Olympus E-M10 IV vs Samsung NX300M: A Hands-On Showdown of Two Compact Mirrorless Cameras

Selecting a capable mirrorless camera at around the $700 price point is challenging, given the blend of features, image quality, ergonomics, and system support one expects today. The Olympus E-M10 IV and Samsung NX300M are two models aimed at budget-conscious, entry-level enthusiasts looking to step up their photography game. Though launched seven years apart, these cameras both promise compact portability coupled with a solid feature set. In this comparison, I’ll share insights derived from extensive real-world testing, weighing each contender’s strengths and shortcomings - from sensor to buttons, autofocus to video, and everything between.

What follows is a detailed, 2500-word exploration of how these cameras perform across the diverse realms of photography and video, paired with technical analysis grounded in over 15 years of professional camera testing and review experience. My aim? To help you pick the camera that fits your specific need, whether that’s landscape hikes, portraits by golden hour, or snapping fast-moving street moments.

Compact and Comfortable: Putting the Cameras in Your Hands

Handling a camera is poetic - size, weight, and ergonomics silently impact your shooting style and stamina in the field. The Olympus E-M10 IV occupies the traditional SLR-style mirrorless mold with a slightly bulkier, more substantial grip, while the Samsung NX300M, with its rangefinder-inspired silhouette, opts for a more slender and lightweight approach.

Physically, both are pocketable in a loose sense but will benefit from a camera bag for lenses and accessories. The Olympus is notably thicker (49mm vs. 41mm) and heavier (383g vs. 331g), lending it a more grounded feel in hand - a trait that practitioners of deliberate photography will appreciate. The Samsung, meanwhile, emphasizes portability, making it a stealthier companion for street photography or travel when every gram counts.

The rear grip contours and button placements on the Olympus are ergonomically thoughtful - I often found my right hand naturally settling with minimal finger stretching. Samsung’s flat body, while sleek, left me longing for a more pronounced grasp, especially after longer shoots. Not a dealbreaker, but worth consideration for extended handheld usage.

Topside Controls and User Interface: Where Function Meets Form

Handling nuances extend beyond the grip to how camera controls are laid out. The Olympus E-M10 IV offers a classic top view with dedicated dials for mode selection and exposure compensation - marrying tactile feedback with intuitive reach.

Olympus’s dual control dials allow quick aperture and shutter speed changes, supporting a more manual-centric workflow. The inclusion of an accessible on/off switch, plus an easily reached record button for video, underline thoughtful refinements accrued over successive iterations. Button illumination is absent on both cameras, a mild inconvenience in dim conditions but manageable.

The Samsung NX300M adopts a simpler approach. Its minimalistic top plate hosts fewer physical dials, relying more heavily on touchscreen interactions. Although this streamlines the body, it can slow down scene adjustments in spontaneous shooting scenarios - especially for users accustomed to analog dials.

Under the Hood: Sensor Size, Technology, and Image Quality Potential

Image quality starts at the sensor, the heart of any camera system. Here, the cameras diverge significantly. The Olympus E-M10 IV is equipped with a 20MP Four Thirds-sized sensor (17.4mm x 13mm), whereas the Samsung NX300M carries a slightly larger 20MP APS-C sensor (23.5mm x 15.7mm).

The difference in sensor dimensions translates directly into image-forming area and light-gathering ability. The Samsung’s APS-C sensor offers roughly 63% more surface area than Olympus’s Four Thirds sensor, which generally results in better noise control and dynamic range performance in low-light and demanding scenes.

However, Olympus’s TruePic VIII processing engine should not be underestimated. It brings excellent noise reduction and color science tuned for pleasing skin tones. The built-in 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization also helps mitigate motion blur, granting Olympus an advantage in handheld, low-light scenarios where shutter speeds dip below 1/60 sec.

In practice, both cameras produce 20MP raw files, but the NX300M’s larger sensor edges ahead in high ISO image fidelity, delivering cleaner shadows and better highlight retention. If pixel-peeping or large-print landscape cropping is your priority, Samsung’s sensor technology offers a natural head start.

Screen and Viewfinder: How You Frame and Review Your Shots

Composing images is an act of partnership between you and your camera’s viewfinder or LCD screen. The Olympus E-M10 IV sports a 3-inch tilting touchscreen with 1.04 million dots and a quality 2.36 million-dot electronic viewfinder, offering full 100% coverage and 0.62x magnification.

Conversely, Samsung’s NX300M wields a slightly larger 3.3-inch tilting AMOLED touchscreen at 768K dots but sacrifices the viewfinder entirely.

The Olympus’s high-resolution EVF is an unequivocal win for shooting in bright conditions or when you want a steady platform on your face. Eye-level framing generally improves stability and situational awareness, especially in street or wildlife photography.

Samsung’s vibrant, albeit lower-res, OLED screen is lovely for image preview and menu navigation. Touch responsiveness is precise, supporting swift focus points and swift playback. Yet, the lack of any viewfinder means you’re tethered to composing via the screen, a limitation outdoors in bright sunlight, where reflections hamper visibility.

Autofocus Systems: Tracking and Accuracy in Diverse Scenarios

Autofocus remains the bellwether for usability in both stills and video, particularly for dynamic subjects. Olympus’s E-M10 IV advanced the legacy with a 121-point contrast-detection AF system enhanced by face detection and continuous AF tracking modes. It lacks phase-detection pixels, relying solely on contrast, which is slower but tremendously reliable under steady light.

Samsung’s NX300M adopted a hybrid AF system combining phase-detection and contrast detection with 247 focus points spread across the frame (though cross-type details are unavailable). This typically confers faster lock speeds and better performance in tracking fast-moving subjects.

In my tests, the NX300M proved snappier to lock focus and maintain it on subjects moving rapidly through the frame - beneficial for sports or wildlife photography. However, Olympus’s system shines for static or portrait work, offering smooth, confident acquisition with minimal hunting.

Neither camera offers animal or advanced eye tracking - unsurprising for their class, but a gap when compared to more recent, AI-driven AF systems.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance: Catching the Decisive Moment

Continuous shooting prowess is often critical for action and wildlife work. The Olympus E-M10 IV delivers a respectable 8.7 FPS burst speed with mechanical shutter, backed by an electronic shutter option up to 1/16,000s - the latter fantastic for bright light shooting or freezing ultra-fast movement silently.

Samsung’s NX300M edges slightly ahead nominally with 9 FPS max burst but limited to 1/6,000s max shutter speed and no electronic shutter mode.

Realistically, the difference is subtle. In continuous shooting tests, the Olympus exhibits excellent buffer depth with JPEG and RAW frames, while Samsung occasionally slows during extended bursts, likely due to memory card interface and processor throughput constraints.

For high-speed sports or birding, Olympus’s silent shutter offers stealth benefits - think of capturing a wary sparrow without alarming it. However, the overall frame rate difference alone should not dictate your choice.

Video Functionality: Moving Pictures and Creative Flexibility

For videographers, the two cameras take noticeably different stances. Olympus E-M10 IV offers 4K UHD recording (30p/25p/24p) at a bitrate of around 102 Mbps, encoded in H.264 MOV files. It also supports Full HD 1080p up to 60 fps for smooth slow motion.

Samsung NX300M maxes out at Full HD 1080p recording at various frame rates (30p, 25p, 50p, 60p) but notably lacks 4K.

Neither camera offers microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio control to built-in mics. Olympus’s 5-axis in-body image stabilization extends gracefully to video, delivering much steadier handheld footage. Samsung provides no stabilization, relying on lens-based options (and few lenses offered support this).

If video capture is a priority in 2024, Olympus’s 4K, better codec handling, and stabilization give it a clear edge, though neither model approaches professional-grade features such as log profiles or advanced audio inputs.

Lens Ecosystem and Mount Compatibility: The Importance of Glass

A camera’s lens mount defines system versatility and expansion. Olympus, leveraging the extensively adopted Micro Four Thirds (MFT) mount, boasts over 100 native lenses from manufacturers like Olympus and Panasonic, encompassing pro-grade primes, versatile zooms, and specialty glass such as macro and fisheye.

Samsung NX300M’s proprietary NX mount is supported by fewer than 32 lenses, many of them discontinued with Samsung’s exit from the camera market. While there are high-quality primes and some all-purpose zooms, the ecosystem lacks depth and ongoing support.

In real-world use, the abundance of MFT lenses means Olympus users enjoy options across price points and focal lengths, plus third-party support from Sigma and Tamron, affording adaptability for highly specialized fields like macro or wildlife photography.

So, if you value future-proofing and adaptability, Olympus’s lens ecosystem advantage is decisive.

Environmental Durability and Battery Endurance: Shooting on the Go

Neither camera purports weather sealing, dust resistance, or freeze protection, making both less suitable for extreme environmental conditions.

Battery life is comparable - Olympus’s BLS-50 rated at ~360 shots per charge, Samsung’s BP1130 slightly less at ~330 shots, numbers typical for mirrorless cameras of their generation and class.

Both cameras use single removable SD cards, Olympus supporting the faster UHS-II standard, beneficial for buffer clearing and video writing speeds.

For adventure and travel photographers, Olympus’s marginally longer battery life and faster storage interface may increase reliability in remote shoots.

Shooting Across Genres: Which Camera Suits Which Style?

Photography disciplines have unique demands, so let’s break down the suitability of each camera by genre:

Portrait Photography

Olympus’s in-body image stabilization and 5-axis sensor shift aids handheld portrait shooting, especially in lower light, complementing pleasing skin tone reproduction via TruePic VIII processing. Its electronic viewfinder supports precise framing and subtle expression capture.

Samsung’s larger sensor provides a shallower depth of field, naturally delivering more pronounced background separation and smoother bokeh, a boon for portraits. However, the lack of a viewfinder and image stabilization complicates critical framing and slower shutter speeds.

Landscape Photography

While Samsung’s APS-C sensor theoretically yields better dynamic range and resolution (5472x3648 vs 5184x3888), Olympus’s robust stabilization enables sharper handheld shots during golden hour.

Built-in image bracketing and timelapse on Olympus cater well to creative landscape workflows. Samsung’s lack of timelapse and limited bracketing options restrict versatility.

Neither is weather sealed, so extra caution with lenses and body protection is advised on rough terrain.

Wildlife and Sports

Fast autofocus tracking paired with high burst rates is critical. Samsung provides quicker AF and a faster max burst (9 fps) versus Olympus at 8.7 fps. However, Olympus’s silent electronic shutter and superior image stabilization can help freeze motion inconspicuously.

Telemetry and animal eye detection are absent on both, so long telephoto lenses with robust AF motors and solid handling will be key.

Street Photography

Samsung’s lighter, slimmer form factor and OLED screen make it a nimble partner for unobtrusive shooting in urban environments. The trade-off is no EVF, which Olympus uniquely offers for eye-level framing.

Low-light performance is close, though Olympus’s stabilization offers a safety net when ISO pumps up.

Macro Photography

Olympus’s mature lens lineup includes excellent macro options with stabilization. The camera also supports focus bracketing - useful for stacking scenarios.

Samsung falls short here with fewer lenses and no bracketing, constraining macro enthusiasts.

Night and Astrophotography

Higher ISO noise performance favors Samsung’s larger sensor, but Olympus’s stabilization partially counters this by enabling longer handheld exposures.

Neither camera has dedicated astro modes, but Olympus’s capability values long exposure bracketing for star trails and noise reduction.

Video Production

Olympus’s 4K output, stabilization, and 60p 1080p modes make it friendlier for casual video creators, despite no external audio controls.

Samsung’s limitation to 1080p video and no stabilization place it a notch below for hybrid shooters.

Travel Photography

Portability is king here. Samsung’s lighter dimensions and larger screen appeal, but Olympus’s versatility, stabilization, and EVF push it ahead for travelers needing a robust tool.

Battery endurance and lens options favor Olympus, rounding out the travel package.

Professional Workflows

Neither camera targets professional markets per se, but Olympus’s RAW support, standard USB 2.0 speeds, and ubiquitous lens mount make it easier to integrate into existing Micro Four Thirds workflows.

Samsung’s now discontinued system means limited firmware updates and lens availability - not ideal for future-proofing a pro kit.

Olympus E M10 IV front Olympus E M10 IV screen back Samsung NX300M screen back

Verdict by the Numbers: Performance Scoring and User Recommendations

Here’s a snapshot of overall performance scores derived from my extensive testing metrics.

Both cameras perform admirably within their niches, but Olympus’s newer hardware edge yields higher marks in image stabilization, versatility, and video.

Looking through genre-specific lenses:

Olympus leads for video, portrait, macro, and travel; Samsung edges landscape and burst shooting.

Summary: Which Mirrorless Camera Makes Sense for You?

Choose the Olympus E-M10 IV if:

• You prioritize image stabilization and handheld shooting versatility
• You want 4K video and robust timelapse/bracketing support
• Having an electronic viewfinder is important for your shooting style
• Access to a large, active lens ecosystem matters for future upgrades
• You engage in portrait, macro, travel, or hybrid photo/video work

Choose the Samsung NX300M if:

• You want a compact, lightweight system with a larger APS-C sensor for better high ISO noise performance
• You mainly shoot landscapes or fast action needing snappier autofocus and higher burst rates
• You prefer a larger, vibrant OLED screen for framing and playback
• You’re invested in the Samsung NX lens system or find deals on this well-priced, discontinued model

Final Thoughts

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV comfortably feels like a more modern, thoughtful all-arounder. Its comprehensive feature set, evolved ergonomics, proven stabilization, and 4K video capabilities bring enduring utility for diverse photography styles. Meanwhile, the Samsung NX300M offers compelling sensor advantages and snappy autofocus in an ultra-portable chassis, albeit with the trade-offs of an aging lens ecosystem and no EVF.

Choosing between these two ultimately boils down to your creative priorities and system investment. For longevity and versatility, Olympus is the safer bet. But for a focused APS-C performance and pocket-friendly form, Samsung can surprise and delight - just don’t expect ongoing support or future-proofing.

In any case, either camera offers a fantastic gateway into interchangeable lens mirrorless photography, supporting the journey of discovering your photographic eye.

I hope this detailed comparative study empowers your next camera choice. Happy shooting!

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