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| OM System still only offers cameras with a Micro Four Thirds sensor. |
OM Digital Solutions executives reveal that APS-C and full-frame sensor proposals were discussed internally—but Micro Four Thirds remains the future.
In a candid new interview, senior executives at OM Digital Solutions have confirmed that the company seriously considered abandoning the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) format in favor of larger APS-C or full-frame sensors. The revelation comes just two months after OM System launched its latest MFT camera, the OM Pen, priced at $1,099 on Amazon.
A Format Decision That Could Have Changed Everything
Speaking on OM Digital Solutions' Japanese YouTube channel, Setsuya Kataoka (COO) and Eiji Shirota (CEO of the OM System Business Unit) addressed one of the most persistent questions in the photography community: why doesn't OM System make a full-frame camera?
According to the executives, proposals to launch a camera with an APS-C or full-frame sensor were made several times within the company. Shirota reportedly considered such a switch shortly after OM Digital Solutions acquired Olympus' camera division. However, after extensive internal discussions, he concluded that pursuing larger sensors would not be the right path forward.
The full interview was originally reported by Digital Camera Life and later covered by PetaPixel.
Micro Four Thirds Has "Far From Exhausted" Its Potential
Despite the internal debate, both executives remain bullish on MFT. Kataoka emphasized that the format's potential is "far from exhausted." While full-frame cameras have evolved more rapidly in recent years thanks to their larger market share, Shirota argued that the relevance of the MFT-versus-full-frame difference ultimately depends on the individual photographer.
Shirota's position is that while a gap between sensor formats will always exist, once Micro Four Thirds image quality reaches a level that fully satisfies users, that gap should hardly matter anymore. OM System's official stance is that neither format is inherently better—full-frame offers clear advantages in image quality, while MFT delivers significantly more compact and lightweight systems.
A Shrinking but Focused Ecosystem
The interview arrives at a challenging moment for the MFT platform. Panasonic has not introduced a new photography-focused MFT camera since the Lumix G100D in 2024, and Olympus' exit from the camera market left OM System as the format's most visible champion. Nevertheless, OM System's decision to stay the course suggests the company sees its future in differentiation rather than direct competition with full-frame giants like Sony, Canon, and Nikon.
For photographers invested in the MFT ecosystem—particularly wildlife, travel, and outdoor shooters who prize portability—the executives' comments offer reassurance that OM System is committed to the format for the long haul, even if it means swimming against the full-frame tide.
Source: Notebookcheck | Interview via: Digital Camera Life, PetaPixel | Product: OM Pen on Amazon