Over the last few years mirrorless cameras have become increasingly popular and in 2019, their sales overtook those of DSLRs. With Canon and Nikon now fully active in the mirrorless market in a more meaningful way, Sony has carved itself a large share of sales, Panasonic has introduced four full-frame mirrorless cameras, along with its Micro Four Thirds models, and Fujifilm has a range of APS-C and medium format cameras.
Which brings us to Olympus. As other manufacturers have moved into full-frame and medium format markets, Olympus has remained steadfast in its commitment to the Micro Four Thirds format it helped develop and grow alongside Panasonic.
Then came 2020. While many companies struggled during that tumultuous year, Olympus, in particular, acutely felt the effects of the continued decline in digital camera sales. Rumours surrounded the company all year that it was exiting the camera business. Then, in Q3 it was revealed that Olympus had formalised an agreement to transfer the Olympus Imaging business to Japan Industrial Partners through ‘an absorption-type split.’
In 2021, Olympus officially became OM Digital Solutions, a special purpose company established by JIP, and the Olympus brand officially became OM System and released its first lens under the new moniker, followed by its first camera in the form of the OM-1. The last couple of years have been rocky for everyone, but the change of ownership and creation of a new brand means that it has been particularly challenging for the Olympus / OM System team. Thankfully, OM System has judged the market well and OM-1 appears to be exactly the camera that’s needed.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best Olympus cameras you can buy today for your specific photographic needs. For a deeper dive into the many different camera types and features available, check out our range of camera buying guides.
