OM Delays PEN Camera Launch in Japan

Just last week, OM Digital Solutions (OMDS) warned photographers in Japan that their preordered OM System PEN cameras and kits might not arrive until next spring. The bad news keeps coming, as OM System has now outright delayed the PEN’s launch in Japan.

As Digital Camera Life reports, OMDS released a new statement in Japan, explaining that due to excess demand, it is delaying the launch of the OM System PEN and related accessories in Japan until November 28, 2026. The camera was initially supposed to launch in Japan on October 30.

“Since its announcement, the OM System PEN has received more preorders than initially anticipated,” OMDS says in a machine-translated statement. “We have already informed some customers that delivery may take longer than expected, and even after the release date was set, we have continued to carefully consider the supply quantity at launch and how to deliver to customers who have preordered.”

OM says that if it released the product as planned on October 30, depending on the selected product type and color, “only a limited number of customers would be able to receive the product on the release date.”

Rather than do that and fail to deliver product to a large number of customers, including those who preordered right after the OM System PEN was announced in early September, OM would rather delay the launch.

“We decided to postpone the release to ensure that we have secured enough quantities to deliver to customers who preordered by September 10, when we first sent out an apology for the delivery delay,” OM says.

“We sincerely apologize for the great inconvenience caused to our customers who have already placed orders, those who have been waiting for the product to be released, our retailers, and all other parties involved. We also deeply apologize again for the change, which occurred so soon after we officially announced the release date, and for failing to meet our customers’ plans and expectations,” OM concludes.

Meanwhile, in other markets, like the United States, the PEN has already arrived, although availability varies heavily by color and configuration.

At B&H, for example, the silver OM System PEN body is in stock right now for $999.99, as are the black and silver kits with the 14-42mm Mark III zoom lens. A black dual lens kit with the 14-42mm plus the 40-150mm f/4-5.6 R lens is also available now. However, the black body-only and the silver dual lens kit are not in stock, with B&H saying they are “coming soon.”

Over at Adorama, it appears that all bodies and kits are in stock at the time of writing.

Image creditsOM System