‘It breaks the laws of physics’: the OM System OM-1 Mark II is now my favorite wildlife camera, and its 120fps burst isn’t even the best part

What does a camera need to do to be considered the best mirrorless camera for wildlife? It needs to feature the fastest autofocus system with subject detection; it needs a high-speed drive for sequential shooting; it needs to be weather-sealed; and it needs to handle beautifully. The OM System OM-1 Mark II does all that and more.

Packing a maximum 120fps blackout-free drive, a peerless autofocus system that quickly locks on to birds and animals, a long battery life, and robust IP53 waterproofing, the OM-1 Mark II is exceptional. I’ve been testing the camera for a month now, and in that time, I’ve captured some of my best wildlife photos yet. Aiding the camera’s prowess is up to 8.5-stops of IBIS and Live ND filters for landscape photography.

Is it worth buying the camera if you’re a wildlife enthusiast? Without a doubt: yes. For the complete breakdown, read my full OM System OM-1 Mark II review.

OM System OM-1 Mark II review: Specs

OM System OM-1 Mark II review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A Micro Four Thirds camera with 120fps blackout-free burst shooting
• Who is it for? For wildlife photographers who don’t want to spend too much on a camera
• How much does it cost? The OM System OM-1 Mark II’s body retails for $2,399 / £2,049
• What do we like? The 120fps drive, rapid autofocus and subject detection, sublime handling, and robust weather-sealing
• What don’t we like? No CFExpress card support, 20.4MP native resolution, and mediocre high ISO performance

OM System OM-1 Mark II review: Price & availability

The OM System OM-1 Mark II succeeds the two-year-old OM-1, and it first came out in January 2024. Two years later, it is still one of the most powerful cameras, especially for wildlife photography, and it excels at what it does without breaking the bank. Its body retails for $2,399 / £2,049, or you can get it with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II kit lens for $2,999 / £2,599.

It’s pricier than its predecessor which carried a retail price of $1,399 at launch. Outside of its stablemates, given its Micro Four Thirds sensor, the OM-1 Mark II’s closest competition is the Panasonic Lumix G9II ($1,899). And given its pro specs, OM System’s flagship finds itself competing with professional bodies, the likes of the Fujifilm X-H2S ($2,499), the Sony A7 V ($2,899) and the Canon EOS R6 Mark III ($2,799).

If you don’t need a full frame sensor packing many, many megapixels, the OM-1 Mark II comfortably undercuts the Sony A1 II ($6,499) and the Canon EOS R5 Mark II ($4,299) — both extremely capable cameras, in their own right, especially for photographing and filming high-speed sports or wildlife.

OM System OM-1 Mark II review: Design

The OM System OM-1 Mark II looks exactly like the image conjured up in your head when you hear the word “camera.” My favorite aesthetic yet practical design choice is the protruding, sculpted grip with plenty of room for you to wrap your fingers around, thereby offering excellent handling — with both hands or just one.

Measuring 5.46 x 3.6 x 2.86 inches, the OM-1 Mark II is fairly portable, so you can stash it in your backpack without it taking up much space. Its body weighs 1.32lbs with the battery and SD cards, so it isn’t too bulky either. I was able to wear it around my neck comfortably for long periods of time. It’s also lighter than the 1.45lbs Panasonic Lumix G9II and the 1.46lbs Fujifilm X-H2S.

Viewfinder

I love the OM-1 Mark II’s electronic viewfinder (EVF) which is bright and clear to look through. It has a resolution of approximately 5.76 million dots, so you get a sharp, detailed, and life-like view of the scene, which helps you accurately frame your subject. It’s also got a refresh rate of 120Hz which is the same as the Fujifilm X-H2S, but higher than the Panasonic Lumix G9II (3.68 million dots, same 120Hz refresh rate).

The fast refresh rate means the camera delivers smooth, realistic, and less jarring motion, and ensures the subject you’re tracking remains free of motion blur. The Sony A1 II’s viewfinder has a 240Hz refresh rate but it is also more expensive than the OM-1 Mark II.

Similar to its predecessor, the OM-1 Mark II features blackout-free sequential shooting, which means there are no black screens between shots, enabling you to keep a constant view of your subject as you shoot. But unlike the first-gen model which provided blackout-free shooting at its highest speed only, the OM-1 Mark II extends this to slower speeds too, such as 12.5 fps, 25fps and 50fps.

Monitor

Located around the back of the camera is a 3-inch vari-angle LCD touchscreen with a resolution of approximately 1.62 million dots. This is the same as the Fujifilm X-H2S but a little lower than the Panasonic Lumix G9II (1.84 million dots). Even so, it’s extremely bright, and I had no issues reading the information displayed even in direct sunlight.

The touchscreen is highly responsive too, with all my taps registering instantly. I also found the three-way tilt mechanism very useful when shooting at awkward angles — for instance, when I was photographing birds perched atop a branch overhead or low on the ground.

Ports

When it comes to ports, the OM-1 Mark II is a well-endowed camera. The battery compartment is located on the bottom plate and it houses the BLX-1 Lithium-ion battery pack. Located next to it is a standardized tripod thread, and a power battery holder for an external power grip (bought separately for $459 / £319).

The camera’s left-hand edge houses a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, a micro HDMI port, and a pair of 3.5 mm stereo mini-jacks for headphones and microphones. All ports are protected against the elements by rubber flaps. Having ports for mics and headphones make the OM-1 Mark II a great hybrid camera for video too.

Alongside the right-hand edge, you’ll find two slots for SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-II/V90 memory cards. It’s a little disappointing that even though this camera is designed for high-speed photography, it doesn’t support CFExpress cards which let you shoot for longer before filling buffers and feature faster write speeds. The Fujifilm X-H2S has a leg-up here as it has a CFExpress card slot — but the Panasonic Lumix G9II doesn’t.

Weather-sealing

While not many manufacturers specify their camera’s IP rating, OM System does. The OM System OM-1 Mark II is IP53-rated so it offers significant protection against dust as well as water. This is primarily designed for wildlife photography, so it’s no surprise that it’s rugged.

Having tested the camera when the U.K. was being battered by heavy rain thanks to two different named storms, I can attest to the fact that the OM-1 Mark II is very waterproof. Oh, and it can also withstand freezing temperatures down to -14°F / -10°C — just like the Fujifilm X-H2S and the Panasonic Lumix G9II.

OM System OM-1 Mark II review: Controls

I’ve tested a lot of cameras at this point, and few have felt as easy-to-use as the OM System OM-1 Mark II. Most of the buttons and dials are similar to what you’d find on most other cameras. They’re all laid out well and thoughtfully, with each button and dial giving great feedback when pressed or turned.

My favorite button on the OM-1 Mark II is located atop the power lever. The duo of buttons lets you quickly swap between the different focus modes (Manual focus, Preset MF, Single AF, Continuous AF, AF Tracking, Stacking, Bracketing) and burst or single frame shooting. I found myself using these two buttons a lot in my testing, depending on the subject I was photographing. The shooting modes can be customized via the bigger settings menu too, so you can assign different frame rates.

Unlike on the Fujifilm X-H2S where the focus joystick gets in the way if you shoot with your left eye to the viewfinder, the OM-1 Mark II’s joysticks never got in my way. It’s tactile and responsive too, and it doesn’t feel fiddly to change the focus area size. It’s also nice to see that OM System has included a focus joystick when even prestigious brands sometimes refuse to feature it (looking at you, Hasselblad X2D 100C).

Though many settings can be accessed quickly via the buttons and dials, when you need to dive into the big settings menu, you’ll have no problem finding the setting you’re looking for. The OM-1 Mark II’s menu is extremely intuitive and easy to navigate.

OM System OM-1 Mark II review: Autofocus

For any wildlife camera to be considered “good”, it needs to have a rapid autofocus system that always finds your subject and stays locked on to it. Consider the OM System OM-1 Mark II “excellent,” then. The camera utilizes a TTL phase-difference detection and a contrast-detection system, with 1,053 points. For context, that’s just one point less than the premium Canon EOS R5 Mark II, while the Fujifilm X-H2S utilizes only 425 points.

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The OM-1 Mark II features multiple subject detection modes, including but not limited to humans, animals, birds, planes, and cars. Not once did its autofocus let me down — regardless of whether I was photographing humans, stationary animals, or skittish birds. I’ve included a few examples in the gallery above.

OM System sent me three lenses for the purposes of testing this camera: M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II ($1,199), M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25mm F4.0 PRO ($1,099), and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS ($2,999). The wildlife photos were shot using the super telephoto lens which is primarily designed for wildlife photography. It is extremely quick to focus on subjects, especially when used in conjunction with the camera’s subject detection modes.

The camera was quick to detect and lock onto subjects, and paired with the rapid 150-600mm lens I was using, I had no issues quickly focusing on the squirrel, the European goldfinch, the tawny owl, and the crow. The autofocus worked better than my eyes, truth be told! I couldn’t actually see the goldfinch. All I could hear was it chattering and tweeting away. I pointed the camera in the general direction of the sound, and the OM-1 Mark II took mere milliseconds to lock on to the bird.

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Similarly, the tawny owl was tucked away in its box, taking shelter from the rain, and I couldn’t see it very well. I pointed the camera at the box, and the OM-1 Mark II locked onto the little creature. Even though the crow was obscured by branches, it is still in focus.

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Human face and eye detection works just as well, with the camera quickly locking onto my partner’s face in the portraits above, taken with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II lens. This is a quick-focusing lens too, and I was able to rapidly lock onto her face, even in low light. It’s important to note that the OM-1 Mark II’s subject detection doesn’t switch automatically depending on the subject you’re photographing — but auto subject detection is still not a ubiquitous feature on mirrorless cameras at the time of writing.

OM System OM-1 Mark II review: Stabilization

The OM System OM-1 Mark II features excellent in-body image stabilization, now up to 8.5-stops (lens dependent) which is a 20% improvement over its predecessor. Meanwhile, the Fujifilm X-H2S offers only 7-stops and the Panasonic Lumix G9II offers 8-stops.

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This is amazing for when you’re shooting at slow shutter speeds, especially in low-light conditions, or panning across a scene. In my testing, I was able to shoot at shutter speeds as slow as 0.5s. You can see this in the gallery above. The first image was shot at 0.5s and the second at 1s, using the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 PRO II lens at 40mm, which according to OM System provides the full 8.5 stops of stabilization.

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With the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS lens, which itself offers up to 7-stops of image stabilization, I was able to shoot at shutter speeds as slow as 2s at 600mm, as you can see in the first slide above. In the second slide at 2.5s, blur became an issue. This level of stabilization at 600mm is very impressive, and will be invaluable to wildlife photographers using similarly long lenses.

OM System OM-1 Mark II review: Image quality

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The OM System OM-1 Mark II features a Micro Four Thirds sensor, which is smaller than APS-C and full frame format sensors. The OM-1 Mark II’s native resolution tops out at 20.4MP — which is lower than the Fujifilm X-H2S’s 26MP.

It’s important to remember that you’ll be working within the limitations of the sensor’s small size and low-ish resolution. The small size affects dynamic range and cleanliness at higher ISO values. Combined with the modest resolution, images don’t turn out as detailed as on larger and higher-res sensors.

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At moderate ISO values, images lose clarity, giving a watercolor effect and hampering finer details. The first image in the gallery above is the uncropped image, shot at ISO 5000, and the second is a crop of the same. There’s a loss of definition and clarity in the orange fur on the robin’s chest, so it isn’t possible to make out the details of individual furs.

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You can see a few more examples in the gallery above, and the images were shot at the following ISO: 5000 (first), 6400 (second), 5000 (third), 6400 (fourth). In the first image of the Eurasian coot, there’s a loss of clarity in the fur at full size, so you can’t make out the individual features. When the second image of the red deer is enlarged to full size, there isn’t much definition in its fur and eyes. Both the kingfisher and great tit lack definition at full size, too. Although at smaller sizes, the images look fine.

Because of the small sensor size, noise is also more apparent at high sensitivities, something we have also seen with other M43 cameras, like the Panasonic Lumix G9II. This is especially true when compared to full frame and APS-C cameras. I wouldn’t recommend shooting past ISO 6400 unless it’s your last resort. The photo of the Eurasian blue tits above was taken at ISO 8000, with minor adjustments to exposure and shadows made in Lightroom, and as you can see, there is a significant level of grain in the branches and the birds’ fur. The birds’ wings and beaks have lost sharpness too, to the point where the photo just appears unusable.

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I also conducted an indoors ISO test where I captured a photo at ISO 6400. The photos above were shot at ISO 6400 — the first image is a JPEG export of the RAW file, while the second is the straight-out-of-camera (SOOC) JPEG. As you can see in the second slide, the camera has done a respectable job of reducing noise, especially in the black mouse mat Knuckles is standing on. The image is still usable, but definition has again taken a hit, and I wouldn’t want to shoot higher.

It’s important to remember though that this is a drawback of M43 sensors, the trade off being high speed performance. And also to remember who this camera is for. If you’re an amateur and/or enthusiast photographer, then the OM-1 Mark II’s sensor should suffice. At lower ISO, it captures solid photos for sharing on social media, adding to your portfolio, or even making small prints of. The photo of the mushrooms in the gallery above looks beautiful, with popping oranges, and I love the vivid shades of green captured in the other photos too.

If you’re a serious enthusiast, pixel peeper or professional photographer who wants heaps of detail, enough for large format printing and extreme cropping, you’ll want to consider other full frame or APS-C cameras with higher resolutions and better high ISO performance, such as the Fujifilm X-H2S or Sony A7IV ($2,499).

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That said, the OM-1 Mark II’s M43 sensor is perfect for wildlife, giving you lots of effective reach thanks to the crop factor, albeit at the expense of some depth of field. As a wildlife photographer and someone whose favorite subjects to photograph are animals and birds (after my partner, of course), I loved pairing the OM-1 with the 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS telephoto lens, which has an effective focal length of 300-1200mm on a full frame camera, which is honestly ridiculous.

I was able to capture birds high up in trees so I didn’t disturb them in their natural habitat. I’m very proud of the photos I’ve captured with the kit combo, examples of which you can see in the gallery above.

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For moments when you do want to capture more detail, you get access to two High-Res Shot modes: 50MP (handheld) and 80MP (tripod). The High-Res Shot modes work by stacking eight or 12 images respectively. In the gallery above, the first slide is the uncropped 20.4MP image, the second is a crop of the first, the third is a 50MP handheld crop, and the fourth is an 80MP tripod crop. The fourth image is more detailed with the text appearing clearer and sharper compared to the other two, so this is a great feature to have if you’re shooting with a tripod and want to create tighter crops.

High-speed drive

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The OM-1 Mark II packs OM System’s TruePic X processor for blistering 120fps sequential shooting (with AF/AE locked) — all blackout-free through the EVF, as I mentioned earlier. Having 120fps drive at your disposal means you’ll be able to capture every single moment of action, making the camera a standout performer in the realm of wildlife photography. In comparison, the Fujifilm X-H2S’ drive tops out at 40fps and the Panasonic Lumix G9II’s at 75fps.

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I fully utilized this while photographing birds. While land animals you find in the U.K. are typically slower, birds are not, and you need all the tech you can get to capture blink-and-you-miss-it moments. With the 120fps drive, I was able to get lovely photos of birds in flight, jumping off branches, and landing on them, as seen in the gallery above. You also get Pro Capture which starts buffering a running series of photos at 120fps when the shutter button is half-pressed, ensuring you don’t miss the action.

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But not all situations require a rapid 120fps drive — while photographing slow-moving deer, for instance. You can also shoot at 10fps, 12.5fps, 16.7fps, 25fps and 50fps. These speeds are a new addition as they were missing from the first-gen OM-1. The photos in the gallery above were shot using 25fps and 50fps, and they’ve turned out beautifully. I still got the shots I wanted without having to rely on the 120fps drive.

Built-in ND filters

The OM-1 Mark II’s other features include a new series of Live Graduated ND filters — where part of the scene is darkened — available in 1-stop, 2-stop and 3-stop strengths, and these can be set to soft, medium and hard. These are great for landscape photography as you don’t need to panic in case you’ve forgotten your filters at home. The angle of the filter can be adjusted via the front dial, and in the above image, you can see what it looks like on the camera’s monitor.

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Above, you can see what the image looks like without (first image) and with (second image) the GND on. The second photo was shot with the 3-stop, hard GND. There’s also ND128 7-stop Live ND shooting — where light is reduced uniformly across the scene) — which should aid landscape photographers in capturing long exposures when shooting in bright conditions. The only downside is that both Live ND and GND can’t be used simultaneously or in conjunction, so you’ll still need to use traditional screw-on filters when needed.

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Alongside the natural color profile, you also get access to a plethora of color profiles and picture modes, such as Monochrome, Film Grain, Vivid, Portrait, Sepia, among others. You can see an example of Monochrome and Film Grain in the gallery above. It’s worth experimenting with the different color profiles to see what suits your style best.

Dynamic range

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The OM-1 Mark II offers up to 13+ stops of dynamic range with a base ISO of 80. I conducted an extreme dynamic range indoors by placing an object in front of a bright studio light. The first image in the gallery above is a JPEG export of the RAW file, unedited, and the second is the same photo but with shadows lifted and highlights reduced in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

As you can see in the second photo, the shadows are pretty clean. The legends on the scale are easily discernible and they’re sharp. I was able to save some of the highlights in the fake ice cubes placed on the background netting, but quite a lot of detail was lost to blown out highlights.

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Above is a real-world example of dynamic range testing. The first is the unedited image and in the second, I have reduced the highlights and lifted the shadows. Reducing the highlights revealed the branches in the foreground, and more detail has been revealed in the other branches too. Lifting the shadows has also revealed more detail in the crow’s neck. The blacks are fairly noise-free as well — so lab tests aren’t everything.

If you want a camera with wider dynamic range, giving you more flexibility in challenging lighting conditions, you’ll need to invest in something with a larger sensor, like the APS-C Fujifilm X-H2S or a full frame camera like the Sony A7IV.

OM System OM-1 Mark II review: Video

If you want to partake in some casual videography, the OM System OM-1 Mark II is more than capable — even though it’s a stills-first camera. The camera can shoot C4K/60fps, 4K/60fps and FHD/240fps. 10-bit 4:2:2 recording means the camera is capable of capturing 1.07 billion individual hues and colors, and OM-Log gives you great freedom in post-production.

OM System OM 1 Mark II — Wildlife montage - YouTube

Watch On

C4K/60fps video is colorful and smooth, as you can see in the compilation of clips above. These clips were shot using the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS telephoto lens (at the longest focal length!), so while there is some camera shake, the clips are still very stable, thanks to the camera’s IBIS working in conjunction with the lens’ 7-stop IS.

If you want to shoot at higher resolutions, the Fujifilm X-H2S can shoot 6K/30fps video, giving you more freedom to crop and reframe.

OM System OM-1 Mark II review: Battery life

The OM System OM-1 Mark II utilizes a 2280mAh BLX-1 Lithium-ion battery pack, and the camera is CIPA-rated for 520 shots. This doubles to 1,010 stills when using the camera’s Quick Sleep mode, a power-saving mode in which the viewfinder and monitor are dimmed or put to sleep after a certain amount of time, toggled via the settings menu. Quick Sleep mode dims the monitor after 3s, 5s or 8s, and puts the camera to sleep at various times, between 3s and one minute. It’s a great feature to have if you’re out and about with no access to a charger.

CIPA ratings are usually quite conservative as these are determined using strict (and single-shot) testing conditions, and more often than not, the camera will last you longer in real-world situations. In my testing, I was easily able to shoot more than a thousand images when using a combination of high-speed burst and single shots, and using the monitor to view the images every so often. How long the camera lasts will depend entirely on your shooting settings and conditions, so the CIPA rating can be used as a rule of thumb.

We’ll use the 520-shot rating as the point of reference. In comparison, the Panasonic Lumix GH7 is rated for 330 shots; the Panasonic Lumix G9II is rated for 370; and the pricier Canon EOS R5 Mark II and the Sony A1 II are rated for 340 and 420 shots respectively.

Fuji’s X-H2S, meanwhile, upstages the OM-1 Mark II in the battery department, CIPA-rated for 720 shots between charges. Regardless, if you want a high-speed camera that can last a whole day out in the woods, the OM-1 Mark II is still a decent choice.

OM System OM-1 Mark II review: Verdict

For amateur wildlife enthusiasts , the OM System OM-1 Mark II is near-perfect. Offering IP53 waterproofing, up to 8.5-stops of IBIS, and long battery life, the OM-1 Mark II is incredible. Its blistering 120fps blackout-free drive ensures you never miss a moment while photographing birds in flight or animals in action. Its peerless autofocus system that quickly locks onto wildlife, humans and vehicles is another compelling reason to buy the camera.

It’s a joy to use in the field too, and it packs plenty of handy features for both wildlife and landscape photographers. Live Graduated ND filters and Live ND filters, High-Res Shot modes, and an array of color profiles mean you can get really creative.

But of course, the OM-1 Mark II’s native 20.4MP sensor means you don’t have a lot of room for cropping into images, and images shot at high ISO sensitivities have a watercolor effect to them, and there’s a noticeable amount of noise when shooting at anything higher than ISO 6400. For that reason, the OM-1 Mark II is a good camera for enthusiasts or anyone looking to get their first mirrorless camera — but professional photographers should consider other full frame or APS-C cameras.

Though the lack of a CFExpress card slot feels like a missed opportunity for this speed demon, it more than makes up for that shortcoming with everything else it offers. If there’s one tough-as-nails wildlife camera you’ll ever need, it’s the OM-1 Mark II.