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OM PEN, OM-3 OR FUJIFILM — WHICH KIT WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
📷 KIT 1 — COMPACT STREET & EVERYDAY
Fujifilm X-E5 + Fujinon XF23mm F2.8 R WR
Choose this for a compact everyday setup, street photography and family memories with Fujifilm JPEGs.
• GET the X-E5: https://amzn.to/4it3UjG (aff)
• GET the XF23mm F2.8: https://amzn.to/4xjzBAR (aff)

📷 KIT 2 — SIMPLE FIRST FUJIFILM KIT
Fujifilm X-T30 III + Viltrox AF 25mm F1.7 Air
A straightforward body-and-prime combination for learning photography, everyday scenes and family pictures.
• GET the X-T30 III: https://amzn.to/3STo7F1 (aff)
• GET the Viltrox 25mm F1.7 for Fujifilm X: https://amzn.to/3Sz1FRx (aff)

📷 KIT 3 — TRAVEL WITH ONE ZOOM
Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon XF16–50mm F2.8–4.8 R LM WR
Choose this when you want to move between wider scenes and tighter compositions without changing lenses.
• GET the X-T50: https://amzn.to/4xtYp9d (aff)
• GET the XF16–50mm: https://amzn.to/4gk6qYo (aff)

📷 KIT 4 — WIDE-ANGLE STREET & LOW LIGHT
Fujifilm X-E5 + Fujinon XF18mm F1.4 R LM WR
The wide-angle combination I discuss for street photography, with a bright prime for working in lower light.
• GET the X-E5: https://amzn.to/4it3UjG (aff)
• GET the XF18mm F1.4: https://amzn.to/3SV2aW6 (aff)

📷 KIT 5 — SMALL EVERYDAY & FAMILY SETUP
Fujifilm X-M5 + Viltrox AF 25mm F1.7 Air
A small camera paired with a bright prime for everyday moments. This is the option to consider if you enjoy composing on the rear screen.
• GET the X-M5: https://amzn.to/4gi7jAx (aff)
• GET the Viltrox 25mm F1.7 for Fujifilm X: https://amzn.to/3Sz1FRx (aff)

📷 PREFER A FIXED-LENS CAMERA?
Fujifilm X100VI — one camera with its lens already built in.
• GET the X100VI: https://amzn.to/4gRr5mA (aff)

📸 MICRO FOUR THIRDS KITS — OM PEN & OM-3 WITH PRO ZOOMS

📷 KIT 1 — OM PEN: COMPACT STREET & TRAVEL
OM SYSTEM PEN + M.Zuiko 12–45mm F4 PRO
For everyday walks, city breaks and travel when keeping the kit small matters.
• GET the OM PEN: https://amzn.to/4r7poVV (aff)
• GET the 12–45mm F4 PRO: https://amzn.to/4xbXCst (aff)

📷 KIT 2 — OM PEN: ONE-LENS TRAVEL SETUP
OM SYSTEM PEN + M.Zuiko 12–100mm F4 IS PRO
For traveling with one versatile zoom, from wide scenes to distant details.
• GET the OM PEN: https://amzn.to/4r7poVV (aff)
• GET the 12–100mm F4 IS PRO: https://amzn.to/4r677It (aff)

📷 KIT 3 — OM PEN: BRIGHT EVERYDAY ZOOM
OM SYSTEM PEN + M.Zuiko 12–40mm F2.8 PRO II
For family photography, everyday moments and a constant F2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range.
• GET the OM PEN: https://amzn.to/4r7poVV (aff)
• GET the 12–40mm F2.8 PRO II: https://amzn.to/3T1qXIe (aff)

📷 KIT 4 — OM-3: SMALL PRO ZOOM COMPANION
OM SYSTEM OM-3 + M.Zuiko 12–45mm F4 PRO
For photographers who want the OM-3 body with a compact zoom for street photography and everyday adventures.
• GET the OM-3: https://amzn.to/4iKxOjA (aff)
• GET the 12–45mm F4 PRO: https://amzn.to/4xbXCst (aff)

📷 KIT 5 — OM-3: TRAVEL & OUTDOOR VERSATILITY
OM SYSTEM OM-3 + M.Zuiko 12–100mm F4 IS PRO
For landscapes, travel and tighter compositions without changing lenses along the way.
• GET the OM-3: https://amzn.to/4iKxOjA (aff)
• GET the 12–100mm F4 IS PRO: https://amzn.to/4r677It (aff)

📷 KIT 6 — OM-3: EVERYDAY F2.8 SETUP
OM SYSTEM OM-3 + M.Zuiko 12–40mm F2.8 PRO II
For a versatile standard zoom with a brighter aperture for family moments, people and everyday photography.
• GET the OM-3: https://amzn.to/4iKxOjA (aff)
• GET the 12–40mm F2.8 PRO II: https://amzn.to/3T1qXIe (aff)

📸 MICRO FOUR THIRDS PRIME LENSES — FOR OM PEN, OM-3 & OTHER M43 CAMERAS

• GET a wide-angle prime for street, architecture and travel — M.Zuiko 12mm F2: https://amzn.to/3SVmGpM (aff)
• GET a tiny pancake for your everyday bag — Panasonic Lumix 14mm F2.5: https://amzn.to/410QthJ (aff)
• GET a compact Leica prime for street and everyday photography — Panasonic Leica 15mm F1.7: https://amzn.to/4ht9yPz (aff)
• GET the original Olympus street photography prime — Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm F1.8: https://amzn.to/3FHgiYc (aff)
• GET the updated OM SYSTEM version — M.Zuiko 17mm F1.8 II: https://amzn.to/4h4QUyD (aff)
• GET a bright PRO prime for storytelling and candid portraits — OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko 20mm F1.4 PRO: https://amzn.to/4A4VWnl (aff)
• GET a small standard prime for family and everyday photography — M.Zuiko 25mm F1.8: https://amzn.to/4lNQQEq (aff)
• GET closer to flowers, textures and little details — M.Zuiko 30mm F3.5 Macro: https://amzn.to/4h4Vhtr (aff)
• GET a compact portrait lens for people and beautiful backgrounds — Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm F1.8: https://amzn.to/4xRHCgC (aff)

🔴 VIBRANT COLORS WITH SLIDE VIVIDA 200: https://lyp.ro/svivida

ibis and weather sealing make the PEN a no brainer for me

I mean, I get that it’s probably good for clicks to make videos this week about the Pen, but the X-E5 is about twice the price as the Pen in the USA, and the comparably-priced Fuji cameras are lacking in some of the features of the Pen.

I use M43 cameras. I have a collection of lenses for that system. I’m interested in different M43 cameras, especially newer ones with features I don’t have in my 10-year old camera. I’m sure the Fuji cameras are good, and if you’re happy with yours, then the Pen is not for you.

I really don’t get why people feel the need to tear down other brands just to feel good about their own choices, tastes, etc. To each their own.

You are totally wrong with the prices. Let me explain why.  You are comparing the price of Fuji X-E5 with the 23mm kit  (which is a lot cheaper than buying the len in a separate way) vs the price of Pen Body only + 17mm mark 2 (which deos not come as a kit) in a separate order which is totally unfair. Why not comparing prices using kit combo vs kit combo? Using the 14-42 mark iii which Olympus is selling as a kit should  be right comparison. The price would be $1100 vs $1900 $USD which is a very big difference. If you want to compare them in your way then X-E5 body only ($1.699) + XF 23mm F2.8($499) = $2.198 which is still a lot more expensive than Pen ($999) + Zuiko 17mm mark2 (649) = $1.648 which is less difference but a little unfair because the Zuiko 17mm mark2 is a way better than the overprice XF 23mm pancake. Or to do it in a more easy way just compare X-E5 body price ($1.699) vs Pen body price (999). The Pen to me s better camera because it offers better value for money

Really appreciate your candid thoughts on all these options. I had several Fujis over the years, and I remember some of the images they gave me…they just sing!

Fun Fact.
Micro Four Thirds cameras come in many sizes and are made for many uses from the working professional that needs a workhorse to the casual photo enthusiast that prefers a small camera.

You talk so much good sense. Your summary regarding JPeg vs need for Raw editing absolutely bang on. Fuji/Ricoh vs all the rest. And of course mft vs APS-c/FF. Thank you.

It is about weather sealing + size, especially lens-size for me. This is why I went from Fuji to OM-5ii. I've got the 12-45 f4 glued to it, a lens that would be much bigger on APS-C. The computational features of OM round that package up. And the often told lack of need for editing on Fuji really depends on what you like personally. For me, it wasn't there. I had to edit, even with Fuji, to be pleased.

Great you like Fujifilm jpeg. I think they design the X-Trans image sensor for this film simulation.

My money went to PEN.  A lot users want EDC ILC that's compact, light weight, weather sealed, IBIS, EVF, excellent AF.  The PEN has it all, plus more.  At $1000, no other camera comes close.

Very good Tudor, thank you. Can Levi invent jeans with an X100 vi pocket please, so I can swap my Ricoh GR (love this camera but the negatives slightly outweigh the positives).

I'd rather go with a cheaper OM System setup and have a reliable autofocus system that doesn't lie to me. Missing irreplaceable, unrepeatable shots in the field because the camera misreported its focus is incredibly frustrating. If you want film simulations on any brand, you just shoot RAW, learn how to edit, and inject your own personal taste and color into the photos. If it's just about shooting and forgetting, use your damn iPhone, or accept that the hard-to-find Fuji X100VI has its physical limits too—its wider 23mm depth of field only masks the same underlying AF tracking errors until you push it to the limit.

Thanks for your perspective! The idea behind MFT was to be innovative and affordable, and to make the photographic gear smaller, lighter, and more robust than competitors' systems with larger sensors. Instead of boosting the OM SYSTEM PEN with the OM-1’s sensor and viewfinder, the camera was stripped-down and fitted with a new BLS-7 battery. The battery is the only new thing! 🤣 They certainly could have accommodated the BLX-1 battery (approx. 55 x 39 x 21 mm), and a slightly wider grip resulting from that wouldn't have hurt. The PEN would have remained compact regardless, offered a significantly higher shot count, and allowed for shared use with the OM-1 or OM-3. I use MFT exclusively with RAW and mostly just in good weather; it’s true that the JPEG output is weak. A Lumix GX9 Mk2 or GM5 Mk2 isn't coming, and neither is the PEN-F Mk2 I had hoped for. OM SYSTEM and Panasonic practically force you to look at other systems. Best regards from Germany.

I agree 100% with your assessment. I will point out in terms of color science Panasonic is standardizing their new cameras across MFT and full frame to V-gamut and dynamic range boost. This is a boon to videographers as you can mix and match cameras and not have to struggle in post to grade differently.

V-gamut is a very large color space and I can attest to its accuracy based on my G9ii tests where shooting a color target and creating a DCP profile of it barely changes from the standard setting.

What this means is you have an excellent base for applying LUTs.

I can get beautiful JPEGs out of my G9ii without using a RT LUT with the standard picture profiles and just modifying the tone curves and white balance offsets.

There is a downside in that above ISO 1600 the raw files are noisy and the noise reduction in the JPEGs is not as good as DxO. Video is another story where profiles like Cine D NR is pretty clean.

I would say that the Lumix L10 vs the PEN with a comparable zoom would be a better option.

Having said that Fujifilm simulations are better than RT LUTs but the ecosystem with Lumix Lab is now very robust.

In Canada Fujifilm started raising their prices starting with the X100vi but have kept the price increases on the other cameras to a minimum if at all.

yk you can get the mark I of that 17mm lens used for like 200$ or less right, basically the same lens optically and material wise just not weather sealed. And you are also comparing what Fuji markets to be high end cameras with flagship sensors to a entry level camera, you know what is harder to justify, the 800$ price jump from the OM Pen to the X100VI or the XE5.

And you are also using examples of a kit lens on the XE5 which when come bundled offers heavy discounts rather than buying seperately like other comments said, while the 17mm f1.8 mark II is NOT a kit lens. The 14-42 f4-5.6 mark III is the kit lens and it only cost 100$ more when bought with the camera. Value for value the OM Pen knocks the XE5 out of the water, the only thing XE5 has over it is 40mpx and film simulations, feature wise OM Pen takes versatility in every aspect, live composite, live nd, in camera focus stacking, handheld high res, much better ibis, better autofocus, better weather sealing, more lens options.

the lens options on the M4/3 platform makes it easy for me to justify imo

For pricing I would see the Pen competing with xt30/xm5 or a6400 each with a corresponding kit lens. The x100/xe-5 are over 50% higher price and fuji just increased the prices this month.

Am a little surprised OM couldn't make the Pen body just a little slimmer or sleeker to squeeze the maximum size benefits of m43 sensor/mount. Could have looked a bit sexier and compact than alternatives.

Tilt/flip screens yeah it looks like they tried to please everyone instead of committing to optimising the photo experience.

Would like to see someone trying the Pen with the Panasonic 12-32 pancake that could be a neat package.

p.s. I keep saying we have the same exact preferences for street. So, I keep following you until you find your perfect camera!

Hi Tudor! Great video and opinion. I have also some of the cameras you are talking about, Sonys a7 serie. Actually I now and then return to a7c..it is very capable I think. However I also use m43 and in particular OM-3. I think you describe it quite well, its a little big to be a m43, but very capable for all sorts of photograpy, very quick I think. On Fuji side I have no experince, but I would like to propose the Olympus Pen E-P7 as an camera on the low budget side. It s old I know and no evf. Still 20mp sensor tilt screen 4k and very, very light. I don’t know why its so forgotten. I would say it is quite good for what it is. Perhaps you already tried?

Seems you’re a Fuji fanboy to me. Why not just give your opinion on the pen and let buyers decide? Why keep promoting/selling Fuji? 🤷🏻‍♂️