GetIntoGear
this is a casual part of your
shooting style.
The in-body image
stabilisation is beyond
reproach. Capable of offering
6.5 stops with a compatible
lens, it’s a belter. Many users
will tell you Olympus does
this better than anybody else,
and it’s hard to argue with
that. We were able to get
sharp shots at 12mm with
3sec exposures handheld.
This is a great boon for those
who use longer focal lengths
or video shooters, which
we’ll talk more about later.
The Mark III also steps up
the megapixel count, offering
the same 20.4MP resolution as
the E-M1 – a big step up from
the previous version’s 16MP.
The result gives a sharper
image that’s far more refined
than before. Colours, white
balance and sharpness are
all in check, with punchy and
vibrant shots and a solid
amount of detail. You may
notice a slight lack of clarity
when zoomed into 100%
compared to larger sensors.
However, in real-world testing,
this is something you’d have
to scrutinise, and shouldn’t be
seen as something that will
hinder your shooting.
Micro Four Thirds has long
been associated with less than
stellar low-light performance.
Surprisingly, the E-M5 MkIII
does a great job. The ISO
ranges from 200-25,600, and
remains clean until ISO 1600.
Even then the small grain
pattern is pleasing, and the
detail more than workable
up to ISO 6400. Beyond this,
colour noise is more evident,
though surprisingly usable if
you find yourself in a pinch.
We have to hand it to the
E-M5 – it definitely stands up
to larger sensor rivals here.
Olympus has a history of
unique and quirky features,
and you’ll find several here.
There’s Live Composite,
which is perfect for star and
light trails, taking multiple
124 PRACTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY
5
WORK THE
ANGLES
With a perfect mix
of stills and video
features, it’s no
surprise the E-M5
MkIII features a 180°
articulated vari-angle
LCD. It comprises a
1040k-dot resolution,
measures 3in and is
touch-compatible for
ease of use.
6 FIRM GRIP
One small
change that makes
a big difference is the
newly-exaggerated
thumb-grip. It helps
with handling and
also includes an ISO
button for on-the-fly
setting adjustments.
5
6
FujifilmX-T30£839
Fujifilm’sX-T30is a stand-out camera with
theperfectmix of compact build and
advancedfeatures.The 26.1MP APS-C
sensor,425-pointphase detect AF system
andadvanced4K video features make it
a tr uetravelhybridat a price that’s hard
tobeat.fujifilm.com
Olympus OM-D E-M1 MkII
£1299
Reading like an identical spec sheet, the
flagship E-M1 MkII comes with a 20.4MP
Live MOS sensor, 121-point phase detect AF
system and 5-axis IS. But then it has a more
rugged build, 15fps continuous shooting
and dual SD card slots. olympus.co.uk
Compact hybrid powerhouses
ALSO
CONSIDER
THESE
