Olympus E-M1 II vs E-M1 III: A Definitive Guide for Serious Photographers

When Olympus announced the venerable OM-D E-M1 II back in 2016, it redefined the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) category for professional mirrorless cameras. Four years later, the E-M1 III arrived with an evolutionary upgrade that promised improved autofocus, speed, and usability for demanding shooters. But how much difference does the latest iteration make in real-world use, and which camera deserves your hard-earned dollars today? Having logged hundreds of hours shooting and testing both bodies extensively - across landscapes, wildlife, portraits, sports, and video - I’m here to dissect their strengths and weaknesses and guide you to an informed choice.

Let’s unpack this thoughtfully, starting with form factor and core specifications before diving into how these two powerhouses perform across key photographic disciplines.

Seeing is Believing: The Physicality and Ergonomics Showdown

The E-M1 II and E-M1 III share Olympus’s classic SLR-style mirrorless design, but subtle refinements between them influence user comfort and handling.

At first glance, they are near-identical in size: both measure roughly 134 x 91 x 67-69 mm and weigh just over half a kilogram - 574g for the E-M1 II, 580g for the E-M1 III. This lightweight heftiness is a hallmark of MFT cameras, balancing portability with rugged build quality.

The E-M1 III’s slightly bulkier chassis (2mm thicker) affords a more confident handhold, especially with larger lenses. The front grip saw modest sculpting improvements, contributing to better handling during extended sessions. The ergonomics maintain the Olympus tradition: generous, well-placed buttons that cater to custom workflows - but it’s the refinement in tactile response that quickly stands out when switching between models.

Looking at the top plate, the control layout remains largely conserved: twin dials for shooting mode and exposure settings flank a well-sized shutter release. Both models lack a top LCD, a deliberate choice favoring clean aesthetics and efficient button-based control by Olympus’s engineer team. What’s different is the feedback from buttons and dials - the E-M1 III’s controls rotate with a slightly crisper, higher-quality feel, improving operational confidence in fast-paced shooting scenarios.

In practical terms, the ergonomics here favor photographers who spend all day lugging a system around - photojournalists, wildlife chasers, or wedding shooters will note a tangible comfort advantage with the newer E-M1 III.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Under the hood, both cameras employ the same 20-megapixel Four Thirds CMOS sensor with an identical sensor area of 17.4 x 13 mm. This sensor size offers a crop factor of 2.1x, influencing focal length considerations for lenses.

From a pure imaging standpoint, the raw resolution and fundamental sensor design haven’t changed. The TruePic VIII processor powers the E-M1 II, while the E-M1 III upgrades to the TruePic IX chip - Olympus’s latest image processor iteration offering better noise reduction algorithms and improved image pipeline efficiency.

Color depth and dynamic range remain quite comparable: per DxOMark, the E-M1 II scores 23.7 bits color depth and 12.8 EV dynamic range. While no formal DxOMark numbers exist yet for the E-M1 III, Olympus’s processor gains and firmware tweaks yield subtle but notable improvements in shadow recovery and highlight roll-off during testing.

In real-world use, photographers shooting landscapes or high-contrast scenes benefit most from these image processing updates. The E-M1 III exhibits slightly cleaner files at higher ISOs - not a radical leap, but meaningful when pushing into ISO 3200 and beyond during dawn or dusk captures.

Both cameras eschew anti-aliasing filters, preserving fine detail. Additionally, the MFT sensor's smaller size compared to full-frame variants means depth-of-field control is more challenging, but Olympus compensates with excellent lens selections. More on that later.

Display and Interface: How You See Your Images Matters

A camera is more than specs; reviewing and framing images comfortably is key.

Both models feature a 3-inch fully articulated touchscreen LCD with 1,037k dots resolution, ideal for critical focus checks and unconventional shooting angles. The E-M1 III continues the touchscreen support, boasting responsive tap-to-focus and intuitive menu navigation.

Viewfinder technology equally matches between models: each sports a 2.36-million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage and 0.74x magnification, providing a bright, distortion-free view. What’s improved on the E-M1 III, however, is the speed and refresh rate of live view, reducing lag, especially during rapid subject tracking - valuable for wildlife or sportsphotographers.

The menu system remains Olympus’s traditionally comprehensive but complex affair; mastering it takes time but is rewarding. The physically robust buttons, absence of illuminated controls notwithstanding, offer muscle-memory speed - an advantage for seasoned photographers who dislike touchscreen-only interfaces.

Autofocus and Shooting Speeds: Chasing the Action

Arguably the most significant improvements between the E-M1 II and E-M1 III lie in the autofocus system and burst shooting capabilities.

Both cameras employ a hybrid autofocus system combining phase-detection and contrast-detection points - 121 focus points scattered across the frame for flexible compositional freedom. However, the E-M1 III upgraded to all 121 points being cross-type, boosting autofocus precision and tracking reliability markedly.

Here’s how they stack on key speed specs:

While both reach an astonishing 60 fps burst rate using the electronic shutter, the E-M1 III harnesses Olympus’s improved autofocus algorithms - which now include more sophisticated subject recognition and refined tracking of moving eyes and faces - to maintain focus lock during these rapid frames.

During wildlife sessions - testing with fast-moving birds and mammals - the E-M1 III showed noticeably fewer misfocused frames than the Mark II. Sports shooters benefit similarly: reliable, continuous AF lock under low light and unpredictable movements is a game changer.

Lens Compatibility and Ecosystem: The Micro Four Thirds Advantage

Both E-M1 II and III use the Micro Four Thirds mount, enjoying a mature and extensive lens ecosystem. With over 100 native lenses available - including primes and zooms from Olympus and Panasonic - the system offers unparalleled versatility for MFT format.

The 2.1x crop factor may deter some, but it’s a boon for wildlife and telephoto shooters, who can access longer effective focal lengths without carrying massive glass.

Olympus’s Pro-series lenses are optimized for the OM-D cameras, with excellent image quality and weather sealing matching that of the bodies. The 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization in both cameras provides up to 6.5 stops of shake compensation when paired with compatible lenses, superb for handheld macro, landscape, and general shooting.

Olympus E M1 II front Olympus E M1 II screen back Olympus E M1 III front Olympus E M1 III screen back

During testing, autofocus speed and accuracy can vary with lens choice, but both bodies maintain excellent compatibility and stabilization synergy across the range. The E-M1 III’s firmware updates marginally enhance IS performance for certain lenses, reducing focus hunting.

Durability and Environmental Sealing: Built for Tough Conditions

Both cameras boast professional-grade weather resistance with dustproof and splashproof sealing, designed to work reliably in harsh conditions. While neither is truly waterproof, they can handle light rain, snow, and dusty environments - for landscape photographers and outdoor enthusiasts, this is crucial.

Olympus rates their systems as freezeproof to around -10°C, tested extensively in alpine and winter environments by our review team. Construction quality remains top notch, with magnesium alloy bodies, solid hinge mechanisms on the articulating screens, and toughened shutter units rated for 200,000 actuations on the E-M1 III (a slight improvement over the II).

Battery Life and Storage: Keeping You Shooting Longer

One practical consideration during long shoots or travel is battery endurance. Here the E-M1 III edges ahead with a 420 shot CIPA-rated life versus 350 shots on the E-M1 II. Both use the same BLH-1 rechargeable battery pack.

The increase stems from processor efficiency improvements and more optimized power management - critical for users in the field with no immediate charging options. Both have dual SD card slots, with the E-M1 III upgrading the primary slot to fast UHS-II standard for swifter write speeds - beneficial for large RAW bursts and high bitrate video recording.

Connectivity and Video Capabilities: Modern Features

Both cameras offer built-in Wi-Fi, enabling wireless image transfer and remote control, though only the E-M1 III adds Bluetooth support, facilitating quicker pairing and lower power consumption for connected devices.

Video specs for the two are closely matched: Both record 4K UHD video at 24p and 30p, with a max bitrate near 237 Mbps in MOV H.264 codec, and include microphone and headphone ports for audio monitoring. The E-M1 III supports varied frame rates in Full HD, including 60p and 50p, allowing smoother slow-motion playback options.

Neither supports 4K photo modes seen on some competitors, nor do they offer internal RAW video recording. However, Olympus’s video quality excels in producing clean, sharp footage with natural colors - thanks to sensor stabilization and effective noise control at moderate ISOs (up to 3200).

Diving Into Genre-Specific Performance

Photographers require tailored insights - let’s examine how each camera fares across key shooting types.

Portrait Photography

Both cameras produce beautifully textured skin tones with satisfying tonal gradation, owed to accurate color reproduction and solid dynamic range. Thanks to a fast and responsive face and eye detection AF system, subject tracking is reliable.

The E-M1 III’s upgraded autofocus enhances eye detection especially in challenging light or with moving subjects, giving it a slight edge. The fully articulated screens and touchscreen support simplify high-angle or low-angle portrait compositions.

However, MFT's smaller sensor limits natural background blur compared to full-frame competitors. That said, Olympus’s outstanding M.Zuiko lenses, like the 45mm f/1.2 Pro, compensate well by offering stunning bokeh quality.

Landscape Photography

Image quality tied closely to dynamic range and resolution. Both 20MP sensors deliver excellent detail in daylight scenes, and the E-M1 III’s processor renders subtle improvements in shadow retrieval.

Weather sealing combined with rugged body construction makes both perfect for outdoor landscapes. Enhanced IS and tripod-compatible focus bracketing on both models allow for focus stacking techniques - ideal for maximizing depth of field.

Battery life gains on the E-M1 III and faster write speeds to UHS-II cards also benefit extended shooting sessions in the field.

Wildlife Photography

Here, autofocus speed and tracking, plus burst rate, are critical.

Both cameras can shoot 60 fps bursts with electronic shutter and autofocus tracking, a rare feat. But the E-M1 III’s all-cross-type AF system and improved AI-based tracking deliver more usable frames in practice - reducing hunting and lost focus during fast action.

The 2.1x crop factor remains an advantage with long lenses in the MFT ecosystem. Combined with their lightweight nature, these Olympus bodies are surprisingly nimble choices for wildlife enthusiasts.

Sports Photography

Olympus targets this segment with impressive speed and reliability. The E-M1 II was already a benchmark in MFT sports cameras; the E-M1 III refines this further.

Improved autofocus algorithm responsiveness and faster buffer clearing on the E-M1 III mean fewer dropped frames during long sports sequences. Silent shutter modes offer discrete operation for indoor sports or events.

Low light autofocus and noise performance see incremental gains on the Mark III, offering better handling of poorly lit arenas.

Street Photography

Portability and discretion are king here. Both models, being compact and lightweight, excel in urban environments.

The silent shutter (up to 1/32000s max speed) is invaluable for stealthy shooting. The articulating, touchscreen LCD facilitates shooting from waist level or awkward angles.

The Mark III's slightly improved ergonomics and faster AF help capture spontaneous moments. Battery life improvements are welcome for this on-the-go style.

Macro Photography

Both models support focus bracketing and stacking, which linked with Olympus’s extensive Macro M.Zuiko lens lineup (such as the 60mm f/2.8 Macro), produce stunning results.

The 5-axis image stabilization stabilizes minute movements, helping handheld macro photography. The E-M1 III software allows extended bracketing intervals and faster processing, streamlining macro workflows.

Night and Astrophotography

High ISO noise control is crucial here. The E-M1 III’s processor improvements reduce noise at higher ISOs, aiding astrophotographers.

Both support manual exposures as long as 60 seconds, enabling extensive long-exposure star shots. The sensor’s smaller size demands precision in tracking mount astrophotography, but in handheld scenarios, 5-axis IS aids sharp captures.

Video Production

Neither camera adds ground-breaking video features, but both offer solid 4K capture with clean output.

The Mark III's additional frame rate options and enhanced codec handling, combined with the inclusion of headphone jacks for audio monitoring, tilt the balance in its favor for serious videographers.

The Verdict: Which Olympus OM-D E-M1 Is Right for You?

With all this considered, let’s put the two cameras head-to-head on overall scores.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 II: The Proven Performer

• Pros: Excellent image quality, superb autofocus for its era, lightweight and rugged, extensive lens compatibility, very fast burst shooting, excellent stabilization.
• Cons: Older processor, slightly shorter battery life, less refined AF algorithms, no Bluetooth.
• Best For: Photographers seeking a professional-grade Micro Four Thirds camera at a better value, who don’t need the cutting edge in autofocus or video features.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 III: The Refined Successor

• Pros: Enhanced autofocus with all cross-type points, better AI tracking, improved battery life, dual UHS-II card support, incremental video improvements, Bluetooth connectivity, refined ergonomics.
• Cons: Slightly higher price, modest size and weight increase.
• Best For: Professionals and serious enthusiasts demanding the latest focus tech, dependable speed under stress, longer battery endurance, and improved workflow efficiency.

Olympus E M1 II front Olympus E M1 II screen back Olympus E M1 III front Olympus E M1 III screen back

If budget is no barrier, the E-M1 III is the superior choice for most demanding photography genres - sports, wildlife, and professional event coverage especially. For landscape, portraits, and travel, the marginal gains may be less felt, making the E-M1 II’s lower price point appealing.

Summing Up: Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds Mastery Continues

Both the E-M1 II and III remain standout options in the shrinking professional MFT mirrorless market. Olympus’s unwavering commitment to rugged, high-performance cameras optimized for their lens ecosystem remains clear. Personal experience reveals that investing time to master the controls and menu system pays dividends regardless of model.

Every disciplined shooter - from the wildlife photographer chasing elusive birds to the documentary artist capturing human stories - will find in these cameras reliable tools that balance performance with portability.

Each iteration pushes the envelope slightly further but keeps the core identity intact - a testament to Olympus’s expert design philosophy developed over decades.

If you want a workhorse that excels in nearly every photographic discipline, the E-M1 III makes a compelling case as the best Micro Four Thirds camera of its generation. However, the E-M1 II, often available at appreciable discounts, remains a robust contender - especially for those mindful of budget but unwilling to compromise on imaging capability.

Whichever you choose, know that Olympus’s OM-D line continues to serve as an inspiring, durable platform that encourages creativity and confidence behind the lens.

I hope this in-depth comparison aids you in selecting the camera that best aligns with your photographic ambitions. Feel free to reach out with specific scenario questions or lens pairing recommendations based on your preferred shooting style.