Kitamura tested the new updates OM System M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f/1.8 II (B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama). This is what they think about it:

The newly updated OM System M.Zuiko Digital 25mm f/1.8 II (B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama) brings weather-sealing and a bundled lens hood to a beloved Micro Four Thirds classic. While its optical formula remains unchanged from the original, these small refinements enhance durability and usability in outdoor and travel shooting scenarios. These tweaks don’t alter the image quality, but they do add real-world value.

Optical Performance
This lens sticks to its proven 9-element design with aspherical glass and ZERO coatings. Sharpness is excellent across the frame, and autofocus remains fast and accurate. Some minor vignetting and chromatic aberration are present wide open, but they’re minimal in practical use.

Compact and Travel-Friendly
Weighing just 156 grams and measuring 42mm in length, this is one of the most portable primes for MFT. It balances perfectly with compact bodies like the OM System OM-5 (B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama) or OM System OM-3 (B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama), making it a go-to option for street, travel, and everyday photography.

Price and Availability
The lens is priced at $499.99 and started shipping in February 2025. While that’s a premium over the first version, the added durability may justify the price for photographers often working in unpredictable conditions.
Should You Upgrade?
If you already own the original M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 (B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama) and don’t need weather resistance, you’re not missing much optically. But if you’re buying new—or rely on your gear in the elements—this Mark II refresh is a smart, well-executed update.

DigitalCameraWorld compared the two latest new OM cameras and concluded:

The OM-5 II is older and technically less advanced than the OM-3, but it’s worth considering whether it still does everything that you need a camera of this type to do? Maybe it does! You still get 20MP images, weather sealing, decent high-speed shooting, one of the best IBIS systems on the market and some clever computational tricks, should you need them.

The OM-3, by contrast, brings a real retro camera feel combined with powerful autofocus, burst shooting and video features that leave the OM-5 II lagging far behind. If you intend shooting a lot of video, then the OM-3 is certainly the better buy. What about action, sports and wildlife photography? Yes, here too, but the OM-1 II would be even better for this kind of work just because of its handling with larger lenses.

For sheer value and practicality, the OM-5 II, even though it’s now somewhat dated, is a great buy. The OM-3 is perhaps more of a luxury buy for those who love its looks, its power and its potential.

OM-5II at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotoerhardt, WexUK.
OM-3 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, OM store USA.