A Look at the Olympus E-M5 Mark III Micro Four Thirds Camera
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ม.ค. 2020
- After four years, here's Olympus's Mark III version of their small but perfectly formed E-M5. It's been a long wait but here it is at last with many useful improvements and one long awaited large one. For the first time, Phase Detection auto focusing in a mid range Micro Four Thirds camera. Is it a step change? Is an all plastic body a step change - downwards?
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"Life's not like that though; there's always something". David, you are missed.
Miss this guy...he had a special way of doing things.
Maybe not the joke as such...but how he told it!.
RIP David.
My favorite M43 youtuber has graced us with his presence once again
Every now and then I like to descend from my lofty lair and join mere humans for while 😂 Thnaks, Kyle M!
@@DavidThorpeMFT no problem Mr. Thorpe me and my father love your content, we are happy you go for quality not quantity! 👍
It's been a while but worth the wait
Thanks for everything David. RIP.
The best reviewer by far. Sadly missed.
Well worth the wait for David’s review. As it always is. Thank you!
Thank you - much appreciated!
Really enjoying your videos. Good, honest reviews, clearly outlining the negatives along with the positives. Thank you!
I miss you David!
Great review again, I've only just got into Micro Four Thirds and stumbled across your channel when looking for a review of the Olympus 40-150mm f2.8 and I'm so glad I did, I think I've caught up with your videos now so a new one was a welcome sight. You've helped me believe that Micro Four Thirds was the right choice for me. I got fed up of carrying around all that Canon DSLR stuff and ended up leaving it at home and using a G15 compact. Thanks for the inspiration. Regards, Del
Thanks for the kind words, Del. I hope you find Micro Four Thirds meets your needs. it has met mine for a long time now, the usual reasons of being a sweet spot between weight, bulk and usable performance.
Outstanding presentation. Thank you.
i got this a few months back... and i love it! One of the videos i've been waiting for, thank you.
It's a little jewel, isn't it?
Always an enjoyable and informative experience - Thanks
Thank you, Jason.
I just bought this camera last week for vlogs and I find it absolutely fantastic... almost perfect.
LoL finally you are here , david is one of a kind , love him and his camera reviews ....So did you sold your gh5s charlie ? cheers thaynamite ;)))
thaynamite hey! I love David’s channel been watching it a long time. About the GH5S I’m sort of torn, I really like the camera but I think the Olympus does what I need it to do better with the auto focus, ibis and small size. I could hang on to the GH5s or could sell it before it depreciates a lot in value.
@@CheapCharlieChronicles Keep that GH5S and enjoy it.
Even the garish plastic top plate?
Nice to hear that.
Another useful straight fwd and to the point review. Thanks Mr. Thorpe
Thank you, Jason.
Thank you for doing this great review David! A user customized menu is definitely something Olympus should do right through their camera range. Its a small thing but would make the interface so much better.
Olympus seem almost committed to not improving the menus, don't they?
So great to hear the Olympus PDAF has come to a less expensive body! Great to see you upload another video, David.
Thanks, Lyndon. Nice to hear from you again. Yes, a good move with the PDAF and one that will please a many iusers.
Still not forgotten…. RIP David.
You are the most sophisticated, articulate, and thoughtful user, critic, and proponent of the micro four thirds system.
Thanks, Caleb. I genuinely like and use the system so I guess it shows.
And I miss his reviews also. Watching this video after not watching any of his videos in quite some time made me realize once again what a great photographer and reviewer he was.
Thanks for providing M43 camera and lens reviews. This one got me thinking about my Lumix GX9 contrast focus. When I have trouble focusing, I relegate it to operator error, but perhaps not. The struggle with focusing on foreground when I want to focus on background, and visa versa occurs too often, especially if the foreground is a chain link fence. But then I remember there is manual focus.
I'm glad you like the reviews, David, thank you. By the way, pinpoint focus works very well in the situation you describe.
So great to see a new post from MR M4/3!! A welcome break from the gray January skies here in the Rockies. I was actually anxious to see this review from you because my Brother-in-law, was looking at the OM-D E-M1X for his new wildlife camera.On the one hand, even though the lenses would be smaller, M1-X body may still be too chunky. He, like several who have left comments here, is concerned with the plastic construction ,,although I am reminded of Jeremy Clarkson's observation that the plastics being used today are materials that "weren't on the periodic table" even just a few years ago. There are no Olympus dealers to speak of in our area now so we depend a great deal on what info we can gather from reviewers like yourself. Your non-biased, no-fawning approach is appreciated. The EM5 III seems to be a new step forward especially when looking at the M1-Xs size and price,,Thanks again and Happy New Year!!--(a bit late)
Happy New Year to you too, Clint! The plastic construction is a shame because while it is probably as strong as metal, it just isn't perceived that way. The price is controversial too but it remains my opinion that judged purely as a Micro Four Thirds camera this is the best one yet, a combination of size and function that ticks all boxes.
Thanks David!
Glad you liked it, Steve.
Well, I finally bought an E-M5 mk3 in 2024. In fact I favoured the M5 mk3 over a Ricoh GR3, the latter the supposed de facto standard for street photography. The E-M5 is great. Perfect even. So sorry you're not around any more, David. I think you would've been suitably and as impressed. RIP.
Thank you David I was waiting for this! Enjoyed it, learnt stuff, hence, unbeatable value for money.
Thanks, William!
I've just been re-watching your old videos untill you uploaded a new one.
That's a big compliment - thank you Adam!
@@DavidThorpeMFT can't wait until you review the em1 mkiii!
Man! I just love listening to David. I guess we'll just have to keep mulling over buying old cameras to get our DT fix.
Nice job dave
Outstanding review once again. I think I can live without this model.
Thanks, Jon! The two p's, price and plastic I imagine?
Thank you for this, just when I thought I had it all figured out, the G9 and a few of the staple Panasonic/Leica lenses, I stumbled across a Flickr account with an Olympus M5 mk2 with Olympus lenses and was floored. I figured the Mk3 was an upgrade. This video helped. For some reason I though all the Olympus bodies were plastic, you allude to the M10 being metal, now I will be looking at it.
Yes, the E-M10 Mark II is metal, the III is plastic. I hope I don't make too much of it. On the other hand, they are reviews stemming from my own opinions and there's no question in my mind that I like a metal framed camera. The E-M1 Mark II is going at some bargain prices now - well worth a look.
I really like my EM10 Mark ii even in 2022. The black version in particular has a beautiful finish. The grip and the mode dial on the later models probably have a better shape but I'm used to mine after 5 years. Though I would love a secondhand EM1 mark ii for the extra features. However, I've instead been tempted by some lens price reductions as of 2022, as price inflation roars in everything else! Not sure why prices came down. Getting rid of Olympus trade mark inventory or some accounting adjustment from the spin off of the company, perhaps? I can only imagine.
David was one of the very best reviewers.
The common denominator in almost all your reviews is the 17/1.8. Which is my favorite.
Thnks, as always, for the video.
Thanks! The 17mm...yes, I bought it 6 years ago at the same time as my 60mm macro. When you see the 17mm in a shot, it will likely be taken on the 60mm. Two great Micro Four Thirds lenses. The 17mm is a perfect example of an Micro Four Thirds lens, small, fast and solidly built.
I'm sure you saw the promo film from Olympus discussing the servo controlled sensor the mkiii sports for IBIS. I'm a technologist and this innovation leaves everyone else in the dust in my view. Enjoyed your review of the AF and % failure statistics. My, my, science still wins..
Dave's reviews are always a special treat - thank you! I think your coverage of PDAF was particularly informative. I think I'll stick with my venerable GX-85 though.
Thanks for the kind words! I found the PDAF very effective, though there's more to a camera than that as your remark about sticking with your GX-85 illustrates. No point in change for its own sake.
Thanks for your review. I’ve been waiting to hear what you would say about this camera. I was looking forward to the release of the 5iii, and I was admittedly disappointed with the smaller plastic body. I agree it’s an upgrade, but it’s incremental improvements. This could have been a game changer for Olympus, but instead they decided to punt. I wonder why?
I think there are only incremental technology advances being made right now. But they could have improved the menus and used metal for the body. I wonder if they have the money for serious R&D?
Hi David, thanks for the insightful review I was gat to hear from you again.
Since buying my E-M5 MK3 at this models release I have really come to appreciate the body, it's handling and speed. Is it tough? Well, Glocks are also made out of polymers too, this might not be as tough as my E-M1X but, it will survive hostile conditions better than the Nikons I previously owned. Furthermore, its small form factor and lightweight enable me to always have it with me for that shot that I would have otherwise missed.
It's a wonderful compact size for such a capable camera. The plastic is a problem of perception and feel mainly, I think. I've no reason to think that metal makes for tougher cameras and I personally feel that plastic may be better in that it absorbs shocks and does not dent. The Glock, it has a metal barrel, I assume? Or are there plastics heat resistant enough for that too?
I just came back from a 4 hour shoot with my plastic OM 5iii. It was -4C the whole time and I can tell you that my hands did not freeze like they do with the lovely metal OM5ii. Even at temperatures close to 0 and above the metal body draws heat out of you! So I hear you, it seems that the new build quality feels less solid, but it's quite a bit lighter, more grippy, not cold on the hands at low temperatures. I believe Olympus that it'll be just as weatherproof and durable. So I understand the points made over and over about perception, but practicality trumps here. M43's is all about compactness remember?
For me, the new viewfinder, while punchier than the old one, is significantly smaller - and that's unfortunate for my use. Pretty much everything else is on par with or better than the 5ii. I really like the improved autofocus (and extra pixels).
That was a great video.
Great to see a new video! the mark III looks like a really nice piece of kit.
How does the pro capture feature compare to the Panasonic 4k photo mode?
Thanks, Michael. In terms of frames per second and focusing (or lack of it) much the same but the Olympus can shoot in full size jpg and RAW which makes it a lot more versatile.
@@DavidThorpeMFT maybe next time I will switch to Olympus. It is always difficult, both brands make such great cameras. Thanks again for the video, looking forward to more :-)
Well done. I'm a 1000x bigger a fan of Olympus's lens than their camera bodies. They've just never clicked with me though I appreciate their tech. So I wasn't sure about this video. But as always, informative and entertaining.
I especially liked the plastic/metal debate. Plastic is not always a bad thing. It's really dependent on the priorities for the device. I think people just don't like plastic because most companies use it as a way to cheap out on construction costs and increasing their profit. But for the right reasons, it can be a total win.
Happy New Year and looking forward to next month's video!
Happy new year to you too, Ricardo! As I say in the video, as far as I know plastic is just a strong as metal in a camera body but it just doesn't feel so nice. That wouldn't be a factor if the camera was cheaper but Panasonic can use a metal frame in a similar priced camera so I assume Olympus could too.
I am excited. I just ordered my EM5 mark iii last night...It will replace the EM5 Mark ii. I also have an EM1 Mark ii and the original EM10... I like the megapixel increase, the slot for a UHS2 card, phase detection and the new form factor. I am not concerned about the poly-carbonate body. Every Olympus that I have owned has been built like iron. And certainly the size of the EM5 Mark iii is great too. A great review David.
Thanks, David. You are obviously going to enjoy the E-M5 Mark III .
Well , after watching twice , and well worth it , i totally agree , and cannot see you changing from the g9 despite the phase detect of the Em5 mk3 , and especially with the g9's fairly recent firmware up date wow what a camera . thanks for a great review as always .
Now if Panasonic put PDAF on their G9...............
@@DavidThorpeMFT True , that would be nice , whats amazed me lately , is that the g9 straight out of camera video is slightly better than gh5 in low light video in the medium bit rate modes at least , using the same 2.8 /f4 12/60 lens !! , yes i think Olympus could have justified the price of the em5 mk iii if they had put in 60p 4k along with the great phase detect and better menus and kept the metal body , then i might have jumped ships . but i am sort of glad they haven't lol , a good shovel is still a good shovel , and one gets used to the same well worn and smooth handle remembering from over 40 years ago working on a farm lol manure shoveling , so i doubt now weather i will even swap gh5 for GH5S as the g9 is so good with that 16mm 1.4 ,in low light yes i have kept the gh5 still as it works better with the damp-able auto focus settings -2 -2 with the older slower motor f1.4 , 25mm, as the g9 does not have those adjustment controls and i am not buying the new version 25mm mk 2 at near 600 quid , but g9 as said is fine with that perfect focusing sigma 16mm but you were right its awesome for photos i can see why you went g9 over gh5 especial with the new detect mode , now i just need to get out there more and stick with it , oh blimey its gonna rain all next week ,so i am not going fool frame , chuckles , no offense intended , they are great for those who need them , zoom lenses too heavy and pricey for a non pro like me and i just love the look of MFT pics there's a great satisfaction of getting great photos with what you have and i still see great new shots with better blue sky's done with a good lens on a gh2 , over some full frame and apsc cameras with just mid range lenses so great lenses are a big key to me . cheers David . and thanks very much for the reply .
@@minorrhoads5318 My feeling is that Panasonic will keep the G9 as their stills focused flagship with video capabilities more than good enough for 90% of buyers (such as me) and the GH5/GH5s will become the video focused camera with stills good enough for 90% of video shooters. That would neatly consolidate the top models into separate niches.
@@DavidThorpeMFT SPOT ON !! & MANY THANKS DAVID , AND SO GLAD I WATCHED YOUR G9 REVIEW A WHILE BACK , BEST ALL ROUND MFT PANASONIC EVER MADE TO ME WITH THAT HI RES MODE AS WELL FOR STILL DAYS . ITS TRUE WHAT ADAM VAZ SAID ,AND ALSO I'VE WATCHED YOUR OLD VIDEOS LOOKING FORWARD TO NEW ONES , SANITY ON LINE IS A GEM TO BEHOLD . CHEER'S
I enjoy your concise and real world reviews
Thank you, I'ts nice to hear that.
thanks for the insight. I have an OM 1 mk II, now, had to replace the old EM5 mk II due to loss (ugg). However, traveling a lot, the compact size of OM, small lenses, IBIS, IBIS (did I say that twice?), IBIS and quality photos - just perfect for my use. IBIS (again?). M4/3 gets a rap for reasons that escape me. IBIS....
You're welcome, John. Micro Four Thirds gets criticised often by photographers who haven't used it and have fixed ideas, I find.
"At this price it really aught to have a metal body, even if only for owner satisfaction"
Amusing.
squareroot99999999 I agree with him. Even if polycarbonate can be an exceptionally durable and reliable material.
Reading all the comments, I feel glad my remarks on the plastic are general. I had wondered whether it was just me being prissy but it seems not.
I bought the EM5 MIII with the 14-150 kit lens and it does not feel cheap at all, it is plenty weighty.
My only concern about a non metal body would be the strength of the tripod mount screw hole.
squareroot99999999 Polycarbonate is very strong. And I assume the tripod mount is metal anyhow? I don’t think it’s much of a durability concern-but I do think it is an aesthetic concern. The E-M5 II simply feels like a delight in the hands, as does the E-M1 II. Practical concerns aside, I don’t get that “premium” sense of appreciation from plastic bodies and lenses.
I’ll be the first to admit that this is removed from functional concern.
I wouldn’t knock a product for it, or endeavor to present it as a serious concern that would apply to others. But I feel like I understand where our delightful host, David Thorpe, is coming from with his commentary. And it’s been interesting to see a lot of similar sentiment elsewhere in the comments.
@@jamespeirce2582 I think there may be a potential issue with the tripod mount www.dpreview.com/forums/post/63778865
An excellent and enjoyable review as always, David. When the E-M10 Mark III was introduced, my biggest takeaway was that it made the E-M10 Mark II look like the much better camera and a far better bargain; they took away some features that I valued and added things I didn’t care about. I’m afraid the plastic E-M5 Mark III leaves me feeling the same way about the E-M5 Mark II, which is a better-built camera for $500 less. The real shocker though is that for $100 more than the E-M5 Mark III, you can get the E-M1 Mark II. I’m honestly not sure what Olympus is thinking with this one.
Poor product segmentation and pricing l'm afraid from Olympus. Let's hope they get the EM1 III right.
As you both say, the pricing is a problem. Given the capabilities of the E-M1 Mark II and the fact that there is no huge jump in imaging technology in sight, it's hard to see what Olympus will do for a Mark III. I hope the E-M1X isn't a marker for their pricing of it!
@@DavidThorpeMFT I doubt that Olympus could get away with exorbitantly pricing a new EM1 III. Not in a shrinking camera market. I still find their lenses good value for the money given they can usually be purchased at a nice discount. I hope the new camera surprises and delights for the sake of M43.
The e-m1 is definitely a better option for this price range
@@DavidThorpeMFT Now is the time to buy EM1 III :) $1550 with 12-40 2.8 Pro lens is awesome. I don't feel there is a better M43 camera on the market right now anyway (unless you focus on video).
How would you compare CAF + Burst shooting on the EM5iii to the G9? Probably an unfair comparison but your testing seemed thorough and the iii seemed to perform really well. I'm pretty demanding with shooting mountain bikers at fast speeds in low light with the G9. I've only experienced some slightly out of focus frames but overall I'm impressed. I love the ergonomics and I know it like the back of my hand shooting in full manual. Anyway, what I don't like is I have to pedal my bike back up the hill and keep up with everyone (15+ miles, 2500' elevation gain) and the weight is starting to get to me. I also have some backpacking trips planned. I was originally thinking a second body like the GX85/GX9 but the lighter weight, the CAF performance, and Hi-res mode on the em5 have got me thinking. Only thing is I did try the em5ii 5 years ago- loved the camera but the menus were a dealbreaker for me so I stuck with Panasonic....
The Mark III does have the PDAF and it is highly effective. For what you are doing, it would seem the best Micro Four Thirds to me. I don't think there's a vast difference between it and the G9 - and as you say, the G9 works well for C-AF - but the GX9 is not as sure-footed. The Menus what can I say? Mind you, you do have the superb SCP which is one button push away at all times.
Great review, even for a non Olympus user.
I would still be an Olympus user if they upgraded the rangefinder style body Pen F, and as everyone says, a different more straight forward menu system, as I’m spoiled by the Panasonic menus, and the rolling usage explanation display.
I have the epl7 and the small upgrades to the epl9 and even pen f doesn't warrant an upgrade. The mft needs a new pen and omd series with a new sensor. Other than that I'm switching already
I thought the Pen would be a very popular model but gauging from comments on that and other Olympus cameras, it seems Olympus are simply pitching their prices too high. The sensors, as far as I know there is nothing radically new on the horizon.
David Thorpe that’s too bad. If they used the newer 20mp sensor with the epl9/10 and still retained the ability for it to mount the vf4 for $500 thats a great deal and would be enticing to all newcomers to mft. A flippy screen could also entire vloggers to use the olympus pen system. I’m disappointed with Olympus but no worries since I am same with Nikon
Hm. These sound like tempting and welcome upgrades to the mkii which I own and love using. Olympus seems to have an bottomless bag of magic tricks and now I guess my mkii will have to become my backup body which is ok with me.
The controls are very similar so it'll be ideal switching from one to the other. I see the prices have gone down a bit (in the UK, at least) too.
So i can add some information after 5 months of usage.
It is true the body is plastic, but most of the time its not a problem. As mentioned, its not giving any bad feeling while held in the hand, most of the time. Most, because the cover for SD Card is bit creaky when pressed on.
Despite small frame, it fits in the hand nicely, even with medium larger lenses such as M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8, or Lumix 35-100mm F2.8. The latter one fits almost perfectly and whole system then gives great balanced feeling. I wonder why the camera was advertised with M.Zuiko 12-100mm, because with it its quite front heavy.
The question is whether there will be available battery grip. Then you can have small, light and portable camera without it, and with some small lens, with possibility to transform it into larger, heavier camera with extended battery life and heavier lenses. The USB charging works fine, just dont forget the camera connected to a PC and ON. It will drain the battery quite fast, using SD Card reader is a good choice.
Controls are intuitively placed and i dont feel the need to change them, with one exception. I recommend to configure FN lever to be used as On/Off switch. That way you can handle the camera using one hand. Its perfect setting when you are used to keep the camera at hand but power it off when not used. I just wish that original On/off level would be not present at all, had different design, or at least offered a different feature when disabled.
Sensor is amazing, even the main benefit compared to 16Mpix isnt the resolution. Its native ISO 6400 is significantly more sensitive than sensor on my original M10 and it has much better dynamic range. However when i tried to use M.Zuiko 14-42 EZ i realized that with such lenses, sensors may show structure of phase autofocus microprisms when lens-flare occurs. Also there is one important thing of Micro 4/3 sensor and 4:3 ratio. If you did nt made right decision whether to take picture horizontally or vertically (for portraits) at the time of shooting, this arragement provides more space for POST editing and cropping.
JPEG editor which is embedded in the camera got some improvements, and from my experience provides best ORF>JPEG conversion. You can select color profile, flash compensation, and balance contrast or colors in POST, but without need of a computer or tablet. A cropping tool would be an improvement. Only downside is that camera display provides only rough preview.
Many users dont like Olympus menu. I intuitively switched both my cameras from Live SCP to Live Control. All important settings are then in scrolling column on the right, while you still see the image and in most cases I dont even need to dive into the menu. Different modes of viewing (no controls, controls, leveling tool, highlight/shadow) are through info button. Leveling tool might give incorrect impression about edges and center of the image and histogram might slow-down overall response time of the camera.
Informative comments, thank you Miroslav.
@@DavidThorpeMFT One thing regarding menu... Try following.
Menu> CogWheel> D1> Control Settings> P/A/S/M/B. Uncheck Live SCP, check Live Control. Then switch the camera to PASM or B mode and press OK to see the menu. Live SCP is still available through "Live View" button.
I prefer this mode as I dont use touchscreen, and i can change settings while looking through EVF, without losing subject.
Thank you David. This is one tempting little titbit of a camera.
You like it! Thanks, Rudolf.
Funny how the EM10ii has stood the test of time. Olympus decision to include a metal body made it's predecesor and this EM5 compare negatively to that begginers (although there's little it can't do) camera from 4 years ago. In my opinion, the EVF and plastic body are the biggest gripes with this camera, particularly considering what the competition from Fuji and others is shaping up to be.
Agreed. Although it's only aesthetic, I always thought the metal top plate was a unique selling point and gave a genuine retro look. Really putting me off getting this.
Just realised I wrote predecessor and meant successor (em10iii)
If I take what I do with a camera, there is little that I couldn't do just as well on an E-M10 II as anything else. Like Panasonic's GX7, it looks to be a modern classic.
Excellent review of the Mark iii. I'm an Olympus user and would have preferred to see hardware upgrades like a higher resolution evf and touchscreen but combined with the traditional Olympus metal body.
It goes without saying the menu system could be simplified but it's something I've gotten used to.
I was hoping to buy the new Mark iii but was underwhelmed after seeing it in the flesh so decided to go for the E-M1 mark ii .
It's such a shame Olympus just aren't putting available technology into the m43 system which is why I think they're destined to be a niche market rather than a market leader
I get the feeling that quite a few photographers who waited for the E-M5 III are clocking the price and then buying the E-M1 II instead. I think that's a good move, actually, because when a E-M1 Mark III comes out it is likely to be very expensive indeed and as far as I can see there is no radical new technology to put in it. I'm not even sure any is necessary but that's another matter!
Solid.
Indeed.
I have an original E-M5 that I still use today and was waiting for the new Mark III to upgrade. But the price being almost the same as the E-M1 Mark II here in Australia, the plastic body and the smaller battery that can't be used while charging with power bank, "forced" me to opt for the "older" E-M1 Mark II instead. With the new firmware 3.1 the AF performance is amazing. I've been shooting flying birds with keeper rates I never got with my original E-M5.
yep!i did exactly same..bigger and heavier but dont have to buy the extra grip few plus than the em1 mark 2 have...
The price of this camera is obviously a stumbling block for may. When it comes so close to the E-M1 II, the consensus seems to be that the latter is the better use of the money.
Totally agree regarding the need for heft and a metal body. When I bought my g85 it was between that and the OMD 5ii. I really REALLY wanted the Olympus, so beautiful and small I was willing to live with 1080p video and the quirky menu. But when I held it in my hand, even with the satisfying heft and build quality I knew it was TOO small. I’d likely drop it on my way out of the store. So I got the Pana and haven’t looked back. I was really looking forward to the Mark 5iii, hoping it would be a bit bigger but still have the Oly heft and build. Good on Oly for keeping the size reasonable but I’d miss the presence in the hand of my g85. For me the significant improvements of the Oly aren’t worth the financial and tactile upgrade costs yet. Great review!
Thanks, Tony! Many photographers prefer a bit bigger camera like your G85. The G90 is a little bigger still, though as I said in the G90 review, no great reason to 'upgrade' from the G85.
What a surprise e-m5 mark III ! Using om-d from the first day mk 1, 2, 3 now. gGoes better and better
🙂
Hi David, Love your videos. Just to let you know there is a audio glitch at 00:03:10.
Thanks, Shark. I'm not sure whether I can correct it without uploading a new, corrected video. That's a problem because TH-cam sees it as a brand new upload.
No problem David. I the same problem with my TH-cam. Though I also use Vimeo which I favour more. :)
With the E-M1 mk ii being the same price now as the E-M5 mk iii, if one-handed ergonomics and low-weight are the top requirements (technical specs of both will suit) which would you choose in 2021? (not able to access either to try in hand because of pandemic)
Good point. I missed that opportunity. Now it's a secondhand EM1 Mk ii with no warranty or 6 months from MPB at 400-500 or a new discounted 635 quid EM5 Mk iii with 2½ or 3 year warranty.
The Panasonic has a nice focusing, it looks as if you were focusing with a smooth manual lens.
As much as this camera's receiving praise, I wish Olympus would've made the EM-5 iii more different as a different category. (Like previously EM1 vs EM5 ii)
I wish Olympus would've kept the EM5 line up more about the ultimate image quality from a small cam without much care to the vid modes, auto focus and speed than a cheaper EM1.
Good point. Much of the comment has been photographers saying that given the price it makes more sense to buy an E-M1 II. More differentiation might have stemmed that. Trouble is, with technological breakthroughs hardly happening now, it becomes harder and harder to do anything different.
Agreed, the reason I chose Olympus was for their image quality and stellar weather sealing. I've abused my EM5 from Iceland to the tropics places where the upstarts like Sony fear to venture yet they have dropped the ball on this model with below average specs for a 1k camera
Don't forget that Olympus are refreshing their range. The gap between the em-5 and em-1 will reappear when the latter is refreshed. It's always a problem for manufacturers when making a product range as I know from 30-odd years in the car industry.
Great looking camera, if despite the lack of a hugely groundbreaking new technology or other. Shame about the change in body material though.
Guess it might now be marginally better suited for arctic circle street photography though.
Great thought, Jenny. I am off to Hammerfest, Norway, to check out your thought immediately 😀
Carbonate bodies have never bothered me. Good testing and review, thanks for posting it. I ordered mine!
Thanks, Joel. Enjoy the camera.
Good work joel... im proud of you like my own son.... you did good
Welcome back David. Interesting design and feature choices by Olympus here. Apart from PDAF not much to entice Olympus upgraders especially given how closely priced it is to the EM1 II.
I think the camera would appeal and be a good choice for those seeking their first compact for stills and video. Wannabe YT vloggers perhaps? Olympus just needs to drop that high introductory price.
The pricing is a problem. There's a pattern to the pricing that works against the mid range models with both Olympus and Panasonic. When I reviewed the Panasonic G90 I noted that its selling price was almost the same as the G9 street price. It's true that the street price of the E-M5 III will come down but to anyone thinking of buying it, the price of the E-M1 II is not that different and as you imply, makes it an attractive choice.
@@DavidThorpeMFT Exactly the reason l went for the G9. That and the mini DSLR form factor and menu layout.
I find it balances very well will all but the largest lens. The one wish is the C1 to C3 on the dial
Yes, three C modes on the dial would be handy, I agree. I use little else and 3 would cover all my normal range of settings.
Great review as always David. For me the price and my g9 and gx9 are the sticking points.
Thanks Sion. The G9 and GX9 are an ideal pairing, one bigger does everything, one smaller, take anywhere, capable enough.
I owned a Mark II for more than a year. Great photos from it but I hated that interface so so much. Switched to a G9 and happy about the great user interface! but sad about the heft of the body :(
I really wish Olympus would make a better user interface. The camera looks so good otherwise. Oh and allow charging while connected to a computer. Thank you for your videos and the focus on how the camera feels like to use.
I think that Panasonic's experience with consumer goods like bread makers and TVs informs their interface. Buyers of such goods won't tolerate complexity. Glad you like the videos.
Thanks for the review. I think this model takes the same battery as the E-M10 models and so would appeal as an upgrade. The addition of phase detect driven focus for a small kids in image quality is the right call to make to differentiate from Panasonic models and compete with Canon, Sony & Fuji. Still room for a new model with a modern UI - after all, the iPhone came out in 2007.
The physical controls here are as good as they can be so new menu system would be a very useful enhancement.
The end was on point. Even if the metal body was just for satisfaction, I think, this is a huge dealbreaker for a lot of customers.
That might be a matter of personal preference. I like that the mk3 saves 55gr. in weight compared to the mk2. Since polycarbonate can be so much tougher than metal it is definitely not a deal breaker for me.
@@teridzard1776 It's about the feel. It will be tougher, but it's plastic and everyone who nows what it is, nows it's plastic and to be honest the sexy factor of that thing dropped to the ground, hen they annouce it's plastic. If you like it, buy it, but I don't think that it will earn a lot of love from the community.
As always a great review but i guess i will stick with my gx9 , no need for an upgrade , maybe looking for a G9 ... Thank you David , cheers thaynamite :)))
Thanks! The G9 is a really great "do it all" camera. Mine is my workhorse for both video and stills.
@@DavidThorpeMFT what about upgrading from a gx7 what makes more sense, I still want small but do it all... As that one camera will be with me for at least 3-4 more years of not more
when you wanna see m43 you come here 🤗
😇
I heard Olympus and Panasonic aren't making cameras anymore in the near future.
Will you be moving to a new set up with other brands or still using 4/3 gear.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, or a video even better.
Thanks.
There have been rumours around but whatever happened I'd stick with my Micro Four Thirds until they clap out. There's still nothing that matches the lens size advantage that the smaller sensor gives. It's not blind loyalty, these are tools and If someone came up with a FF system with lens and body sizes the same as Micro Four Thirds, I'd be buying that. For the moment at least, there's no technology to make that possible.
Which do you prefer the em5 mark iii or the G90? Especially for stills.
:( Sadly he can no longer answer you
What role will this camera have in your kit? Will it replace your Panasonic G9?
If it was going to replace anything it would be the GX9 on the basis of its size. The G9 is, to date, irreplaceable in its role as my workhorse. Excellent EVF, easy tethering, I can externally power it while using it, it just ticks all boxes. Thinnking about it, the GX9 would be irreplaceable if it had a better EVF and PDAF!
It's a solid camera, but with the EM-1 II on offer for the same price, it is a very hard sell (unless you absolutely must have the smaller size).
Yours seems to be a very general view, Ryan. I presume Olympus will learn something from their pricing of this camera.
Yeah I'm looking to upgrade and thinking of getting the EM-1 II. If there's a good reason to get the EM-5 III instead I have yet to figure out what it would be.
@@DavidThorpeMFT Well, things just got interesting. Olympus has dropped the E-M5 III price by $200 USD / 200 GBP / $300 CAD.
I'm going to have a very hard decision moving forward. The E-M5 III in Canada is the same price as the G9 with the Shop Panasonic promotions/partner discounts and $300 cheaper than the E-M1 II.
I mostly do travel photography these days (less time to walk around) and my most used lenses are the PL 10-25, Olympus 12-100. If the E-M5 grip was cheaper, I would go in that direction, but $225 is a lot for the E-M5 III grip...
I had a GX8 (which I loved dearly), but the contacts on the lens mount and microSD card slot are dead. I really didn't have a problem using the GX8 + a the leather half case with the big lenses. The used market is insane on GX8s ($700 - $900!). What to do, what to do...?
@@ryankwan1934 The comparison between the E-M5 Mark III and Panasonic G9 is a little false, one being a flagship model ad the other mid-range. But, as you point out, it is made entirely realistic because the price is the same. From my standpoint, the G9 is the obvious choice. It has a big bright EVF like the GX8 and the same easy usability. Since the lenses you favour are big (by Micro Four Thirds standards, I hasten to add!) the bigger body of the G9 compared to the E-M5 Mark III wouldn't bother you too much. From the outside, the decision looks pretty clean cut - but then, when it's not your (one's) own money, most decisions do.
@@DavidThorpeMFT Oh I know. It's logic versus emotion. I'm just a sucker for a compact and/or range finder body. The appeal of the E-M5 is the ability to carry it with a tiny prime if one desires or slap the optional grip on and handle the big lenses. I'll need to sit down at a camera shop and play with all three bodies.
can my lenses for my olympus e620 fit the olympus e-m5 mark 111
Yes, they will Mark. Four Thirds lenses as used by the e620 will need an (easily available) adaptor, though and the focusing will be slower.
@@DavidThorpeMFT thanks so much for the speedy reply
M III... Man I remember using M I and wondering how good is. I have thought that they will produce something better for video these days...
It's pretty useful for video of the straightforward type that I need for my channel. For enthususat, semi-pro, you'd need something from Panasonic, really.
@@DavidThorpeMFT Yes, that is true!
Thanks, interesting. I’m still using the GX7.
Incidentally, time to update your copyright notice year at the end maybe?
I think many GX7 owners will keep on using them regardless. That camera hit a sweet spot for so many photographers. Thanks for the heads-up about the copyright - I'd completely overlooked that.
Mine is still alive and kicking butt
@@DavidThorpeMFT Yep. I've got the GX8 which will never be replaced. I might buy a new MFT camera but will never get rid of my GX8.
Do you shoot on film?
I used to but not these days.
Oh no, not the evil penguin from Wallace & Gromit! Thought it had been exiled 🙂
He's always there, waiting, plotting evil deeds. 😮
So it's an improvement that they went all plastic rather than premium metal?🤔 Please explain
You'd need to ask Olympus! It's the one thing that mars this camera. For many people it won't matter, though.
Why is metal a so much loved feature of cameras and lenses? It's heavy, cold to touch in winter conditions, prone to dents and color scratches off. I bet no camera is ever treated like a hammer drill or grinding machine - yet these construction tools typically come with: .... plastic bodies or plastic grips.
To me this metal thing is rather a "marketing fetish" - it adds posh to the kit - not functionality.
@@RH-xk2dl As I say in the video, probably all perception, although I don't care for plastic lens mounts where I have seen them. But these perception things are there whether we like them or not. I used to love my Hasselblads for the sheer precision and beautiful engineering even apart from the functionality. Did it make them take better pictures technically? Probably not. But it did make them a pleasure to handle. I'm in the middle here, I don't know what to think. I've mentioned several times in mt videos how I have dropped lenses and been glad they were plastic bodies because a metal lens would have sustained dents where the plastic one just bounces back. Marketing wise, plastic has been badly handled. Carbon fibre is light and feels somewhat flimsy compared to a a similar metal object but because it is used in F1 cars and racing bicycles etc, and maybe because it is expensive, it has an aura of quality and exoticism. Maybe the plastic of camera bodies should have been referred to as Polycarbonate (or whatever it is) from day one. As it is, I think it will only be fully acceptable when Canon and Nikon professional cameras are made in it.
I found a book in a charity shop last week called Vin Rude by David Thorpe. It's an alphabetical photographic journey through alcohol and naked bodies. Very 80s. Please tell me it was you?
No, not me. It was by a namesake who had a studio not far from me in Wimbledon. Nice photography, I thought. I probably had a similar journey, just didn't photograph it 😮
@@DavidThorpeMFT two David Thorpe's? What a comedy of errors! You turn up to a shoot and there's a naked vicar with nothing more than a bottle of Blue Nun to protect his modesty. Meanwhile rude David Thorpe is trying to stumble his way through a TH-cam review of an Olympus EM5.
This review has tipped me over the line...off i go to purchase the MkIII
🙂
@@DavidThorpeMFT Just letting you know I received it 4 days ago. So far excellent. Waiting for the Olympus grip to arrive now. Your name is dirty in my household... true... ask the Mrs, she'll tell you 😁
@@ElvisPriscillaPresley You must have deleted my original reply where I said that under no circumstances should you waste money on such a camera, that there were better uses for the money and that in this matter my advice would be to consult your wife before even thinking of wasting money and such frivolities as a new camera and grip. I find that partners are always right in such matters. Please show this reply to Mrs. Presley 😎
Looks nice. Will stick with my gx85 for now. No point in changing for the sake of it.
I agree. Actually many people with GX85s are saying they'll stick with them. They probably mark the point at which things like shutter shock were cured and the camera's capabilities were up to anything you wanted other than specialist sports applications.
It's plastic to make it 30% lighter (and a little smaller) than the E-M1ii, for 'coat pocketability' (with a pancake lens).
The plastic body was the main reason I didn't upgrade my em-5 original to this.
I find that a shame, while agreeing with you. The camera's not cheap and people expect metal at this price.
I agree about the lack of a metal body. Plastic does not save enough weight to warrant the use of it.
It must be depressing for Olympus to hear the complaints about plastic and it may even be that the plastic is better than metal, I don't know. Whatever, they need to listen.
2:32 oops almost lost it there....
It was cushioned underneath. I'd have been a nervous wreck otherwise 😱
In New Zealand this is $300 more expensive than the Panasonic G9 (was $500 more expensive when it launched, as the Panasonic was on special). I was curious about buying this to complement my Panasonic cameras, but the price for a plastic body doesn’t do it for me ...
At $300 more than a G9, buying this makes no sense. The small size would be complementary but the big price certainly isn't. A GX9 might suit, provided you can live with the EVF?
I bought a MkIII and love it so far... but it's not perfect. No USB C connection? Wut? It's 2020!!
I can't imagine why the haven't used the 'C' cable. But Panasonic's the same. And it would certainly have been nice to be able to power the camera via the cable too.
Thanks, David. As always, brilliantly done. This one hurts my heart. EM5 is everything M43 should be and this iteration just doesn't make sense at its price point. 7:33 and the DPreview image compare prove my point. Panasonic engine is doing a better job of retaining detail. G9 is still the king of value in M43 and will probably remain so for quite some time.
Thanks, Jake. The G9 has been my workhorse camera since I bought it. It has a great EVF, easy handling and does everything well. Actually, if they put PDAF in it, I don't see how it could be bettered. I was pleased by the way, in video, that the PDAF of the E-M5 Mark III was so much more definite than the Panasonic models and the CAF was generally much, much better. I don't do anything that requires state of the art CAF, though so it's not a concern for me. I'd still prefer the PDAF, though, for when I might want it.
The detail, given that all the 20Mp sensors used in Micro Four Thirds cameras are probably from the same source, the RAW output will be the same. After that it's all down to processing and Panasonic has always gone for detail rather than the suppression of noise. It's a decision that, like you, I thoroughly agree with. At the prices I'm seeing for the G9 now, it's a steal.
On my view, choosing polycarbonate was not a smart move. It is difficult to justify losing built quality/robustness for a negligible 50g weight loss. Do you really think a polycarbonate body will last in the same way the Mark II body does? Especially if we are talking about portability - which means occasional drops...
Similarly, we have the battery change... with my MarkII, I already pack 4 batteries. What should the Mark III require? Again, I think that's too much of a compromise for just 50g
I really don't know how the longevity of a polycarbonate body would compare with metal and I have no reason to doubt its ability to sustain knocks. Certainly it has less tendency to dents. Having said all that, I would much, much prefer the camera had been made in metal, especially at its price point.
I don't like that Olympus cameras still don't have a pinch to zoom which is a must have function for modern touch interface devices. Overall it feels like E-M5 III is now closer to E-M10 series and in spite of some improved functionality feels a bit of a downgrade compared to E-M5 II. I would say - compared with E-M5 II feels more like an amateur camera . This is just a perception from the camera, but sometimes perception is not less important than formal facts...
Sometimes, for me, perception is more important than facts too. At this price, the body ought to have a metal frame in my view.
Nice review. My biggest disappointment with this is the all plastic body.it looks truly awful and cheap. I always thought the metal top plate made the cameras really stand out and look good. I'll stick with my em10 mark 2 for now. I certainly dont buy the weight saving argument with the plastic body. What were Olympus thinking.
Your comment is Interesting, Steven. I wondered if I was being a bit prissy about the plastic and everyone else would think it didn't matter. Obviously not and we're n ot alone, it seems.
@@DavidThorpeMFT I agree with your comments on the video.i know it's only an aesthetic part of the camera but i do like a camera that looks smart. I think it was a winning formula with the part metallic body. I haven't seen anyone yet say they're glad they made it all plastic.
@@steventhomas231
I think the body is fine like it is, I dont have this camera to pleasure my ego... I got it after the Mk2 because the technique is better and so are the results. It is very pleasureable to work with.
Maybe we humans focus too much on what's missing, therefore not happy with what we do have and are incapable to accept a compromise
at x1.75 speed, this is a not bad review.
You're welcome to play it at any speed you like!
In my home region an em5iii is more expensive than an em1ii ($1375 vs $988 USD) because it is a new release, but still makes me laugh. To me the em5iii is more like Olympus's proof of their self-transcendence: putting (previous) flagship performance into a smaller & lighter body. "technology advancement"
Yes, it's the way it works. The pricing you give is stupidly counter-productive for E-M5 III sales unless you are totally fixed on a smaller body. What's getting hard for the companies is finding improvements to encourage upgrading now that technical progress has slowed down.
It seems to me that you need a better microphone or recording medium.
What's the problem, DW? Could you gie me a bit more detail on what you mean?
Dw it seems you need a better Headphone, Smartphone or PC audio...
I have a G80 from when it came out and a GM1, but I feel Fuji and Sony killed MFT and Oly and Pana did not maintain the advantages of MFT as I liked in my GM1.
The GM1 really was tiny but all Micro Four Thirds cameras couldn't be like that. I've seen nothing in APS-C to give me nay advantage over Micro Four Thirds as I use it. I like the ability to take a GX9 plus 12-32 and 35-100 and hardly know I'm carrying them. Then another time a G9 plus 8-18mm, 12-40mm and 40-150mm or 50-200mm - all part of the same system. No other system offers that flexibility which is what I see as the advantage of Micro Four Thirds. We all have different priorities though and if APS-C suits you better there are plenty of good ones around, as you point out.
David Thorpe understood. Most of my shooting is with small focal lengths up to 85 FF equivalent, and for those I don’t get a big size advantage when I take into account low light and shallow DOF I want to get, while the MFT bodies’ focus systems are not on a par with APSC brands, even not this Olympus AFAIK. If MFT bodies would have provided the size advantages while maintaining on a par focus and sensors continuing to improve (the 20mp sensor is the same as the GX8 I believe) that could’ve made a difference. But bodies are just getting bigger and Pany stays with contrast detect and doesn’t release new small bodies (latest was GX9). For example the G90 that for me was a step back vs. G80.
@@ilanhoward It's always horses for courses, isn't it? The majority of my income directly from pictures (as opposed to TH-cam and books) and most of those are as a result of always having a camera with me. For selling pictures, little counts except the interest of the picture. There is absolutely no chance that I am going to be lugging a FF camera and a range of lenses around with me when it gives me no advantage and makes life so unpleasant. I was lumbered with that for years in my newspaper days.
I don't generally do sports or birding so ultimate focusing performance is of no interest to me. but in that respect mirrorless cameras will probably never match DSLRs because the DSLR can have a dedicated PD array operating even when a frame is taken. Mirrorless has to be on the sensor and even the fastest readout is nowhere near as effective as a constant, uninterrupted detection process. I seem to have a lot more success with C-AF than many, including with the Panasonic system but when I see how so many reviewers simply rely on technology to get their pictures that's no surprise.
David Thorpe as to AF, as far as I know and read, mirrorless cameras such as Sony A9 outperform DSLRs, which can not compete with covering the entire sensor with focus points, and with technologies of eye detection and tracking. That said, my disappointment with MFT is how they compete against APS-C, while they are loosing the size advantage and are not showing enough value in the short focal ranges.
@@ilanhoward For out and out tracking of fast moving subjects the top line DSLRs out perform any mirrorless camera - we're talking £5,000 plus camera bodies here. Eye detection and tracking are niceties but if a professional sports photographer wants the best, it will still be a DSLR. For the reason I mentioned, the speed of sensor based PD sites is limited by the sequential readout time since the camera must read anew after each frame. With a DSLR the focus is calculated all the time, even while pictures are being taken. I'd also point out that covering fast moving action using all the screen focus points really isn't reliable. The best sports photographers know their sports and antici[ate the action. No camera can do that. You need to help the camera by giving it a solid idea of where you intend it to focus. In many cases for fast action manual is better, actually but it takes practice.
The size advantages aren't in the bodies but in the lenses. an APS-C lens to perform a similar function to Olympus's 40-150mm f/2.8 wouldn't be practical or affordable. Hence there isn't one. Similarly there is no APS-C size match for the 12-32 or 35-100mm Panasonic telescoping lenses. I've nothing against APS-C cameras (I used to have one) but they just seem a halfway house to me. If I wanted better IQ, I'd go to a medium format which, as I know from my Hasselblads, can provide a level of IQ that can help sell a big print. At least then in return for all the bulk you get a perceivable return in IQ for really big prints over 48 inches. On screens with their low resolution - even 4K is unusual - there's no difference between a compact and a FF. Having said which, I have no plans to buy one since my Samsung S10+ phone fills the only need I have apart from Micro Four Thirds gear - a visual notebook. Frighteningly good results for something that only takes pictures as a party trick.
No video and ibis test
First?? Holy moley!
😮
DP REVIEW on this camera made by an owner claims defective tripod mount. Plastic broke.
Mine seems sturdy enough so far but of course these are things that depend on time and the hardness of the use.
@@DavidThorpeMFT Point well taken! I agree!
I like it but without a new high resolution EVF I will stick with my EM1.2. Just no real need to upgrade right now. Oops thought this was about the EM1.3 sorry
Good point, Terry. I've just seen specs for the E_M1 III and as far as I can tell it has the same EVF as the Mark II.