact Cameras, You're Going to Love the New OM System PEN.
In my testing, I preferred the Color 1 profile, which is labeled Film Rich Color. It was vibrant without being oversaturated. For B&W work, I like Mono 4, the standard monochrome profile.
The best way to use the switch in front is to figure out (or customize) the profile you want, switch to on, and set that profile. The PEN will remember your preferred preset the next time you use the switch.
Bottom Line
The OM System PEN is a versatile, affordable, smart camera that can be the one that's with you when the others are too big, too limited, or too long in the tooth. It is a joy to shoot with.
Virtual Camera Club News
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