This morning, Olympus announced the latest addition to its stylish OM-D series of retro-looking CSCs: the OM-D E-M10 Mark III.
The E-M10 series has carved out a niche as the smaller, more affordable section of the line-up, in contrast to the more sophisticated E-M5 and E-M1 cameras, and the Mark III continues in that tradition.
In truth this is something of a subtle upgrade, carrying the 16MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and 5-axis stabilisation system that were found on its predecessor. The 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder and tilting 3-inch, 1.04-million-dot touchscreen will also be familiar to users of the E-M10 Mark II.
Where things have changed is under the bonnet. The E-M10 Mark III has been outfitted with Olympus’s TruePic VIII image processor, borrowed from the brand’s flagship E-M1 Mark II, and this means it’s now capable of 4K video capture at 30p, 25 and 24p. It also sees an increase in autofocus points from 81 to 121 compared to the E-M10 Mark II, while burst shooting has been bumped up just a hair faster: now 8.6fps, up from 8.5.
Olympus also seems to have made an effort to lean into the E-M10’s status as the beginner-level camera of the OM-D family. What this means in practical terms is a raft of new shooting-assist modes, including an Intelligent Auto mode that according to Olympus will detect the scene, the subject, camera movement and light levels, and then choose appropriate settings. There are also scene-specific modes and a range of stylish art filters for a creative touch. All these modes can be accessed via the mode dial. There’s also a new shortcut button, which allows users to quickly access the settings most relevant to the mode they are using.
While the Mark III maintains the small proportions of its E-M10 predecessors (weighing 410g with battery and card and measuring 121.5mm by 83.6mm by 49.5mm), some of the dials have been enlarged for improved operability. There’s also a new curved handgrip for a more secure purchase.
As is standard on Olympus CSCs, the E-M10 Mark III is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi, which allows for quick sharing of images to a smart device via the Olympus Image Share app.
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III is expected to start shipping in September and carries a street price of £629 body-only. Find out more at Olympus’s website.
