It’s always best practice to format memory cards in the camera that you’ll be using them in. That sets the card up with the filesystem, folder hierarchy, and, in some cameras, a database file, so that the card is just how the camera expects. And it greatly reduces the risk of unexpected errors and unpleasant surprises.
One quick note on the name. This is the OM SYSTEM OM-1, the Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera announced in February 2022. It shares its name with the Olympus OM-1 film SLR from 1972, which is a very different camera and has no memory card to format.
On the Olympus OM-1, you can find the memory card format function under:
Menu > Wrench/Spanner Icon > 1. Card/Folder/File > Card Formatting
If you have two SD cards in, you’ll get a screen to select which card to format.
You’ll then run into the first of two confirmation screens (they seem to want to make extra sure that you’re not going to delete something unknowingly).
And just in case you weren’t sure there, it becomes even more explicit.
And, finally, once you select that, you’ll get the progress bar as the format process performs.
Things worth knowing
The format function on the OM-1 is only a high-level format, which means it’s only wiping the file allocation table and referencing data, not the actual data itself. That makes it easier to recover photos and videos from the SD card if you need to, but it also means that the data is still there.
Much of the time, that’s all you need. But if you’re shooting sensitive material, you might want to take the SD card/s out of the camera and submit them to low-level formatting on your computer to fully wipe the data.
If the camera won’t format a card and says it’s protected, check the small slider on the long edge of the card before you assume the card has failed. That tab doesn’t lock anything by itself — the card ignores it entirely — but the camera reads its position and refuses to write when it’s pushed down. Slide it back up and try again. Sliders that have gone loose or snapped off are a common cause of cards that suddenly look read-only.
SD cards for the Olympus OM-1
I’ve put together a much more detailed post on recommendations for SD cards for the Olympus for the OM-1 separately. But here’s the short version.
The OM-1 has two SD card slots. It’s not required to fill both slots — the camera will work just fine with only one memory card — but there are advantages to doing so.
You can use SDHC or SDXC. As a practical matter, SDXC cards are probably the more logical choice simply because that designation applies to SD cards larger than 32GB, which in practice means 64GB and up.
Both SD card slots in the OM-1 are UHS-II slots. So to take full advantage of the camera’s capabilities, it makes sense to use UHS-II SD cards in this camera.
That’s not a requirement, though. UHS-I cards work perfectly well in both slots — they just fall back to the single row of pins and the UHS-I ceiling of 104MB/s. It works the other way too: a UHS-II card only delivers UHS-II speeds in a UHS-II slot, so the same card in an older body or a UHS-I card reader will run at UHS-I speed.
- Type: SDXC
- Video Speed Class: V60
- UHS Bus Interface Type: UHS-II
- Maximum Read Speed: 300 MB/s
- Storage Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Check current price and availability at:
- Type: SDXC
- Video Speed Class: V60
- UHS Bus Interface Type: UHS-II
- Maximum Read Speed: 250 MB/s
- Storage Capacities: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Check current price and availability at:
- Type: SDXC
- Video Speed Class: V60
- UHS Bus Interface Type: UHS-II
- Maximum Read Speed: 280 MB/s
- Storage Capacities: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Check current price and availability at:
Recommendations checked: August 2026
How to format SD cards with a computer
Having said that, it is still possible to format memory cards using a card reader and computer. You get a lot more flexibility that way, but also some extra risk if things aren’t set up just how the camera wants them. It’s also sometimes a good troubleshooting step if you’re having issues with a memory card.
There are some things to watch out for, particularly when it comes to choosing which filesystem to use. So I’ve put together guides on how to format SD cards on Mac and how to use the free SD Card Formatter app for Windows or Mac.
The filesystem is the part to get right. SDXC cards are supposed to be exFAT and SDHC cards FAT32, and that’s set by the standard, not by preference. So if a computer offers to reformat a 64GB or larger card as FAT32 to make it work with some older device, don’t — that puts the card outside the SD spec and is a frequent cause of write errors afterwards. If it has already happened, formatting the card again in the OM-1 is the fix.
Price & availability of the Olympus OM-1
The Olympus OM-1 launched at an MSRP of $2199 for the body. OM System followed it with the OM-1 Mark II in 2024, so it’s worth checking current pricing on the original before you buy. It’s also available bundled with an impressive OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II kits lens (MSRP of $2799 on the bundle).
Olympus OM-1 accessories
These are the model numbers for the official accessories for the Olympus OM-1.
- Battery: BLX-1 lithium-ion rechargeable battery
- External Charger: BCX-1 (or SBCX-1, which includes a spare battery)
- USB-AC Adapter: F-7AC AC wall adapter
- Grip/Extended Battery Holder: HLD-10 grip
- Remote: RM-WR1 wireless remote control
- Eyecup: EP-18
- Flash:
