365 days later: my honest OM System OM-3 long-term review
I've had the OM System OM-3 for over a year now, and I think it's time for a proper reckoning. I've taken it to Finland in the snow, Iceland (in and under many waterfalls), Valencia during a fire festival, countless photo walks, gigs, and enough everyday carry situations to fill a very pleasant photo album. So: does it still hold up? Dear fellow camera nerd, it really does.
My favourite use cases: Snow and wet weather
My OM-3 life began in Finland before the camera was publicly released, so I had the thing fully taped up to hide the branding, trying very hard to look inconspicuous, then realised I'd been standing in an Arctic Circle YouTube live stream for about 40 minutes taking photos. Smooth.
Two things stood out on that trip. One: how genuinely wonderful it is to have properly reliable weather sealing. Not "weather resistant," not "splash proof," but actually sealed: standing in a snowstorm and not once worrying about the camera. And two: the subject detection. Set it to animals and the dogs were locked in focus. Switch to human detection and it snaps to faces. Even in pre-production firmware back then, it left me grinning like an idiot.
I put in my pre-order the moment that test unit had to go back to OM.
Wildlife photography
This is what I mean when I call the OM-3 a "do everything" camera — it isn't just a pretty fashion accessory. It has a stacked sensor, incredible burst modes, pre-burst shooting, and the same advanced subject detection as the OM-1ii flagship. Puffins to huskies, I've thrown a lot of wildlife at this camera and the hit rate is genuinely impressive.
Now, if you were doing only wildlife photography all day every day, the OM-1ii probably serves you better ergonomically for long sessions in the hide. But if you're like me and you dabble in everything? The fact that the OM-3 can do this just as well as specialised cameras at its price point is remarkable value.
Handheld long exposures and Live ND
I was reminded just how much I rely on this feature when I reviewed the $5,000 Sony RX1R Mark III. No IBIS, no optical stabilisation… handheld long exposures are completely off the table.
Looking back through my OM-3 library I was surprised at how often I'd used this technique without really thinking about it. You can get up tp to six seconds handheld, without breaking a sweat. It's such a useful tool to have quietly available whenever you need it.
Add Live ND into the mix and you can do it in broad daylight without touching a physical filter. Wildly underrated feature.
OM SYSTEM OM-3 as Everyday carry
With the right camera strap and leather case (and the little cat charm, obviously), I maintain that the OM-3 is the prettiest everyday carry camera on the market right now. But it's more than looks. The build quality is excellent. I've knocked this thing about, banged it into tables, left it on restaurant floors. Still perfect.
One thing people worry about is the lack of grip. If you're shooting mostly primes like me, it honestly isn't an issue — it's light enough to pick up one-handed. For zoom lenses I use a half cage accessory, which makes it very comfortable.
My favourite OM-3 moment of the year
Valencia. A fire festival. Unlike anything I've ever experienced, and honestly one of the most exciting photography situations I've ever been in. You wait and wait and wait, then — action! Go go go, see what you can catch.
My ISO got stupidly high at times, and occasionally I blew out the flames a bit. At one point falling ash set me on fire and a lovely Spanish lady patted me out. The OM-3 did not flinch, even if I did! I came away with some images I'm genuinely proud of, and a slight singed smell that lasted about a week.
What I'd change
It wouldn't be a long-term review without some complaints. In a year of daily use, here's what actually niggles at me.
The eye cup. The OM-1 and G9ii both have lovely soft eyepieces; the OM-3's is hard plastic. Fine for everyday use, but shooting puffins in Iceland and holding the camera to my eye for minutes at a stretch was genuinely uncomfortable.
The eyepiece also catches and holds water/snow in a way my other cameras don't. drop of rain near the eye cup can trick the sensor into permanently engaging the viewfinder or cause it to flicker. Workaround: I've got the eye sensor toggle in My Menu so I can switch it off quickly in wet conditions.
The on/off lever: I've mapped it to be the power switch, which is great — but the original left switch just becomes completely dead. I wish you could swap the functions rather than disable one entirely.
The Slow and Quick mode on the photo/video dial. I never use it, I don't love the quality, and occasionally I accidentally land on it. If I could banish it I would, and just leave Photo and Video options instead. Your mileage may vary on this one.
I also still, to this day, occasionally mix up the function button and the record button when I want to grab a quick video clip. Other brands use more tactile differentiation between those buttons. Small thing, recurring annoyance.
And of course would this be a Micro Four Nerds blog if I didn’t moan that a camera should be smaller? The OM-3 is a wide boy.
Final thoughts
My most-used camera of the year, and I own a LOT. My favourite camera of the year. The most interesting new micro four thirds release in ages that's actually done something different: stylish, capable, genuinely versatile, and an absolute joy to take everywhere.
If you’d like to hear of more adventures, see more photo and video examples, and check out my custom JPEG settings, watch my full video here!