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Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Review

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is positioned in the middle of the company’s OM-D range, including the user-friendly E-M1X for professionals, the soon-to-be-replaced E-M1

Joseph

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is positioned in the middle of the company’s OM-D range, including the user-friendly E-M1X for professionals, the soon-to-be-replaced E-M1 Mark II, and the entry-level E-M10 Mark III. The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is a mirrorless interchangeable-lens digital single-lens reflex camera.

It is designed for novice photographers searching for a camera they can eventually develop into and for more seasoned photographers who want sophisticated shooting capabilities from a more compact camera than its APS-C competitors.

E-M5 iterations have been launched at a relative snail’s pace, once every four years (2011, 2015, and 2019), when compared to the standards of the highly competitive camera market; however, slow and steady is not a bad thing, and this third version, unsurprisingly, represents a comprehensive upgrade over the E-M5 Mark II.

$1,199.99
in stock
17 used from $747.00
as of March 17, 2024 6:12 pm
Amazon.com
Last updated on March 17, 2024 6:12 pm

See: Best Lenses for Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III | Best Memory Cards for Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Features

After four years, the 16-megapixel sensor of the E-M5 Mark II appears to be a little behind the times. It was anticipated that the most recent version would include a higher resolution; sure enough, this sensor has a resolution of 20.4 megapixels. However, it is the same sensor found in the Olympus E-M1 Mark II, representing a significant improvement.

With the addition of this additional sensor, the E-M5 Mark III is now on par with the Panasonic G90, its primary competitor. However, one may argue that the image quality of both cameras is inferior to that of their competitors.

Alternative cameras are available at this price point that uses APS-C sensors, such as the Fujifilm X-T30. These cameras perform better in low-contrast environments, providing a higher resolution and a more comprehensive dynamic range.

Olympus does provide options for overcoming the constraints placed on the sensor size by the E-M5 Mark III.

For instance, its High Res Shot mode utilizes sensor-shift technology to combine numerous photos into a single picture with a far greater resolution than the original. Of course, you may only use High Res Shot on things that are not moving, and you will need a tripod; nevertheless, the resulting photograph will be 50 megapixels in resolution.

When shooting handheld in low light, you may use Olympus’ industry-leading image stabilization feature, which allows you to utilize slower shutter speeds while still capturing more explicit images than possible without it.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Build Quality

There is no getting around the fact that the E-M5 Mark III is an appealing camera. This is the kind of camera that you want to have in your hand as soon as you take it out of the box, and once you do, you’ll find that it handles well indeed.

This is the lightest E-M5 camera, weighing only 414 grams, with the battery and memory card included. It is 50 grams lighter than the E-M5 Mark II, and when combined with a relatively tiny lens, you won’t feel like you’re carrying the camera.

Compared to larger-format competitors, the OM-D system’s camera bodies and lenses weigh only a fraction of what they do. This DNA is where the OM-D system shines.

Because it is now made of polycarbonate rather than aluminum, that weight has been reduced by 50 grams. However, this could be considered a step backward compared to the E-M5 Mark II, which features a metal body. Because of this, we wouldn’t want to put the E-M5 Mark III through too much strain in harsh environments, even though it is still weather-sealed and has a sufficient amount of heft.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Performance

How does the Olympus E-M5 Mark III perform regarding the speed with which it may be operated? To put it simply, it is speedy in practically every respect. The time it takes to start up is relatively quick, and each control is responsive.

The mechanical shutter allows for high-speed burst shooting of up to ten frames per second, making it highly competitive in the market. However, the buffer’s capacity to store many photographs is the most striking aspect of this setup.

Several factors contribute to burst shooting performance; however, we could shoot an unlimited number of JPEGs at ten frames per second and even more raw images than the quoted number, which was 150. Furthermore, these results were achieved using favorable camera settings, such as a low ISO and recording to a UHS-II SD card.

Following the completion of a sequence, the camera can resume regular operation with minimal lag time. This responsive performance is enormously outstanding, and it is far superior to that of a great many other cameras aimed at enthusiasts.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Image Quality

The 20.4-megapixel sensor of the Olympus E-M5 Mark III, also included in the professional-grade E-M1 Mark II, allows for maximum file sizes of 5184 by 3888 pixels. Without interpolation, this corresponds to a print size of around 14.8 by 11.1 inches (roughly the size of an A3).

When it comes to the sensor format, there is very little that can be said that it is novel. Several cameras are available to produce more excellent-quality images at this price point. These cameras feature a higher resolution, a more extensive dynamic range, and better performance in low-contrast lighting. A sensor with a Four-Thirds format can only reasonably contain a certain number of individual pixels.

The High Res Shot mode enables you to create a final image that is 50MP; the class-leading image stabilization allows handheld shooters to use slower shutter speeds and maximize the light intake for improved image quality, and HDR is available for those who want to stretch the dynamic range of their photos. While none are perfect answers, we should nevertheless be grateful to have them.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Specs

Body typeSLR-style mirrorless
Body materialMagnesium alloy
Sensor
Max resolution5184 x 3888
Image ratio w h1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels20 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors22 megapixels
Sensor sizeFour Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm)
Sensor typeCMOS
ProcessorTruePic VIII
Color spacesRGB, AdobeRGB
Color filter arrayPrimary color filter
Image
ISOAuto, 200-25600, expands to 64-25600
Boosted ISO (minimum)64
White balance presets7
Custom white balanceYes (4 slots)
Image stabilizationSensor-shift
Image stabilization notes5-axis
CIPA image stabilization rating6.5 stop(s)
Uncompressed formatRAW
JPEG quality levelsSuperfine, fine, normal, basic
File formatJPEG (Exif v2.31)Raw (Olympus ORF, 14-bit)
Optics & Focus
AutofocusContrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive view
Autofocus assist lampYes
Manual focusYes
Number of focus points121
Lens mountMicro Four Thirds
Focal length multiplier
Screen/viewfinder
Articulated LCDFully articulated
Screen size3″
Screen dots1,040,000
Touch screenYes
Screen typeTFT LCD
Live viewYes
Viewfinder typeElectronic
Viewfinder coverage100%
Viewfinder magnification1.37× (0.68× 35mm equiv.)
Viewfinder resolution2,360,000
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed60 sec
Maximum shutter speed1/8000 sec
Maximum shutter speed (electronic)1/32000 sec
Exposure modesiAutoProgramAperture priorityShutter priorityManualBulbTime
Scene modesPortrait-PortraitLandscape + PortraitNight + PortraitChildrenNight scapeSportHand-held StarlightFireworksLight trailsSportsPanningLandscapeSunsetBeach & SnowBacklight HDRCandlelightSilentMacroNature MacroDocumentsMulti Focus Shot.
Built-in flashNo (Compact external flash included)
External flashYes (via hot shoe)
Flash modesAuto, redeye, fill, off, slow redeye sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual.
Flash X sync speed1/250 sec
Drive modesSingleSequential (hi/lo)Self-timer
Continuous drive30.0 fps
Self-timerYes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Metering modesMultiCenter-weighted spot
Exposure compensation±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 1 EV steps)
AE Bracketing±5 (2, 3, 5 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps)
WB BracketingYes
Videography features
FormatMPEG-4, H.264
Modes4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 120p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 52 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 202 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 202 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p / 202 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
MicrophoneStereo
SpeakerMono
Storage
Storage typesSD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported)
Connectivity
USBUSB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
USB chargingYes
HDMIYes (micro-HDMI)
Microphone portYes
Headphone portNo
WirelessBuilt-In
Wireless notes802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth
Remote controlYes (wired and via smartphone)
Physical
Environmentally sealedYes
BatteryBattery Pack
Battery descriptionBLS-50 lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)310
Weight (inc. batteries)414 g (0.91 lb / 14.60 oz)
Dimensions125 x 85 x 50 mm (4.92 x 3.35 x 1.97″)
Other features
Orientation sensorYes
Timelapse recordingYes
GPSNone

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Verdict

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is an update that makes sense since it is fashionable, more lightweight than ever, packed with shooting settings for users of all skill levels, and power beneath the hood and upgrades across the board. The E-M5 Mark III may not relatively equal its competitors’ overall picture quality potential with bigger sensors, but it does strike the sweet spot regarding size, weight, handling, and functionality.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Price

$1,199.99
in stock
17 used from $747.00
as of March 17, 2024 6:12 pm
Amazon.com
Last updated on March 17, 2024 6:12 pm

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