The catch
OM SYSTEM OM-3 body
It has one card slot and no wired remote input. The wireless RM-WR2 is separate.
Side by side
OM SYSTEM OM-3 vs OM-1 Mark II: OM-3 is 103g lighter, OM-1 II brings still-photo copies and wired control
Quick verdict
The OM-3 is 103g lighter, and the OM-1 II adds two-card still copies and a wired remote input. Take the OM-3 for lighter outings if one card and off-camera copies are acceptable. Take the OM-1 II if configured still-photo duplication or wired control matters. Both are body-only and use BLX-1 batteries. Movies on the OM-1 II go to one selected card, so its second slot gives no simultaneous movie backup.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
At an event, the second card does more for the photographer than for the filmmaker
Photographing a graduation and then recording a speech shows how the OM-1 II’s two slots protect each job differently. With a Dual Same mode configured, stills are duplicated, but a movie goes to Slot 1 or Slot 2, not both. For stills, Dual Same 5 stops when either card fills. Dual Same 6 carries on with the remaining card, so shooting continues but duplication has ended. Pick the setting whose consequence you can live with. The OM-3 needs an off-camera copy for both jobs. In either case, check important files once you are home, since two cards in one camera share the risk of loss or theft.
Where this comes from
Still and movie destination behavior as the OM-1 II manual states it, set against the OM-3’s one slot. No promise of backup in every mode.
The catch
OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II body
It weighs 103g more. The second slot duplicates eligible stills but not movies, and what happens when a card fills depends on the mode you select.
OM SYSTEM OM-3 body
- Why pick it
- One compatible lens and BLX-1 spares fit your trip, and a body 103g lighter is welcome.
- A single card is fine as long as you back up off the camera promptly.
- The catch
- It has one card slot and no wired remote input. The wireless RM-WR2 is separate.
OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II body
- Why pick it
- Before you leave the event you want two configured copies of the still photographs that matter. Movies stay on a single card.
- A compatible wired release is part of your kit, or you want the longer supported pre-shutter window.
- The catch
- It weighs 103g more. The second slot duplicates eligible stills but not movies, and what happens when a card fills depends on the mode you select.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money
What this page compares
OM-3 vs OM-1 Mark II for outdoor photos, family events and lenses you already own. See the movie-backup exception, the pre-capture window and the remote-control trade-off.
The lens mount and the BLX-1 battery are shared, and both offer high-speed pre-capture and outdoor protection. For the same photographer, it comes down to a smaller body or a better-equipped one.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Take the same lens on walks with a lighter body
OM-3 saves 103g.
- OM SYSTEM OM-3 body
- Better fit
- OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II body
- Good
Get two copies of key stills before you head home
The OM-1 II can duplicate stills once it is configured to.
- OM SYSTEM OM-3 body
- Not suitable
- OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II body
- Better fit
Copy a movie onto both internal cards
OM-1 II picks one destination for a movie.
- OM SYSTEM OM-3 body
- Not suitable
- OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II body
- Not suitable
Hold on to a wired shutter release that fits
Remote control on the OM-3 is wireless only.
- OM SYSTEM OM-3 body
- Not suitable
- OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II body
- Better fit
In practice
Differences you will notice
At an event, the second card does more for the photographer than for the filmmaker
Photographing a graduation and then recording a speech shows how the OM-1 II’s two slots protect each job differently. With a Dual Same mode configured, stills are duplicated, but a movie goes to Slot 1 or Slot 2, not both. For stills, Dual Same 5 stops when either card fills. Dual Same 6 carries on with the remaining card, so shooting continues but duplication has ended. Pick the setting whose consequence you can live with. The OM-3 needs an off-camera copy for both jobs. In either case, check important files once you are home, since two cards in one camera share the risk of loss or theft.
How we worked this out
Still and movie destination behavior as the OM-1 II manual states it, set against the OM-3’s one slot. No promise of backup in every mode.
Judge the pre-shutter window with focus set the same on both
Say a bird takes off while you are out walking with family. Both cameras can buffer frames before you fully press the shutter. At a chosen 20fps and the maximum buffer, the OM-3’s 70 frames cover 3.5 seconds and the OM-1 II’s 99 cover 4.95 seconds. That means the larger body can hold roughly 1.45 seconds more of nominal lead-in. Moving to 120fps shortens the window and fixes focus, which could be the wrong trade for an animal coming toward you. The faster tracking modes also depend on the exact lens. So the question to ask when buying is whether the longer lead-in and the still-copy workflow are worth the larger body.
How we worked this out
70/20=3.5, 99/20=4.95, a difference of 1.45 seconds. This assumes the maximum configured buffer and the nominal rate. Focus and artifact-free capture are not guaranteed.
The travel kit mostly carries over, but the remote might not
Compatible Micro Four Thirds lenses and BLX-1 batteries are shared, so with the same lens on each the body difference comes down to a plain 103g. The OM-1 II additionally has a 2.5mm wired release connection. The OM-3 does not support wired remote control, even if a wireless RM-WR2 package happens to include a cable meant for other cameras. If you shoot long exposures from a tripod, check the release you already own instead of buying an adapter on the guess that any small socket will fit. Wireless control can still work for the OM-3, though it is an additional accessory that has to be charged and paired.
How we worked this out
Body weight, the shared battery and remote compatibility were verified. Nothing here says wireless control is unreliable by nature or that one grip suits every hand.
Option A
OM SYSTEM, V210050SW000
OM SYSTEM OM-3 body
One compatible lens and BLX-1 spares fit your trip, and a body 103g lighter is welcome.
- Best for
- One compatible lens and BLX-1 spares fit your trip, and a body 103g lighter is welcome.
Facts we checked
- Body with battery/card: 496g
- Battery family: BLX-1
- Card arrangement: One UHS-II SD
- Maximum pre-shutter buffer: 70 frames
Option B
OM SYSTEM, V210040BU000
OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II body
Before you leave the event you want two configured copies of the still photographs that matter. Movies stay on a single card.
- Best for
- Before you leave the event you want two configured copies of the still photographs that matter. Movies stay on a single card.
Facts we checked
- Body with battery/card: 599g
- Battery family: BLX-1
- Card arrangement: Two UHS-II SD
- Maximum pre-shutter buffer: 99 frames
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | OM SYSTEM OM-3 body | OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II body | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body with battery/card | 496g | 599g | Carrying the same lens, the gap is 103g. |
| Battery family | BLX-1 | BLX-1 | Compatible spares you already have fit either body. |
| Card arrangement | One UHS-II SD | Two UHS-II SD | The larger body adds duplication for stills. Movies are not duplicated. |
| Maximum pre-shutter buffer | 70 frames | 99 frames | How long the window lasts still depends on the frame rate you select. |
| Remote release | Wireless only | 2.5mm wired option | A tripod routine built on a cable points to the OM-1 II. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With OM SYSTEM OM-3 body
- Plan for a compatible lens and an off-camera backup destination in your budget.
With OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II body
- Plan for two suitable cards, and make a deliberate choice about stop-on-full behavior. Two cards will not help if the camera itself is lost.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
A daily bag and one-card workflow already cover it
Go with OM SYSTEM OM-3 body. OM-3 retains the lens and battery system while saving 103g.
Still-photo copies or wired control matter repeatedly
Go with OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II body. The OM-1 II adds those functions, but keep the movie exception in mind.
Decision guide
Before you buy
You want a smaller bag for nature walks, and you are also the one expected to keep the family event photographs safe.
What this page can’t tell you
- Autofocus and stabilization are not ranked.
- The nominal buffer window does not guarantee that you save the moment you want.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the mirrorless cameras we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| OM SYSTEM OM-3 body |
|
| |
| OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II body |
|
|
Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
OM SYSTEM OM-3 body
One compatible lens and BLX-1 spares fit your trip, and a body 103g lighter is welcome.
A single card is fine as long as you back up off the camera promptly.
See price & reviews on AmazonOM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II body
Before you leave the event you want two configured copies of the still photographs that matter. Movies stay on a single card.
A compatible wired release is part of your kit, or you want the longer supported pre-shutter window.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money