OM System Confirms New PEN Camera Coming September 9

After a week of speculation about a new camera from OM System, the company has released a teaser confirming the rumors. The teaser strongly suggests that a new PEN series camera is coming next month.

OM System Teases New PEN Camera

The teaser showcases the history of the PEN series, starting with the original PEN half-frame camera from 1959. It then moves to the Olympus PEN E-P1, released in 2009 as the company’s first digital mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera and the first Micro Four Thirds camera. Finally, the timeline jumps to 2026, where it ends with the silhouette of a new camera.

The teaser strongly suggests that OM System is preparing a new addition to its popular PEN series.

The PEN Series Is Making a Comeback

The last entry in the series was the PEN E-P7, released in 2021 by OM System. It was the only PEN camera released by the company after it spun off from Olympus. Interestingly, the E-P7 was never officially released in the US.

Rumors of a new PEN camera started earlier this month after a new OM System camera registration in Asia was shared online. At the time, there was plenty of speculation about which camera the registration could represent.

However, there have been signs that OM System has been planning a new PEN camera for some time. At the 2025 CP+ Show, the company said that the PEN series was a core part of its camera strategy and that it was actively exploring a successor.

The company also said at the 2026 CP+ Show that it was planning to release a new PEN series camera under the OM System brand. At the time, representatives from the company did not have a specific release date.

Coming soon… pic.twitter.com/jASAyHBcXe

— OM SYSTEM JP (@omsystem_jp) August 26, 2026

Small Cameras Are Becoming Popular Again

With the market increasingly moving toward smaller cameras like the popular Canon G7X Mark III, Fujifilm X100VI, and Ricoh GR IV, releasing a new PEN camera could be the right move for OM System. Panasonic recently released the Lumix L10, which has already topped the Japanese sales charts.

A small interchangeable-lens camera in the PEN series would give OM System a different option in its lineup. There is a certain appeal to having a pocket-sized camera that can deliver great images while remaining easy to carry for street and travel photography.

OM System Needs a Hit

OM System also needs to play catch-up as the company dropped to seventh place in the most recent Nikkei Industry Map. Sixth place was taken by Ricoh, which climbed up presumably thanks to the strong showing of the GR IV, which has consistently been sold out at major retailers.

A successful new PEN could help OM System capitalize on the renewed interest in compact cameras while giving the company a product that occupies a different niche from its OM-series cameras.

Pricing and Availability

There is no word yet on what the new camera will be or how much it will cost. OM System will officially announce the new PEN camera on September 9, 2026.

We will update you as more information becomes available.