OM System PEN to launch in Japan a month late

Due to unexpectedly high demand, OMDS has postponed the launch of the PEN in Japan from October 30 to November 28, 2026. The camera is already on sale in the US, but availability depends on the configuration and color.

OM System PEN delayed in Japan: sales launch moved to November 28

OM Digital Solutions has once again changed its plans for the release of the OM System PEN camera in Japan. After warning last week that preorders could be delayed until spring, the company announced that it is moving the Japanese launch of the model and its accessories from October 30 to November 28, 2026.

The new date was reported by the Japanese publication Digital Camera Life, citing a statement from OMDS. The company said the decision was prompted by demand that exceeded its initial expectations. According to the manufacturer, it received significantly more preorders for the PEN after its announcement than anticipated. Buyers had already been warned that receiving the camera could take longer, and after announcing the launch date, OMDS continued to assess how many units it could prepare for launch and how to distribute them among customers.

The company believes that if sales had gone ahead as originally scheduled on October 30, only a small number of buyers would have been able to get the camera on launch day. The likelihood would have depended on the chosen configuration and color. OMDS therefore decided to postpone the launch so that a large number of buyers would not be left without the device they ordered, including those who placed their preorders soon after the PEN was announced in early September.

The manufacturer intends to ensure sufficient stock for customers who placed their orders by September 10. On that day, the company first apologized for the delivery delays. OMDS also apologized to customers who had already ordered the camera, those waiting for sales to begin, retailers, and other parties involved. The company specifically noted that it regretted changing its plans again so soon after officially announcing the launch date, and that it had been unable to meet customers’ expectations and take their plans into account.

The PEN is already on sale in the US, although availability depends on the body color and configuration. At B&H, the silver camera without a lens is available for $999.99. The black and silver kits with the 14–42mm Mark III zoom lens are also in stock, as is the black two-lens kit with the 14–42mm and 40–150mm f/4–5.6 R lenses.

The black body without a lens and the silver two-lens kit are currently unavailable at B&H; the store lists them as “coming soon.” At the time of publication, all body options and kits were available at Adorama.

Image: OM System.