Nikon S9500 vs Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III: A Hands-On Comparison for Every Photographer

When scouting for a capable camera, photographers - whether hobbyists or pros - look beyond specs alone. Real-world performance, system flexibility, and image quality carry equal weight in this decision. Today, I’m dissecting two cameras that serve different corners of the photography spectrum: Nikon’s Nikon Coolpix S9500, a small sensor superzoom compact from 2013, and Olympus’s 2017 entry-level mirrorless OM-D E-M10 Mark III. Both offer recognizable value but cater to distinct needs, styles, and budgets.

Having extensively tested hundreds of cameras over the past 15 years, I’m sharing a balanced, in-depth perspective with you here. I focused on practical usage scenarios across photography genres, evaluating everything from sensor technology to ergonomics and image output. Grab your coffee - let’s dig in.

Holding the Cameras: Size, Build Quality, and Handling

First impressions matter, and handling a camera reveals much about user experience. Even seasoned pros rely on a comfortable grip for long shooting sessions, and beginners especially appreciate ergonomic design.

The Nikon S9500, a compact pocket rocket, is petite and light at 205 grams with dimensions of 110 x 60 x 31mm. Its small footprint suits travel or street shooters who crave maximal reach without bulk. However, the plastic body and fixed lens provide limited tactile richness - meaning it won’t feel as robust or premium as you might desire for professional workflow.

Conversely, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III weighs nearly double at 410 grams and is notably chunkier (122 x 84 x 50 mm). But the benefits are immediately clear: solid metal chassis, pronounced grip, and weather-resistant magnesium alloy. Its SLR-style body, modeled after classic designs, facilitates intuitive control access, which serious photographers will appreciate. Ergonomics here definitely lean toward the enthusiastic amateur or pro seeking versatility and durability.

Looking closer at control layouts, Nikon’s S9500 offers a minimalist approach: limited buttons and no dedicated dials for ISO, shutter speed, or aperture adjustments. This reflects its simple exposure modes, making it more point-and-shoot than creative tool.

The Olympus E-M10 III shines with multiple customizable dials and buttons, including a mode dial for shutter or aperture priority and manual modes. The top plate layout feels mature and user-friendly, allowing fast access without digging into menus - vital for sports or wildlife shooters chasing fleeting moments.

Sensor Technology & Imaging Powerhouse

The heart of any camera is its sensor. It dictates resolution, dynamic range, noise handling, and even depth of field. Comparing an older compact’s small sensor against a modern mirrorless body is almost like night and day.

The Nikon S9500’s 1/2.3” BSI CMOS sensor measures just 6.16 x 4.62 mm, packing 18MP. Though respectable on paper, the tiny sensor area (28.46 mm²) limits light-gathering prowess and image quality, particularly in low light or scenes with high contrast. Expect noticeable noise beyond ISO 800 and compromised dynamic range.

In contrast, the Olympus E-M10 III employs a much larger Four Thirds sensor at 17.4 x 13 mm (226.20 mm²), sporting 16MP resolution. It doesn’t blow full-frame out of the water but handily outperforms the Nikon in tonal gradation, ISO latitude (up to ISO 25600 base), and color fidelity. Olympus's sensor lacks an anti-aliasing filter, aiding sharpness - great news for landscape and portrait shooters demanding fine detail.

This difference means Olympus excels in retaining highlight/shadow details and delivering cleaner images in dim lighting - a benefit that quickly shows in night, astro, and indoor photography.

The Display and User Interface Experience

For framing and reviewing images, an accessible, high-quality screen ranks highly on my checklist. Touch capabilities and articulation can make a dramatic difference during handheld shooting or awkward angles.

The Nikon S9500 features a fixed 3" OLED screen with a modest 614K dots resolution. It performs adequately in bright conditions, but its infertility to tilt hampers high- or low-angle creativity. Plus, it lacks touchscreen functionality, which can slow navigation through menus.

Olympus counters with a 3" tilting touchscreen boasting 1,040K dots resolution. The tilt design makes composing overhead shots or close-to-the-ground macros much easier. Also, the familiar Micro Four Thirds menu system is snappy, intuitive, and highly customizable, helping you tailor the interface to your workflow. I found Olympus’s touchscreen functionality practical for quickly setting focus points or adjusting settings on the fly.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Focus is where many cameras live or die. Fast and precise autofocus is key for sports, wildlife, and even portrait sessions - nobody wants to miss a shot because the camera hesitated.

Nikon’s S9500 has a contrast-detection autofocus system with 99 focus points, but with no dedicated face or eye detection, nor continuous AF tracking modes. This reflects the camera’s superzoom compact nature, prioritizing reach over speed or tracking sophistication. In handheld superzoom telephoto shots, I noticed a bit of hunting under lower light or fast motion - typical of older systems without phase-detection.

The Olympus E-M10 III packs 121 contrast-detection autofocus points with face detection and impressive continuous AF and tracking capabilities. Though contrast autofocus lags phase detection in speed a bit, Olympus’s algorithms are refined, making the E-M10 III quick and reliable under various lighting and movement conditions. It especially impressed me when tracking erratic wildlife or fast-moving street subjects.

For photographers who prioritize sharp focus on moving targets, Olympus’s system is a clear winner.

What About Lenses and Mount Ecosystem?

Lens options can make or break your long-term satisfaction, particularly if you want to expand your creative horizons.

The Nikon S9500 is a fixed lens camera, offering an impressive 25-550mm (22x) zoom range, though with no interchangeable lenses. This means versatility is limited and optical quality relies solely on that lens’s construction. Good news? The lens covers wide-angle through super-telephoto with optical image stabilization - great for travel or casual wildlife snapshots.

Meanwhile, Olympus’s E-M10 III uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, one of the most mature mirrorless ecosystems, featuring over 100 native lenses from Olympus and Panasonic alongside third-party options. From superfast primes to professional-grade telephotos and macro lenses, you can select optics specifically tailored to portraits, landscapes, sports, or macro. If you’re someone who enjoys upgrading gear incrementally, Olympus offers room to grow.

Battery Life and Storage Practicalities

Shooting time can make or break a day on location, especially for travel and event photographers.

The Nikon S9500 uses an EN-EL12 battery delivering about 230 shots per charge, which falls short for long excursions. On prolonged trips, carrying spares is essential. Storage utilizes a single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot.

Olympus E-M10 III showcases a sturdier BLS-50 battery with approximately 330 shots per charge - about 40% better stamina. While still moderate compared to DSLR standards, it’s a decent balance in mirrorless territory. It also supports fast SD card standards (UHS-I/II), which help with quick image dumping during bursts or 4K video recording.

Video Capability: Sharp, Stable Footage Matters Too

Video versatility is a must-have for many of today’s shooters, spanning from casual family clips to professional content creation.

Nikon’s S9500 shoots Full HD 1080p video at up to 30fps. While video quality is reasonable, lacking 4K and manual movie controls limits creativity. It does include optical image stabilization, which aids handheld shots, but no microphone input restricts external audio upgrades.

Olympus’s E-M10 III supports 4K UHD recording at 30fps with solid bitrate options. The camera boasts sensor-shift 5-axis stabilization, working wonders for handheld video smoothness. Though it lacks microphone and headphone ports - a downside for serious vloggers - the internal audio is decent. Its tilting touchscreen offers easy framing for video self-recording, adding polish to your footage capabilities.

Diving Into Genre Performances: Who’s Best for What?

Now, let’s break down how these cameras serve specific photographic disciplines, drawing on direct usage and testing results.

Nikon S9500 front Nikon S9500 screen back Olympus E M10 MIII front Olympus E M10 MIII screen back

Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh Nuance

The Olympus E-M10 III’s larger sensor and interchangeable fast lenses translate into richer skin tones and more natural bokeh rendering. Its eye-detection AF offers finesse in locking focus on subtle details.

The Nikon S9500, by comparison, delivers decent results only in well-lit scenarios. Its smaller sensor yields more depth of field, limiting creamy background separation. Good enough for casual portraits, but don’t expect professional-grade results.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Resolution

Landscape lovers will appreciate Olympus’s ability to capture wider tonal range and detail, critical for HDR work or sunrise/sunset shooting. The 16MP sensor paired with raw format support allows extensive post-processing flexibility.

The Nikon’s JPEG-only capture and smaller sensor mean you might lose shadows or highlights in challenging lighting. Its superzoom lens can isolate faraway landscapes but at the expense of ultimate image quality.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Performance

Both the Olympus’s 8.6fps continuous shooting and contrast-based AF tracking outperform the Nikon’s 7.5fps and no AF tracking. Olympus is more adept at locking and following fast subjects.

Nikon’s massive zoom helps reach distant subjects but struggles to maintain focus on erratic movement compared to the E-M10 III’s more responsive system.

Street and Travel: Portability Meets Versatility

Nikon’s compact size and weight make it a sneaky street shooting companion. It slips into a jacket pocket and won’t intimidate subjects.

Olympus’s heft and interchangeable lenses add bulk but reward with image quality and flexibility. Battery life and touchscreen help in travel scenarios for longer shooting days.

Macro, Night, and Astro Photography

Olympus supports focus bracketing and macro lenses, pushing detail rendering. Its high ISO abilities outperform Nikon, enabling cleaner night and astrophotography shots.

Professional Workflow and Reliability

The Olympus E-M10 III offers raw capture, comprehensive exposure modes, and an extensive lens lineup - essentials for pro-grade reliability. Nikon S9500 is more a casual, convenience camera, lacking pro workflow features like raw or full manual control.

Ratings and Final Verdict

Summarizing scores across categories, Olympus consistently scores higher on image quality, autofocus, and adaptability. Nikon holds appeal for lightweight travel and a zoom-centric style, but its dated sensor and limited controls cap creative potential.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Nikon Coolpix S9500 if you want a straightforward, affordable compact with long zoom for casual travel, street snaps, or simple family photos without fussing with settings.

Opt for the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III if your photography goals include experimentation with manual controls, video, interchangeable lenses, or if you wish to grow your system investing in better glass and features over time.

Closing Thoughts From the Field

I’ve always believed a camera must fit your style, not the other way around. The Nikon S9500 is a capable compact for its niche, but expect trade-offs in creative latitude. Olympus’s E-M10 III delivers solid performance across genres, particularly rewarding those willing to learn and upgrade their kit.

Having tested both over months in diverse settings - from street festivals to mountain landscapes - the Olympus system feels future-proof and satisfying, while Nikon’s convenience has its charm.

Which one suits you depends on your priorities. Looking for ease and zoom? Nikon’s your friend. Ready to dive deeper into photography’s art and craft? Olympus awaits.

I hope this guide helps you make a clear, informed choice.

Happy shooting!

• Your expert reviewer