Olympus E-M10 III Review

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Main Features

16MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor

ISO 200 - 25600

5-axis Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3 Tilting Screen

2360k dot Electronic viewfinder

8.6 fps continuous shooting

4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video

Built-in Wireless

410g. 122 x 84 x 50 mm

Replaced Olympus E-M10 II

Replaced by Olympus E-M10 IV

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Olympus E-M10 III Overview

First introduced in August 2017 , Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III is a 16.0MP Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization , Tilting touch screen and Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Olympus replaced the older Olympus E-M10 II with this model and later E-M10 III was replaced with Olympus E-M10 IV. Follow the links to compare these cameras in detail:
Compare Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III vs Olympus E-M10 II
Compare Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III vs Olympus E-M10 IV

Olympus E-M10 III Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Lens Mount and Lenses
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Olympus E-M10 III is a member of Olympus's OM-D E-M10 series of cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Olympus E-M10 IV Compare	2020	20.0MP - Four Thirds	8.7 fps	122 x 84 x 49mm	383g
Olympus E-M10 III	2017	16.0MP - Four Thirds	8.6 fps	122 x 84 x 50mm	410g
Olympus E-M10 II Compare	2015	16.0MP - Four Thirds	8.0 fps	120 x 83 x 47mm	390g
Olympus E-M10 Compare	2014	16.0MP - Four Thirds	8.0 fps	119 x 82 x 46mm	396g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series:
Olympus E-M10 IV vs E-M10 III vs E-M10 II vs E-M10

Olympus E-M10 III has an Overall Score of 71/100 and ranked #75 out of 206 in Mirrorless cameras (Top 10 Mirrorless), and ranked #129 out of 1214 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras

Olympus E-M10 III Physical Specs

Olympus E-M10 III weighs 410 g (0.90 lb / 14.46 oz) and has external dimensions of 122 x 84 x 50 mm (4.8 x 3.31 x 1.97″). Considering that the average weight of Mirrorless type cameras is 437g, its weight is about average in its class. With a thickness of 50mm, it also has an average thickness.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Olympus E-M10 III

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Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Olympus E-M10 III

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Here is the front and top view image of Olympus E-M10 III with the dimensions:

Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Olympus E-M10 III Camera Body

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Olympus E-M10 III, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Olympus E-M10 III Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Olympus E-M10 III with its main competitors:

Olympus E-M10 III Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs E-M10 III	Thickness	vs E-M10 III
Olympus E-M10 II Compare	390g	20g lighter	47mm	3mm thinner
Olympus E-M5 II Compare	469g	59g heavier	45mm	5mm thinner
Canon M50 Compare	390g	20g lighter	59mm	9mm thicker
Olympus E-M5 III Compare	414g	4g heavier	50mm	equal thickness
Olympus E-PL9 Compare	380g	30g lighter	39mm	11mm thinner
Sony A6000 Compare	344g	66g lighter	45mm	5mm thinner
Panasonic GX85 Compare	426g	16g heavier	44mm	6mm thinner
Olympus E-M1 II Compare	574g	164g heavier	67mm	17mm thicker

Weather Sealing

Olympus E-M10 III doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Olympus E-M10 III Sensor and Photography Features

Olympus E-M10 III has a 16.0MP Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features TruePic VIII processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of and 4:3. E-M10 III has a native ISO range of 200 - 25600 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Olympus E-M10 III is not the highest resolution Four Thirds camera. Panasonic G95 with its 20.3MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic G95 or take a look at Highest resolution Mirrorless cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Olympus E-M10 III's Four Thirds sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Olympus E-M10 III Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Olympus E-M10 III Lens Mount and Lenses

Olympus E-M10 III has a Micro Four Thirds lens mount and currently there are 107 native lenses available for this mount. MFT is the most mature and versatile mount in the Mirrorles camera world. Olympus MFT lenses are known by their high optical quality and affordable prices. Other main contributor of the system, Panasonic also offers similarly well regarded lenses. Third party lens manufacturers also increase number of their offering and new manufacturers also jump in the wagon as the popularity of the system increases.

E-M10 III also has a Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization system which means that all of these lenses will be stabilized when used on E-M10 III. Olympus claims that the image stabilization of E-M10 III is effective up to 4.0 stops. Sensor based image stabilization is one of the most useful features that you can have in an ILC. There are also 33 lenses with weather sealing for E-M10 III but bear in mind that E-M10 III body doesn't have weather sealings.

Here are some of the most popular Olympus E-M10 III Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses for Olympus E-M10 III

Model	Focal Length on E-M10 III	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS	24-120mm	FourThirds	210gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH. Power O.I.S	28-280mm	FourThirds	265gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f2.8 PRO	24-80mm	FourThirds	382gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Olympus 9mm F8 Fish-Eye Body Cap Lens	18mm	FourThirds	30gr	MF	Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G 25mm F1.7 ASPH	50mm	FourThirds	125gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F1.8	50mm	FourThirds	136gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm F2.8 OIS	70-200mm	FourThirds	360gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH Power OIS	24-70mm	FourThirds	305gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo

Check our Olympus E-M10 III Lenses page for more detailed lens search.

Olympus E-M10 III LCD and Viewfinder

Olympus E-M10 III has a Tilting 3 LCD screen with a resolution of 1,040k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

E-M10 III has a built-in Electronic viewfinder, making it easier to shoot in direct sunlight and in other situations where it might be difficult to view the LCD monitor. The viewfinder has a resolution of 2,360kdots and coverage of 100%. 100% coverage ensures that what you see in the viewfinder while shooting matches exactly what you will get later in your image, helping accurate framing your shots and minimizes the need for cropping images later. The magnification ratio of the viewfinder is 0.62x (35mm equivalent).

Olympus E-M10 III Connectivity, Storage and Battery

Olympus E-M10 III features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11b/g/n) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection.One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our E-M10 III. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.

You can connect E-M10 III to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Battery

Olympus E-M10 III is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 330 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Mirrorless type cameras is 368 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

Battery Life Comparison in Entry-Level Mirrorless Cameras

Olympus E-M10 III

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Average

Max

Samsung NX mini with its 650shots is the model with longest battery life among Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras. Check the comparison of Olympus E-M10 III vs Samsung NX mini or take a look at Longest Battery Life Mirrorless cameras list.

Olympus E-M10 III Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Olympus E-M10 II Compare	1920 x 1080	320shots	Yes	No	No
Olympus E-M5 II Compare	1920 x 1080	310shots	Yes	No	No
Canon M50 Compare	3840 x 2160	235shots	Yes	Yes	Yes
Olympus E-M5 III Compare	4096 x 2160	310shots	Yes	Yes	No
Olympus E-PL9 Compare	3840 x 2160	350shots	Yes	Yes	No
Sony A6000 Compare	1920 x 1080	360shots	Yes	No	Yes
Panasonic GX85 Compare	3840 x 2160	290shots	Yes	No	No
Olympus E-M1 II Compare	4096 x 2160	350shots	Yes	No	No

Olympus E-M10 III Video Features

With Olympus E-M10 III, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 3840 x 2160 at 30p,25p,24p fps with bit rates up to 102 mbps and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. This means that Olympus E-M10 III provides 4K (Ultra-HD) video. Except some exotic 6K and 8K video recording cameras, 4K is the new standard in consumer video world.
It is also a big step up from its predecessor E-M10 II which has a max video resolution of 1920 x 1080 only. If you are thinking of upgrading your E-M10 II and shoot a lot of video, this is a big factor to consider in favor of E-M10 III.

E-M10 III has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker.
Olympus E-M10 III doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Mirrorless camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III or Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 (Lumix DMC-G80) in a similar price range.

Olympus E-M10 III Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Olympus E-M10 III can shoot continuously at max speed of 8.6 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec. E-M10 III also has an electronic shutter which can shoot silently at max speed of 1/16000s. One thing to keep in mind is that electronic shutter may cause rolling shutter / jello effects, and also banding issues under artificial light on your images.

Flash

E-M10 III has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

Focusing

Olympus E-M10 III features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 121 points to choose from.

Olympus E-M10 III also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

Olympus E-M10 III PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Olympus E-M10 III review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)

5-axis Image Stabilization

Articulating Screen

4K (UHD) Video

No crop on 4K Videos

Touch Screen

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder

Face Detection Focusing

25.600 Max ISO

121 Focus Points

1.040k dots LCD Resolution

1/16000s Electronic Shutter Speed

8.6fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter

14.0fps Shooting w/ Electronic Shutter

410g Light Body

Timelapse Recording

2360kdot Viewfinder Resolution

Wide AE Bracketing Range: ±5 EV

Flash Sync Port

Focus Bracketing

Dual-axis Electronic Level

Remote control with a smartphone

High Video bit rate of 102mbps

Compatible with fast UHS-II cards

Report a correction

Buy Olympus E-M10 III from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO

CONs

Low Battery Life: 330 shots

No Environmental Sealing

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What type of Photography is Olympus E-M10 III Good for?

In this section, we review and score Olympus E-M10 III in 5 different photography areas.

Olympus E-M10 III for Portrait Photography

Olympus E-M10 III has a score of 64 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

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 of how we scored Olympus E-M10 III for Portrait Photography

Olympus E-M10 III for Street Photography

Olympus E-M10 III has a score of 88 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen

Image Stabilization
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Medium sized Body

Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-M10 III for Street Photography

Olympus E-M10 III for Sports Photography

Olympus E-M10 III has a score of 69 for Sports Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Sports Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Sports Photography list.

Fast Continuous Shooting: 8.6fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
121 Focus Points
Wireless Connection

Good Ergonomics&Handling
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-M10 III for Sports Photography

Olympus E-M10 III for Daily Photography

Olympus E-M10 III has a score of 70 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor
Medium size Body

410g
Body Thickness 50mm

Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-M10 III for Daily Photography

Olympus E-M10 III for Landscape Photography

Olympus E-M10 III has a score of 40 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

Live-view
Large Four Thirds (17.4 x 13 mm) sensor

Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Olympus E-M10 III for Landscape Photography

Olympus E-M10 III Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Olympus E-M10 III compares with other Mirrorless cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Olympus E-M10 III alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Olympus E-M10 III

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Olympus E-M10 III amongst Camera Decision readers.

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Olympus E-M10 III Alternatives in DSLR Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Olympus E-M10 III with DSLR Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked DSLR cameras in Olympus E-M10 III's price range.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Olympus E-M10 III

Does the Olympus E-M10 III have Image Stabilization?
Does the Olympus E-M10 III have RAW support?
Does the Olympus E-M10 III have Weather Sealing?
Does the Olympus E-M10 III have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Olympus E-M10 III?
What is the Sensor Size of Olympus E-M10 III?
is the Olympus E-M10 III a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Olympus E-M10 III have Touch Screen?
Does the Olympus E-M10 III have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Olympus E-M10 III?
What is the Weight of Olympus E-M10 III?
What are the Dimensions of Olympus E-M10 III?

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Olympus
Model	Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
Announced	2017-08-31
Body Type	SLR-style mirrorless
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Micro Four Thirds
Number of Lenses	107
Focal Length Multiplier	2x
Macro Focus Range	n/a
Screen
Screen Type	Tilting
Screen Size	3
Screen Resolution	1,040k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	2,360k dots
Viewfinder Coverage	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.62x
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	60s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/4000s
Max Electronic Shutter Speed	1/16000s
Continuous Shooting	8.6 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.80 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync	1/250s
Flash Modes	Auto, redeye, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, redeye slow sync, fill-in, manual, off
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CMOS
Sensor Size	Four Thirds
Sensor Dimensions	17.4 x 13 mm
Sensor Area	226.20mm²
Sensor Resolution	16 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	4608 x 3456
Max Native ISO	25,600
Min Native ISO	200
Min Boosted ISO	100
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	121
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 102 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max Video Resolution	3840 x 2160
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	410g
Physical Dimensions	122 x 84 x 50mm
Battery Life	330 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	BLS-50
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II supported)
Storage Slots	1

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Canon M50
24 MP | APS-C Sensor| Canon EF-M Mount

Olympus E-M10 II
16 MP | Four Thirds Sensor| Micro Four Thirds Mount

Fujifilm X-T30
26 MP | APS-C Sensor| Fujifilm X Mount

Nikon Z50
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Fujifilm X-T100
24 MP | APS-C Sensor| Fujifilm X Mount

Sony a5100
24 MP | APS-C Sensor| Sony E (NEX) Mount

Fujifilm X-T20
24 MP | APS-C Sensor| Fujifilm X Mount

Sony a5000
20 MP | APS-C Sensor| Sony E Mount

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24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount

Panasonic S5
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount

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20 MP | Four Thirds Sensor | Micro Four Thirds Mount

Sony A7S III
12 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E (NEX) Mount

Nikon Z5
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount

Canon R5
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Panasonic G100
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