Olympus Air A01 Mirrorless MFT (Micro Four Thirds) Camera Module, with Smartphone Bracket, Black {16.1MP}

A lens-mount camera module that turns your phone into a viewfinder

The Olympus AIR A01 strips a Micro Four Thirds camera down to its essentials: a Four Thirds CMOS sensor, a TruePic VII processor, and the full mount, all packed into a 147g cylinder with no screen and almost no buttons. Everything else happens on your phone. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE pair the AIR to Olympus's app, which supplies a live viewfinder along with aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual exposure control. a 81-point autofocus system and a shutter speed range from 4 seconds to 1/16000 sec give you the same exposure latitude you'd expect from a proper interchangeable-lens body, and the ISO range runs 200-12800, expandable down to 100.

Because the viewfinder lives on your phone instead of on the camera body, you're free to hold the AIR at arm's length, down at ground level, or turned backward over your shoulder, framing shots that would be awkward with a camera pressed to your eye. The 10.0 fps continuous drive and shutter speeds up to 1/16000 sec mean it can freeze motion when the moment demands it, and since it takes any Micro Four Thirds lens, your existing glass carries over.

There's no built-in flash, no image stabilization, and no viewfinder on the body itself, trade-offs made to keep the unit small enough to disappear in a jacket pocket. A microSD slot, USB 2.0 port, and a CIPA-rated 320-shot battery round out a design built to work as an extension of a smartphone than a standalone camera.

Who It's For

Photographers who already own Micro Four Thirds lenses gain a second, pocketable body that shares their glass and shoots at 10.0 fps with a 81-point AF system. Street and candid shooters benefit from the physical separation between lens and viewfinder, since framing from the hip or at an angle removes the visual cue that tips off a subject. Wildlife photographers can use the AIR's remote-control operation over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE to shoot from a distance without handling the camera directly. Anyone building a custom rig, whether for scientific work or a personal project, benefits from the open Micro Four Thirds mount and compact 57 x 57 x 44 mm body, which mounts easily into non-traditional setups where a full-sized camera body won't fit.

Key Features

• 16.1MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor with TruePic VII processor
• Micro Four Thirds lens mount compatible with Olympus and Panasonic glass
• 81-point autofocus system with manual focus option
• Shutter speed range from 4 seconds to 1/16000 sec
• ISO 200-12800, expandable to 100-12800
• 10.0 fps continuous drive for motion capture
• 1080p30 video with stereo microphone
• 147g body with 57×57×44mm dimensions fits in a jacket pocket

FAQ

Can I use my existing Micro Four Thirds lenses with the Olympus AIR A01?

Yes. The AIR has a standard Micro Four Thirds mount, so it works with any MFT lens from Olympus, Panasonic, or third-party makers.

How does the phone viewfinder affect composition and framing?

The decoupled viewfinder frees you to hold the camera at any angle-overhead, at ground level, behind your back-without pressing it to your eye. This opens up shooting angles that would be awkward with a traditional body, though aiming takes practice when the camera and phone aren't aligned.

What are the main exposure controls available through the app?

The app provides aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual exposure control. You get a shutter speed range from 4 seconds to 1/16000 sec, ISO from 200-12800 (expandable to 100), and an 81-point autofocus system.

Why is there no image stabilization?

Olympus omitted sensor-based stabilization to keep the unit compact enough to pocket. At 147g without a lens, size took priority over IS.

How long does the built-in battery last?

The AIR is CIPA-rated for 320 shots per charge. For video, a fresh charge lasted just under two hours when continuously recording 1080p30 at low quality. Since the battery is fixed, you can charge via USB to extend a shoot or use an external USB battery pack.

How responsive is the Wi-Fi connection between camera and phone?

The viewfinder display is responsive, with two settings: Speed Priority (less lag) and Quality Priority (potentially more detail). Your hand grip can affect signal strength by partially blocking the antenna, so avoid fully encircling the body with your fingers if the viewfinder stalls.

What shutter lag should I expect?

Shutter lag varies by trigger method. Using the physical shutter button on top gives the least lag (around 0.3 seconds or less), the on-screen button is next (0.5-0.6 seconds), and Touch AF Shutter is slowest (around 0.6-0.7 seconds).