Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Gets 83% Overall Score and Silver Award at DPReview

DPReview has completed their Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III review and test results: The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III mirrorless camera achieves an excellent 83% overall score and Silver Award from the experts at DPReview.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Key Features:

  • 20.4 Megapixel Live MOS Sensor
  • TruePic IX Dual Quad Core Processor
  • 3.0″ Vari-Angle Touch LCD
  • 2.36M dot LCD Electronic Viewfinder
  • 60 FPS Continuous Shooting
  • Dual F.A.S.T. AF (Contrast & Phase Detection AF)
  • 5-Axis Image Stabilization
  • Up to 7.5 Shutter Speed Steps Compensation
  • Handheld High Res Shot Mode
  • Multi Selector (Joystick) Focus Point Control
  • Live ND (Neutral Density Filter)
  • 4k Video Capture (30/25/24 fps) with OM-Log Mode
  • PRO Capture Lag-Free Electronic Shutter Mode

What we like:

  • Good JPEG and Raw image quality
  • Pleasing colors out-of-camera
  • 10 fps (mechanical) and 18 fps (e-shutter) bursts with AF
  • Good buffer depth
  • Well-designed body is comfortable, attractive and highly customizable
  • Reasonable-quality 4K video with low rolling shutter and excellent IS
  • Effective face and eye detect
  • Usable video AF
  • Highly effective image stabilization for stills and video
  • High-res mode gives good detail boost and noise benefit for static subjects
  • Live Time feature makes long exposure photography easier
  • ‘Starry Sky AF’ effective at nailing critical focus of night skies
  • In-camera Raw conversions
  • USB-charging (USB-C)
  • Dual cards slots
  • IPX1 rated weather sealing

What we don’t:

  • AF subject tracking not reliable
  • Larger-sensor competition offers better dynamic range and noise performance
  • EVF is relatively low-res and lacks contrast
  • Menus can be overwhelming
  • Log video capture includes less dynamic range than best rivals
  • Using the Function lever for autofocus modes ignores face/eye detect, focus limiter settings
  • Headphone/Microphone gets in way of LCD when flipped out
  • Only one UHS-II card slot

Conclusion from DPReview:

The Olympus E-M1 III is our favorite Micro Four Thirds cameras for stills shooters, as of publication. It’s capable of very good image quality and jam-packed with fun and useful features. It’s also no slouch when it comes to 4K video capture and offers some of the best image stabilization around. All this in a supremely well-built, comfortable, customizable and attractive body. That said being said, there are more capable, large sensor cameras available for the money.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III: $1,699 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Read more: Best Lenses for Olympus E-M1 Mark III and Best Memory Cards for Olympus E-M1 Mark III.

Read the full review at DPReview.