Isotta unveils its aluminium housing for the OM System OM-5 Mark II, 100m, integrated fibre-optic ports. Specs and who this Micro Four Thirds rig suits.
Full-frame dominates the conversation right now, so it is worth pausing on an announcement that pushes the other way. Isotta has just released a housing for the OM System OM-5 Mark II, a useful reminder that Micro Four Thirds has not left the underwater photography landscape, not by a long shot.
The 20.4-megapixel Micro Four Thirds Live MOS sensor, paired with the TruePic IX processor, is nothing to write home about on paper next to the 60 or 66 megapixels of current full-frame mirrorless cameras. But in underwater photography, resolution is never the only thing that counts.
Five-axis stabilisation, rated up to 7.5 stops, helps enormously in both handheld video and stills, especially for anyone shooting without a tripod or external stabiliser against a current. The 121-point all cross-type phase-detection autofocus tracks motion reliably in clear water and in murkier conditions alike.
The body's native IP53 sealing (dust, splash, freeze-proof to -10°C) obviously plays no role once it is inside the housing, but it speaks to the camera's overall build quality. And at 370g on its own, the OM-5 Mark II remains one of the lightest interchangeable-lens cameras on the market, a real argument for anyone travelling with several bags of dive gear on top of the camera.
Isotta sticks with its anodised aluminium construction, depth-rated to 100 metres. The interchangeable port system lets you configure the housing for a wide range of lenses, and integrated fibre-optic connections handle triggering for external strobes.
An optional vacuum monitoring system is available, to verify the seal before entering the water rather than hoping for the best. Controls are designed to stay accessible with gloves on, which matters more than you would think in cold water.
Pricing has not yet been announced by the brand. Isotta housings for premium bodies typically fall between €2,000 and €4,000 depending on configuration, a range to take with caution until official pricing is confirmed.
The OM-5 Mark II and Isotta housing combination targets a specific profile: the underwater photographer who travels often and refuses to haul a complete full-frame system on every trip. It is also a solid entry point into a serious mirrorless system for anyone coming from a compact and wanting more control without a complete change of bag size.
This is not the choice for anyone wanting to heavily crop in post-production or sell large-format prints. But for most underwater photographers, the real question was never sensor size. It is what you do with it underwater, the light you chase, and the patience you bring to it.
That is exactly what we work on in AquaExposure training, whatever the sensor format inside the housing.
The OM-5 Mark II carries a 20.4-megapixel Micro Four Thirds Live MOS sensor with the TruePic IX processor, 5-axis stabilisation rated up to 7.5 stops, a 121-point all cross-type phase-detection autofocus system, and IP53 weather sealing (dust, splash, freeze-proof to -10°C). The body weighs 370g on its own.
Isotta has not yet published official pricing for this model. For reference, Isotta housings for premium bodies typically fall between €2,000 and €4,000 depending on configuration, dome and port included or not.
The housing includes integrated fibre-optic connections for triggering external strobes. An optional vacuum monitoring system is available to check the seal before entering the water.
Yes, especially for travel diving. A Micro Four Thirds body like the OM-5 Mark II is lighter and more compact than an equivalent full-frame camera, which matters when you are multiplying flights and boat trips. 20.4 MP is plenty for most common web and print uses.
