The New PEN Is Sold Out. Here's Why Everyone Wants One.

When was the last time a camera company apologized for selling too many cameras?

OM System did – it’s twice now. The new OM SYSTEM PEN goes on sale October 30th, but preorders piled up so fast that some Japanese buyers who already reserved one may have to wait until spring 2027.  

Let’s look at why this little camera’s in demand.

What Happened

• September 9: OM announces the PEN and opens preorders the same day
• September 10: the first apology. Some buyers won’t get cameras until November or later
• October 7: the second apology. Depending on the color and kit, even reserved orders could slip to spring 2027 or later

The backlog covers the silver and black bodies, both kits, and even the BLS-7 battery and BCS-7 charger. The standalone 14-42mm lens ships on time.  

OM hasn’t said how many orders came in. Its notice just says it received a very large number.  

So yes, this is a demand OM didn’t plan for. How much, we don’t know.

Why Everyone Wants One

Think about what $999 usually buys you. Most cameras at this price skip either the viewfinder, the weather sealing or the stabilization. The PEN has all three.

• Built-in viewfinder: a 2.36-million-dot OLED, the first on a PEN since the PEN-F in 2016
• Weather sealing: dust resistance plus an IPX1 rating against dripping water, a first for the PEN line
• In-body stabilization: 5-axis, rated to 5.5 stops
• OM’s computational tricks: 50MP handheld and 80MP tripod high-res shots, Live ND, focus stacking and Pro Capture at about 30fps
• Size: 393g with battery and card

Quick note on that sealing.  IPX1 is light protection. Think drizzle, not downpour. It also needs a sealed lens and no cables plugged in.

But all that tech runs $999.99 for the body, $1,099.99 with the new 14-42mm III and $1,299.99 for the Double Zoom kit.

The Story Sells, Too

The PEN name goes back to 1959. This is the first PEN to carry the OM System badge, and the first PEN sold in North America in about a decade. The E-P7 never officially made it here.

So a lot of photographers have been waiting a long time.

Who’s It For?

Travel, street and everyday shooters. Small enough to carry all day, sealed enough for a damp morning and stabilized enough to shoot slow shutter speeds handheld.

DPReview gave it 84% and called it charming, but flagged a few things:

• Autofocus tracking can be unpredictable
• Video tops out at 8-bit 4K/30
• The buttons are small and crowded

If you shoot sports, wildlife or video, look elsewhere. If you want a camera that lives in your bag, this one makes a strong case. And it works with the whole Micro Four Thirds lens library, from tiny pancakes to PRO zooms.

Haven’t We Seen This Before?

We have.  In 2024, Fujifilm’s X100VI sold out so hard that Fujifilm doubled production, and backorders still dragged on for months.

Small, good-looking cameras with real character keep outrunning supply. The PEN is just the latest.

Worth the Wait?

For the right photographer, yes. A handsomely small and well appointed camera that’s sealed and stabilized with a viewfinder under $1,000 doesn’t come along often.  

Sources

• PetaPixel: Even Preordered PENs Might Wait Until Spring
• Daily Camera News: PEN Shipment Delay
• Digital Camera World: The PEN Is Already on Backorder
• DIYPhotography: PEN Arrives October 30, but Some Orders May Take Months

Elevate Your Vision

Join our community of passionate photographers.

Access our extensive knowledge archive.

Master the art of landscape and beyond.

Your Email *

Select list(s) to subscribe to

General Interest

Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Luminous Landscape. (You can unsubscribe anytime)

Constant Contact Use. Please leave this field blank.

---

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: The Luminous Landscape Inc. https://luminous-landscape.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the  SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.

By subscribing I agree with Terms and Conditions

Do it later