OM System PEN vs Panasonic Lumix L10: I compared these two classy Micro Four Thirds cameras — and I was surprised by which model became my favorite | Daily Reports Online
OM System has finally given Olympus PEN fans what they’ve been wanting for years: a PEN update. The series of rangefinder-style cameras with Micro Four Thirds mount has a cult following, and the latest model to join the ranks, simply named the OM System PEN, is surprisingly affordable.
At the time of writing, I’m still using and testing the new OM System PEN for my in-depth review — look out for my comprehensive verdict, coming soon. But throughout my time with the retro-cool camera I’ve been struck by just how similar it is in design and size to another hit camera from 2026: the Panasonic Lumix L10 premium compact.
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I took the Lumix L10 and the OM System PEN with me on a work trip to China, where I had plenty of opportunities to shoot cityscapes, street photography and more with both cameras, and get a real feel for them in the process. Let’s dive in and see how they compare.
Lenses: the major difference
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
- OM System PEN: Micro Four Thirds lens mount, with hundreds of lenses to choose from
- Lumix L10: A built-in 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 lens
The OM System PEN features a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens mount, meaning it’s directly compatible with hundreds of MFT lenses that between them cover just about any situation — macro, portraiture, wildlife, you name it. The camera can be purchased body-only, or with a new kit lens — the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III (equivalent 28-84mm). Unlike previous versions, this third-generation lens is “splash proof”, as is the OM PEN body.
The Lumix L10, meanwhile, has a built-in 10.9-34mm f/1.7-2.8 zoom lens (24-75mm equivalent), which is more compact than the OM PEN’s new kit lens. It extends when you turn the camera on and when zooming, and is, theoretically, at risk of dust ingress over long-term use. Panasonic doesn’t class the lens as dust- and moisture-proof, but does note that the design has been improved from previous LX100 cameras that the L10 is based on.
If I’m comparing the two cameras based on using the PEN with its kit lens, then I easily prefer the Lumix L10. The lenses have similar optical zoom ranges — 3x (OM PEN) to 3.1x (Lumix L10) — but the wider focal length of the L10 at the short end of the range makes it the more versatile of the two. The L10’s lens is also physically smaller, and its brighter maximum aperture is way more versatile for portraiture and low-light photography.
All that being said, you can easily swap out the OM PEN’s kit lens for another, and doing so makes many of the above comparisons moot. For example, I also used the tiny 45mm f/1.8 lens (90mm equivalent) with the OM PEN, and capturing shallow-depth-of-field portraits with this combo is a breeze.
Of course, more lenses means additional cost. If you’re starting off with the OM PEN’s kit lens, and unlikely to buy more glass, then the Lumix L10 wins here.
In the hand
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
It’s remarkable just how similar the OM System PEN and Panasonic Lumix L10 look. Their bodies are nigh on identical in size, and strikingly similar in appearance and layout. If you want retro looks, both fit the bill.
Both feature a rangefinder-style 2.36m-dot EVF, and I couldn’t spot any real differences between these displays. The same is true of the 3-inch articulating touchscreens, though the L10’s has a higher-resolution display that looks slightly crisper to the eye. Both feature a hotshoe for accessories such as an external flash, and a largely similar control layout.
There are some minor differences; the OM PEN has an additional color mode dial on the front beside the lens, and it’s screen sits nice and flush in the body when folded away. The fiddly on/off switch is poorly designed, though — good luck trying to simply turn it to photo mode without shooting past to the video modes.
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
The Lumix L10 has a slicker, classier feel to it, with a shutter button (complete with a thread for a cable release) set within the zoom rocker, and a button set within an exposure dial (both the button and the dial are customizable). I’m less convinced about the memory-card door placement being on the camera’s underside as opposed to the side. Also, its retractable lens design results in a two-second wait before the camera is ready to shoot from powering up, which limits its street photography credentials.
Battery life is solid for both models too, at 420 shots (L10) to 410 shots (OM PEN) respectively. Overall, I enjoyed the feel of the Lumix L10 more.
Features to play with
Both cameras feature a Micro Four Thirds sensor — the OM PEN’s is a 20.4MP, while the Lumix L10’s is 26.5MP. You’d think that would be an image-quality win for the Lumix L10; however it’s not that simple. Because of its built-in lens design, the L10 can’t use the entire sensor area for photos, and with 20.4MP effective pixels, the playing field regarding resolution is leveled — image-quality potential (ignoring factors such as lens choice) is effectively the same.
One major difference is that the OM PEN’s sensor features 5-axis image stabilization (IBIS), whereas the Lumix L10 has no such feature. OM System rates the effectiveness of the OM PEN’s IBIS up to 5.5EV, which makes it the more versatile of the two for some handheld photography and video.
Pair that image stabilization with the PEN’s computational photography modes, which includes Live ND for long-exposure effects (up to 4EV), High-Res shot (quadrupling the camera’s resolution for detailed landscape shots), focus stacking (ideal for macro photography), and HDR (extending dynamic range in a final single shot), and you have a powerful tool, no tripod needed.
The Lumix L10 has tricks of its own, mind you, including High-Res shot, while it’s the more feature-packed of the two for video, with 5.6K recording, 5.2K open gate, and Panasonic’s latest Real Time LUTs profiles and phase detection autofocus. For stills, autofocus performance is similar, but for video the L10 has the edge.
Lumix L10 sample gallery
OM System PEN sample gallery
Price and availability
- OM System PEN: $999.99 / £849 / AU$1,499 body-only, $1,099.99 / £949 / AU$1,799 with the 14-42mm kit lens
- Lumix L10: $1,499 / £1,299 / A$2,599
OM System has priced the new PEN very aggressively, which is refreshing in a time of component shortages and price hikes. I can’t think of another camera with a built-in EVF and in-body image stabilization for a price this low — $999.99 / £849 / AU$1,499 body-only, or an additional $100 / £100 / AU$300 for the 14-42mm mark III lens kit.
The latter kit-lens price is the fairer comparison, since you’re getting a built-in lens with the Lumix L10, and the PEN is still cheaper. If we’re talking optical quality, however, then a pricier OM System lens, such as the 12-45mm f/4 Pro, is an even fairer comparison, at which point each camera feels like similar value for money. Yes, it’s cheaper getting started with the OM PEN, but if you’re going to build your lens collection then the Lumix L10’s one-off price will likely end up being the lower long-term outlay of the two.
OM System PEN vs Lumix L10: early verdict
The OM PEN’s rangefinder-style design is well suited to everyday photography, as is the Lumix L10. As such, users are typically going to pair the PEN with lenses that sit within the range that the Lumix L10’s built-in 24-75mm f/1.8-2.8 lens already covers. To a degree, therefore, the PEN’s lens-choice advantage becomes less important, which surprised me.
Overall, I preferred the feel of the Lumix L10 — it’s the classier and slicker camera of the two, and better equipped for video. However, it’s slow start-up time (because of the retracting lens design) is a drawback, while I appreciated the OM PEN’s in-body image stabilization, and its arsenal of computational modes for creative shooting techniques.
As with so many camera comparison tests I undertake, each of these models has its own distinct advantages. I like the convenience of the OM PEN, but as a standalone package I prefer the Lumix L10.
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