Olympus omd em 10 mark 2 reviews. Review of the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III mirrorless camera, reviews from professionals. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III – real resolution

August 25 was the date of the worldwide announcement of the fifth camera in the series of pseudo-mirror system cameras Olympus OM-D, namely the E-M10 Mark II model (it became the fourth in the current assortment). After the official presentation at the press center of MIA Rossiya Segodnya, which took place in the afternoon, after the official announcement of new camera, the Russian representative office of Olympus provided invited journalists and bloggers with the opportunity to try out a new product in the Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after. Gorky.

Cameras and optics are waiting for their testers.

Test kit

For field express tests, your humble servant deftly grabbed one copy of the new camera in silver and black (however, of course, the external finish of the body has nothing to do with the quality of shooting) and a couple of lenses: an excellent wide-angle zoom M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18 mm f/4-5.6c equivalent focal length 18-36mm and the simply excellent M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 (150mm) telephoto. Just in case of emergency, the author also had in stock a universal Olympus superzoom 14-150 (28-300) mm of the first release.

Of the full battery charge, fellow journalists and bloggers used up very little, twirling the camera in their hands for no more than ten minutes before it stuck to my hands. I inserted the high-speed memory card I had prudently taken with me into the camera, checked the settings - for the first test, I first of all needed full resolution and high quality JPEG - and we went across the Crimean Bridge to the Central Park of Culture and Culture.

Appearance

To be honest, I didn’t really understand why the manufacturer made this particular decision - to call the new product “the second “ten”; The differences from the old (well, like old, only about a year old) model E-M10, as they say, are striking. This is not the case when the appearance of the next “brand” differs from the previous version only by a new or additional nameplate.

OM-D E-M10 Mark II with M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm f/1.8 PRO fisheye.

It is immediately noticeable that the shooting mode dial has “moved” to the right (from the photographer’s point of view) side of the viewfinder housing and the built-in flash. The left platform is occupied by a rotary switch, which also serves as an activator for the built-in flash.

At the same time, all control dials have changed design. They don't just look stylish; The new notch on the metal discs is practical and convenient. Manipulations are quite possible when holding the camera, as they say, “with one right hand.” By the way, they reminded the author of the old Leika in a polar design with ribbed heads for rewinding film and setting shutter speeds that were enlarged for ease of working with gloves. I believe that gloves will not be an obstacle when shooting with this camera.

In the absence of an overhead handle, which radically improves the grip of the body, although it increases its small geometry, the relatively small size of the overlap under the fingers of the right hand Very effectively compensated by the powerful ergonomic stop for thumb. Add to this the high-quality coating of the body, and... - the camera simply does not slip out of your hand; This pleasant fact was noted by those gathered of both sexes, who had palms of very different sizes and fingers of different lengths.

I was pleased with the folding screen. When you move it to the “from the belly” position for shooting, which is very useful, for example, for unobtrusive street photography, it can be slightly moved away from the body. Just enough so that the viewfinder does not block the image on it when looking perpendicularly down.

In general, it cannot be said that the camera has noticeably changed its physical characteristics; in comparison with the original model, changes in size and weight are calculated in single millimeters and grams and do not play a significant role. In contrast to the changes in her very rich “inner world”.

Inner world

And inside, the new “ten” is noticeably different from the first version of the camera, although, of course, not in everything.

The main thing in the camera is the matrix and the “brains”. There is nothing to complain about here. The same 16-megapixel Live MOS CMOS sensor as used on other OM-D cameras, and the same TruePic VII graphics processor.

Roughly speaking, this suggests that with the new “ten” you can take photos of the same high quality as with other cameras in the OM-D family. This is a definite plus and strong point both the new model and, by the way, the entire family.

The resolution of the electronic viewfinder has noticeably increased; it now exceeds 2.3 million points. I understand perfectly well that there is no limit to perfection, but from a practical point of view, this resolution seems optimal. At the same time, the image in it is devoid of inertia.

A significant advantage of the E-M10 Mark II over the first model was the introduction of the most advanced five-axis image stabilization system to date. The first “ten” had it of the previous generation, three-axis. At the same time, according to representatives of the company, the five-axis stabilization system on the second “ten” has been further improved compared to its earlier versions, first implemented on the already discontinued E-M5 model, which relatively recently gave way to its “second brand” in production.

The first impression of her work is the most positive. The five-axis system works great and saves you in very difficult circumstances. The manufacturer's claims about four stages of shutter speed extension relative to the recommended limit are not without foundation. Of course, miracles don’t happen, and tremor can ruin the job, but the burst mode helps you get several shooting takes to choose the best option from them.

It was not possible to test another very interesting new camera ability while running. We are talking about time-lapse (interval) shooting with 4K resolution (also possible with lower Full HD and HD resolutions). So the capabilities of the new camera for creating time-lapse video will be the subject of a separate article.

In the meantime, you can watch a small video shot hand-held in maximum quality mode (Full HD, 50p) in the form in which YouTube turned it. Original (168 MB).

Other Features

Curious new feature new “ten”: use the screen when viewing through the viewfinder to select a focusing point. This is one of those cases where it is easier to show than to explain. Nevertheless, I'll try. You look through the viewfinder in the usual way, holding the camera with both hands, press the shutter button with your index finger to activate autofocus and, if the autofocus is caught on the wrong point in the frame that you need, move your thumb across the screen to move the focusing point to the place you need.

M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8; 1/160 sec, f/2.8, 320 ISO. The clever built-in face recognition, of course, immediately grabbed the nearest face, and the camera instantly focused on it, but my finger told it through the screen that I was more interested in Evgeniy Uvarov :)

Moreover, I wrote the previous paragraph much longer than it took me to shift the focal point when shooting, honestly.

Another “feature” implemented in the camera is a focus bracketing (focus bracketing), which compensates for the lack of depth of field during close-up and close-up photography. The camera takes a series of photographs, shifting focus step by step, and then automatically stitches a composite image with optimal sharpness across the entire depth of the three-dimensional subject.

I will also note the silent shutter mode, which is actually the use of an electronic shutter. Wherein shortest shutter speed is reduced to 1/16,000 s, while in normal mode with the mechanical shutter it is the usual 1/4000 s.

The new camera doesn't seem to have any problems with the battery. To play it safe, I immediately turned on the low-speed burst mode (about 4 fps) in order to provide myself with filming takes. Having shot about half a thousand frames and short video, constantly using either the screen or the viewfinder, periodically poking around in the playback mode and deleting obviously unsuccessful frames, by the end of our energetic test session I noticed that only one segment in the charge indicator had disappeared on the screen. And this, I must note, is for a completely new camera with an obviously untrained battery, albeit without the use of a built-in flash.

Conclusion

The new camera elegantly fills the gap between the first “ten”, clearly aimed at enthusiastic amateur photographers who decide to discover the rich world of system cameras, and the E-M5 Mark II camera, which the company itself certifies as a model for “creative enthusiasts”, and I would old fashioned called a semi-professional camera.

And it's not just that Olympus is going to offer consumers both models: the original E-M10 as an entry-level camera, and the E-M10 Mark II as a more advanced camera for enthusiasts.

I don’t think my first impression lets me down: the camera turned out to be successful and will undoubtedly be popular among the steadily growing number of consumers of non-DSLR system cameras.

Moreover, I believe, in the very near future: according to insider information, the first batch has already been delivered to Russia and is currently being distributed across authorized dealers to synchronously go on sale at an agreed time in early September. Let me remind you that the price for the new camera body named by the Moscow representative office of the company will be 39,999 rubles.

PS: You can download test photos from the text and an additional gallery for independent review in one ZIP archive using this link (traffic 73 MB). A brief specification of the camera is given in our announcement, a detailed specification is on the manufacturer’s website.

Southern end of the Crimean Bridge. Fok. dist. 9mm, 1/800, f/7.1, 200 ISO.

A model of a previously existing parachute tower in the Central Park Museum. Fok. dist. 9mm, 1/60, f/4, 250 ISO.

View from observation deck on the entrance arch to the musical fountain of the Central Park of Culture and Culture. 75mm, 1/1250, f/2.8, 200 ISO.

View from the observation deck on the entrance arch of the Central Park of Culture and Culture towards the KhSU and the Ostankino TV tower. 75mm, 1/2000, f/4, 200 ISO.

75mm telephoto in all its glory. 1/3200, f/2.5, 200 ISO.

Experience exchange. 75mm, 1/250, f/2, 200 ISO.

Embankment of the Moscow River in the Central Park of Culture and Culture. Fok. dist. 13mm, 1/400, f/6.3, 200 ISO.

Family photo session. 75mm, 1/1600, f/2.8, 200 ISO.

When illumination decreases, aperture ratio begins to play a crucial role. 75mm, 1/40, f/2.0, ISO 3200.

Panorama of the Garden Ring from the observation deck at the entrance arch of the Central Park; computer stitching of 6 horizontal frames. 18mm, f/5.6, 200 ISO.

Panorama of the Order of Lenin Central Park of Culture and Culture named after. Gorky from the observation deck on the entrance arch; computer stitching of 11 vertical frames. 22mm (14-150mm lens), f/6.3, 200 ISO.

02.09.2017 15830 Tests and reviews 0

Olympus, with the release of the OM-D E-M10 range, offered photographers stylish, convenient and functional cameras. But the company did not intend to stop at two models, introducing the Olympus OM-D E-M10 III.

Typically, cameras with the Mark prefix are practically no different from previous models in the line, having received only minor updates. Is this statement true? The new Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III is very similar to its predecessor, but despite inheriting many features and characteristics, the feature set has been redesigned. Let's see comparison table basic specifications.

Olympus OM-D Camera
Matrix	16 MP Live MOS	16 MP Live MOS	16 MP Live MOS
CPU	TruePic VIII
Image stabilization	5-axis (4EV)	5-axis (4EV)	5-axis (5EV)
Electronic shutter	Yes	Yes
Minimum shutter speed	1/4000 s	1/4000 s (1/16000 with electronic shutter)	1/8000 s (1/16000 with electronic shutter)
ISO range	200-25600 (with extension 100-25600)	200-25600 (with extension 100-25600)	200-25600 (with extension 100-25600)
Monitor	1.04 Mtochek 3″ LCD Inclined Sensory	1.04 Mtochek 3″ LCD Inclined Sensory	1.04 Mtochek 3″ LCD Rotating Sensory
Built-in electronic viewfinder	2.36 Mtochek OLED 0.62x	2.36 Mtochek OLED 0.62x	2.36 Mtochek OLED 0.74x
Focusing	121 points	81 points
Continuous shooting	8.6 fps	8.5 fps	10 fps
Built-in flash	Eat	Eat
Maximum video quality	4K 3840 x 2160 @ 30p	Full HD 1920×1080@60	Full HD 1920×1080@60
Time lapse	Yes	Yes
Microphone jack	No	No
Focus bracketing	Yes	Yes	No
Secure execution	No	No
Overall dimensions, mm
Weight, g	410	390

It is not immediately possible to notice the difference between the OM-D E-M10 Mark III and the E-M10 Mark II. The cameras are similar in shape and dimensions, the controls are located in the same places and have not undergone radical changes in appearance. However, there are still differences, the main one being that the interface and control system have been significantly redesigned; You won't notice it from the outside. The redesigned grip tab on the front panel is now curved and protrudes slightly more from the body. It would seem like little things - however, when you take the camera in your hand, you find that the grip has become more comfortable.

Among compact cameras The OM-D E-M10 III stands out for its rich set of settings control elements. Despite its miniature size, there is room on the camera body for two control dials, as well as many buttons. Larger rims not only look good, but are also significantly easier to operate than before. Moreover, they would not say that there were any problems before - this is an example when it is always possible to do better.

Compared to the E-M10 II, the Mark III's control dials and buttons have been slightly redesigned. They have become larger, and the symbols are clearer. The grooves on all discs have become a little narrower, but this difference is not fundamental. Two control dials have lost their black inserts. The joystick has become lighter and clearer for quickly setting key parameters without diving into the on-screen menu.

The red dot button starts (and stops) video recording. The Fn2 button - as it was on the E-M10 II, remains programmable, only before it enabled the control of highlights and shadows by default, but now it is a digital teleconverter. Apparently, the developers quite reasonably considered that an amateur photographer who bought a camera with kit lens, the ability to “zoom in” on the scene you are shooting (essentially, double the zoom) will be a higher priority. In playback mode, the Fn2 button turns on and off the protection of pictures from deletion. Yes, on the ledge of the rear panel there is another programmable button, Fn1. By default, it turns on metering and autofocus lock.

The switch on the left side of the top panel is more beautiful than the E-M10 II, but its functions remain the same. Rotate 90 degrees - the camera turns on. An elastic press a little further, towards the inscription “UP” - and the built-in flash rises to the working position. You need to lower it manually by pressing from above.

The button, which is located next to the lever, has changed - both externally and in essence. Previously it was programmable Fn3, now it is a “quick button” or “quick menu button”. The camera's reaction to pressing it depends on which mode is turned on. this moment. Again, more on that in a bit. On the far left, you'll see a new Shortcut button that allows users to jump directly to the relevant settings screen, no matter what shooting mode they're in. For example, in AUTO, Scene (SCN), Advanced Photo (AP), and Art Filter (ART) modes, pressing the Quick Menu button opens a graphic display showing the various scenes that can be selected on the touch screen.

The layout of the controls on the rear panel of the E-M10 Mark III is exactly the same as that of the E-M10 II. However, the four navigation keys that were previously unnamed are now labeled according to their functions: ISO (up), AF area selection (left), Flash mode (right) and Shutter mode (down).

The interface on the Mark III has an "updated" structure and design similar to the top-of-the-line OM-D E-M1. Of course, with a noticeably smaller number of pages and items, which is due both to the objectively more modest functionality of an amateur camera compared to a professional flagship, and to the conscious desire of the developers to simplify the work with the camera. The in-camera menu is divided into six sections - Shooting Menu 1 and 2, Video Menu (for the first time in cameras of the lower line, video shooting is placed in a separate section - and this is not surprising, given the increased capabilities of the camera in this area and the appearance of the 4K mode), Playback Menu, Custom Menu and Setup Menu. The user menu is indicated by a gear icon. It has eleven pages, identified by letters (sometimes with extension numbers). The design is clean, and the page color coding common to all previous Olympus cameras (except the E-M1 Mark II) has been removed.

The screen is the same: three inches, resolution 1,037,000 pixels, folding, but it cannot be completely turned over to take selfies. A classic solution for Olympus, a similar screen is installed on all the company’s older models. The display is very bright, has rich colors, is touch-sensitive, and can be used to control most parameters and functions, both during shooting and during viewing. By touching the screen, you can tell the camera what area to focus on, or even release the shutter at the same time. When Touchpad AF mode is enabled (via the menu), you can look through the viewfinder eyepiece and move your finger across the display to move the focus point, and this will be displayed in the viewfinder.

In Live View mode, the screen displays shooting parameters, a grid, a histogram, a virtual horizon (in the form of two scales reflecting not only the horizontal, but also the vertical deviation of the camera); the only problem is that not all of this can be combined - it is impossible to see a histogram and horizon on the screen at the same time, for example.

The electronic viewfinder of the E-M10 Mark III is very high quality, its resolution is 2.36 million dots, like the E-M10 II, like the older OM-D models (although the magnification is slightly less than theirs (0.62x versus 0.74x (E-M1 Mark II and E-M5 Mark II). The image in the viewfinder of the E-M10 III is perceived to be quite large.

The autofocus system itself has changed on the Olympus OM-D E-M10 III. From 81 points in the Mark II it was expanded to 121 points. These points can be selected by touching the screen. A shutter release is also available when you select a point, as is implemented in some smartphone cameras. The OM-D E-M10 III can shoot at 8.6fps, up to 22 RAW frames per burst or 36 JPEGs. The speed drops to 3.8fps if you need continuous autofocus.

Focus bracketing function available. It allows you to get up to 999 frames with a picture that differs in focus. The focusing step is adjusted as the initial position - then the camera itself will take the required number of pictures with a given step, making them a single series (up to 10 frames per high speed, then with pauses, the clipboard is small). A very useful function for macro photography, when it is difficult to determine the focus point, autofocus cannot cope, or you are shooting with a manual focus lens. Also, all the resulting frames can be stitched together in the editor and get a picture with a large depth of field, even at an open aperture.

The shutter system has not changed. The necessary mechanical one with a shutter speed range of 30-1/4000 is accompanied by an electronic one with the ability to shoot at shutter speeds up to 1/16000. In addition to the ability to shoot wide open in sunny weather, it offers a silent shooting mode. But it’s not just ultra-short shutter speeds that the E-M10 Mark III gives us: the camera traditionally has a 5-axis stabilizer, like on the E-M5 and E-M1.

As always, art filters stand out, the execution of which is difficult to compete with Olympus. To the list of 14 filters that were in the first version, a new product has been added - Bleach Bypass (“Bleach Bypass”) in two versions. There is no deep adjustment of Art filters; they are always for the most part are used "as is". However, you can almost always make relatively small, cosmetic changes - turn on “color filters” in monochrome modes. or add color to a monochrome image. You can use additional effects - direct and reverse vignetting, add a frame, blur edges, and so on.

Of course, there are a variety of additional settings: using the E-M10 Mark III, you can automatically stitch together images with multiple exposures, shoot time lapse, a unique live composite function, which is ideal for shooting the starry sky, star tracks, lightning and freezelight, in-camera stitching HDR. There are various color schemes (including the proprietary i-Enhance color system), numerous types of bracketing (white balance bracketing has been added). There is also a system in place that allows you to manually adjust the gradation of lights and shadows using a simple diagram.

The camera has a built-in Wi-Fi module that allows you to quickly transfer captured images and use your smartphone/tablet as a remote control. Connecting a smartphone/tablet is carried out by reading a QR code - without a login or password. But an even faster system, with NFC, still bypasses Olympus cameras side.

The biggest upgrade to the E-M10 Mark III over its predecessor is the addition of 4K video at up to 30p, with bitrates up to 102Mbps. HD video is also available. There is Slow Motion video with a frequency of 120 frames per second. In this case, through the menu you can set the frame rate (50/25/24) and compression ratio (SF/F/N). But the camera still does not have a microphone input and headphone output, which automatically deprives it professional use. But for amateur video, its capabilities, especially in combination with an amazing stabilizer, are enough.

The sensor remains unchanged - it is Live MOS standard Micro Four Thirds (physical size - 17.3 x 13 mm, crop factor - 2) with a resolution of 16 megapixels. A small drawback of the sensor is the high lower threshold of photosensitivity, characteristic of Micro Four Thirds - ISO 200 with the possibility of artificial expansion to ISO 100. When it comes to working at high ISOs, the sensor is also not among the leaders - the range up to ISO 1600 can be considered working, the noise is already higher become intrusive, it is necessary to crush them. But thanks to the stabilizer, the need to shoot at high ISOs is greatly reduced. But the processor is a new generation TruPic VIII, which powers improvements in the camera.

The camera's equipment includes a built-in flash with a guide number of 5.8, Mini USB and HDMI ports, and a slot for SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards. You can take only 330 shots without recharging.

Summary

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 III is a cosmetic update to one of the most balanced mirrorless cameras on the market. The Mark III feels like a fairly powerful photo tool with rich functionality and a user-friendly interface. An excellent camera for the amateur photographer.

It was conceived as the most affordable camera in the premium Olympus OM-D line: with a relatively small price and dimensions, it had a unique set of characteristics, which was very difficult for competitors to answer. Of course, the camera also had its drawbacks: short series of shots at maximum speed, simple and undeveloped control functions using the touch screen, the lack of an access point mode for the Wi-Fi module, and a decent weight. But in any case, the camera turned out to be extremely interesting.

A year and a half later, Olympus introduced the OM-D E-M10 Mark II, but the new product was not a replacement for the first version, but an addition. On the company's website, the OM-D E-M10 and OM-D E-M10 Mark II are divided into different subgroups: the first is classified as cameras “for beginner photographers”, the second is “for photo enthusiasts”. Even though this is the work of marketers, and the differences between the cameras are not radical, there is a rational grain in this division, because the cost of the OM-D E-M10 is now about 34 thousand rubles, while for the OM-D E-M10 Mark II they ask for much more - about 40 thousand rubles. And for this money you can already buy the Sony Alpha a6000 (41-46 thousand rubles) or the miniature Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 (42 thousand rubles), which set an absolute record in autofocus tenacity in low light. Having added a little, you can already take a closer look at Fujifilm X-T10, prices for which at the moment in retail start from 47 thousand rubles.

The six thousand price difference between the Mark I and Mark II included a five-axis stabilizer instead of a three-axis one, a viewfinder with a resolution of 2360 thousand dots (the same as on the E-M5 Mark II), a 1080/60p video recording mode (versus 1080/30p in its predecessor) , a slightly increased battery capacity and support for SD UHS-II memory cards with write speeds of up to 250 MB/s, which should have a positive effect on the duration of continuous shooting.

Specifications

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II
Image sensor	4/3"" MOS, 17.3 × 13.0 mm
Effective number of points, MP	16,1
Image saving format	Photo frame: JPEG (EXIF 2.2, DCF 2.0), RAW 12 bit, MPO
	Video: MOV(MPEG‑4AVC/H.264), AVI (Motion JPEG)
Bayonet	Micro 4/3
Frame size in pixels	Photo frame:
	4608 × 3456, 3200 × 2400, 1280 × 960
	Video: 1920×1080, 1280×720, 640×480
Sensitivity, units in ISO equivalent	100-25600 in 1/3 increments, 1 EV
Shutter speed range, seconds	1/4000 - 60 in steps of 1/3, 1/2 and 1 EV
	Flash shutter speed synchronization: 1/250
Exposure metering, operating modes	Measurements in 324 zones;
	Multi, Spot, Center-weighted, Shadow, Highlight
Exposure compensation	+ 5 EV in steps of 1, 1/2, 1/3 steps
Built-in flash	TTL, GN 8.2 at ISO 200
Self-timer, s	1-30 seconds (up to 10 exposures)
Storage device	SD, SDHC, SDXC(UHS-I/UHS-II)
LCD display	Tilt-touch display, 7.6 cm (3.0 inches), 1,037k dot resolution
Viewfinder	Color viewfinder with approx. 2,236 thousand points
Interfaces	HDMI, USB, A/V-out
Additionally	Wi-Fi module
Nutrition	Lithium-ion battery BLS-50, 8.5 Wh
Dimensions, mm	119.5 × 83.1 × 46.7 (excluding protrusions)
Weight, gram	390 (incl. battery and memory card)
	342 (body only)
Current price	40,000 rubles for the body version (without lens), from 48,000 rubles for the kit version (with complete optics)

⇡ Contents of delivery

Traditionally, Olympus has quite a few delivery options, which differ in camera colors and lenses. There are options that include 14-42mm lenses (compact version with telescopic zoom), 14-150mm lenses, and also include both lenses. We were provided with a black modification for testing, the delivery package of which includes:

• Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14‑42mm 1:3.5‑5.6 EZ Pancake lens;
• shoulder strap;
• battery BLS‑50;
• charger BCS‑5;
• BC-2 housing cover;
• USB cable CB‑USB6;
• Olympus Viewer software;
• instructions;
• warranty card.

⇡ Appearance and ease of use

Olympus is deservedly proud of the appearance of its cameras - the company's designers very talentedly combine retro style and modernity in them. Made in a “mirror” style, with a decorative “pentaprism” hump with a built-in electronic viewfinder, the camera looks very cool. Only the Fujifilm X-T10 can compete with the OM-D E-M10 Mark II in terms of design. Of course, the build quality of the metal body is excellent, there are no problems due to the fact that the camera was assembled in Vietnam.

This is a compact and lightweight camera, which at the same time lies very comfortably in the hand thanks to the rubberized protrusions on the front and back of the body. It weighs about the same as its direct competitors, Fujifilm X-T10 and Sony Alpha a6000. But the little Panasonic DMC-GM5 is almost twice as light - when compared with it, all cameras in this segment look like giants.

On the front panel there is a bayonet mount and an autofocus illuminator lamp, which also serves as an indicator of the shutter self-timer.

There are changes on the back panel compared to the first E-M10. First of all, the disappearance of the power lever and the pop-up flash lock key is striking: the first was located in the lower right corner, so when working with the camera with one hand, it was not so easy to reach it with your thumb; the second was installed too close to the protruding inclined display and was inconvenient to use. Both of these elements in the camera under test were combined into one and moved to the top panel.

Above the display there is a viewfinder with a proximity sensor and a diopter adjuster. In the upper right corner, only the programmable Fn1 key remains. Just below are the keys for entering the main menu, changing the display display mode, as well as a four-position manipulator with an enter key in the center. Each of the manipulator keys can be programmed in the menu, which is very convenient. At the bottom edge there are keys for playing and deleting pictures or video files.

Top view

On the top edge there is a pop-up flash hump, with a hot shoe at the base and built-in microphones on the sides. To the left is a programmable Fn3 key, as well as a power switch and flash raise lever. On the right side there is a small round shooting mode selector, a video recording key and a programmable Fn3 key, as well as a pair of control dials, in the center of one of which there is a shutter button. The only thing I can complain about here is the placement of the video recording key, which is not so easy to get to because of the second control dial. You can get used to this, although, from a subjective point of view, it would be better to move the video recording key to the empty center of the second control dial.

There's nothing new at the bottom: a tripod mount connector, as well as a door hiding the battery and memory card compartments.

The left side is empty, and on the right, under a rubber plug, the HDMI and USB/AV cable connectors are hidden.

Advantages

Good image quality
Modern equipment: touch display and Wi-Fi
Clear and smooth electronic viewfinder
Shooting video in Ultra-HD resolution
Fast autofocus

Flaws

No microphone or headphone jacks
The menu is too confusing

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Test Results

• Price-quality ratio
  Great
• Place in the overall ranking
  25 out of 70

• Price/quality ratio: 88
• Image quality (40%): 85.3
• Equipment and management (35%): 82.6
• Performance (10%): 79.5
• Video quality (15%): 84.6

Editorial rating

User rating

You have already rated

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III: a thread from each class of cameras

Does the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III confirm the title of an entry-level model, as the manufacturer suggests calling it? Or is this still a middle-class DSLM camera, as the price tag suggests? Or maybe this is a mirrorless camera for advanced users and professionals, as signaled specifications?

The new Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III has a little bit of all classes. That is, we have before us a multitalent who, during the test, meets many requirements equally well. Okay, almost everyone. Almost, because the manufacturer, in order to maintain adequate cost, was forced to cut back on one thing or another. But let's be honest, most users may not notice this at all.

The most important technical feature The new Olympus model can be called a graphics processor. That's right: a processor, not a matrix. While the excellent 16-megapixel Four-Thirds sensor of the E-M10 remains untouched, the current generation Mark III trumps the new TruPic VIII GPU.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III: the manufacturer positions the display as rotating, but in fact it is folding.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III: Ultra-HD on board

Thanks to the new OM-D processor, the E-M10 Mark III can record video in Ultra-HD resolution at 30 frames per second. In this case, sound is recorded exclusively through the integrated microphone. The sound quality is decent, but an interface for an external microphone would be a nice addition. There are no other connectors besides USB 2.0 and micro-HDMI. This is somewhat regrettable, but given the price segment, it is understandable.

Along with the video mode, some improvements have been made in the photography area. In particular, Olympus' signal processing has been noticeably optimized, as edge sharpness, detail and noise levels remain very good even at ISO 3200 - better than with the previous model.

Thus, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III is more than suitable for twilight photo shoots. At the same time, the integrated flip-up flash, which shoots at approximately 8 meters, can often remain deactivated. This is good because harsh flash light does nothing good when shooting portraits.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III: The button layout has been slightly changed compared to the Mark II.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III: many functions, a large set of scene programs

The body of the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III is made entirely of plastic - not the most sophisticated solution. Although, it has good build quality and you might even like it thanks to its user-friendly retro design.

The user has two adjustment wheels at his disposal to change the aperture and shutter speed parameters. Beginning photographers can take advantage of the scene programs, where the camera automatically selects settings for up to 25 scenes and gets it right most of the time.

The 15 artistic filters, such as Model Building or the new Whitening, must instead be used manually. The limited number of keys also hints at the entry level: magnifier, AF-L, as well as four functions on the cross-shaped button, including ISO and focus point selection.

The “Quick Menu” button (top left) thus quickly becomes the most important partner, since the user can only change the image quality and many other parameters through the menu. This is done through a display that supports touch input.

Added to the touch function of the display is its a high resolution and a practical tilt option. All this allows the photographer to comfortably navigate through menu items, move the focus point with one touch of a finger, and quickly scroll through the gallery using swipes. The electronic viewfinder, which has 2.36 million sub-pixels, is also extremely clear and displays the scene at a nice 0.61x magnification.

Anyone familiar with the previous model should also be familiar with the main characteristics of both screens, since they migrated here without any changes. Not much has changed in burst shooting, but that's no big deal, because with 8.6 frames per second, which is enough for almost any purpose, the E-M10 Mark III is already one of the fastest DSLM cameras .

Only the duration of burst shooting could have been longer. 22 RAW shots per burst seems insufficient to us. In the case of the JPEG format, restrictions are imposed only by the capacity of the memory card used or the battery charge level.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III: Fast autofocus, but is it worth the extra cost?

As far as contrast autofocus, new horizons are opening up: 121 focusing points mean an increase in this parameter by almost 50 percent compared to its predecessor. The focusing system responds noticeably faster in both twilight and daylight conditions, making this Olympus model well suited for fast shooting.

For portraits, it has practical eye autofocus, which recognizes their location and adjusts sharpness accordingly. This reduces the number of out-of-focus photos.

No question: the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III has proven itself to be a very solid entry-level Micro-Four-Thirds model. At the same time, this DSLM camera can be perfectly used as a second camera for professional photographers. But for those who shoot little video or don’t use the video mode at all, it most likely makes no sense to spend the 10,000 rubles difference in price from the Mark II.

Alternative: Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II

Similar performance, but, of course, without support for Ultra-HD video recording. Those who can get along with this will receive an attractively priced alternative, similar to the previous model.

1.

Overall Score: 78

Price/quality ratio: 83

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Specifications and Test Results

Price-quality ratio	88
Camera type	D.S.L.M.
Effective number of pixels	15.9 megapixels
Maximum photo resolution	4608 x 3456 pixels
Sensor type	NMOS
Sensor dimensions	17.3 x 13 mm
Cleaning the sensor	Yes
Built-in stabilizer (in camera)	Yes
Video recording	Yes
Lens mount	Micro Four Thirds
Lens when assessing image quality	Olympus M.Zuiko 2.8/60
Lens when evaluating performance	Olympus M.Zuiko 3.5-6.3/12-50
Minimum shutter time	1/16.000 s
Maximum shutter time	60 s
Viewfinder	electronic
Viewfinder coating	100 %
Viewfinder magnification	0.62x
Display: diagonal	3.0 inches
Display: resolution	1,040,000 subpixels
Display: touchscreen	Yes
Display: start video recording from the touchscreen	Yes
Display: rotatable	turning
Display: Selfie mode	-
Second display	-
Orientation sensor	Yes
GPS	-
Minimum ISO	ISO 100
Maximum ISO	ISO 25.600
Min. flash sync time	1/4000 s
White balance (number of presets)	4 Presets
White balance: Kelvin	Yes
Resolution at ISO min	1,725 ​​line pairs
Resolution at ISO 400	1,649 pairs of lines
Resolution at ISO 800	1,557 line pairs
Resolution at ISO 1600	1,551 pairs of lines
Resolution at ISO 3200	1,568 line pairs
Resolution at ISO 6400	1,476 pairs of lines
Detail at ISO min	82,1 %
Detail at ISO 400	82,6 %
Detail at ISO 800	86,3 %
Detail at ISO 1600	81,6 %
Detail at ISO 3200	84,4 %
Detail at ISO 6400	78,2 %
Visual noise at ISO min	0.87 VN (0.9 VN1, 0.6 VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 400	0.87 VN (0.9 VN1, 0.6 VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 800	1.07 VN (1.1 VN1, 0.8 VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 1600	1.45 VN (1.5 VN1, 1.0 VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 3200	1.63 VN (1.7 VN1, 1.0 VN3)
Visual noise at ISO 6400	2.20 VN (2.3 VN1, 1.3 VN3)
Expert assessment: noise and detail at ISO min	Very good
Expert Review: Noise and Detail at ISO 1600	Fine
Expert Review: Noise and Detail at ISO 3200	Fine
Expert Review: Noise and Detail at ISO 6400	satisfactorily
Ready time for shooting from off state	1.6 s
Shutter lag time for manual focusing	0.08 s
Shutter lag time with autofocus in daylight	-
Shutter lag time with autofocus in low light	-
Shutter lag time in Live-View mode with autofocus in daylight	0.36 s
Continuous shooting speed in RAW	8.5 photos/sec
Burst length in RAW	23 photos at a time
Continuous shooting speed in JPEG	8.6 photos/sec
Series length in JPEG	-
Battery	BLS-50
Battery cost	50
Battery: max. flash photography	240 photos
Battery: max. photos without flash	510 photos
Battery: max. photos in Live-View with flash	580 photos
Battery: max. photos in Live-View without flash	270 photos
Battery: Video recording duration	2:28 h:min
Microphone jack	-
Built-in flash	Yes
Flash control	Yes
Remote shutter release	-
Memory card type	SDXC
WLAN	Yes
NFC	-
Housing material	metal / polycarbonate
Housing: dust and splash resistant	-
Dimensions	122 x 84 x 50 mm
Weight without lens	414 g

The Olympus OM-D series of compact interchangeable lens (ILC) mirrorless cameras has gained recognition among users. The first model, the E-M10, is an affordable, high-quality device designed for those new to mirrorless cameras and those looking to upgrade from an older model. Today we test the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II.

Camera Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II - Reviews

Olympus now has a sequel, and while the new Mark II doesn't break new ground, it is a very capable camera.

Retro, a frequently used word when describing modern camera design, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II looks like cameras from the 1970s, especially in the two-tone black and silver styling (the camera is also available in black and a limited edition brown leather) .

The design is very thoughtful, like its predecessor. Of the high-end OM-D series, the E-M10 II is the only affordable model, but this equipment has received a redesigned control layout. All large knurled circular scales (the shooting mode dial, etc.) are located to the right of the pop-up flash, and the on/off lever is on the left. The dials are large enough to make adjustments by touch when looking through the electronic viewfinder (EVF).

Speaking of the EVF, it's worth noting the OLED display's improved resolution to 2.3 million pixels, superior contrast and smoother image reproduction, compared to the 1.44 million pixels of the first E-M10. If you prefer your shots by tilting the 3-inch LCD touchscreen, you get 1.04 million pixels of resolution—not class-leading, but still good.

Of course, the camera uses the Micro Four Thirds mount system that has led us to be impressed by Olympus M.ZUIKO lenses over the years.

The camera is compact (4.7 x 3.3 1.9 inches, without lens) and even considering that it is an ILC, it is very light, just under 400 grams with battery and memory card. Adding a compact lens kit (costing about $600) adds little weight to the overall package, making it easy to carry around all day. Although the M.ZUIKO lens is very thin, 14-42mm F / 3.5-F / 5.6, it has a 3x optical zoom Micro Four Thirds and equivalent focal length, range 28-84mm for 35mm format.

The E-M10 Mark II digital camera has all the previously mentioned dials, plus a variety of function keys with which you can customize it. There are two function keys on the top panel and a third on the back. The top panel looks unnecessarily overloaded due to large quantity buttons and dials, as well as a stereo microphone, pop-up flash and shoe. If you are new to using Olympus, it is best to refer to the instruction manual when setting up.

On the back is a tilting 3-inch LCD touchscreen display, an EVF with diopter control, a convenient thumb extension, and a tiny mono speaker. There are also classic buttons (menu, info, delete, play) around the joystick with a central "OK" button. There is a USB and A/V socket on the right side, and a battery/SD card compartment on the bottom. The battery is designed for 320 shots, which is quite enough for a full day of shooting.

What's included

The O-MD E-M10 II comes with a 14-42mm F / 3.5-F / 5.6 M.ZUIKO lens. Also in the box is a battery, charger with power cord, USB cable, strap, and caps. Olympus provides a basic 30 page starter manual; full version is included on the included CD, which also contains Olympus Viewer 3, software for processing images and RAW files. The camera has built-in Wi-Fi, and you can also download the Olympus Image Share app for Android or iOS.

Features, performance and use of the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 II features a proven 16.1-megapixel Micro Four Thirds chip paired with a TruePic VII processor. It is one of the main components in the Olympus line, providing high quality photos for many years. In the new model, the frame rate was increased to 8.5 per second, in the first E-M10 this parameter was 8 frames per second. It's hardly a stunning change; what's more important is that it's a very responsive camera that focuses very quickly, thanks to the 81-area multiple AF system.

The quality of the photographs is quite good, the pictures are clear and rich colors. The E-M10 II features creative effects to enhance the quality of your photos; In addition to Dramatic Tone, there are 13 other artistic filters.

One of the new features is a built-in 5-axis image stabilizer, rather than 3-axis as in the previous model. This is especially true when shooting scenes of objects swinging while you are standing on solid ground.

As already noted, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II is a very responsive camera, the rate of 8.5 frames per second in Continuous AF mode drops to 4 frames. Maximum speed The shutter speed is 1/4000 second, and the mechanism itself is quite noisy if you shoot in bursts. Luckily, Olympus has included a silent mode. Maximum speed with electronic shutter is 1/16,000 second.

Video shooting performed by the OM-D E-M10 Mark II is also quite good quality, I am pleased with the color accuracy and fast focusing. The maximum resolution is Full HD 1080/60p, but clips are prone to distortion when panning quickly. Other camera makers now offer video in 4K, the standard - which is a higher quality resolution. The material filmed in this way can be scaled to Full HD video format, which is of better quality. Surely a 4K option will be part of the next generation of O-MD cameras, but at the moment this feature is not included in the E-M10 II.

The camera has a native ISO range of 200-25,600, but this can be lowered to 100. Many new mirrorless cameras list the ISO range as 51,200, but this is really just a marketing ploy as images taken at such high settings have color distortion. There is no point in using the maximum 25,600 setting with the E-M10 Mark II, as you will be quite comfortable shooting in the ISO 4000 range, and even 6400, unless you intend to enlarge your photos too radically.

The camera has built-in Wi-Fi and when tested paired with a Samsung Galaxy S5, the Olympus Image Share app connected easily. Olympus uses a QR code process that appears on the camera's LCD, which can be verified using an app on your smartphone. Software provides the basics such as remote control camera, adding geotags, editing images, and, of course, sending pictures to your smartphone. Compared to earlier generations of cameras, modern models Wireless quality has finally been improved.

Bottom line

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II can be recommended for those looking to move up to affordable mirrorless cameras or owners of older cameras looking for an upgrade. This model doesn't have any of the new specifications common to 2016 cameras (like 4K), but it does have everything we'd like to see in a new camera.

Of course, I would like it to have higher video quality, but Full HD 1080 / 60p is not the worst option. Taking into account the above, when choosing the best camera It's worth checking out Sony's A6000, a comparable mirrorless model that sells for almost the same price but, unlike the OM-D, the E-M10 Mark II has a larger APS-C sensor (24.3MP). Olympus may not have broken any barriers in terms of updates, but it should be noted that one of the selling points of the E-M10 II is that it is a very thin camera.