Olympus E-M10 IV vs Olympus VR-340: A Real-World Camera Face-Off for Enthusiasts and Pros

When Olympus decided to announce the E-M10 IV in August 2020, it also turned heads by inviting us to look back to a very different era with the VR-340 - a compact released way back in 2012. On paper, these two cameras couldn’t be more different, almost like comparing a sprightly mountain bike to a trusty old scooter. But which one truly suits your photographic ambitions? Is the flashy mirrorless system worth the extra coin, or does the humble compact keep a place in your bag? I’ve spent weeks getting my hands deep into both cameras, running them through real-world tests across diverse photography genres. Let’s unpack what makes each tick and where compromises lurk.

Setting the Stage: Form Factor and Handling

First thing’s first - pick your camera, pick your war. The E-M10 IV is a classic SLR-style mirrorless camera boasting a solid build with all the controls you’d expect on a camera meant to grow with you. It weighs in at 383g with a comfortable heft, measuring 122x84x49mm - a perfect balance between portability and ergonomics. In contrast, the VR-340 is a tiny pocket rocket, ultralight at just 125g and incredibly compact (96x57x19mm), designed to slip unobtrusively into a jacket pocket.

Holding the E-M10 IV feels purposeful, with a tactile grip and thoughtfully placed dials that invite manual engagement. Controls are responsive and backlit options are missed, but the overall layout is solid. The VR-340 sacrifices all that for simplicity - there's very little to fiddle with, just point and shoot. While this makes it fantastic for beginners or travelers who value portability over manual tweaking, anyone wanting creative control will hit a brick wall fast.

In practice, I found the E-M10 IV’s dials significantly speed up shooting and reduce menu-hunting. The VR-340 was charmingly easy for casual snaps but quickly frustrating when lighting demanded faster adjustments.

The Heart of the Camera: Sensor and Image Quality Breakdown

Here’s where Olympus flexed their technological might with the E-M10 IV. It houses a 20MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.4x13mm - a big jump over the VR-340’s tiny 16MP 1/2.3" CCD sensor (6.17x4.55mm). To put it bluntly, size matters.

Larger sensors translate to better dynamic range, greater depth of field control, and improved low-light performance - all of which I observed hands-on. The E-M10 IV delivers crisp images with a natural-looking depth and wide tonal range that holds details even in tricky shadow/highlight situations. In contrast, the VR-340’s sensor struggled with noise above ISO 400, washed-out colors in backlit conditions, and an overall flatter, softer look.

The absence of RAW support on the VR-340 limits post-processing flexibility - something any serious photographer quickly misses. Olympus never compromised on the E-M10 IV here: RAW files open a playground for tweaks without losing quality.

Eyes Sharp and Quick: Autofocus in Action

Autofocus is the unsung hero in many shooting scenarios, especially when moments are fleeting. The E-M10 IV packs a 121-point contrast-detection AF system with face detection and touch-to-focus - a modern, responsive setup that rarely falters. In portraits, it reliably locked on to eyes, producing beautifully sharp shots even when subjects moved naturally.

The VR-340, however, employs a basic contrast-detection AF with fewer focus points and no manual override. It hunts noticeably in low light or on complex scenes and lacks tracking capabilities. I found this particularly limiting in fast-paced street and wildlife shooting, where split-second focus meant success or blur.

Seeing It All: Viewfinder and Screen Experience

The E-M10 IV incorporates a high-res electronic viewfinder (2,360k dots) with 100% coverage and a 0.62x magnification. This made composing images in bright sunlight a breeze and felt natural after prolonged use. Coupled with the 3” tilting touchscreen LCD (1,040k dots), switching between viewfinder and screen was seamless, especially for shooting from awkward angles.

The VR-340 offers only a fixed 3” TFT LCD screen with lower resolution (460k dots) and no viewfinder at all. Composing shots under direct sunlight was a challenge, with limited brightness and no touch functionality. The lack of a tilting or articulating screen limits versatility.

Practically, this means the E-M10 IV is a joy for detailed composition and review, while the VR-340 feels like a basic snapshot device.

How Do They Handle Different Photography Genres?

With formal specs out of the way, it’s time to speak from experience. I tested both cameras across the full spectrum of common photography situations - portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, street, macro, astrophotography, video, travel, and professional workflows.

Portraits: Capturing People and Personality

The E-M10 IV shines in portraiture thanks to its larger sensor, 121 AF points with eye detection, and superior lens options from Olympus’ Micro Four Thirds lineup (107 lenses and counting!). Skin tones were rendered naturally with good detail retention and smooth, creamy bokeh from fast primes. The in-body 5-axis stabilization helped with steady handheld shots even in subdued lighting.

The VR-340’s smaller sensor and fixed lens limit creative background separation, and autofocus can be hit or miss on faces, especially in tricky light. Its bokeh is more a soft blur than artistically pleasing, and skin tone accuracy suffered under indoor tungsten lighting.

Landscapes: Chasing the Horizon

For landscapes, dynamic range and resolution are king. The E-M10 IV delivers here with its 20MP sensor and excellent shadow/highlight recovery. Weather sealing isn’t in the card - it lacks environmental sealing, so be cautious outdoors in wet or dusty conditions - but the solid build feels reassuring.

The VR-340’s sensor size and softer rendering mean less punch in detail and colors, but its wide 24-240mm equivalent zoom offers framing flexibility without lens changes - a useful feature when hiking light. Just don’t expect ultra-wide gilded sunrise shots.

Wildlife: Speed, Reach, and Precision

Wildlife demands snappy autofocus, long reach, and burst shooting speed. With a crop factor of 2.1x, the E-M10 IV’s Four Thirds sensor still manages telephoto reach with compatible lenses - especially Olympus’s pro-grade telephotos. Autofocus tracking is reliable on animals, although it lacks dedicated animal eye AF, which recent cameras have added.

Its burst mode clocks in at a respectable 8.7 fps for sustained action sequences. The VR-340, with no continuous shooting and a fixed 10x zoom, struggles to capture moving subjects reliably and with clarity.

Sports: Keeping Up With the Action

Sports photography is a brutal test of autofocus speed, tracking accuracy, and frame rate. Here, the E-M10 IV holds its own at 8.7fps continuous shooting with reliable AF tracking, though heavy competitors like Sony’s A9 series or Canon’s R6 will outperform it for professionals.

Low-light indoor gymnasiums posed slight challenges but sensor-based stabilization and a high max ISO of 25,600 allowed usable captures when combined with fast lenses.

The VR-340, however, is outmatched entirely in this arena - slow shutter speeds maxing out at 1/2000s and limited focus make it a no-go.

Street Photography: Stealth and Speed

Canonically a working photographer’s sport, street photography prizes discretion, portability, and readiness. The VR-340’s tiny profile and silent operation made it surprisingly unobtrusive, although image quality compromises limited usability.

The E-M10 IV’s SLR-style silhouette is more noticeable but still compact compared to DSLRs. Its silent electronic shutter (up to 1/16,000s) is a boon for discreet shooting - ideal for candid urban moments.

Macro: Close Encounters of the Sharp Kind

Macro photography relies heavily on focusing precision and stabilization. The E-M10 IV’s contrast-detect autofocus, combined with 5-axis stabilization and manual focus aids, translates to pin-sharp close-ups - especially paired with Olympus’s excellent macro lenses.

The VR-340 sports no manual focus and limited focusing technology, which seriously inhibits macro work - detailed close-ups were softer and less defined.

Night and Astro Photography: Capturing the Cosmos

Astrophotography demands low noise at high ISOs, long exposures, and reliable bulb modes. The E-M10 IV supports customizable timed exposure modes, sensor stabilization to reduce star trails, and solid noise control up to ISO 3200 and beyond (with care).

The VR-340, limited to max shutter speeds of 2 seconds and noisier sensors, isn’t capable of serious night sky photography.

Video Capabilities: Moving Pictures Matter

Videographers will find the E-M10 IV’s 4K UHD 30fps recording (102 Mbps) a big positive, with options for 1080p up to 60fps, continuous autofocus, and clean HDMI-out for external recording. However, it lacks microphone and headphone jacks - which pros will notice - limiting professional audio options without adapters.

The VR-340 offers basic 720p HD video at 30fps, stored as Motion JPEG - clearly dated and not suited for serious video.

Travel Photography: The Jack-of-all-Trades Test

Travel shoots call for versatility, battery life, and size balance. The E-M10 IV’s weather-resistant body, extensive lens library, and 360-shot battery life (CIPA rated) tend to impress. It’s a solid travel partner, albeit heavier than a compact.

The VR-340’s tiny size and long zoom range are ideal for travelers prioritizing convenience and snapshots. Battery life and speed specs aren’t stellar but acceptable for casual use.

Professional Workflows: Can They Handle The Heat?

In professional contexts, reliability and integration are key. The E-M10 IV shoots RAW and JPEG, connects easily with wireless apps, and supports USB charging (non-PD). Its usability in studio or field work is respectable for an entry-level mirrorless but it’s not a full pro workhorse.

The VR-340’s lack of RAW and manual controls consign it to a run-and-gun casual camera, not suitable for professional demands.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Durability

Neither camera is rugged by professional standards; both lack environmental sealing. The E-M10 IV’s metal-and-plastic build withstands frequent use better than the plastic shell of the VR-340. The older VR-340 feels delicate and easily scratched, but at its price point, that’s not unexpected.

Connectivity and Storage

The E-M10 IV supports built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for easy image transfer - useful for social sharing or quick client previews. It uses UHS-II SD cards and has one storage slot.

The VR-340 offers Eye-Fi card compatibility (an older wireless standard) but no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and basic SD storage.

Price-to-Performance: Breaking It Down

The E-M10 IV arrives at around $700, positioning it as an entry-level but highly capable mirrorless system - adding investment lenses and accessories is expected.

The VR-340, offered at roughly $130 new in its heyday (and much less used now), is dirt-cheap and shoots well above its price in convenience, but is limited to snapshots with minimal creative control.

Olympus E M10 IV front Olympus E M10 IV screen back Olympus VR 340 front Olympus VR 340 screen back

Side-by-Side Summary: Who Scores What?

I ran them through a points-based key camera attributes scoring routine - covering image quality, autofocus, ergonomics, video, and more:

Breaking down by photography type reveals a stark difference:

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

So, which is right for you?

• For photography enthusiasts or those eager to explore interchangeable lenses, manual control, and higher image quality, the Olympus E-M10 IV is a clear winner. It balances powerful features, solid ergonomics, and modern conveniences at an accessible price. With its excellent lens ecosystem and image stabilization, it’s a versatile entry point to serious photography across portraits, landscape, travel, and even occasional wildlife or sports.

• If you’re a casual snapshooter who wants a no-fuss point-and-shoot with a decent zoom lens, and size plus simplicity outweigh everything else, the Olympus VR-340 is still a charming pocket companion - for memory capture and travel snapshots - but it’s no tool for creative or professional work.

My testing shows that while its sensor and features limit advanced use, the VR-340 delivers where simplicity and portability matter most. The E-M10 IV demands a little more engagement but rewards it handsomely in image quality, autofocus, and flexibility.

Photography is about moments as much as tech, but better gear widens what’s possible. Choose the Olympus E-M10 IV if you want your craft to grow - stick with the VR-340 if you want memories fast and fuss-free.

Whether you want to dive deep with Olympus’s mirrorless legacy or appreciate the classic compact’s charm, both cameras tell a story through their lens. Hopefully, mine helps guide yours.

Happy shooting!