OM System OM-5

The OM System OM-5 is a 2022 mirrorless camera built around a 20 megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor. It suits photographers who want an interchangeable-lens system without heavy gear to carry.

At 414 grams and roughly 125 by 85 by 50 millimetres, it slips into a small bag, and the weather sealing gives some protection when conditions turn dusty or damp.

It fits travel, hiking and everyday photography well. A flip-out touchscreen handles awkward angles, framing also works through the electronic viewfinder, and video reaches 4K when you want to record the trip as well as photograph it.

The 20 megapixel Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor works with the TruePic IX processor. That resolution covers everyday prints and online sharing comfortably. The Micro 4/3 mount gives you interchangeable lenses, so you can build a kit around the subjects you shoot.

For action, burst shooting reaches up to 30 frames per second, giving you more frames to choose from around a bird taking flight or a racer crossing the line. A shutter speed of 1/8000s helps freeze fast movement in strong light.

In-body stabilisation counters camera shake, so handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds stays practical when a tripod is left behind. It steadies the camera, not a moving subject. Framing goes through a 2.36 million dot electronic viewfinder.

Sensitivity runs from ISO 200 to 25600. The 200 base means wide apertures in strong daylight can overexpose without a neutral density filter, worth remembering if you like shallow depth of field outdoors.

Video reaches 4K, giving you room for some reframing when editing for lower-resolution delivery. It also suits viewing on a large screen. For travel and everyday filming, that gives the small body a useful role alongside its stills capability.

At 120 frames per second, motion is captured fast enough to slow down when played back. That suits water, sports and wildlife moments that pass too quickly to read at normal speed.

Recording options include MOV files with H.264 compression. The format you choose affects how footage fits into your editing workflow, so set it for the project before you start filming.

A timelapse function is built in, so slow scenes such as moving clouds or shifting tides can become a sequence without extra gear.

The 3 inch touchscreen has just over a million dots for checking composition and reviewing photographs. It flips out, making waist-level and overhead framing easier when the camera sits above or below eye level.

Weather sealing protects the body against dust and moisture, so a rain shower or a sandy beach is less of a worry. Sealing is not waterproofing, so dry the camera off rather than testing it.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built in for wireless connections. There is no GPS, so location data would need to come from a phone or other device rather than the camera.

There is no built-in flash. An external flash is supported, so low-light interiors still have an option when you carry one.

Cards go into a single SD slot that accepts SD, SDHC and SDXC media up to the UHS-II standard. UHS-II support lets fast cards move data quickly, but with one slot there is no in-camera backup for an unrepeatable event.

The BLS-50 battery is rated at 310 shots, a specification figure rather than a promise for every day out. Real endurance depends on viewfinder use, screen time and temperature, so a spare battery is sensible for long shoots.

USB charging lets you top the battery up from a USB connection between shoots. It is a travel convenience, not a reason to leave a spare battery behind on a full day of shooting.