Olympus has produced some of the most iconic cameras of the past. Its current cameras are pretty iconic too, because they combine style, size and value with some genuinely innovative features – and with the brand new E-M5 Mark III, Olympus is definitely back in the game!
Olympus is famous for its development of the Micro Four Thirds format alongside Panasonic. The MFT sensor is a little smaller than the APS-C sensors in rival cameras, but this means the whole system – both cameras and lenses – is lighter and more compact. Indeed, Olympus makes some of the best mirrorless cameras you can get. It continues to produce not only some of the best cheap cameras, but also some of the most affordable professional cameras and Micro Four Thirds lenses.
Olympus cameras are divided into three main categories. The OM-D line harks back to the OM line of film cameras, featuring SLR styling and an advanced electronic viewfinder, which are aimed at professional and enthusiast photographers.
The other main category is the PEN series of cameras, which feature a more ‘compact camera’ style of build that generally omits a viewfinder altogether. PEN cameras are particularly stylish, making them coveted by the fashion-conscious.
Olympus's third category is the Tough line of cameras, also included in our list of best waterproof and underwater cameras. These don’t have interchangeable lenses, as they designed to be near-indestructible cameras that can be used in any environment; they're dustproof, crushproof, waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof.
The best Olympus cameras in 2020
1. Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Rugged, fast and packed with features... this new Olympus is amazing
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor: MFT | Megapixels: 20.4MP | Lens mount: NFT | Screen: 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,037,000 dots | Viewfinder: Electronic | Continuous shooting speed: 30fps (Pro Capture mode), 10fps (mechanical shutter) | Max video resolution: c4K/4K | User level: Enthusiast/Expert
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 is still very new, but already we can see that this is an exceptional camera and a worthy successor to the highly regarded Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II. This new camera uses Olympus's latest 20.4 megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor, and while this might put some people off – these sensors are smaller than APS-C – the image quality is very close, and it allows Olympus cameras and lenses to be especially small and portable. This new camera's abilities are amazing, including excellent 5.5EV in body stabilization, an amazing 30fps Pro Capture mode with 14-shot pre-buffering, C4K and 4K UHD video, Live Composite and Live Bulb modes and more.
2. Olympus OM-D E‑M10 Mark III
It's our favourite entry-level Olympus but packs in a lot of power too
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor: Micro Four Thirds | Megapixels: 16.1MP | Screen: 3.0-inch 1,040k tilting touchscreen | Viewfinder: Electronic 2,360k | Lens: Micro Four Thirds | Continuous shooting speed: 8.6fps | Max video resolution: 4K | User level: Intermediate/Enthusiast
There’s a lot to love about the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III, from its high-res electronic viewfinder and tilting touchscreen, to its 5-axis image stabilization, simple yet effective controls and 4K movie capture. It lacks the E-M1 Mk II’s advanced phase-detection autofocus system and can struggle to track moving objects, but focusing is still pretty fast for stationary subjects. Like the E-M5, the latest edition of the E-M10 retains a 16.1MP sensor but that still enables richly detailed images, in conjunction with the wide range of high-quality Micro Four Thirds lenses on the market from both Olympus and Panasonic. Compact and lightweight yet immaculately engineered, this is a camera that’s easy to take anywhere and everywhere, and it’s great value at the price. Always get this with the Olympus 14-42mm EZ 'pancake' kit lens if you can.
Read more: Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III review
3. Olympus PEN E-PL9
Retro chic design meets sensible form and function in the PEN E-PL9
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor: Micro Four Thirds | Megapixels: 16.1MP | Screen: 3.0-inch 1,040k tilting touchscreen | Viewfinder: None | Lens: Micro Four Thirds | Continuous shooting speed: 8.6fps | Max video resolution: 4K | User level: Beginner/intermediate
This is Olympus's latest PEN 'fashion' camera, and comes with a 180-degree selfie/vlogging screen and 4K video, though we're a little disappointed that Olympus has stuck to its older 16.1-megapixel sensor instead of swapping to its latest 20.4MP sensor. That’s still plenty for many photographers, though, especially in the fashion/style/blogging market Olympus is aiming at, and the new camera maintains the PEN tradition of being very intuitive to use and easy to live with. (There is an E-PL10 variant, by the way, but this is more of a special edition rather than a different camera.) The Olympus E-PL9 has excellent build quality despite its compact, lightweight construction. The diminutive build is ideally suited to travel photography, especially when the body is paired with the remarkably small Olympus 14-42mm EZ ‘pancake’ kit lens. Better still, this camera is a thing of beauty in its own right, as well as being able to deliver beautiful image quality. Always get this with the Olympus 14-42mm EZ 'pancake' kit lens if you can.
Read more: Hands-on Olympus PEN E-PL9 review
4. Olympus PEN E-PL8
Cheaper than the E-PL9 and still on sale, the E-PL8 is a real looker
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor: Micro Four Thirds | Megapixels: 16.1MP | Screen: 3.0-inch 1,037k tilting touchscreen | Viewfinder: Optional electronic | Lens: Micro Four Thirds | Continuous shooting speed: 8.5fps | Max video resolution: 1080p | User level: Beginner
Olympus calls the Olympus PEN E-PL8 camera ‘the fashion icon of photography’, but it’s thankfully not a case of style over substance. It's the predecessor of the E-PL9 but we think it's even nicer to look at – though as an old model it's becoming more difficult to find new. While highly attractive to look at, the E-PL8 is a serious camera with logical controls, a high-res tilting touch screen, and effective sensor-shift stabilisation. In keeping with the small, lightweight design, there’s no built-in viewfinder, but an electronic viewfinder is available as an optional extra, which plugs into the camera’s ‘accessory port’ at the rear. There’s no 4K video capture on the menu, but the camera can muster full 1080p. The E-PL8 is currently good value for money as it's still on sale alongside the newer E-PL9 at lower prices. You might like the look of the E-PL8 body a little more, but it doesn't have the 4K video of its replacement or the latest Olympus Art Filters. Always get this with the Olympus 14-42mm EZ 'pancake' kit lens if you can.
Read more: Best cameras for beginners
5. Olympus OM-D E‑M1 Mark II
A powerful sports/action camera that's a great all-rounder too
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor: Micro Four Thirds | Megapixels: 20.4MP | Screen: 3.0-inch 1,037k vari-angle touchscreen | Viewfinder: Electronic 2,360k | Lens: Micro Four Thirds | Continuous shooting speed: 15fps | Max video resolution: 4K | User level: Professional/Enthusiast
The Olympus OM-D EM1 Mark II is still one of the few Olympus mirrorless models to swap to the lates 20.4MP MFT sensor. It's designed for speed, with 15fps continuous shooting and an amazing 60fps mode with the focus locked on the first frame. The image sensor comes complete with greatly enhanced phase-detection autofocus and stabilisation systems – especially using when dual IS with Olympus's excellent 12-100mm f/4 Pro lens – as well as enabling reduced image noise at high ISO settings. There’s 4K video capture too, while the electronic viewfinder and fully articulated screen are both excellent. In a way, the E-M1 Mark II has been overshadowed by the E-M1X (below), but in another way the differences between them aren't great and it makes the E-M1 Mark II look better value than ever.
Read more: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II review
6. Olympus OM-D E-M1X
Olympus aims for the pro sports market with its new flagship camera
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor: Micro Four Thirds | Megapixels: 20.4MP | Screen: 3.0-inch 1,037k vari-angle touchscreen | Viewfinder: Electronic 2,360k | Lens: Micro Four Thirds | Continuous shooting speed: 15fps | Max video resolution: 4K | User level: Professional
Olympus raised a few eyebrows when it launched the OM-D E-M1X, a big new professional camera aimed squarely at the sports market, but with what looked like very similar specs to the existing E-M1 Mark II. But dig deeper and you find the E-M1X is a very different beast, with an integrated grip for bigger battery capacity and duplicated horizontal/vertical shooting controls and a dual processing system that dramatically ups the game for autofocus tracking, with a new AI system for recognising and tracking subjects. What many won't realise, too, is that Olympus has a very compelling pro lens line-up, especially for telephoto lenses, and while the Olympus MFT sensor is smaller than the full frame sensors used by Canon, Nikon and Sony pro cameras, it will cost a lot less to build a full professional system – and it will be a lot lighter to carry around.
Read more: Olympus OM-D E-M1X review
7. Olympus PEN-F
The PEN-F is a beautiful retro design, but it's getting harder to find
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor: Micro Four Thirds | Megapixels: 20.3MP | Screen: 3.0-inch 1,037k vari-angle touchscreen | Viewfinder: Electronic 2,360k | Lens: Micro Four Thirds | Continuous shooting speed: 10fps | Max video resolution: 1080p | User level: Enthusiast
Olympus PEN film cameras date all the way back to 1959 and have followed a long evolutionary path. The Olympus PEN-F is a homage to the original PEN cameras, which grabs many of the best bits from the range-topping OM-D E-M1 Mark II and shoehorns them into a more compact PEN-style build. You therefore get a 20-3MP image sensor, 5-axis image stabilisation, advanced controls and, for the first time in a PEN digital camera, a built-in electronic viewfinder. The result is a truly enthusiast-level PEN camera with terrific performance, functionality and handling, adding real clout to its stylish good looks. There are just two reasons it's not right up near the top of our list. The first, is that it doesn't offer 4K video capture (not a deal-breaker, to be honest), the second and most important is that it looks like Olympus has decided to stop making it. That's a huge shame – though it can still be found new if you look around.
Read more: Olympus PEN-F review
8. Olympus TG-6
A camera with attitude, The Olympus Tough TG-6 knows no fear
Type: Compact | Sensor: 1/2.3-inch | Megapixels: 12.0MP | Screen: 3.0-inch 1,040k dots | Viewfinder: None | Lens: 25-100mm f/2-4.9 (effective) | Continuous shooting speed: 20fps | Max video resolution: 4K | User level: Beginner
At first glance, the Olympus Tough TG-6 seems indistinguishable from its predecessor, the TG-5. However, with a screen that's double the resolution, high speed video options and a new underwater mode, the TG-6 packs some worthwhile new features. They may not warrant an upgrade if you already own the TG-5, but if you have an older Tough or you're looking for an outdoor camera that can go in the sea, get covered in sand, be dropped onto concrete, and still take pictures and video even in freezing temperatures, this is the best everything-proof camera out there.
Read more: Olympus Tough TG-6 review
Read more:
The best Micro Four Thirds lenses for your Olympus or Panasonic camera
The best Panasonic cameras
