OM SYSTEM, formerly known as Olympus, has been around in some form since the 1930s. Olympus was a major player in the film age, achieving worldwide popularity in the 1970s and 1980s with its innovative line of ‘OM System’ SLRs. In the digital age, Olympus helped develop the Micro Four Thirds system in collaboration with Panasonic, offering a smaller, more affordable alternative to full-frame and APS-C cameras. These are quintessential travel and hiking cameras, with rugged portable bodies, excellent stabilization and computerized shooting modes. In 2021, OM Digital Solutions bought Olympus’ imaging division and began releasing cameras under the OM SYSTEM name in a return to the company’s heyday.

The OM SYSTEM OM-1 Designation II is the brand’s flagship model and one of the best Micro Four Thirds cameras we’ve tested. It’s the ultimate sports and wildlife camera for those who want something rugged and portable. It has a weatherproof housing with fantastic ergonomics and best-in-class image stabilization. On top of that, it has an incredibly fast maximum burst speed and a host of neat computer photography features, including a high-resolution composite mode. All in all, this is a very well-rounded camera for fans of the Micro Four Thirds system.