So there are a shed load of M43 haters out there that are desperate for the format to go away and die, especially the various insecure full frame format brand tribe members (you know who you are). Thus when the beautiful retro designed OM System OM-3 arrived on the scene (based on the svelte original Olympus 35mm film SLR the OM-1 of the 1970') one of the main things they latched onto and continue to complain vociferously about is it lacks a grip, of all things, completely missing the point or maybe maliciously choosing to do so! 

Let us cut to the chase. If you want a grip for your OM-3 you can buy one directly from OM system themselves namely the Leofoto LPO-OM-3 L-bracket which is specifically designed for the OM-System OM-3 camera. Problem solved.

Why you might want to do this when you just have bought a camera "Specifically designed to provide you with a compact, lightweight, and durable camera designed for robust use, meeting the demands of creative outdoor photographers - from cityscapes to natural landscapes, rain or shine - whose form and function are inspired by its iconic predecessor, the Film OM-1, seamlessly blending heritage with modern engineering" I do not know.

All right so I guess you just might want to stick some long lenses like an M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25X IS PRO or an M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm F5.0-6.3 IS or possibly an M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS PRO  on the front of your OM-3 simply because you can and here a hand grip would aid greatly in their handling? But be honest, if that's the case you have bought the wrong camera and should have acquired an OM-1 II which is built for the job.

Anyway back to the Leofoto LPO-OM-3 L-bracket which is Arca-Swiss compatible for mounting the OM-3 camera easily in both the horizontal and vertical modes on a tripod.

More importantly from our perspective, the L-bracket can be quickly converted into just a camera grip as shown above.

Made from high quality 6061-T6 aluminium, magnesium and silicon alloys for all of the critical components, this is a corrosion-resistant, tough yet lightweight product as befits the weather resistant metal bodied OM-3 itself and all for the princely sum of £59.60. So all you haters heads up, if you feel you need an effective grip for your OM-3 get yourself a Leofoto LPO-OM-3 L-bracket and stop moaning. Ah, but you wouldn't demean yourselves by buying an M43 camera in the first place would you nor get to really experience what you are missing out on nor would you be willing to tell others that they can actually get a grip for the OM-3 directly from OM System as an option if they want to, no not you 😀.

PS. There is a very similar product from SmallRig but with a wooden handle if you prefer it, though not sold directly by OM System. Looks a little weird on camera to my eyes maybe? There again they all do, spoiling those vintage Olympus film OM-1 lines we all lusted after in the first place.

PPS. There is a third choice on its way from Three Legged Thing called the Oscar QD dedicated L-bracket and hand grip for OM System OM-3. Made out of magnesium alloy it comes with either an orange hand grip or alternatively a black one. The right hand bracket appears to be non-removable however?

Where then does this leave us? Well there are at least three after market accessory companies that believe that there is sufficient of a demand to develop and manufacture an OM-3 dedicated L-bracket with grip which can of course be used simply for its grip capability alone for those that desire such a thing. However the main purpose of an L-bracket is to make it dead simple to switch between landscape and portrait orientations when your camera is tripod mounted aiding with stability especially when you’re shooting in vertical mode. Providing a well-fitted grip to aid in "handholding camera comfort" perhaps is an added benefit though it really does destroy the cameras aesthetic.

A final thought. There is of course, upon reflection, the predilection of many of todays "creatives" who carry their cameras about one handed and indeed take many of their images one handed using the live view screen which might explain some of moans about the OM-3 lacking a handle or grip to help in doing so. What is forgotten is that the handing of vintage film SLRs like the Film OM-1, whose form the modern OM-3 echoes, was designed very much around a two handed hold with camera supported by the left hand placed under the body of the camera itself and supporting the attached lens too where needed when taking pictures looking through the optical viewfinder. The camera itself when not being used to take a picture was carried on a neck/shoulder strap. Equally when using long lenses they were usually supported on a tripod in those days too. The idea of sticking a grip on right hand side of a camera came later with the advent of ever bigger AF film SLRs when designers were looking for somewhere to stick a large battery needed to drive the AF motors, autowinders and increasing use of sophisticated electronic metering. Some of these "grips" were seen as way too big to be comfortable by the way. Anyway, the left hand under technique was still prevalent even then as there was still only the optical viewfinder to look though because there were obviously no viewing screen!

So finally, finally, if you lust after a camera whose form and function are inspired by an iconic heritage manual film SLR predecessor remember that as well as buying in to its aesthetic, to some degree, you also are buying in to the design principles behind its handing too. If you can't live with that then go ahead and buy a grip for it, ruin its looks and miss out on that classic camera experience. Mind you, as I said earlier if find you need to do this, I can't help feeling that you should have bought an OM-1 II in the first place.