OM SYSTEM PEN Arrives With EVF, Phase-Detect AF and IPX1 Weather Sealing

Summary

• The new OM SYSTEM PEN features a 20.4MP Live MOS sensor and TruePic IX processor
• It has a built-in OLED EVF and 121-point all-cross phase-detection autofocus
• AI detection supports humans and pets, while Starry Sky AF is also included
• Its 5-axis image stabilization provides up to 5.5 stops of compensation
• It is the first PEN with dustproof construction and IPX1 splashproof protection
• High Res Shot, Live ND, Focus Stacking, HDR and Multiple Exposure are accessible through the CP button
• It supports 4K, C4K, vertical video and a 3.5mm external microphone
• European pricing is €999 body-only and €1,099 with the new 14-42mm III
• European shipping starts on October 1, 2026

OM Digital Solutions officially announced the new OM SYSTEM PEN, the first PEN launched from the outset under the OM SYSTEM brand, featuring a 20.4MP sensor, built-in EVF, phase-detection autofocus, 5-axis stabilization and IPX1 protection.

The new PEN was unveiled on September 9, 2026 in black and silver, with a TruePic IX processor, 121-point all-cross autofocus system, AI detection for humans and pets, Computational Photography features and a European body-only price of €999.

The announcement matters because OM SYSTEM has gone well beyond a cosmetic PEN revival: it has added an electronic viewfinder, modern phase-detection autofocus and weather sealing to a compact flat-top body, creating a substantially different proposition from the 2021 PEN E-P7.

20.4MP sensor and TruePic IX processor

The OM SYSTEM PEN uses a 4/3-inch Live MOS sensor with 20.4 effective megapixels and the TruePic IX processor. Rather than chasing a higher nominal pixel count, the company combines the sensor with newer autofocus, computational features and improved stabilization.

Sensitivity reaches ISO 25,600, while the camera supports RAW capture and the familiar creative functions of the Micro Four Thirds system.

The choice of TruePic IX is also notable: rather than using the TruePic X processor found in OM SYSTEM’s higher-end newer bodies, the PEN uses the platform also seen in the OM-5 Mark II. This helps position the camera more clearly below the premium OM-3 without returning to the older technology of the E-P7.

EVF, phase-detect AF and 5-axis stabilization

The new PEN features an integrated OLED electronic viewfinder with approximately 2.36 million dots, positioned on the left side to preserve the flat-top, rangefinder-style design. It is paired with a 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen.

Autofocus represents one of the biggest steps forward over the E-P7. There are 121 all-cross on-chip phase-detection points combined with contrast detection, while AI Subject Detection recognizes humans and pets, specifically cats and dogs. Starry Sky AF is also supported.

The built-in stabilization operates across five axes and provides up to 5.5 stops of compensation at the center of the frame and up to 4.5 stops toward the edges, based on the company’s CIPA 2024 testing with the new M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 III at 42mm.

The first PEN with IPX1 protection

For the first time in the PEN series, there is official dustproof and splashproof construction with an IPX1 rating. Seals are incorporated at key points around the body, bringing to PEN a feature previously much more closely associated with OM SYSTEM’s outdoor-oriented cameras.

There is an important qualification: full weather-resistant operation requires the camera to be paired with a compatible dust- and splashproof lens. The rating does not apply while charging or when an HDMI connection is in use. The new M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 III is also IPX1-rated, so the official kit creates a complete weather-resistant setup.

The body weighs 393 grams, remaining compact for a mirrorless camera with a built-in EVF and IBIS.

Computational Photography with a dedicated CP button

The PEN gets a dedicated CP button for quick access to OM SYSTEM’s Computational Photography functions.

These include tripod and handheld High Res Shot, Live ND from ND2 to ND16, Focus Stacking, HDR and Multiple Exposure. Handheld High Res Shot can produce 50MP images without a tripod, extending the capabilities of the 20.4MP sensor.

Pro Capture is also available, operating at up to 30 frames per second and retaining up to 12 frames captured before the shutter button is fully pressed.

Color and Monochrome Profiles

Creative image-making remains central to the PEN concept. The camera provides four Color Profile slots and four Monochrome Profile slots, allowing adjustments to colour, saturation, contrast, shading, filters and film-grain effects directly in-camera.

OI.Share v1.5 adds the Profile Library feature. Color and Monochrome settings can be saved, transferred through a smartphone and written to the camera’s available profile slots. OM SYSTEM lists Profile Library compatibility with the PEN, OM-3 and OM-3 ASTRO.

4K video, vertical recording and an external microphone

For video, the PEN supports 4K, C4K, Full HD and S&Q recording, as well as vertical recording for content intended for mobile platforms.

It includes a 3.5mm external microphone connector, OM-Cinema1 and OM-Cinema2 picture modes and a tally light providing a visual recording indicator. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE handle smartphone connectivity.

The new BLS-7 battery has a capacity of 1,285mAh, with OM SYSTEM quoting approximately 410 shots per charge under CIPA testing.

What changes compared with the PEN E-P7

A comparison with the PEN E-P7 shows that this is much more than a design refresh.

The E-P7 used a 20.3MP sensor, TruePic VIII processor, contrast-detection-only autofocus and IBIS rated up to 4.5 stops, without a built-in electronic viewfinder or the new PEN’s IPX1 protection. Its body was lighter at 332 grams.

The new PEN rises to 393 grams but adds an EVF, TruePic IX, 121-point phase-detection AF, AI subject detection, up to 5.5 stops of IBIS, weather sealing and significantly more computational features.

In practical terms, the change photographers are likely to notice most is not the small difference in megapixels but the move from contrast AF to phase detection and the ability to use an EVF in bright outdoor light.

From the teaser and rumours to the official PEN

PTTL had already covered OM SYSTEM’s official teaser for the return of the PEN on August 27, when the company had revealed only its connection with the historic series and the September 9 announcement date.

A few days later, PTTL published the latest unconfirmed specifications for the new PEN. Several details, including the EVF, weather sealing and new 14-42mm III, have now been confirmed. The rumoured €1,089 body price was not: the official European price is lower, at €999.

Availability and price

The OM SYSTEM PEN will be offered in silver and black. Official European pricing is €999 body-only, while the kit with the new M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 III costs €1,099.

OM SYSTEM’s European store lists shipping from October 1, 2026. The North American press release states late October availability, indicating that launch timing varies by market.

No separate official Greek price differing from the European figure has been published at the time of writing. The official European OM SYSTEM PEN product page lists the body and kit configurations together with current European pricing and availability.

The kit is particularly interesting: at only €100 more than the body, the new 14-42mm III is offered at a substantial discount compared with purchasing the lens separately.

What we think

The new OM SYSTEM PEN looks more like a meaningful repositioning of the series than a direct continuation of the E-P7. The EVF, phase-detection autofocus and IPX1 protection address three of the previous compact PEN’s most significant practical limitations, while the CP button and creative profiles preserve the family’s distinctive character.

The €999 price is not low, particularly in a market with several strong APS-C alternatives. On the other hand, the €1,099 PEN kit is considerably more compelling than the body alone because it adds a weather-resistant standard zoom for a relatively small premium. The main question now is whether the combination of portability, EVF, IBIS and creative functions is enough to restore PEN to the position it once held in everyday and street photography.

Frequently asked questions

How many megapixels does the new OM SYSTEM PEN have?

It uses a 20.4MP Live MOS sensor paired with the TruePic IX processor.

Does it have phase-detection autofocus?

Yes. It features 121 all-cross on-chip phase-detection points combined with contrast detection and AI recognition for humans and pets.

Does it have an electronic viewfinder?

Yes. The new PEN has an integrated OLED EVF with approximately 2.36 million dots in a rangefinder-style position.

Is it weather sealed?

It features dustproof construction and IPX1 splashproof protection. For full weather-resistant operation, it must be paired with a compatible weather-sealed lens.

How much does it cost and when will it ship in Europe?

The price is €999 body-only and €1,099 with the M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 III. OM SYSTEM lists European shipping from October 1, 2026.