PetaPixel had a chat with OM System’s Kazuhiro Togashi, Vice President of Brand Strategy and Product Planning at OM. Here are some tidbits:

OM System has carved out a strong niche in the world of photography, particularly among travel, adventure, and birding enthusiasts. Its Micro Four Thirds (MFT) cameras (Amazon) are lauded for their portability and advanced computational photography features — but they’ve also faced criticism for lagging behind the competition in sensor resolution.

In a recent interview with Petapixel, OM System executives revealed they are exploring artificial intelligence (AI) upscaling as a way to deliver higher-resolution images without compromising speed or other performance metrics. The move could represent a clever solution to the hardware limitations inherent in the compact MFT format.

The Resolution Trade-off
OM System’s engineers have long prioritized speed and computational performance over raw megapixel count. Increasing sensor resolution would require a completely new sensor and faster processing hardware, which could risk slowing down autofocus and advanced software features that are central to OM cameras (Amazon)’ appeal.

Computational Photography at the Core
OM has been at the forefront of in-camera computational tools, such as Live ND and Live Composite, which allow photographers to capture creative effects without post-processing. However, these features rely heavily on fast data pipelines — and higher-resolution sensors would significantly increase the data load.

AI to the Rescue?
Rather than overhauling hardware, OM is evaluating in-camera AI-driven upscaling techniques similar to those found in software like Adobe’s Super Resolution or DxO’s DeepPRIME. This technology would allow photographers to shoot at the camera’s native resolution and let the camera intelligently upscale files, enhancing detail and reducing noise.

This approach mirrors Canon’s recent inclusion of AI upscaling in the Canon EOS R5 Mark II (Amazon) and Canon EOS R1 (Amazon), though OM System believes its own implementation can deliver even better results thanks to its expertise in computational imaging.

The Future of OM Photography
Beyond AI upscaling, OM continues to invest in new computational tools, like the recently demonstrated “Live GND” feature for landscape photographers, and promises to roll out more innovative software features that maximize the MFT platform’s strengths.

For photographers who value speed, portability, and cutting-edge in-camera processing, OM System’s AI ambitions might strike the right balance between resolution and performance — and help keep MFT relevant in an increasingly full-frame world.

Explore OM System Gear:
OM System OM-1 Mark II (Amazon)
OM System OM-5 (Amazon)
OM System Travel Photography Kits (Amazon)

Imaging Resource had a chat with two OM managers. This time OM digital claims the OM-3 is NOT a PEN-F successor:

First of all, the OM-3 is not a successor to the PEN-F. From customer feedback, we understand that the PEN-F is appreciated for various reasons, including its rangefinder style, craftsmanship-inspired exterior, and the profile control features. Rather than simply replicating the PEN-F, we need to carefully consider what makes it so beloved as we explore new ways to deliver an enjoyable photographic experience.

About the PEN lineup future:

For the PEN, we are considering what our new PEN should be as an OM SYSTEM brand, not the Olympus brand. We’re still thinking about what concept would be best for a new PEN. Then, after deciding on the PEN concept, we’ll determine if the exterior design will be similar to the PEN-F or similar to the E-P7 and so on. Currently, we haven’t decided yet because we’re still considering the overall concept. However, the PEN series is very important for us, so we are indeed thinking about a successor model for the PEN series.

Definitely do not expect to get a new PEN camera wihtin the next 2 years :(

And yet there is hope, people!

In a chat with the PetaPixel crew OM manager Kazuhiro Togashi said:

“The OM-3 is not a successor of the Pen series. So of course we are thinking the Pen series is an important lineup for our company. We are trying to study the success of the Pen series, but again, the OM-3 is not a successor of the Pen. The Pen series remains an important part of our portfolio, and we are actively exploring the possibility of a new Pen model, and are currently considering what Pen series model we can offer as OM System.“

When asked about the trend of manufacturers removing electronic viewfinders he said:

We are considering both sides for market demand,” Togashi says. “We want to make sure photographers actually enjoy operating the camera. We are really considering which kind of product may be better to expand to new users. Maybe they want to continue to use their smartphone but have some interest in standalone cameras. So we are now thinking about the new Pen concept [from this point of view]

PetaPixel added that they got the impression the new PEN camera is still in early stage of development. If that’s true it might take 2-3 years before this model hits the market. What do you hope to get? a new PEN-F successor, and entry level PEN or soemthing else?

Today OM digital issued an update lens roadmap that actually shows an image of the upcoming telephoto zoom lens. We learn a couple of things:

• The focal length is something like 50-200mm
• From the design of the lens this surely looks like a PRO lens
• The lens is white just like the epic 150-400mm PRO …and I guess price will be EPIC too ;)

I suspect that this could be a new 50-200mm f/2.8 PRO. But we will have to wait quite a while before we can hold it in our hands. OM Digital said the lens will be on the market by the end of 2025.

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Thanks Grytom