Upgrade Guide
OM System PEN→OM System OM-1 Mark II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the PEN. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the OM-1 Mark II
-
StabilisationImproved — 8.5-stop IBIS
-
Burst rate120fps with AF tracking vs 30fps electronic
-
Battery life520 shots (CIPA) vs 410 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
-
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 | PEN | OM-1 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.6 | ||
| Street | -1.2 | ||
| Travel | -0.8 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.6 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -0.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.6 | ||
| Documentary | +0.9 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.6 | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wildlife | +1.0 | ||
| Casual | -0.8 | ||
| Food | +0.5 | ||
| Macro | +1.6 | ||
| Architecture | +0.2 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.1 | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | PEN | OM-1 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £849 | £1,999 | |
| Released | 2026 | 2024 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Four Thirds Live MOS | 20MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/C4K, OM-Log400, vertical video support | 4K/60p, 1080p/240p, 4K HLG | |
| Autofocus | Phase-hybrid AF (121 points) with subject detection (people, cats, dogs) | AI subject detection AF (birds, animals, motorsport) | |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop IBIS | 8.5-stop IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 120fps with AF tracking | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 410 shots (CIPA) | 520 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 393g (with battery and card) | 599g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | 0.83" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | |
| Screen | Tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-I) | Dual SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See PEN and OM-1 Mark II 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 OM-1 Mark II against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the PEN
Related buying guides
Camera family history