The Olympus E-M1 Mark III is another compelling challenger from the Micro Four Thirds flag bearer. Of course, professional sports and wildlife photographers don’t precisely lack alternatives these days, but the Micro Four Thirds flag bearer has produced yet another intriguing rival.
When it was released in the latter half of 2016, we were huge admirers of the Olympus E-M1 Mark II. Our review called it the “complete package” for anybody looking for a waterproof system to perform still photography and videography. But considering that several of Olympus’s competitors have introduced full-frame mirrorless cameras since then, what fresh ideas has Olympus come up with to ensure that the E-M1 Mark III remains competitive?
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Build Quality
The Olympus OM-D range’s excellent ergonomics have won us over for a long time. You can’t go wrong with this option if you’re looking for a compact camera with a hefty palm grip and a button layout that’s easy to understand.
The E-M1 Mark III is, in our opinion, the most user-friendly of all the Olympus OM-D and PEN cameras in terms of its performance. There is no single Olympus camera superior for its general handling and performance for photography lovers and professionals.
Even though it is Olympus’s most advanced camera, the E-M1X is not exactly light in weight. The E-M1 Mark III delivers everything in a more compact size, with the possibility to expand (through an optional grip), and is powered by the most recent TruePic IX processor. In addition, the grip is an optional accessory. You may think of it as a smaller and more affordable E-M1X.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Features
In what ways is the Olympus E-M1 Mark III distinct from other mirrorless competitors, such as the Fujifilm X-T3 and the Sony A6600? In general, it emphasizes the camera’s adaptability and the several shooting modes more than the images’ quality.
Not only does the E-M1 Mark III employ a Four Thirds sensor that is smaller than its competitors and uses the same 20.4MP Live MOS chip as its predecessor from 2016. This isn’t very pleasant.
The image quality potential of the E-M1 Mark III is not expected to raise a commotion when measured against today’s standards. In addition, many fundamental components, such as the screen and the EVF, have remained the same.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Performance
This camera will perform admirably in high-pressure scenarios, as seen by its fast start-up and shutter reaction, as well as its speedy autofocus and continuous high-speed shooting.
The E-M1 Mark III has incredible running times. Not to be taken lightly are the camera’s shutter speeds of 18 frames per second silently with continuous autofocus, 15 frames per second mechanically, and 60 frames per second electronically with fixed focus. And the product’s performance in actual life situations helps validate those data.
We could take roughly 65 frames (Raw and JPEG), or approximately twice that in JPEG-only, in the continuous high 18fps burst before the camera began to slow down. This was possible with a UHS-II card placed into the camera.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Image Quality
The perception that there has been no improvement in image quality is one of the most frequent complaints against the E-M1 Mark III. It is correct that the image sensor has the exact 20.4-megapixel resolution as the one found in the E-M1 Mark II. Additionally, at this price point, other cameras with a higher resolution and bigger sensors can capture more light.
So, what about the performance in low light? We are satisfied with photographs up to ISO 800 because there is no discernible degradation in image quality in such settings. The quality suffers the most at an ISO setting of 3200. It is possible that this is not the right solution for you if you frequently photograph in conditions with low light.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Specs
| Body type | SLR-style mirrorless |
|---|---|
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 5184 x 3888 |
| Image ratio w h | 4:3 |
| Effective pixels | 20 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 22 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | TruePic IX |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 200-25600 (expands to 64-25600) |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 64 |
| White balance presets | 7 |
| Custom white balance | Yes (4 slots) |
| Image stabilization | Sensor-shift |
| Image stabilization notes | Seven stops body-only (7.5 stops with 12-100mm F4 lens) |
| CIPA image stabilization rating | 7 stop(s) |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Super fine, fine, normal |
| File format | JPEG (Exif v2.31)Raw (12-bit ORF) |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive view |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 121 |
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Focal length multiplier | 2× |
| Screen/viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fully articulated |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,037,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 1.48× (0.74× 35mm equiv.) |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,360,000 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 60 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed (electronic) | 1/32000 sec |
| Exposure modes | ProgramAperture priorityShutter priorityManual |
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes (via hot shoe) |
| Flash modes | Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Redeye Slow sync. (1st curtain), Slow sync. (1st curtain), Slow sync. (2nd curtain), Manual |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/250 sec |
| Drive modes | SingleSingle (silent)Sequential highSequential high (silent)Pro Capture HighSequential low sequential low (quiet)Pro Capture low self-timerHigh Res Shot |
| Continuous drive | 60.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weighted spot |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 1 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes |
| Videography features | |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Modes | 4096 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 @ 60p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II on the first slot) |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) |
| USB charging | Yes |
| HDMI | Yes (micro HDMI) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | Yes |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11ac + Bluetooth |
| Remote control | Yes (wired or smartphone) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | BLH-1 lithium-ion battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 420 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz) |
| Dimensions | 134 x 91 x 69 mm (5.28 x 3.58 x 2.72″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes |
| GPS | None |
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Verdict
The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III is the most appealing camera for professional and amateur photographers. It has the power of the E-M1X, the most recent TruePic IX processor, and a more compact design, making it an excellent all-around camera for still photography and, more and more, video. However, the E-M1 Mark III is quick and dependable and cannot accomplish anything.
