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Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-M10 III Comparison

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Olympus E-M10 II

16 MP | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) CMOS Sensor

Olympus E-M10 II
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Olympus E-M10 III

16 MP | Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) CMOS Sensor

Olympus E-M10 III
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Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-M10 III Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the E-M10 II and the E-M10 III, two Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by Olympus. Olympus E-M10 II was introduced to the market in August 2015 and Olympus E-M10 III was launched in August 2017. As you can see, E-M10 II is 2 years older than E-M10 III. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

E-M10 II and E-M10 III are members of Olympus's OM-D E-M10 series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Series History
Model Release Date Sensor Dimensions Weight
Olympus E-M10 IV
  
2020 20.0MP - Four Thirds 122 x 84 x 49mm 383g
Olympus E-M10 III
2017 16.0MP - Four Thirds 122 x 84 x 50mm 410g
Olympus E-M10 II
2015 16.0MP - Four Thirds 120 x 83 x 47mm 390g
Olympus E-M10
  
2014 16.0MP - Four Thirds 119 x 82 x 46mm 396g

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Olympus E-M10 II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-08-25
  • 16MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 25600 ( expands to 100)
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 8.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 390g. 120 x 83 x 47 mm
  • Replaced Olympus OM-D E-M10 Compare

Olympus E-M10 III Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-08-31
  • 16MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 25600 ( expands to 100)
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 8.6fps (14.0fps Electronic) continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 410g. 122 x 84 x 50 mm
  • Replaced Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Compare

Olympus E-M10 III was replaced by Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV vs Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV vs Olympus OM-D E-M10 II

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Olympus OM-D E-M10 II over Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
Weight
390 g vs 410 g 20 g lighter
CHECK E-M10 II PRICE


Reasons to choose Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III over Olympus OM-D E-M10 II
Number of Focus Points
121 vs 81 40 more focus points
Continuous Shooting
14.0fps vs 8.0fps 6 fps faster
Battery Life
330 shots vs 320 shots 10 more frames with a single charge
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
CHECK E-M10 III PRICE

Common Strengths of Olympus OM-D E-M10 II and Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Live Composite Mode
Yes vs Yes Excellent help for long-exposure photography
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen
Tilting vs Tilting Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 1.040k dots High resolution screens
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Focus Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Dual-axis Electronic Level
Yes vs Yes Level the camera easily in two axis
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs UHS-II Read/Write in High Speeds
Common Weaknesses of Olympus OM-D E-M10 II and Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-M10 III: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Olympus E-M10 II has external dimensions of 120 x 83 x 47 mm (4.72 x 3.27 x 1.85″) and weighs 390 g (0.86 lb / 13.76 oz) (including batteries). Olympus E-M10 III has external dimensions of 122 x 84 x 50 mm (4.8 x 3.31 x 1.97″) and weighs 410 g (0.90 lb / 14.46 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Olympus E-M10 II and the Olympus E-M10 III. Olympus E-M10 II is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 2mm narrower, 1mm shorter and 3mm thinner than Olympus E-M10 III.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-M10 III Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Olympus E-M10 II and the Olympus E-M10 III Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-M10 III Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Olympus E-M10 II and the Olympus E-M10 III Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III.
Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-M10 III Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Olympus E-M10 II and the the Olympus E-M10 III Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Olympus E-M10 II is 20g lighter than the Olympus E-M10 III but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III have the same Micro Four Thirds lens mount and Four Thirds sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

E-M10 II
E-M10 III
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

E-M10 II
E-M10 III
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Olympus OM-D E-M10 II nor Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Both cameras feature Tilting screens where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels.


Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-M10 III: Sensor Comparison

Both Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III have Four Thirds sized 16.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the E-M10 II and E-M10 III sensor size comparison.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-M10 III Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III Cameras


Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-M10 III Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III have the same Micro Four Thirds lens mount and currently there are 121 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Both Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III have Sensor-based Image stabilization which means that all the lenses will be stabilized in these bodies. E-M10 III's built-in Image stabilization system is effective for compensating vibration up to 4.0-stops according to CIPA standards.

Lens Type # of Olympus E-M10 II Lenses # of Olympus E-M10 III Lenses
Standard Zoom 18 18
Standard Prime 15 15
Wideangle Zoom 6 6
Wideangle Prime 32 32
Telephoto Zoom 19 19
Telephoto Prime 11 11
SuperZoom 8 8
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 5 5
Macro Prime 5 5
Perspective Control Prime n/a n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 1
TOTAL 121 121

Here are some of the most popular Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for the E-M10 II and the E-M10 III
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
OM System 40-150mm F4.0 PRO Lens OM System 40-150mm F4.0 PRO
FourThirds 382gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 ASPH Lens Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 ASPH
FourThirds 125gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS
FourThirds 210gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS Lens Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS
FourThirds 1120gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 50-200mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS
FourThirds 655gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS
FourThirds 320gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F4.0-6.3 ASPH Power OIS Lens Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F4.0-6.3 ASPH Power OIS
FourThirds 985gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ Lens Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ
FourThirds 91gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Olympus E-M10 II for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Olympus E-M10 III for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Read the details

Olympus E-M10 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Olympus E-M10 III for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Olympus E-M10 II for Sports Photography

GOOD

Olympus E-M10 III for Sports Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 8.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
81 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 8.6fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
121 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Olympus E-M10 II for Daily Photography

GOOD

Olympus E-M10 III for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
390g
Body Thickness 47mm
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
410g
Body Thickness 50mm
Read the details

Olympus E-M10 II for Landscape Photography

POOR

Olympus E-M10 III for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sensor
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Olympus E-M10 II vs Olympus E-M10 III: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Olympus E-M10 II and Olympus E-M10 III scores compare:

Olympus E-M10 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #83 out of 111 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #157 out of 1259 in all Cameras
Olympus E-M10 III
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #80 out of 111 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #146 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Olympus E-M10 III has a higher Overall Score than the Olympus E-M10 II and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Olympus E-M10 II
Olympus E-M10 II
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Olympus E-M10 III
Olympus E-M10 III
CHECK PRICE

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Olympus E-M10 III vs Olympus E-M10 II Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
Brand Olympus Olympus
Announced 2015-08-25 2017-08-31
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Dimensions 17.3 x 13 mm 17.4 x 13 mm
Area 224.90mm2 226.20mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 25,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 200 ISO 200 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 81 121
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Number of Available Lenses 121 121
Screen
Type Tilting Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,040k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 2,360k dots 2,360k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.62x 0.62x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/4000s
Max Electronic Shutter n/a 1/16000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.80 m (ISO 100) 5.80 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 8.0 fps 8.6 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160
Video Formats H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 390g 410g
Dimensions 120 x 83 x 47mm 122 x 84 x 50mm
Battery Life 320 shots 330 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 73 not tested
DxO Color Depth 23.1 not tested
DxO Dynamic Range 12.5 not tested
DxO Low Light ISO 842 not tested
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