The year 2025 has barely begun, and rumors about upcoming products from OM System, aka OM Digitalsolutions are already on the rise. No wonder, since CP+ is taking place in Japan at the end of February. An important photography trade fair at which Japanese manufacturers often present innovations. Traditionally, January and February are, therefore, months for presenting new products. This is no different for OM System. For example, the E-M1X was presented at the end of January 2019. The first E-M5 was shown to the world for the first time at the beginning of February 2012 and the OM-1 Mark II was also launched at the end of January last year. So there’s a good chance that we’ll also see new products at the end of January or the beginning of February this year.
Camera rumors
There is already speculation in the Olympus forum that there will be a PEN-F Mark II. However, this is highly unlikely. I think the quantities that could be achieved with such a camera would be too low to justify a new development. Especially because OM Digitalsolutions is still not making a profit. In the case of the PEN-F, a completely new development would certainly be necessary, after all, the first variant was presented 9 years ago in January 2016.
An OM-10 is certainly a more likely option. The E-M10 Mark IV still bears the Olympus brand and is already 4 1/2 years old. OM System also urgently needs an entry-level camera. Without this, no new customers can be won and that is immensely important for the future of the brand. The expected unit numbers would certainly be large enough to justify a new development.
Or perhaps an OM-1 Mark II in a vintage body, as communicated on 43rumors. Certainly, it’s an option, but only for hardcore fans with small numbers. Above all, it would be a fatal sign to existing customers because it would not be a new development. Many are finally expecting hardware that was 100% presented by OM Digitalsolution. That doesn’t sound particularly conclusive to me.
Last but not least, an E-P7 successor. The E-P7 camera sells particularly well in Japan, OM System’s main market. This is supported by the fact that JPI normally concentrates on the Japanese / Asian market. It could also serve as the basis for an OM-10. In principle, the OM-10 could be an E-P8 in a body with an EVF, similar to the E-P7, which came onto the market after the E-M10 Mark IV and is basically an E-M10 Mark IV without an electronic viewfinder.
Lens rumors
A telephoto zoom in the 50-200mm range is still open in the OM Digiatlsolutions roadmap. The exact range has not been communicated. Let’s hope that it is a proprietary development of OM System. Unlike the 150-600mm F5-6-3 lens, a Sigma lens in a new coat. However, Sigma has an interesting 35mm lens in the corresponding range. The 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS costs more at Sigma than the 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS. Since the missing telephoto zoom was added to the lens roadmap at the same time, likely, the new lens in the rumors could also be a Sigma lens adapted to the MFT OM system design.
I would be happy to have more F1.4 focal lengths. This could fill the gap left by the F1.8 and F1.2 fixed focal lengths. After all, there is already the M.Zuiko Digital ED 20mm F1.4 . A 60mm F1.4 and a 14mm F1.4 would make perfect sense. However, such lenses do not fit in with OM System’s strategy of concentrating on outdoor and wildlife photography.
My five cents
I’m guessing an OM-10 or E-P8 in a vintage body for the camera. As mentioned above, these two camera lines are important to making the system appealing to new customers and are largely identical. So, one camera can be presented this year and the other next year.
As much as I would like OM System to present a lens developed in-house, I assume the telephoto lens will be a 70-200mm F2.8 DG DN OS in OM System guise. The development costs can thus be kept low, and a market launch is also possible more quickly. There is still a small hope that Sigma already has an optical design for such an MFT lens and will make it available to Olympus. Unfortunately, the F1.4 series speaks against the company’s strategy and will certainly not come so quickly. Even with an MFT bayonet, Sigma already has such lenses in its portfolio.
How do you see things? Please feel free to leave me a comment with your thoughts. I look forward to a lively discussion.
Update Januar 6th.
OM Digitalsolutions just published a New Year Brief by Shigemi Sugimoto, Representative Director and CEO, in which it is communicated that OM Digitalsolutions will soon introduce a new camera and compact fixed focal lengths that are splash-proof. Perhaps I’m not so far off the mark with my prediction of an extension to the F1.4 series.