The OM SYSTEM OM‑5 Mark II camera is one of the freshest arrivals for 2025, offered in Sand Beige, Black, and Silver finishes. While it might not have the name recognition of some high-end mirrorless giants, for serious wildlife photographers — the ones slogging through mud, navigating dense forests, wetlands, and coastlines — it’s quickly becoming one of the smartest tools to have in your kit.
Compact, ruggedly weather-sealed, and packed with powerful features like Pro Capture burst shooting and one of the industry’s best in-body image stabilization systems, the OM‑5 Mark II is purpose-built for outdoor, unpredictable environments where speed and reliability are everything.
This isn’t a camera for chasing spec sheet bragging rights. It’s made for photographers who prioritize agility, precision, and portability over lugging around oversized full-frame systems. And best of all — it won’t drain your budget. The OM‑5 Mark II is available now for $1,199.99, offering pro-grade features at a fraction of the price of many flagship wildlife setups.
The Evolution of the OM SYSTEM OM‑5 Mark II Camera
The OM SYSTEM OM‑5 Mark II continues a long tradition of compact, durable cameras designed for outdoor photographers. Its lineage traces back to the classic Olympus OM film cameras of the 1970s, renowned for their small size and rugged mechanical precision. Olympus was one of the earliest brands to prioritize portability without sacrificing image quality — a philosophy that lives on in the modern OM SYSTEM lineup.
Before the OM‑5 Mark II, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III filled this niche. Launched in 2019, the E-M5 Mark III was praised for its compact weather-sealed body, excellent in-body image stabilization, and a feature set aimed at both enthusiasts and professionals working outdoors. It introduced advanced autofocus, high-speed burst shooting, and video features to a small Micro Four Thirds platform, winning over wildlife, travel, and landscape photographers alike.
The OM‑5 Mark II builds on that foundation with meaningful upgrades. It carries over the beloved 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and powerful TruePic IX processor but refines key systems like autofocus, stabilization, and low-light performance. Notably, it adds improved Starry Sky AF and Pro Capture modes, making it even more versatile for shooting wildlife and landscapes in difficult conditions. It’s also the first OM SYSTEM model to fully drop the Olympus branding after the company’s imaging division transitioned to OM Digital Solutions.
In many ways, the OM‑5 Mark II represents a polished evolution of a proven formula: compact, rugged, and packed with pro features for those who explore beyond the studio.
Read more about other OM System cameras: Is the OM System a New Bedrock for Nature Photography?
Why Wildlife Photographers Should Care
Wildlife photography is tough. It’s not just about aiming a camera at an animal. It takes patience, timing, and working in wild, rough places. You chase fast creatures in forests, swamps, cliffs, and along coastlines. Big, heavy cameras only slow you down.
In the past, people carried huge DSLRs with giant lenses. But times have changed. Mirrorless cameras like the OM‑5 Mark II now offer a lighter, smarter choice. And they deliver serious, professional results.
What makes this camera special? It’s packed with pro features like fast burst shooting, powerful in-body stabilization, a silent shutter, and tough weather sealing. Best of all, it’s small and easy to carry on long hikes or hours in a hide.
For birders, nature guides, and traveling photographers, it’s a system where weight and speed matter as much as image quality.
Features That Make the OM‑5 Mark II a Wildlife Specialist
30 FPS RAW Burst Mode (Pro Capture)
One of the biggest frustrations in wildlife photography is missing a fleeting moment. A bird launching from a branch, a fish breaking the surface, a mid-air tussle — it all happens in the blink of an eye.
Pro Capture mode tackles this brilliantly by buffering frames the moment you half-press the shutter, then saving up to 70 images before and after you fully press it. You can essentially capture a moment before it happens.
Even better, it works in full RAW at up to 30 frames per second. No compromises on quality. If you’ve struggled with birds in flight or hyperactive squirrels, this one feature alone could triple your success rate.
5‑Axis In‑Body Stabilization (IBIS)
Handholding long telephoto lenses is notoriously difficult, especially when you’re moving through rough terrain. The OM‑5 Mark II’s 5-axis IBIS delivers up to 7.5 stops of stabilization — one of the most effective systems you’ll find in any camera.
It lets you shoot handheld at much slower shutter speeds than you’d expect, whether you’re panning with a flying heron or capturing a deer in fading dusk light.
Pair it with Olympus’s image-stabilized telephoto lenses like the 100–400 mm f/5–6.3 IS and you’ve got a setup that stays sharp even at long focal lengths without a tripod. That’s huge for birders and wildlife shooters working on foot.
Bonus: Remember, thanks to the Micro Four Thirds 2× crop factor, that 400 mm becomes an 800 mm equivalent — giving you serious reach in a compact package.
IP53 Weather Resistance
Wildlife doesn’t care about weather, and neither should your camera. Whether it’s fog, drizzle, salt spray, or a downpour, the OM‑5 Mark II’s IP53-rated weather sealing makes it a reliable field partner.
Most small mirrorless cameras in this price range can’t handle these conditions. The OM‑5 II stands out for being dustproof and splashproof, especially when paired with a weather-sealed M.Zuiko lens.
You can shoot confidently in unpredictable weather without babying your gear.
Starry Sky AF & Low-Light Performance
Some of the most breathtaking moments for outdoor photographers happen in challenging light — at dawn, twilight, or beneath a canopy of stars. In these conditions, many autofocus systems struggle to lock onto a subject, often hunting endlessly in the dark.
The OM‑5 Mark II’s Starry Sky AF was made for this kind of work. It was built for astrophotography but works great for night landscapes too. It locks focus on bright stars or distant lights without needing manual tweaks.
Add in clean ISO performance up to ISO 3200, and you’ve got a strong low-light setup. It handles early morning skies, blue hour scenes, and starlit trails with ease. Whether you’re shooting the Milky Way over mountains or a moonlit coastline, this camera delivers steady, sharp results in moody, atmospheric light.
Focus Stacking of the OM‑5 Mark II Wildlife Photography Camera
Macro wildlife photographers will appreciate the in-camera Focus Stacking. Capturing close-ups of butterflies, frogs, or lizards often means shallow depth of field. This feature shoots multiple images at slightly different focus distances and blends them together, giving you a sharp subject from front to back — without the need for complex post-processing.
It’s one of the easiest, fastest stacking systems in any mirrorless camera today.
Unlimited 4K Video for Wildlife Documentaries
Video is an essential skill for modern wildlife photographers. Whether you’re documenting animal behavior or creating nature vlogs, you need reliable video performance.
The OM‑5 Mark II records 4K UHD video with no time limits or overheating. Combined with its excellent stabilization, it’s ideal for stable handheld wildlife video, even at telephoto lengths.
Key Specification of the OM‑5 Mark II Camera
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Camera Type | Mirrorless (Micro Four Thirds) |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Live MOS Sensor |
| Image Processor | TruePic IX |
| ISO Range | 200–25,600 (expandable to 64–25,600) |
| Image Stabilization | 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilization (up to 6.5 stops) |
| Autofocus System | 121-point Contrast Detection AF with Starry Sky AF |
| Continuous Shooting Speed | Up to 30 fps (electronic shutter) / 10 fps (mechanical shutter) |
| Pro Capture Mode | Yes (up to 30 fps pre-shutter) |
| Weather Sealing | Dustproof, Splashproof, Freezeproof (up to -10°C) |
| Video Recording | 4K DCI & UHD up to 30p, Full HD up to 120p |
| Viewfinder | 2.36M-dot OLED EVF |
| LCD Screen | 3.0” Vari-Angle Touchscreen, 1.04M-dot |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | Approx. 310 shots per charge |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, Micro HDMI, Microphone input |
| Body Dimensions | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7 mm |
| Weight (with battery & card) | Approx. 414 g |
| Price (Body Only) | $1,199.99 |
| With 14–150mm Lens Kit | $1,499.99 |
| Shipping Date | June 25, 2025 |
Limitations Worth Noting
No camera is perfect, and it’s worth being honest about where the OM‑5 Mark II has tradeoffs:
- The Micro Four Thirds sensor, while excellent for reach and portability, has less dynamic range and low-light flexibility compared to larger full-frame sensors.
- ISO performance beyond 3200 gets grainy — manageable for social/web but limiting for high-ISO print work.
- Battery life is officially rated at ~310 shots per charge, which is modest for long wildlife days. Carrying a spare or two is strongly recommended. Sleep mode optimizations can stretch it further, though.
Still — for its size, weight, and price, these are compromises many outdoor photographers gladly accept.
Real-World Wildlife Kit Example
If I were packing light for a day of birding, landscape, and macro photography in the field, this would be my go-to setup:
- OM SYSTEM OM‑5 Mark II — A compact, weather-sealed body with outstanding in-body image stabilization, perfect for handheld shooting in unpredictable conditions.
- M.Zuiko 100–400 mm f/5–6.3 IS — This versatile telephoto zoom is a bird photographer’s dream. It delivers a 200–800mm equivalent reach, perfect for shy warblers, soaring raptors, or distant mammals. The built-in image stabilization pairs with the OM‑5 Mark II’s 5-axis IBIS for remarkably steady handheld shots, even at full zoom.
- M.Zuiko 60 mm f/2.8 Macro — Lightweight and razor-sharp, this macro lens is ideal for close-up shots of insects, amphibians, wildflowers, and textures like bark or moss. Its fast f/2.8 aperture lets you work in shaded forest floors or cloudy conditions while creating beautifully soft backgrounds. The lens also features a handy focus limiter switch, making it quicker to lock focus at different working distances.
- M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 II Lens — A superbly flexible, all-in-one zoom for those times when you don’t want to swap lenses in the field. Covering a 28-300mm equivalent range, it’s perfect for landscapes, casual wildlife encounters, environmental portraits, or travel shots. Its weather-sealed design pairs perfectly with the OM‑5 Mark II for outdoor adventures in unpredictable conditions.
This kit is light, fully weather-sealed, and covers everything from delicate macro details to distant wildlife action — effectively from 28mm to 800mm (35mm equivalent) without breaking your back or your budget. It’s a setup you can comfortably carry on a long hike, kayak trip, or hours in a damp hide without fatigue, while still having pro-level creative tools at your fingertips.ck.
Final Verdict: Is OM‑5 Mark II Camera Worth It for Wildlife Photography?
Without question, yes.
For wildlife photographers who need a lightweight, weather-sealed, fast-focusing, and highly portable camera system with pro-level burst speed, stabilization, and video features, the OM‑5 Mark II is one of the smartest investments you can make.
It won’t match a full-frame system for dynamic range or extreme high-ISO work. But its speed, rugged build, and portability fill a gap many bigger cameras miss. For wildlife shooters needing mobility and telephoto reach on a budget, there’s nothing else like it right now.
At $1,199.99 for the body only, or $1,499.99 bundled with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 II Lens, this new arrival delivers serious value — especially when paired with OM SYSTEM’s lightweight, weather-sealed optics.
The manufacturer will start shipping this item on June 25, 2025, so if you want a reliable, field-ready mirrorless setup for the summer season, now’s the perfect time to get your pre-order in.
Recap: Why Wildlife Photographers Should Choose the OM‑5 II
- 30 fps RAW Pro Capture mode ensures you never miss the decisive moment.
- 7.5-stop IBIS keeps handheld long-lens shots sharp.
- IP53 weather-sealing handles rain, dust, and mud.
- Focus stacking simplifies crisp macro wildlife shots.
- Unlimited 4K video recording — perfect for field documentaries.
- Lightweight, compact, and now available in Sand Beige, Black, and Silver.
At $1,199.99, the OM‑5 Mark II is a wildlife photographer’s smart, reliable, go-anywhere camera.