Upgrade Guide
OM System OM-5 Mark II→OM System PEN
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The PEN improves across 4 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most OM-5 Mark II owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the PEN
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Burst rate30fps electronic vs 10fps (AF tracking), 30fps (locked)
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Battery life410 shots (CIPA) vs 310 shots (CIPA)
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Generation1 year newer (2026 vs 2025)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (20MP)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | OM-5 Mark II | PEN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.5 | ||
| Street | +0.9 | ||
| Travel | +0.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.9 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +0.2 | ||
| Filmmaking | +0.1 | ||
| Documentary | +0.7 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.0 | ||
| Landscape | +0.1 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.7 | ||
| Casual | +0.2 | ||
| Food | — | ||
| Macro | -1.3 | ||
| Architecture | +0.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.4 | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | OM-5 Mark II | PEN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £880 | £849 | |
| Released | 2025 | 2026 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Four Thirds Live MOS | 20.4MP Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 20MP | |
| Video | 4K/30p, OM-Log400 | 4K/C4K, OM-Log400, vertical video support | |
| Autofocus | Phase-hybrid AF (121 cross-type points) | Phase-hybrid AF (121 points) with subject detection (people, cats, dogs) | |
| Stabilisation | Up to 7.5-stop Sync IS (6.5-stop body-only) | 5.5-stop IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 10fps (AF tracking), 30fps (locked) | 30fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 310 shots (CIPA) | 410 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 370g (body only) | 393g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 1.37x magnification | EVF, 2.36M dots | |
| Screen | Fully articulating touchscreen | Tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-II) | Single SD (UHS-I) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See OM-5 Mark II and PEN next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the PEN against your specific genres — not just specs.
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