One of my recent YouTube videos discussing color harmonies is perfect for those loving autumn colors. One of the better ways to practice working with color harmonies is nature photography. For example, this time of year is perfect for autumn colors. One would typically target complementary, analogous, split-complementary, and analogous-complimentary color harmonies. I used opposite colors to target complementary colors in the Workspace converted Pen F raw files displayed in this article.
PS. See the EP-7 and OM-3 images converted with the same color profile.
There are several articles on my blog reviewing the creative color strategy of Olympus, which kicked off with ART filters in 2008 with the Olympus E-30. The video below discusses color harmonies for Olympus and OM System cameras with the Adjust Color (Color Profile) function. The same function is available in Workspace, which makes it possible to apply color profiles to other cameras.
OM System announced a new PEN mirrorless camera on Monday, the 9th of September 26. Except for YouTubers discussing photography with Olympus and OM System equipment, others resurfaced for the first time to present the new PEN following the OM-3 launch in January 2025. It was amusing to see the instant love and joy over the fifth variation of a 12-year-old Pro mirrorless camera. This short article expresses some of my thoughts and whether the new PEN could replace my EP-7.
PS: Also, see my thoughts about the new PEN replacing the older Pen F.
One could literally repeat the top 5 OM System sales arguments after the third YouTube video, which is perfectly fine, as corporate press events were done like this forever. It's normal to work with press representatives and to place a print-ready article or script in each press package. The difference is, one never saw a line like, "The article is sponsored, but I am free to report my thoughts." The contrast between innovation with Olympus during the final 10 years and the 5 years with OM System reminds me of a small community of influencers admiring the Stone Age, where size matters.
See this video discussing color profiles with the OM-3.
Does the above segmentation strategy look like something supporting the next 10 years? Does it matter?
There is something special about professional Olympus or OM System cameras. It's always a joy to see the excitement when someone bought an older EM-1. The popularity of cameras like the E-1 & 3, the EM-1 series, and the EM1X are more examples. The Olympus EM-1 II introduced many photographers to the MFT segment, and the EM-5 series enjoyed a distinct enthusiast preference, which made the EM-5 III and the first OM-5 obvious progress. It's almost disrespectful to repurpose a 6-year-old professional camera like the EM-1 III to an entry-level and low-cost camera. We can only speculate what's next for pro-level cameras like the Olympus OM1, the OM System OM-1 II, and the OM-3.
If well "designed" (repurposed), the OM System PEN has the potential to quickly become the ultimate entry-level pro camera, while the modest EP-7 has proven to be a great everyday camera. Copying the color & mono lever from the EP-7 is an appropriate choice, as it's a more practical option than the creative dials of the OM-3 and older Pen F. The new mobile phone application (IO.Share) looks like a welcome improvement. See my Workspace update page for more information on why I removed the newer Workspace V2.5 and reinstalled the older V2.3.2 on my MacBook and iMac.
Considering the knowledge we gained, would it be a mistake to move on...?
One cannot help but wonder if Workspace became an existential liability to OM System. Everything about the RAW+ format and Workspace points to innovation and a culture of designing cameras that would lead the industry. Olympus invested in loyal customers with exciting camera firmware updates and the unique RAW+ concept by extending the camera's TruePic imaging to Workspace.
The more experience I have with the enhanced raw format (RAW+) and the creative color options of OM System (Olympus), the more frustrating it is when basics like opening PEN raw files in Workspace have a negative impact on performance. Unfortunately, it seems like OM System lost interest in that one thing, adding tremendous value in a fluid and changing post-processing environment.
Interestingly, only a few social media influencers who introduced the PEN did a comparison between the PEN, OM-5, and OM-3. An OM-5 II body costs a little more than the OM-3 on our local market. How much are you willing to spend on the OM-3 or a repurposed OM-1 II? The EM-1 III, OM-5, or the PEN are great cameras, whereas the OM-3 is a beast with its TruePic X and Quad BSI sensor.
See this interesting report about the OM-3 from Mark McGee...
Would you partner with those loving the "new" look of a 12-year-old camera and repeating "bigger is better" sales lines the day after? One of them reviewed 9 products from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, and OM System in the same month. Why not select YouTube channels discussing segments like traveling, farming, and sailing, where influencers could showcase the new OM System PEN camera?
It's only fair to consider how much smiling YT promoters contribute to OM System's success over a 24-months period, while competitors are launching exciting new products, and software companies like DxO, Canva (Affinity), ON-1, and Skylum are working hard. Is a moment's "hype" over a 12-year-old repurposed camera and inconsistent software enough to foster a loyal customer base?
Will the new PEN replace the PEN EP-7? The new camera was developed to target new customers, not traditional Olympus photographers. The launch price was pitched at an acceptable street price, which would rather increase than loose value if the OM marketing team continues doing an excellent job. That means the Olympus EP-7 will become an even more appealing secondhand alternative. The Pen EP-7 is and will continue to be an excellent low-cost and everyday creative alternative.
While taking a peek at Canon, Nikon, and Sony, I again realized why the used MFT market is a worthy competitor to these brands, offering excellent cameras and lenses. It doesn't cost much to own the EM-1 III with the 12-45 mm and 40-150 mm f/4.0 Pro lenses. Cameras like the Pen EP-7 or the EM-10 IV make it difficult to justify the cost associated with an APC or FF camera. I would much rather have a new PEN on the back end of my M.Zuiko lenses than Nikon, Canon, or Sony kit lenses...
The Olympus PEN EP-7 has been one of the most popular everyday cameras...
All the photos were taken with my Olympus EP-7 and 17 mm f/2.8 lens.
The images below are from the Pen F with my Leica 25mm f/1.4 lens. I used color harmonies while converting the RAW+ files in Workspace. See this video for more on color harmonies. The information shared in the video makes working with color harmonies a pleasure. It's safe to say that technically and functionally, the new OM System PEN is a worthy replacement for the Olympus PEN F. Those pointing to the look and feel of the Pen F also complained about the creative dial...
PS:- Is it fair to think they would continue to complain even if the PEN was an exact copy of the Pen F...?
Taken with the Olympus EM-1 III and the M.Zuiko 12-45mm pro lens. I converted the RAW+ file in Workspace.
I decided to take my E-M5 II and Leica 25mm f/1.4 lens on a summer afternoon walk with my wife and Milo. It was literally the final minutes prior to the sun setting for a quiet evening. The EM-5 II, with its innovative feature set, continues to be a fascinating mirrorless camera in 2026. The images have a unique natural balance with beautiful colors, and it's one of only a few cameras with a pleasant and soft shutter sound. The posted photos were converted and edited in Workspace, and the frames were added in Affinity. I edited my camera settings, tonal settings, and a mix of Natural, iEnhanced, and Color Creator Picture modes in Workspace. It's great to use a mirrorless camera from 2015 with such an advanced "computational" like feature set. Will it be the final one in my camera bag?
PS. The posted images ended up covering a span of three days.
Forecasted consumer trends, like the declining popularity of compact digital cameras and demand for hybrid cameras, seem to have been marketing "trends" all these years. We also see how corporate and consumer priorities changed with the arrival of AI, which impacts the business forecasts and priorities of professional photographers. For instance, the original Sony A1 with a lower shutter count is now a better financial alternative to the newer MKII label. Shouldn't photographers question official market trends more, with used camera sales being excluded from globally reported sales figures? One cannot help but wonder, how well is OM System geared for this fast-changing environment?
Imagine the savings potential when using a mirrorless camera from 2015 with modern features such as connectivity to OM Capture, Pen F and OM-3 color profiles via Workspace, 40MP high-res photos, and more. The EM-5 II has proven to be an exciting camera with its high-sensitivity 16 MB Live MOS sensor. Imagine an MFT camera with access to a large range of quality used lenses and no need for expensive PC configurations, overpriced memory cards, and high-capacity memory servers in 2026.
Olympus EM-5 II and the 25mm f/1.4 Leica lens. ISO200, f/3.5, 1/8th. This high-res 40MP RAW+ file was converted in Workspace.
While watching a video from James Popsys about colour and studying the book Lighting & Rendering from Jeremy Birn, I was reminded of how much more I need to learn. I am looking forward to the day our focus shifts from perfect cameras to using our GOD given talents to become better artists and not consumers. I am excited to see a new camera from OM System and wish them success...
The photos below are a selection of my enhanced raw files converted and edited in Workspace, plus HDR conversions of the EM-5 II raw files in Affinity. I added all the frames in Affinity.
This is one of my EM-5 II plus 25mm f/1.4 Leica lens photos I took the day after. I used the Color Creator in Workspace.
This is a more "natural" EM5 II - HDR version of the converted RAW file in Affinity Photo 2.
Another EM-5 II HDR raw conversion in Affinity Photo 2.
I used the HDR function of Affinity to convert this EM-5 II RAW+ file. Affinity made HDR photography fun again...
