The OM System lineup has just one camera remaining that hasn’t taken on the new name since the split from Olympus: The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV. But the launch of another budget mirrorless – the new OM System PEN – has fans questioning what’s next for the long-standing E-M10 line.
Earlier this year, Japanese retailers began listing the E-M10 Mark IV as discontinued, but when Digital Camera World reached out to OM System, a representative told us back in January that the E-M10 Mark IV would remain available in the US. Now months later, the budget mirrorless still remains available on OM System’s official online stores in the US, the UK, Australia, and Canada.
But that was in January – and the launch of the OM System PEN raises the question of the E-M10 Mark IV’s future once again. Rumors are circulating that the E-M10 Mark IV will be discontinued soon, with one store owner claiming they received a message noting that there wouldn’t be a replacement.
OM System has not yet responded to those rumors, leaving the future of the E-M10 Mark IV uncertain.
The new PEN slides in above the price of the E-M10 Mark IV, but adds the weather-sealing that the older camera does not offer. Building cameras for the outdoors has been a particular focus for OM System, and the PEN's weather-sealing in a body that’s $999 / £849 / AU$1,499 reflects that.
While the two cameras are both retro, the design of the PEN follows a much different inspiration, using a rangefinder-inspired viewfinder placement. The newer PEN uses a more advanced autofocus system compared to the E-M10 Mark IV’s contrast detection system, but the cheaper camera does have slightly faster bursts at 6.3 fps with continuous autofocus compared to the PEN’s 5 fps.
I believe that one of the reasons that the E-M10 Mark IV has remained popular is as an alternative to a retro compact camera – particularly as the $900 / £870 price with a lens is far below popular compacts like the Fujifilm X100VI and Ricoh GR IV.
The E-M10 Mark IV is slightly lighter than the new PEN, but the PEN’s rangefinder-inspired design makes the newer camera a bit shorter and less deep, though slightly wider than the cheaper camera.
The new PEN’s rangefinder-inspired design does make it a better compact camera alternative, particularly with weather-sealing for really taking the small camera more places.
The biggest temptation for the E-M10 Mark IV is the affordable price point. Paired with a kit lens, the older camera is about $200 less in the US – though there’s less than a £100 difference at list price in the UK.
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