NewsThe PEN is back! OM System PEN with an EVF and weather sealing

Well this is grand news. OM System have announced a new PEN. 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds, built-in EVF, weather sealed, $999 body only, shipping late October. Haven't seen euro pricing yet.

That's basically the GX9 replacement I've been waiting on since Panasonic went quiet on the small rangefinder style bodies. My GX9 has done every trip since 2019 with the 15 and the 20 and it's starting to look its age, the grip rubber is coming away and the finder was never great. A sealed body that size with a proper EVF is exactly what I'd have asked for.

And to everyone who tells me MFT is dead every other week... sound, see you in the queue.

Weather sealed and small, that's the bit that matters up here. Whilst I love the OM-1 II it's not exactly a pocket camera, and on a wet day on the Pentlands I've more than once left it in the car because I couldn't face the faff.

Very tempted as a second body for those days, with the 12-40 or something small. Proper tempted, if I'm honest... Need to see if it has Live ND and Live Composite though. If it does I'm in trouble.

A sealed PEN would have been a lovely thing to have on the Ouse Washes last January, when the Bewick's were in and it rained sideways for three days. Too small for the 300 f/4, obviously, but nobody's buying it for that. As a walkabout body for the reserve with the 12-40 it makes a lot of sense.

$999 for 20MP Micro Four Thirds. It'll be fine, but that's not cheap.

mfrost said:

that's not cheap

It's not, but find me a sealed body with an EVF this size for less. I'll wait. The GX9 wasn't sealed and I've had it drowned on Inishbofin more then once, I was lucky.

(Nerd note: the 60mm macro on a sealed PEN would make a very cute little bug rig for wet mornings. I am not buying another camera. I am not buying another camera. (I might buy another camera.))

Interesting for stills but I'd want the full video spec before getting excited. OM never really chased video on the small bodies, so I'm not holding my breath for open gate or anything.

That said, a small sealed MFT body with decent IBIS is a great run and gun B-cam on a gig if the codec's half decent. Panasonic left that space empty when the GX line went quiet. If OM put even basic 10-bit in it, I'd look.

Small sensor, small body, lovely thing for old glass... I'd have one as a toy for the Takumar with a cheap focal reducer. At $999, mind, I'd want a lot more toy for the money. A used E-M5 II does the same job for a third of the price and nobody on the street would know the difference. Just saying

Dreich said:

Weather sealed and small, that's the bit that matters up here

Same out here in Galway. If it's as tough as my OM-5 I'm interested.

Sounds like it's a few weeks before anyone actually gets hands on. Keeping an eye out for a shop in Cork that'll have one to hold. If the grip's any good it'll be grand with the 20mm, and if it's not I'll be giving out about it here, so ye'll know either way.

Pre-ordered. Don't tell anyone 😅

Dreich said:

Don't tell anyone

Ha! Your secret's safe with us Bex. Well, with the whole internet.