One thing which differentiates between standard landscape photography and adventure shots is a sense of scale. If you’re photographing a stunning snowy vista, include a snowboarder and the overarching sense of scale will immediately become more apparent, adding human interest to your shot. Create a story If you like the sound of a camera that’s small, handles well and gives attractive images, and works out as excellent value for money, then the E-M5 Mark III should certainly be high on your shortlist. Paired with a compact Micro Four Thirds lens, you have a great travel system. Which perhaps means that the E-PL series isn't done yet. The line saw annual (if incremental) updates every year from 2016 to 2019, culminating in the Olympus PEN E-PL10. These were consistently among the best-selling cameras in Japan and Asia, but that gangbusters business wasn't really replicated in the West. The E-M10 Mark IV is one of our favourite small mirrorless cameras, especially given that the MFT system is blessed with a terrific range of portable, high-quality lenses. If you’re looking for a travel-friendly mirrorless camera, it’s one of the best choices you can make. My solution was to keep using iPhones 8/8+ for most situations and a GoPro Hero5 for those moments when using the iPhone could be dangerous.

Image quality is reasonable for a camera with a 1/2.3-inch sensor, although overexposure and blown highlights can be seen in some images, and there's a loss of detail at the telephoto end of the lens. Colors are nice and rich, though, and the inclusion of raw shooting gives you the option to fine-tune your images later. The best Olympus camera is the flagship OM-1, which provides content creators with the latest technology for photography and video. With accurate autofocus, blistering high-speed shooting and class-leading stabilisation, OM cameras excel at capturing subjects as diverse as sports, action and wildlife, as well as weddings, portraits and travel. The Olympus Tough TG-6 differs somewhat from the others on our list as it does not include a Micro Four Thirds sensor. It’s worthy of a mention as it’s a fantastic waterproof camera and one that has made a great impression since it was launched in 2019. Recently we’ve seen OM System announce an upgrade, the OM System Tough TG-7 – once we’ve given this camera a full review it’ll likely make it onto this list, but for now, the TG-6 is still a great buy. The TG-6 is a bit of an outlier in that Olympus continues to use a 12 Megapixel sensor, rather than the 16 or 20 Megapixel sensors found on its competitors. On a chip this small, the TG-6’s lower pixel count might help its performance at higher ISOs, but the much bigger benefit is its lens’ ability to go to F2.0 at its widest-angle setting, letting in twice as much light as its closest rivals will. And, for most purposes, a 12 Megapixel sensor is more than enough.The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is a perfect option for those after lightweight camera. Credit: Andy Westlake iPhoneXSmax has two cameras with fixed lens at 26, 52mm equivalent, Oly's zoom power is 100mm equivalent. But you could use a 2x add on lens to reach that with your iPhone and keep much better IQ than the Oly. When it comes to adventure photography, the better prepared you are, the better chance you have of nailing the shot. Take the time to research the area, using maps and guidebooks to find points of interest. If possible, do a scout of the area first to look out for potential shots – and crucially – any potential safety issues which will give you complete confidence when it comes to shooting. Add scale Although this camera is not the most recent, the features and technology included are still very much impressive. This includes its 5-axis in-body stabilisation, 4K video, fully articulated touchscreen and 121 AF point feature. We think Micro Four Thirds has a lot to offer photographers and videographers alike – you can read more on why we love the system in our piece on why Micro Four Thirds offers something no-one else can. Can Olympus cameras use Panasonic lenses?

The Olympus Tough TG-7 gives you the freedom to explore the world in an array of different perspectives, including the remarkable ability to capture subjects from as close as 1cm away, all while achieving an impressive maximum image magnification of 7x. This impressive system not only pushes the boundaries of macro photography but also offers a range of complimentary features from vertical video support to Time Lapse Movies and Integrated GPS. Focusing is nice and snappy and the LCD screen has fair visibility in bright light, with easy menu navigation. It's not a touchscreen, but then this isn't something we expect to see on underwater cameras. We’ve never seen an image from a toughened camera rival one from a DSLR or mirrorless model that could be bought for around the same price, and it's the same story here.

Olympus PEN series: Smaller and more streamlined than the OM-D cameras, the PEN mirrorless models are stylish mirrorless cameras for those who still want to take great photos, but want a more stylish camera. The E-PLx range are more beginner friendly, whereas the E-Px range is a more premium option. PEN cameras also don’t have viewfinders, so you’ll need to be comfortable using the LCD screen. So now, let’s get started with the best Olympus and OM-System cameras you can buy, for all users and budgets… Best OM-System and Olympus cameras in 2023 Either way, OM Digital said that the PEN line is alive. And in fact, the E-P7 was the first camera released under the new ownership. We wouldn't be at all surprised to see an OM System E-P8 or an OM System E-PL11 –or even to see them receive new names. The OM System verdict When it comes to features the Olympus TG-6 comes with a host of shooting options from 16 different scene modes to an aperture priority setting. The ISO ranges from ISO 100 to 12800, and the bright F2 lens enables faster shutter speeds for capturing moving subjects. The camera is also capable of recording 4K movies. It’s also worth mentioning it made it onto our list of the top 12 best waterproof and underwater cameras! After the success of the ‘Olympus’ OM-1, the OM SYSTEM OM-5 represented the difficult second album. The revitalised brand had shown promise under its new hands, but consistency would be the key to seeing if there was a long-term future. Fears proved unfounded – the OM System OM-5 has turned out to be a delight and triumph. As a replacement for the E-M5 series, it represents the middle of the range, and so delivers a lightweight build with high-speed shooting, and comes at a significantly lower price than the OM-1.

We test cameras both in real-world shooting scenarios and in carefully controlled lab conditions. Our lab tests measure resolution, dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio. Resolution is measured using ISO resolution charts, dynamic range is measured using DxO Analyzer test equipment and DxO Analyzer is also used for noise analysis across the camera's ISO range.

Lastly, the TG-6's host of close-up features not only allow for capturing subjects 1cm (0.4") away: the 'digital microscope' mode lets you zoom in up to four times more, though with a reduction in image quality. Olympus sells a ring light and flash diffuser to add flexibility to your macro photography. Everyday shooters and parents who want something that can be dropped or get wet, unlike their smartphone If you haven’t spent all your money on the camera – which has a 25% premium over the TG-6 – add-on accessories include underwater housing that extends waterproofing depths to 45m, and a ring light that fixes around the lens and can add a little fill light for punchy macro shots.

The Olympus Tough TG-6 boasts an attractive mix of sporty and industrial design courtesy of visible faceplate screws, which should appeal to photographers and action junkies wanting the best of both those worlds. One of the big improvements for this model over the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-4 is in its video capability. While the previous model could record Full HD video, the TG-5 can now record in the ultra-high resolution 4K video mode – making it ideal for capturing all of your precious adventure memories. Another exciting new feature is 120fps Full HD movie recording, meaning you can capture ultra-slow motion video for a fun and intriguing effect, which showcases your adventures in a special way. 8. Macro One key advantage the OM-5 brings compared to the previous E-M5 cameras is its significantly improved weather-sealing. The OM-5 is IP53 rated, and is the most affordable camera with that rating currently available. It means you can venture fearlessly into nature without worrying about a sudden downpour ruining your camera. Image quality is great too, with the OM-5 producing great-looking JPEGs that need minimal editing to look fantastic – perfect for those who’d rather be behind a camera than in front of a computer.

Best used Olympus cameras

Boasting impeccable performance properties, the Olympus Tough TG-7 has an impressive F2.0 high-speed zoom lens for capturing every second of the action, RAW recording capabilities, as well as a 4x optical zoom lens accompanied with an F2.0 aperture for rapid shutter speeds and reduced subject blur - ensuring every frame is crystal clear. The FinePix XP140 has a 16MP sensor, an ISO range of 100-12800, and a 5X optical zoom lens that goes from 28-140mm (35mm equivalent). It can also shoot 4K video, albeit at a low frame rate of 15 fps, so videos may look a bit choppy. A Cinemagraph Mode lets you take still images with moving elements, and a Smile Shutter feature will automatically take a shot when you can see everyone's teeth. It also has Bluetooth to make it easier to transfer photos from the camera to your smartphone or tablet. How to choose the best waterproof camera for you