Retro camera fans have long been waiting for a refresh of the PEN series – and the latest trends from Japan suggest just how excited photographers are about the new OM System PEN.
Japanese photo retailer Camera Kitamura has shared the best-selling mirrorless cameras for September, a list that’s led by the Sony A7C II, the new OM System PEN, and the Sony A6700.
Both the Sony A7C II and the A6700 have been around for a few years and are regular attendees on Japan’s best-seller lists. The most interesting story here is the camera in second place.
The OM System PEN was only announced on September 09, with pre-orders initially not scheduled to begin shipping until late October. But only two days after the announcement, OM System Japan said that there had been so many orders that some may not get their camera until November.
The new 2026 PEN’s early success isn’t unwarranted. I’ve been shooting with an early review sample for a few weeks now. The compact retro design makes it the camera that I instinctively want to grab – it feels almost more like a compact camera than a mirrorless camera.
While the design may have been what first drew me to the new PEN, OM System’s new Micro Four Thirds shooter is also one of the most affordable mirrorless bodies with both in-body stabilization and weather sealing. It retails for $999 / £849 / AU$1,499 body-only, or $1,099 / £949 / AU$1,799 with a kit lens (which is what’s made the Kitamura best-seller list).
But perhaps the more interesting aspect of the latest list of best-sellers from Japan is that it’s the smallest sensor camera of the three major bodies announced in September that’s in the top three. The PEN was one of three major camera launches in September. Canon also introduced the EOS R8 Mark II, and Nikon also unveiled the Z5IIC. The R8 Mark II sits in fourth place on Kitamura’s list, while the Z5IIC didn’t make the top ten.
Looking at a single retailer in Japan isn’t going to be indicative of the camera market as a whole, but it’s interesting that of the three major launches last month, it’s the Micro Four Thirds shooter that’s dominating Kitamura’s sales. The trends list will be interesting to watch as those cameras begin shipping in October and November.
The OM System PEN, however, fell just behind the first-place Sony A7C II. Sony’s more compact full-frame mirrorless has been regularly dominating best-seller lists since its launch three years ago. Its compact design that still crams in a full-frame sensor has been well-loved, despite the camera’s age.
Compact designs seem to dominate much of Kitamura’s list. The Sony A6700 comes in third place, an APS-C shooter that’s small but fast.
The R8 Mark II sits in fourth place, with a new, more angular design inspired by the film Canon T80. The R8 Mark II still follows the trend of a more compact body design as a more entry-level full-frame, but unlike the original, the Mark II includes stabilization.
Another longstanding Sony favorite, the Sony A7 IV, sits in fifth place. That camera’s successor, the Sony A7 V, which has been dominating a number of best-seller lists since its launch, doesn’t show up until 8th place.
The only Fujifilm camera on Kitamura’s best-selling mirrorless list is the compact, budget-friendly Fujifilm X-M5. The X-M5 is both one of Fujifilm’s most affordable bodies and the smallest, though it lacks a viewfinder, and many features are geared towards hybrid shooting.
Two more Sony APS-C cameras sit on the list, the ZV-E10 II in seventh place and the Sony A6400 in ninth place. Both of those cameras are on the list for twin lens kits rather than the single kit lens options.
Canon rounds out the list with the EOS R6 Mark II in 10th place. While the camera has now been replaced with the Mark III, the R6 Mark II remains available at a lower price point than the newer model.
Kitamura Camera’s best-selling mirrorless cameras for September 2026
- Sony A7C II
- OM System PEN with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III kit lens
- Sony A6700 with zoom lens kit
- Canon EOS R8 Mark II
- Sony A7 IV zoom lens kit
- Fujifilm X-M5 with XC 15-45mm kit lens
- Sony ZV-E10 II double zoom lens kit
- Sony A7 V
- Sony A6400 double zoom lens kit
- Canon EOS R6 Mark II
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