In 1936, a Japanese optical company primarily known for microscopes released its first camera – the medium-format Semi-Olympus I. Fitted with their own Zuiko lens, it was a practical and capable 4.5×6cm folding camera that embraced the global trend for 'pocketable' cameras – assuming, of course, you had fairly large pockets – which most people did.
Since those early days, Olympus – the heritage brand name behind today's OM System – went on to engineer a series of groundbreaking cameras that cemented their reputation for intelligent, compact design.
The first major paradigm shift was the 1959 PEN camera. Launched as a super-portable half-frame camera, it ingeniously squeezed 72 images from a standard 36-exposure 35mm film, making everyday photography accessible portable and affordable.
By 1972, the OM-1 arrived as the brand's first professional-grade manual exposure SLR.
While competitors like Nikon and Canon were pushing large, modular systems that weighed well over 840g, the OM-1 tipped the scales at a mere 500g. It proved that a rugged, professional tool didn't need to weigh you down.
Building on that success, the OM-2 launched in 1975, bringing aperture-priority automatic exposure to the same compact chassis. It introduced a genuine industry first: off-the-film (OTF) direct metering that even calculated flash exposure in real time during the shot.
For astrophotographers, cave explorers, and night-time cityscape shooters, the OM-2 became the ultimate tool. Its OTF system could automatically hold the shutter open for up to 120 seconds (or even longer), remaining the gold standard for long-exposure work for years.
Then, in 1979, while well-heeled photojournalists were buying up expensive Leica systems, Olympus produced a pocketable work of art called the XA. Weighing just 225g, it was a true 35mm rangefinder featuring aperture priority and a remarkably sharp 35mm f/2.8 glass lens. It was – and still is – one of the smallest rangefinder cameras ever made, literally fitting into a top shirt pocket. These are still desirable film cameras that can be picked up from $200 - $500 on the second-hand market. Just make sure you get the 'XA' – not the XA1 / XA3 that are full automatic and lack the manual controls of the original more 'professional' XA.
Fast forward ninety years. The badge on the modern camera's viewfinder may read OM SYSTEM, but the underlying engineering philosophy remains consistent: reliable optical quality built into a system designed to be carried anywhere.
When the industry shifted to digital, the company maintained its focus on portability. Rather than competing solely on sensor size, they committed to purpose-designed optics with their Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless systems.
The digital PEN and OM-D lineups delivered exactly what many photographers working in the field needed. They offer a much smaller footprint, highly effective five-axis image stabilisation, and weather sealing robust enough to handle poor conditions without requiring extra rain gear.
Photographers such as Beardy McBeard – the world renown cycling photographer – love the OM System cameras for their compactness and reliability out in the field. He has been shooting with OM System since 2017 and loves the fact he "can easily ride all day with a full complement of lenses – something that isn’t easy with larger full-frame systems."
Under the OM System brand, that legacy continues with genuinely functional computational photography. Innovations like Live ND, handheld High-Res Shot, and AI subject tracking give shooters the versatility to move seamlessly from silky, artful long exposures to high-detail landscapes and fast-paced sports.
Ninety years after a folding medium format camera started the journey, OM System occupies a distinct space in the photographic market. While sensor resolution will always be a talking point, out on the street or in the landscape, the practical reality of the craft remains unchanged: the best camera is the one you actually have with you.
You can see the Olympus / OM System product history here.
Or find out more about the current range of OM System cameras here.
