OLYMPUS E-M10 III
A tempting travel camera that proves good things do come in small packages
Despite the pared-down body, the E-M10 III feels solid and secure in use
Olympus mirrorless cameras are all based around the Micro Four Thirds image sensor design, which is around 50% smaller in area than the APS-C-sized sensors in the Fujifilm and Sony cameras. This means the size of the whole camera can be reduced. At 121.5mm x 83.6mm x 49.5mm, the OM-D E-M10 III is a similar size to the competition, but this is due to protrusions around the camera body. It feels less bulky in the hand than the boxier Fujifilm and Sony cameras.
The smaller sensor also allows for smaller lenses - take almost any Micro Four Thirds lens and it’s likely to be significantly more compact than an equivalent Fujifilm or Sony optic, as these lenses can often be a similar size to their DSLR lens counterparts, somewhat negating the size benefit of going mirrorless.
The reduced sensor size means resolution is pegged at ‘only’ 16MP, but images are still extremely crisp. Though the Olympus can’t quite resolve the same amount of very fine detail as the more pixel-packed Fujifilm and Sony cameras, the real-world difference is much more subtle than the specs suggest, so you’d need to scrutinise the images at full size to notice. Low light image quality is also respectable, with image noise being negligible up to ISO 6400, and detail at this sensitivity is as crisp as it is in
shots from the X-T30. When it comes to video, the E-M10 III can also shoot 4K at 30fps, but lacks the X-T30’s more advanced high bitrate options.
Despite the pared-down body, the camera feels solid, and there are ergonomic hand grips on the front and rear so it also feels secure in the hand. Olympus has also managed to use every available space on the top and rear panels for dials and direct-access buttons, including two multi-function dials for easier control of manual shooting modes. The 3-inch tilting monitor is also touch sensitive, but only to set autofocus point, capture an image, and for you to swipe through shots.
Autofocus specs are no match for the Fujifilm, with just 121 AF points, and the system is technically slower than the X-T30’s. But in operation the E-M10 III quickly focuses, only slowing when the going gets very dim. The 5-axis in-body image stabilisation system makes it easier to get sharp shots. Wi-Fi connectivity, a plethora of scene modes and 15 Art Filter effects also make it an ideal first travel camera for transitioning from phone photography.