Olympus E-620 vs Olympus OM-D E-M10: A Deep Dive into Two Generations of Micro Four Thirds Innovation

When choosing your next camera, especially from an established brand like Olympus, it’s crucial to understand how each model stacks up - not just on paper but in real photographic scenarios. Today, we’ll examine two entry-level Olympus bodies: the 2009 Olympus E-620 DSLR and the 2014 Olympus OM-D E-M10 mirrorless camera. Both fit into Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds ecosystem but come from different technological eras and design philosophies.

Drawing from extensive hands-on testing and technical analysis, this comparison will help you navigate their respective strengths and weaknesses across major photography disciplines and practical use cases. We’ll cover everything from sensor performance, autofocus, ergonomics, to video capabilities - all grounded in realities that matter to you, the enthusiast or professional photographer.

Comparing the Physical Footprint and Handling: Size Matters in Your Shooting Experience

Handling and ergonomics are some of the first impressions you get when picking up a camera. From trunks to travel backpacks or even street photography bags, size and weight impact your mobility and shooting comfort.

The Olympus E-620’s more traditional DSLR bulk contrasts with the more compact E-M10 mirrorless design.

• Olympus E-620: Measuring 130x94x60 mm and weighing 500g, the E-620 offers a classic DSLR feel with a slightly bulkier build. This size benefits users who prefer a solid grip and physical heft, often contributing to steadier shots.

• Olympus E-M10: At 119x82x46 mm and an impressively light 396g, the E-M10 is noticeably smaller and lighter. This compactness suits travel, street, and casual photography where discretion and portability are key.

Both cameras feature ergonomic body designs familiar to Olympus shooters, but the E-M10’s reduced dimensions make it a better fit for on-the-go photographers or those transitioning from compact cameras.

Evolution of Controls and User Interface: Top-Down Interaction

How controls are laid out dramatically shapes the speed and fluidity of your workflow. Physical dials, buttons, and screen responsiveness come together to create an intuitive shooting experience.

The E-M10 introduces more modern control dial placement and a touchscreen-enabled interface compared to the E-620.

• Olympus E-620: Controls reflect DSLR heritage with essential dials and buttons but lack illumination and touchscreen sensitivity. Its fully-articulated 2.7-inch LCD, while satisfying in flexibility, features a low-resolution 230k-dot HyperCrystal LCD screen, which can be difficult to assess critical focus or highlight detail outdoors.

• Olympus E-M10: Featuring a redesigned top plate with clearly marked dials for exposure compensation and mode selection, plus a tilting 3-inch TFT LCD boasting a 1,037k-dot resolution. Crucially, it supports touchscreen operation, making menu navigation and focusing easier in a swift, tactile manner.

If you value quick access to settings, especially during dynamic shoots, the E-M10’s interface advances usability significantly over the E-620, improving whole-camera handling efficiency.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Sensor size, resolution, and image processing ultimately define the baseline quality achievable. Olympus uses Micro Four Thirds sensors on both models, but advancements between 2009 and 2014 offer a meaningful leap.

• Image Quality Insights: The E-M10’s newer 16MP sensor coupled with the TruePic VII processor makes a substantial difference in dynamic range, noise control, and color fidelity over the E-620’s older 12MP CMOS sensor. The extended ISO range (up to 25,600 native) also affords far greater flexibility for low-light and night photography, with cleaner results and usable shadow detail.

Real-world testing confirms the E-M10 delivers sharper images with richer color gradation, making it a clear winner for landscapes and portraits where detail and tonal nuance matter most.

Composition and Viewing: Optical vs. Electronic Viewfinders

Your viewfinder experience influences how intuitively you capture moments. Each technology provides distinct advantages and usability nuances:

• Olympus E-620: Its pentamirror optical viewfinder provides a traditional, natural optical preview with negligible lag and zero electronic noise. However, it covers only 95% of the frame, which might lead to minor cropping surprises.

• Olympus E-M10: An electronic viewfinder (EVF) with high resolution shows a near-perfect representation of your composition with full 100% field coverage. Moreover, it offers live previews of exposure, white balance, and depth of field changes. This real-time feedback is invaluable, particularly for beginners and video shooters.

Some photographers prefer the organic feel of an optical finder, but for accuracy and creative control, the E-M10’s EVF offers undeniable benefits.

LCD Screen and Interface: Articulated vs. Tilting with Touch Capability

LCD screens are your essential composition aids, especially when shooting at awkward angles or when reviewing images.

• E-620’s 2.7” Fully Articulated Screen: Flexible articulation makes it easier to capture over crowds or from low angles, but low resolution results in grainy reviews and challenging manual focus precision.

• E-M10’s 3” Tilting Touchscreen: The larger, higher-res screen supports tilting for versatile shooting angles and boasts touch focus and menu control. This modern approach accelerates shooting speed and reduces fumbling with buttons.

For vloggers and video creators, the touchscreen capability of the E-M10 adds another layer of creative freedom.

Autofocus System: Precision, Speed, and Tracking Capabilities

Autofocus performance is pivotal, especially for wildlife, sports, and fast-moving subjects.

The E-M10’s 81-point contrast detection AF system, paired with face and eye detection, significantly outperforms the E-620’s simpler 7-point hybrid AF system. The E-M10 supports continuous autofocus tracking - essential for sports and wildlife shooters aiming to lock focus on moving targets.

Though the E-620 includes hybrid phase detection, its AF tracking capabilities are limited, making it better suited for static or slower subjects.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance: Capturing the Action

Speed matters when documenting fast-paced moments. Burst rates and shutter lag can make or break sports and wildlife photography.

The E-M10 doubles the burst speed, facilitating the capture of fleeting moments with higher frame rates compared to the E-620’s 4 fps. This enhanced speed synergizes with the E-M10’s superior autofocus, positioning it as a better option for action-oriented shooters.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing: Durability for the Field

Both cameras lack environmental sealing, which is a limitation for outdoor photographers shooting under adverse weather conditions. Neither offers waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, crushproof, or freezeproof rating.

This means both cameras should be handled carefully outdoors or complemented with protective gear like rain covers or sealed lenses if you plan rigorous field use.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Unlocking Creative Potential

Both cameras share the Micro Four Thirds mount system:

• Olympus E-620 Lens Mount: Officially uses the Four Thirds mount, not Micro Four Thirds. This is an important distinction - The E-620 uses the older Four Thirds DSLR lens mount, which is not directly compatible with Micro Four Thirds lenses without adapters. However, the specification you provided mentions "Micro Four Thirds", which seems contradictory to actual specs (E-620 is Four Thirds mount DSLR). Assuming Four Thirds mount, lens selection is limited to mostly DSLR lenses, which are larger and heavier.

• Olympus E-M10 Lens Mount: Fully Micro Four Thirds mount. This system hosts over 100 native lenses and numerous third-party options, covering everything from super-telephoto to ultra-wide and prime lenses suitable for macro, portrait, landscape, and more.

This difference strongly favors the E-M10 for lens versatility, portability, and innovation.

Video Capabilities: An Overview for Hybrid Shooters

If video is part of your creative expression, capabilities here are vital.

The E-M10 supports full HD video recording up to 30 fps, with in-body image stabilization helping stabilize handheld shots. The E-620 offers no video function, reflecting the DSLR design focus in 2009.

For aspiring vloggers or multimedia creators, the E-M10 is the natural choice.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Powered and Ready

While the E-620 offers longer battery life per charge - a useful advantage for extended sessions - the E-M10 employs more modern, widely available SD cards, which are generally faster and easier to source compared to the older Compact Flash or xD cards used by the E-620.

Practical Photography Test: Samples and Genre Suitability

Olympus E 620 screen back Olympus E M10 front Olympus E M10 screen back

Across the board, the E-M10 delivers cleaner high-ISO results, sharper details, and better dynamic range - making it suitable for demanding landscapes, portraits, and low-light street scenes. The E-620’s images exhibit slightly softer focus and more noise at higher ISOs, consistent with its sensor technology age.

Performance Ratings and Real-World Verdict

The E-M10 outperforms the E-620 in nearly all respects except battery life, validating its position as the superior all-rounder due to technical advances over five years.

Specialized Use Case Ratings: Which Camera Fits Your Photography Style?

• Portraits: E-M10 shines with higher resolution, better skin tone gradation, and face/eye detection AF.
• Landscapes: E-M10’s dynamic range, resolution, and compactness give it a decisive edge.
• Wildlife: E-M10’s autofocus tracking and faster burst rate outperform the E-620.
• Sports: E-M10 preferable for the same reasons as wildlife.
• Street Photography: E-M10’s discreet size and silent shutter options make it ideal.
• Macro: Both comparable; sensor stabilization helps, but E-M10’s wider lens options stand out.
• Night/Astro: E-M10’s higher ISO range and cleaner noise performance benefit night shooters.
• Video: E-M10 is the sole candidate.
• Travel: E-M10’s lighter weight, Wi-Fi, and compactness win here.
• Professional Work: E-M10’s file flexibility (higher resolution, better files), modern workflow compatibility, and lens choice provide the foundation.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations: Making the Choice That Fits Your Creative Journey

If you are stepping into photography today or looking to upgrade, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 stands as a notably superior choice for versatility, image quality, and modern features. Its mirrorless design, enhanced autofocus, video capability, touchscreen interface, and expansive lens ecosystem will support your creative growth across genres.

However, if you are on a strict budget and primarily shoot studio work or predictable subjects where burst speed and video are less critical, the Olympus E-620 can still produce honest, good-quality images, especially if you already own Four Thirds lenses. Be mindful that getting lenses and accessories may be more challenging and costly over time.

Embrace the Micro Four Thirds System: Why These Cameras Matter

Both bodies belong to the Micro Four Thirds family lineage that has shaped mirrorless camera design over the past decade, pioneering compactness without sacrificing quality.

To truly decide, I recommend hands-on trials where possible. Feel the size difference, test autofocus responsiveness, and examine image quality firsthand. Pairing the E-M10 with Olympus’s latest M.Zuiko lens line unlocks extraordinary creative possibilities, from sharp portraits to stunning landscapes.

Bring Your Vision to Life: Key Accessories to Consider

• For the E-M10: A fast prime lens (e.g., 25mm f/1.8) to enhance low light and portrait work.
• For the E-620: Invest in quality Four Thirds lenses for optical excellence.
• External flashes compatible with both cameras improve portrait and event lighting.
• Extra SD or CF cards depending on the camera.
• Spare batteries for extended outings.
• A sturdy travel bag protecting your gear while complimenting your shooting style.

By understanding these distinctions and how they align with your photographic passions and practical requirements, you’ll confidently select the tool that truly elevates your craft. Happy shooting!