The OM System PEN is a new rangefinder-style Micro Four Thirds camera that costs $999.99 body-only and began shipping in October 2026. It is the first PEN built under the OM System name, and it adds two things PEN fans have long asked for: a built-in electronic viewfinder and weather sealing.
OM Digital Solutions, which took over Olympus's camera business in 2021, announced the camera on September 9, 2026. Here is what it has, what it costs, and what reviewers think.
Quick facts
| OM System PEN | |
|---|---|
| Price | $999.99 body; $1,099.99 with 14-42mm III; $1,299.99 double kit |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Four Thirds Live MOS, TruePic IX processor |
| Stabilization | 5-axis IBIS, up to 5.5 stops (center) |
| Viewfinder | 2.36M-dot OLED EVF, top-left |
| Screen | 3-inch, 1.04M-dot vari-angle touchscreen |
| Sealing | IPX1 splash and dust resistance |
| Burst | ~5 fps mechanical; ~30 fps silent (focus locked) |
| Video | C4K 24p, UHD 4K 30p, 8-bit |
| Battery | BLS-7, ~410 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 393 g with battery and card |
| Colors | Black, silver |
How much is the OM System PEN?
There are three U.S. configurations:
- Body only: $999.99
- Kit with the M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III: $1,099.99
- Double kit, adding the M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 R: $1,299.99
The new 14-42mm III, which is splash-proof, also sells on its own for $349.99. A spare BLS-7 battery is $99.99 and the BCS-7 charger is $119.99, both sold separately. Early buyers get a free leather wrist strap while supplies last.
When can you get one?
OM System's U.S. site listed an estimated release date of October 14, and UK retailers quoted two to three weeks' delivery. In Japan, OM Digital Solutions said it had received "a very large number of pre-orders" and warned that some customers may not get cameras until November or later.
What's new compared with older PENs?
A viewfinder. The PEN E-P7 from 2021 had none. The new PEN puts a 2.36-million-dot EVF in the top-left corner, rangefinder style, like the 2016 PEN-F.
Weather sealing. OM System says it is the first PEN rated IPX1 for splash and dust resistance, when used with a sealed lens.
A profile switch. A dedicated front switch jumps straight to Color or Monochrome Profile Control. Color profiles let you adjust 12 colors across 11 levels, with presets such as Film Rich Color and Film Vivid. Monochrome presets include Film B&W and Film IR.
A computational photography button. The new CP button calls up High Res Shot (handheld or tripod), Live ND (ND2 to ND16), Focus Stacking, HDR and Multiple Exposure.
Pro Capture. It can save up to 12 frames from before you fully press the shutter, at up to 30 fps.
Autofocus is a 121-point cross-type hybrid system with subject detection for people, cats and dogs, plus Starry Sky AF. There is no AF joystick.
Is it good for video?
It's capable for a small camera. It shoots Cinema 4K at 24p and UHD 4K at up to 30p, with OM-Log400, new OM-Cinema1 and OM-Cinema2 looks, vertical video, a tally light and a 3.5mm mic input.
The limits: video is 8-bit, HDMI output doesn't carry 4K or C4K while recording, and slow and quick motion tops out at 1080p.
What are reviewers saying?
TechRadar called it "the best beginner camera of the year so far," praising its value, stabilization and computational modes, while noting basic video features and some fiddly small controls.
PetaPixel liked the design, the color modes and the multi-day battery life, but was blunter about what's under the skin: "The PEN is just a street-styled OM-5 II." Its complaints were the shallow grip, subject detection limited to people and pets, and "a little soft" 8-bit video.
Fstoppers described it as "a substantial update to the PEN concept" and more of a hybrid camera than its styling suggests.
How does it compare with rivals?
| OM System PEN | Fujifilm X-E5 | Ricoh GR IV | Sony ZV-E10 II | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $999.99 | $1,699 | $1,499.95 | $999 |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Four Thirds | 39.8MP APS-C | 25.7MP APS-C | 25.6MP APS-C |
| Lens | Interchangeable (MFT) | Interchangeable (X) | Fixed 28mm-equiv. f/2.8 | Interchangeable (E) |
| Stabilization | Yes, in-body | Yes, in-body | Yes, 5-axis | No (lens only) |
| Viewfinder | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Weather sealing | IPX1 | No | No | No |
The PEN is the cheapest of the group with both a viewfinder and in-body stabilization, and the only one with any weather rating. The trade-off is the smaller Four Thirds sensor. Reviewers also pointed to OM System's own OM-5 II as the better choice for outdoor shooting and long lenses, thanks to a deeper grip and tougher sealing. For a fixed-lens alternative, see our story on the Ricoh GR IV anniversary edition.
What about new lenses?
The 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III kit lens is official. Two more, an M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8 II and a 40-150mm R II, appeared in an OM System presentation on YouTube in early October, Notebookcheck reported. Neither has been officially announced, priced or dated, so treat them as unconfirmed.
The PEN line, briefly
The name goes back to 1959, when Olympus launched the original Pen, a pocketable half-frame film camera designed by Yoshihisa Maitani. It went digital in 2009 with the PEN E-P1, one of the first Micro Four Thirds cameras, and peaked for many fans with the 2016 PEN-F. The E-P7 followed in 2021 without a viewfinder. The new PEN, five years later, is the line's first model under OM System, and the first with weather sealing.
Published Sunday, October 18, 2026. Specifications and prices are from OM Digital Solutions' announcement as reported by DPReview, PetaPixel and Fstoppers. Rival prices are U.S. launch prices. The 45mm f/1.8 II and 40-150mm R II lenses are unconfirmed.
