OM System OM 3 - why I like it so much
Why an OM 3? For me, the OM 3 brings back memories of my OM 1 film camera. The OM 1 was my first "good" camera that I ever owned. And I took a ton of pictures with it. I even shot professionally with it.
So the look and form factor of the OM 3 was incredibly appealing to me. I'm sort of old, so I just like the vintage vibe I get from the OM 3.
It's true, it lacks a built in grip but micro 4/3rds lenses are typically smaller and lighter, so unless you are using a long zoom or telephoto it may not matter much anyway. And if you want to you can easily add an aftermarket grip and not add much weight to the camera.
Monochrome modes
Another big reason to like the OM 3 are the monochrome modes and the capability to load custom monochrome profiles. I love doing black and white photography.
The OM 3 may not be a Leica Monochrom Q3, but at $6000 less than the Leica it makes the most sense unless you just have money to burn.
I realize you can convert images to black and white in post, but part of the attraction of the OM 3 was the SOCC images. While it's easy to add custom monochrome profiles, the built in monochrome profiles and built in red, yellow, and green filters make shooting black and white incredibly easy.
Great weather resistance
No camera is bullet-proof. The OM 3 is close. It has industry leading weather resistance. Raining? Who cares? Just shoot. Snowing and freezing outside? Go shoot. Dust and dirt? Fire away. There is something freeing when you know you have a camera you don't have to baby.
Smaller form factor
I recently wrote a post about why camera size matters. I've carried around full frame cameras all day. It's not fun. In fact, I've left full frame cameras sitting at home because I didn't feel like lugging a brick around all day.
That's where a micro 4/3rds camera like the OM 3 comes in. Lighter and smaller than a full frame camera, it's a photographic tool you'll want to carry with you all of the time. One of the virtues of micro 4/3rds are much smaller and lighter lenses as well.
Lenses for the OM 3 are cheaper
I think the one thing many people forget is that micro 4/3rds lenses are cheaper and smaller. For example, an OM System 12-40 f2.8 PRO is about $1000. A Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8 S lens is approximately $2800. The OM System lens is significantly smaller and lighter as well. Both are the professional line for each brand.
Conclusion
If small size and creative capabilities are important to you, the OM 3 should be on your short list of camera options. It's not without some cons and I've linked to that post below. This is an ideal travel and street photography camera.
Granted, micro 4/3rds sensors don't have the same low light capability and dynamic range as a full frame sensor, but if you are carrying the camera all day you just have to know full frame cameras are much larger and heavier.
More posts I've written about the OM 3 and photography
Things I don't like about the OM 3