{"id":171786,"date":"2022-08-05T09:30:04","date_gmt":"2022-08-05T08:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/?p=171786"},"modified":"2022-08-10T11:18:28","modified_gmt":"2022-08-10T10:18:28","slug":"best-olympus-camera-to-buy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/buying-advice\/best-olympus-camera-to-buy\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Olympus camera to buy in 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re looking to purchase the best Olympus camera then you\u2019ve come to the right place! In this Buyer\u2019s Guide we\u2019ve rounded up all of Olympus\u2019 current models plus a few from the past that you can still get reconditioned or on the second-hand market so you can see what is available and get the best for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A quick history of Olympus <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Olympus have an interesting history, and have always been at the forefront of lightweight design and compact styling when it comes to their cameras.<\/p>\n

Founded in 1912 Olympus at first specialised in thermometers and microscopes. It wasn\u2019t until 1936 that Olympus introduced its first camera, the Semi-Olympus I, however, where Olympus really changed the market was in 1959 when it launched its first innovative camera –\u00a0 the Olympus Pen.<\/p>\n

This camera was compact and portable and altered the way photographers could shoot. In 1972 to compete with the likes of Canon and Nikon, Olympus launched the OM 35mm SLR system with their Olympus OM-1<\/strong>. This camera was noted for its compact design and weight but also its mirror lock-up facility, making it ideal for astrophotography and macrophotography.<\/p>\n

Fast forward a few years and in 2009 after developing the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system alongside Panasonic, Olympus launched the Olympus PEN E-P1<\/a>. This camera got a lot of attention for its well-built body and attractive retro looks that mirrored their earlier film cameras.<\/p>\n

Where Olympus really started to impress the professional market however was in 2012 when it launched the Olympus OM-D E-M5<\/a> – the first in a line of OM-D cameras to come. This camera included a built-in electronic viewfinder and mini-DSLR styling and thus heads started to turn as the style, specifications and performance were all noteworthy for a camera of this time.<\/p>\n

Finally in January 2021 after some financial trouble Olympus sold their imaging division<\/a> and are currently headed by OM Digital Solutions Corporation.<\/p>\n

Why choose a Micro Four Thirds camera? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

For those unfamiliar with the term Micro Four Thirds, essentially the camera uses an image sensor that measures 17.3mm x 13mm and supports a 4:3 ratio hence the name – Micro Four Thirds.<\/p>\n

To give you a comparison, a full frame sensor measures 36mm x 24mm and an APS-C sensor (often used in entry level D-SLRs and mirrorless models) uses a 23.6mm x 15.7mm sensor. A Four Thirds sensor also comes with a crop factor of 2x, meaning a 200mm lens, for example, becomes a 400mm equivalent lens on Micro Four Thirds.<\/p>\n

When Olympus and Panasonic launched the Micro Four Thirds system, they removed the mirror from the camera body<\/strong>. No mirror teamed with a smaller image sensor meant the camera body could become much smaller and lighter compared to a DSLR. This was a big bonus for many photographers and Micro Four Thirds technology has greatly helped evolve the mirrorless camera market we see today.<\/p>\n

There are advantages and disadvantages to any camera system and with the Micro Four Thirds system take into account these aspects when purchasing:<\/p>\n

\u00a0Advantages of Micro Four Thirds<\/strong><\/h3>\n