Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Andy Westlake takes a first look at this updated compact, lightweight but fully featured Micro Four Thirds model

- Andy Westlake

IT’S NOW almost eight years since Olympus introduced the original OM-D E-M5, and with it, the concept of a small, fully-featured and weather-sealed mirrorless camera aimed squarely at enthusiast photographers. Its successor, the E-M5 Mark II, added a whole slew of updates and improvements early in 2015. But the camera market has moved on considerably since, with other manufacturers offering multiple new models in the meantime. So news of the latest iteration feels long overdue.

In essence, the Mark III retains most of the core characteristics that have made the E-M5 range so appealing. Its petite body measures just 125 x 85 x 50mm, yet fi nds space for an extensive complement of external controls, along with full weather-sealing and Olympus’s class-leading 5-axis in-body image stabilisation. Compared to its predecessor, it gains key features from the fl agship OM-D E-M1 Mark II, most notably the same 20MP sensor that includes on-chip phase detection for radically superior autofocus. Despite this, it is 55g lighter, thanks mainly to the body shell being made from polycarbonate rather than metal – which is sure to be a controversial change for existing E-M5 lovers.