CAMERA TEST
PRACTICALPHOTOGRAPHY.COM 125
shotsthatincludeonebase
exposureandadditional
hi ghlightspershot.Youcan
al so use the Live Time feature
that allows you to review a
long exposure as it builds.
Both are handy, and can be
accessed from the ‘B’ setting
on the mode dial. The Live
Bulb mode timers can be set
up to 30 minutes, which is
very handy if you don’t have
a remote shutter release cable.
There is also the High Res
Shot mode, which takes
multiple images and stitches
them together to create a
50MP image. This is a whole
10MP more than the previous
version could achieve and,
when zoomed in, it’s possible
to see a difference. The overall
detail captured is a large leap
versus not using it. You’ll need
a tripod to take advantage of
this feature, and any moving
subjects can cause stitching
is sues, but for straight-forward
la ndscape shots it’s a brilliant
in clusion you should definitely
ta ke the time to try out.
The dynamic range doesn’t
di sappoint. While it doesn’t
fe elclassleading,it’scertainly
notfarbehindthegame.It’s
al sopossibleto recovera fair
amount of detail in post-
processing. We managed
3 stops from the shadows with
minimal colour noise, and
even regaining lost highlight
details did a great job – very
handy for editing enthusiasts.
Looking at video, you’ll
notice the specs have once
more been drastically boosted.
Aiming to tempt vloggers and
film-makers, the MkIII has
a 180° vari-angle tilting
touchscreen, a microphone
input and plenty of video
settings to choose from.
There’s the usual 4K 30p
and Full HD 1080p at 120fps,
plus Cinema 4K at 24fps. It’s
slightly wider than 4K, at 17:9,
andmatchestheaspectratio
ofa cinemascreen.
Thereisn’ta logprofileor
advanced featuressuchas
waveforms, howeverforthe
ta rget audience it’ssimpleto
use and gives greatresults.
There is a ‘Flat’ picturemode,
though it’s not apatchon log,
and the stabilisationshould
make this very appealing.
Verdict
Olympus has goneaboveand
beyond to rejuvenateitsaged
mid-range model.Packingin
flagship featuresfromthe
current E-M1 makesit feel
fr esh and capable,fromthe
in creased resolution,to the
sharp autofocusandvastly
improved videomodes.
There’s littlenegativeto
say here, and what’son offer
is hard to refuse.However,
priced at £1049 body-only,
it ’s a touch moreexpensive
than its closest rivals,and
only £150 less thanthe
revered E-M1 MarkII.
TECHSPEC
Camera: Olympus OM-D
E-M5 MkIII
Lens: 14-150mm f/4-5.6 ED
Price: £1399
Effective resolution: 20.4MP
Sensor: 17.4x13mm
LCD: 3in 1040k-dot 180 ̊
vari-angle touchscreen
Shutter: Bulb, 1/8000sec-
60sec or 1/32,000 when
using electronic shutter
Autofocus: 121-point
phase detection
ISO: 200-25,600
Shooting speed: 10fps
forup to 150 RAWs
Video: C4K at 24fps, 4K at
30fps, Full HD at 120fps
Pop-up flash: No
Other features: Live
Composite, Live Time, Art
Filters, Mic input, Sync IS, Pro
Capture, Flat picture profile
Battery life: 310 shots
Card type: SD, SDHC, SDXC
Size (WxHxD): 125x85x50mm
Weight: 414g
Web: olympus.co.uk
FEATURES
HANDLING
OVERALLSCORE
IMAGEQUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
PROS Vastupgrade Amazingimage
stabilisation Ol ympusLivemodes Weather-
sealing Low-lightability ImprovedAF system
CONS Nomagnesiumalloychassis Battery life
Novideologprofile Menus a bit fiddly
THE VERDICT
OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5 MKIII
THANKS TO STABILISATION
WE WERE ABLE TO GET
SHARP SHOTS WITH 3SEC
EXPOSURES HANDHELD
Click for the
extra details
Thanks to the High Res Shot
mode, which takes and merges
multiple images while shifting
the position of the sensor,
you can actually create the
equivalent of 50MP image
is a great mode
ally increases the
unt of fine detail on
er when you zoom
to your shots.
t’s very simple to
use. Unfortunately,
you’re limited to an
perture of f/8 and
ider so won’t be
tting that massive
depth-of-field.
IMAGE
QUALITY
