- 20.4MP 4/3″ Live MOS Sensor
- OLED EVF 2.36M dots
- 5-Axis In-Body IS
- 60/18fps Continuous Shooting
- 4K/30P Video
- Dual card slots
- Built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Weather Sealed
QUICKFACT SHEET
The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III is a pro-level/expert-level Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera for pros and photography enthusiasts. It is beautifully designed and is fully featured with many professional-grade features, accessories and lenses. For those who shoot landscape, it has an option to shoot high-res 50MP images handheld (without the use of a tripod) or high-res 80MP images with the camera on a tripod. It offers in-body image stabilization (IBIS) and the body is weather-sealed against dust and moisture (IPX1 rating), and is freeze-proof down to -10°C (14°F). Many pros use it as their main camera, preferring its compact and lightweight body and lenses over bigger and heavier mirrorless competitors.The E-M1 III accepts interchangeable lenses using the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mount. Olympus has some of the best high quality mirrorless lenses. The E-M1 III’s in-body image stabilization (IBIS) ranks as the best in the industry, offering 7.0 shutter speed steps compensation. When compatible lenses are attached, 5-axis sync IS kicks in and offers up to 7.5 steps compensation.
The Micro Four-thirds mirrorless format, with a slightly smaller sensor size than APS-C and full-frame sensors, allows for the design of compact and lightweight system (especially the telephoto lenses), while still achieving the high quality image and high performances than pro photographers demand.
Since both the APS-C sensor and the MFT sensor are smaller than a full-frame sensor, their lenses can be smaller (and lighter).
A full-frame mirrorless camera (such as the Sony α7 III), on the other hand, must use lenses that are the same size (therefore as large and heavy) as their full-frame DSLR counterparts (for the image to be able to cover the sensor).
In other words, though a full-frame mirrorless camera usually gains a weight advantage over its DSLR counterpart, its mirrorless lenses do not gain a substantial weight advantage over their DSLR counterparts.
The overall weight reduction (camera + lens) from using a full-frame mirrorless camera (whether Sony or another brand) is therefore not going to be as dramatic as when you switch to an APS-C mirrorless camera (such as the Fujifilm X-T4) and lens combo — and especially to a Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera (such as the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III) and lens combo.
This becomes dramatically apparent when long telephotos are attached to a APS-C and especially to a MFT mirrorless camera. Hence, the continued popularity of the APS-C and MFT mirrorless cameras among pro photographers who prize an overall compact and lightweight system.
The E-M1 III allows you to compose your shots using the high resolution 2.36M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a fast 120fps refresh rate and time lag of 0.005 seconds. An Anti-flicker shooting mode reduces the effect of flickering that tends to occur under artificial lighting. Furthermore, Flicker Scan makes it possible to fine tune the shutter speed to reduce the striped patterns that tend to occur when shooting still images or recording videos indoors under artificial lighting such as LED lights.
Or, you can use the 3.0-inch 1037K-dot Vari-angle Touchscreen LCD on the back of the camera. Vari-angle means that it folds out to the side and can be turned to face forward, up, back or down, allowing high-angle, low-angle, and selfies shots. The LCD is also touch-screen so you can tap a point on the screen to lock focus, and use touch gestures to zoom or swipe right and left when reviewing images.
The Hybrid AF (Auto Focus) system uses a total of 121-point cross-type phase detection AF points to quickly and precisely lock focus on your subject. Tracking AF performance has been improved by using AF Target Mode that can even be customized, and by allowing 5 levels of C-AF sensitivity to be set. For sharp portraits, Face and Eye Detection AF lock focus on your subject’s face and eyes, even when shooting video. The AF range is EV -3.5-20,. Other useful focus features include Focus Bracketing (up to 999 images), Focus Stacking (from 3 to 15 shots to use for compositing), AF Limiter, Moving-subject-tracking cluster display, Super Spot AF, and Focus Peaking.
For those who love to shoot the starry night sky, a new “Starry Sky AF” feature enables accurate auto focus for stars in night sky.
Other features include Continuous Shooting at 18fps with AF/AE or 60fps with AF/AE lock, a hot shoe to accept an external speedlite, Wireless Flash Control, RAW, PASM Shooting Modes, ±5 stops Exposure Compensation, Shutter Speed from 1/32000 sec. to 60 sec. (flash-sync shutter speed of 1/250 sec.; when using Super FP: 1/125-1/8000 sec.), Art Filter, Color Creator, Time Lapse (Interval Shooting up to 9,999 frames), Live ND, Live Composite (maximum shooting time 6 hours), Live Bulb, Live Time, and Silent Mode.
Some of the professional-grade features we mentioned above include: Pro Capture mode, 4K high quality handheld video shooting with OM-Log, Tethered shooting, and Hi-Res Audio recording with PCM recorder. Accessories with dustproof / splashproof / freezeproof and linkage with APPs / software give flexibility on shooting.
For professional video production, OM-Log mode is available for colour grading in post-production and editing. You can also select from 4 AF target modes for video shooting. Super slow motion can be shot at 120fps (and played back at either 30fps or 60fps). There is an HDMI monitor connection. Other features include: Hi-Res recording (96 kHz/24 bit high-res audio), Reduction of sound noise, and dedicated Shooting settings for video recording.
There are dual card slots that accept UHS-I cards, and Slot II also accepts UHS-II cards.
There are a number of connectivity features that make the E-M1 III practical for those who post to social media sites. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth mean that you can store GPS information, do remote Live View shooting and easily transfer images to your smart phone or tablet.
Of course, the Olympus OM-D E-M1 III Mark III is supported by a system of high quality lenses, external battery holders, teleconverters, Dot Sight, electronic flash units, commander, receiver, cable release, cable clip, compact gun microphone, Linear PCM Recorder, shock mount adaptor, bags, straps, and software that further expand the shooting system.
| SENSOR: | 20.4MP | TYPE: | 4/3″ LIVE MOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| LENS MOUNT: | MFT | ISO: | 200-25600, 64, 100 |
| VIEWFINDER: | OLED EVF 2.36M DOTS 0.74X MAGNIFICATION | LCD: | 3.0″ 1037K DOTS, VARI-ANGLE TOUCH LCD |
| I.S.: | 5-AXIS (7.0EV) | VIDEO: | C4K/24P, 4K/30P/25P/24P, Full HD/120P/60P/50P/30P/25P/24P |
| CONTINUOUS SHOOTING: | 60/15 FPS | STORAGE MEDIA: | SD, SDHC, SDXC |
| OTHER: | WEATHER SEALED (DUST-, SPLASH- AND FREEZE-PROOF), WI-FI, BLUETOOTH, WIRELESS REMOTE SHOOTING, SUPER FP FLASH MODE | ||
| DIMENSIONS: | 134.1 X 90.9 X 68.9 MM (5.3 X 3.6 X 2.7 IN) | WEIGHT: | 580 G (20.5 OZ) WITH BATTERY AND MEMORY CARD |
| PRICE: | US $1,799 BODY ONLY | BUY: | OLYMPUS E-M1 III |
If you shoot for a living, are tired of lugging large, bulky and heavy cameras and equipment around, and prefer a compact and lightweight system, look no further than the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III. It gives excellent images and videos, have a host of useful and practical shooting features, and is backed by a professional system of lenses and accessories. The E-M1 III is weathersealed, which, when paired with a weathersealed lens, means you can shoot in almost all conditions without worrying about damaging your camera. If you need an even more sports-oriented camera, check out the E-M1X.
If the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III is the camera that is best for you, please support this site by ordering it as well as accessories from our Trusted Sponsor B&H Photo-Video, the Professional’s Source, satisfying millions of customers for over 35 years (prices are in USD):
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