Skip to main content

Olympus pokes fun at DSLRs, wants people to avoid ‘DSL-Arm’

Looks like Samsung isn’t the only mirrorless camera maker having a laugh at the DSLR’s expense. Olympus has found a lighthearted way to promote its O-MD E-M5 Mark II. A new advertising campaign includes a mockumentary series that highlights the syndrome of “DSL-Arm,” which affects people who carry heavy DSLR cameras.

The series includes two short films and a behind-the-scenes look at the actors and how they approached the challenge of DSL-Arm. The syndrome supposedly causes the right arm to lengthen due to the constant weight of carrying a DSLR.

Recommended Videos

The cure? Of course, a smaller, lighter camera. Specifically, the E-M5 Mark II Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera, which is “nearly half the size of a traditional DSLR.”

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II - DSL-ARM

Olympus actually used the E-M5 Mark II to film the campaign. The camera, which earned our Editors’ Choice award, is capable of shooting high-quality stills and videos, thanks in part to a five-axis image stabilization system. It may be half the size of a DSLR, but it’s no weakling when it comes to performance.

We’re not sure if many pros will ditch their DSLRs because of “DSL-Arm,” but for new users looking to step up to an interchangeable lens camera, a smaller shooter like the E-M5 Mark II is appealing.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II - DSL-ARM
Enid Burns
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Enid Burns is a freelance writer who has covered consumer electronics, online advertising, mobile, technology electronic…
Phone cameras are so good, they’ve finally replaced my camera for work
Close up of the camera on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro.

For almost two decades, I’ve carried more than twenty pounds of electronics in my backpack for the slightest chance of needing to capture content for my professional life. My backpack usually contained my MacBook, a full-frame camera with a big lens, a tripod, and an assortment of video and audio gear that I always deemed essential.

As it turns out, over the past two years, many of these items were rendered obsolete, as many companies launched new products that were quickly able to replace technology that I previously considered irreplaceable.

Read more
This is what happens ‘when you get two uber-geeks in space at the same time’
NASA's Don Pettit on the space station.



During NASA’s first-ever Twitch livestream from the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday, current station inhabitant Don Pettit and recent returnee Matthew Dominick talked about what it’s like to live and work in a satellite 250 miles up.

Read more
The GoPro Hero 13 Creator Edition is $100 off, but not for long
A person holding the GoPro HERO13 Creator Edition in front of the ocean.

Outdoor enthusiasts who want to buy a new action camera should go for the brand that popularized the product and look for GoPro deals. Best Buy has an offer that's going to be hard to refuse, as it features the GoPro Hero 13 Creator Edition. From its original price of $600, it's down to just $500 as part of the retailer's Presidents' Day Sale. There are still a few days remaining before the $100 discount ends on February 17, but we highly recommend completing your purchase as soon as possible because stocks may run out before then.

Why you should buy the GoPro Hero 13 Creator Edition
The star of the GoPro Hero 13 Creator Edition is the GoPro Hero 13 Black, which is the latest version of the brand's popular line of action cameras. It's capable of recording video at up to 5.3K resolution, and you can grab photos of up to 24.7MP from your footage using the GoPro Quick app. The GoPro Hero 13 Black can also take videos that are slowed down by 13 times the normal speed, and it can last more than 5 hours on a single charge. The front and rear LCD screens will let you frame your shots perfectly, and the built-in buttons enable easy controls for lengthy sessions.

Read more