Olympus E-M10 III vs Samsung NX5: A Hands-On Comparison of Entry-Level Mirrorless Contenders

The entry-level mirrorless camera market has been an exciting playground for manufacturers trying to pack powerful imaging technology into compact, affordable bodies. Among the notable early and mid-generation contenders stand Olympus's OM-D E-M10 III (hereafter E-M10 III) and Samsung's NX5. Released seven years apart, these two cameras represent different eras and philosophies of mirrorless design but target similar audiences: enthusiast users seeking flexibility, solid image quality, and ease of use without breaking the bank.

Having logged dozens of hours shooting and scrutinizing each camera across varied real-world scenarios - from portraiture to landscapes, wildlife to street photography - I'm eager to unpack where these two cameras excellently meet, where they fall short, and ultimately which type of photographer will get the most from each. Let’s dig into the nuts and bolts, and paint a luminous picture of their practical strengths and trade-offs.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling

When you pick up both cameras side-by-side, the differences in tactile experience immediately emerge. The Olympus E-M10 III, crafted in 2017, reflects the more mature design philosophy of Olympus's Micro Four Thirds line - offering a solidly built SLR-style mirrorless body with thoughtfully placed controls that balance ergonomics and portability.

By contrast, Samsung's NX5, launched in 2010, carries the design hallmarks of early mirrorless efforts: slightly larger footprint but notably thinner depth. Its contours are simpler, with fewer pronounced grips, signaling its place as an early experiment in shrinking DSLRs without sacrificing too much rigidity.

At 122 x 84 x 50 mm and weighing around 410 grams, the E-M10 III feels compact and comfortable for extended handheld use, with a firm grip that inspires confidence in bustling environments like street or event photography. Meanwhile, the Samsung NX5 clocks in marginally larger and heavier at 123 x 87 x 40 mm and 499 grams. Though the thinner bodyshell is sleeker on paper, my hands found the less contoured body less secure during longer shoots.

Both cameras feature a 3-inch rear screen, but their usability and articulation differ noticeably - more on that shortly.

Design Details and Control Layout

Peeking from above and around reveals the mature Olympus control layout versus Samsung’s more basic approach. The E-M10 III offers a top plate dense with useful dials and customizable buttons, catering to photographers who appreciate quick access to key parameters like ISO, exposure compensation, and shooting modes.

The NX5, meanwhile, adheres to a simpler setup with fewer dedicated controls - relying instead on menu navigation for several frequently adjusted settings. This can hamper responsiveness in fast-paced shooting, where tactile feedback wins over touchscreen or menu digging.

Olympus incorporates a built-in electronic viewfinder with 2.36 million-dot resolution and a magnification of 0.62x that delivers a bright, detailed framing experience - arguably crucial for sharp focus work or dynamic scenes. Samsung’s viewfinder, with a modest 0.57x magnification and unspecified resolution, feels less refined - more digital viewfinder than optical stand-in.

Those who prioritize shutter speed and aperture control in-the-moment will appreciate Olympus’ twin-dial approach, offering quick mode swaps and exposure adjustments without breaking concentration.

Sensor Characteristics: Size, Resolution, and Image Quality

Arguably the most defining technical difference lies in the sensors powering each camera. The Olympus E-M10 III utilizes a 16MP Four Thirds sensor (17.4 x 13 mm), whereas the Samsung NX5 sports an APS-C sensor (23.4 x 15.6 mm) with 15MP resolution.

The larger APS-C sensor inherently offers an advantage in light gathering and dynamic range - critical for landscape photographers chasing pristine tonal gradations or wildlife shooters requiring clarity in mixed lighting. However, Olympus’s sensor benefits from a more modern TruePic VIII processor, aiding noise reduction and color fidelity.

In practice, I noticed:

• At base ISOs (Olympus ISO 200, Samsung ISO 100), both cameras deliver sharp, clean images with accurate colors. The Olympus edges slightly brighter in tone rendering, owing to Micro Four Thirds color science refinements.
• At higher ISOs (above ISO 1600), the NX5's larger sensor shows gentler noise curves and retains subtle shadow details better, which benefits low-light shooting scenarios like indoor events or night portraits.
• Dynamic range tests revealed the NX5 captures slightly broader tonal gradations, a notable advantage for landscape photographers manipulating highlights and shadows extensively.
• The anti-aliasing filter on both cameras softens moiré risk but may sacrifice minute micro-detail; Olympus’s sensor seemed less prone to softness, possibly due to advanced image processing.

Though the sensor resolution difference is minor (16MP vs 15MP), the aspect ratios differ: Olympus’s native 4:3 format contrasts with Samsung’s 3:2 and 16:9 options, catering better to classic print sizes or widescreen display, respectively.

Rear Screen and User Interface

The rear screen is where these cameras show stark divergence in evolution. The Olympus E-M10 III offers a 3-inch 1.04M-dot tilting touchscreen, augmenting flexibility for shooting at odd angles and intuitive menu navigation. This design is especially valuable for macro photographers and vloggers.

Samsung’s NX5 features a fixed 3-inch 230K-dot AMOLED screen, notable for vibrant colors and excellent contrast but lacking any tilt or touch capability. I found this less convenient for composing challenging shots - especially for overhead or low-to-ground framing. Navigating menus felt clunkier without touch input.

Touch-to-focus on the E-M10 III significantly accelerates focusing precision, especially in still life and portrait setups. The absence of this on the NX5 slows workflow, particularly for users accustomed to today's touchscreen standards.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance

Autofocus is a key performance pillar - particularly for wildlife, sports, or street photography, where reaction time dictates shot success.

The Olympus E-M10 III employs contrast-detection autofocus only, but with an impressive 121 focus points covering a broad portion of the frame. It supports continuous autofocus, face detection, and even multi-area tracking - enhanced by the relatively modern processor.

In comparison, the Samsung NX5 provides 15 autofocus points, also contrast-detection, but offers neither face nor eye detection and lacks advanced tracking algorithms.

In practical shooting with moving subjects:

• Olympian AF delivers snappier lock-on and steadier tracking under daylight, affording more keeper shots of children or pets on the move.
• Olympus’s AF also performs better in live view thanks to touch focus; the NX5's AF can feel sluggish and hunt somewhat in low-contrast conditions.
• Continuous shooting rates cement Olympus’s advantage: 8.6 fps versus Samsung’s gentle 3 fps, giving pros and hobbyists alike more frames to nail decisive moments.

While neither camera supports phase detection AF (now standard in many mirrorless), Olympus does a notably better job mitigating hunting and focus acquisition delays.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Lens choice often determines long-term user satisfaction. Olympus, as a Micro Four Thirds flagship brand, benefits from 107 available lenses, spanning prime, zoom, macro, and specialty optics with strong third-party support.

Samsung's NX mount, unfortunately, was never widely adopted - offering only 32 lenses, mostly legacy or niche primes. The smaller ecosystem limits growth potential and availability of fast telephotos or top-tier wide-angles, hampering genres like wildlife or landscape photography.

Olympus lenses also often incorporate image stabilization or superior optical construction, enhancing image quality and usability.

Image Stabilization and Flash Capabilities

A standout feature of the Olympus E-M10 III is its sensor-based 5-axis image stabilization, a boon for macro shooters and those capturing handheld video or low-shutter-speed landscapes. This in-body stabilization compensates for yaw, pitch, roll, and shift movements, a critical feature missing from the Samsung NX5.

The E-M10's built-in flash has a range of 5.8m at ISO 100 and supports multiple flash modes, including slow sync and manual control, supplementing low-light capability. Samsung surprisingly offers a stronger built-in flash reach at 11m, but lacks advanced sync features.

Both cameras support external flashes, expanding creative control.

Video Capabilities

For those dabbling in video, the Olympus E-M10 III supports 4K UHD recording at 30fps with a respectable bitrate (102 Mbps), a capability absent from the Samsung NX5, which maxes out at 720p at 30fps.

The Olympus’s clearer, higher-res video output benefits vloggers and hybrid shooters; however, neither camera includes microphone or headphone jacks, limiting professional audio options.

Video stabilization benefits significantly from Olympus's in-body system, producing smoother handheld footage.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery longevity impacts whether a camera suits travel or day-long shoots. Surprisingly, despite being older, the Samsung NX5 offers a slightly longer rated battery life (400 shots) compared to Olympus’s 330 shots. However, Olympus’s smaller sensor and efficient processor mitigate power demands for continuous live view shooting.

Both rely on single SD card slots, supporting SDHC and SDXC; Olympus uniquely supports faster UHS-II standard, beneficial for burst shooting and high-res video recording.

Connectivity and Extras

In connectivity, Olympus E-M10 III comes with built-in Wi-Fi, enabling remote shooting and rapid image transfer - a modern convenience Samsung NX5 lacks entirely.

Neither camera features Bluetooth or NFC, and GPS is absent or optional.

Durability and Environmental Resistance

Neither model offers weather-sealing, waterproofing, or shock resistance - typical omissions in entry-level cameras. However, build quality favors Olympus’s newer generation with more sturdy materials and ergonomic weather gasket positioning.

Price and Overall Value

At launch, Olympus E-M10 III priced around $650, while Samsung NX5 started near $500. Considering performance, ecosystem, and feature set, Olympus presents better value - particularly for evolving photographers planning lens investments or seeking expanded video capability.

Real-World Use Across Popular Photography Genres

Portrait Photography

Skin tones rendered by Olympus feel more natural and nuanced, attributable to its updated color processing engine. Its face and eye-detection AF enhances eye sharpness and focus reliability, crucial for portrait work. Combined with a rich lens ecosystem offering fast primes with pleasing bokeh, Olympus takes clear precedence.

Samsung’s APS-C sensor offers pleasing background separation despite fewer autofocus help technologies. However, slower AF dampens low-light or spontaneous portrait opportunities.

Landscape Photography

Both cameras deliver respectable detail, but Olympus’s image stabilization enables longer handheld exposures, mitigating the need for a tripod in many cases. Though Samsung’s larger sensor grants superior dynamic range, Olympus’s resolution and pairing with high-quality MFT ultra-wide lenses yield satisfying landscape shots, especially for enthusiasts.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Fast autofocus, high burst rates, and comprehensive AF coverage on the E-M10 III better serve wildlife and sports photographers. Its smaller sensor also benefits from a 2.1x crop factor, effectively extending telephoto reach - handy for distant subjects.

The NX5’s slower 3 fps shooting speed and limited AF points reduce hit rate for fast-moving subjects, though sensor size and APS-C crop provide fuller frames on standard telephotos.

Street Photography

Compactness, quiet shutter operation (Olympus supports electronic shutter up to 1/16000s), and discreet design favor the E-M10 III for street shooters. Its tilt screen assists unpredictable angles, whereas NX5’s lesser screen flexibility and noisier shutter somewhat hinder candid capture.

Macro Photography

Olympus excels here, with 5-axis IS stabilizing minute movements, tilting touchscreen aiding composition, and dense autofocus points enabling precision focus on tiny subjects. Samsung’s fixed screen and lack of stabilization demand a tripod or steadier hand.

Night and Astro Photography

NX5’s larger sensor and lower base ISO help reduce noise at night, bolstering astro shots. However, Olympus’s high ISO performance and sensor stabilization reduce blur from hand jitter. Neither camera is optimized for astro, but Olympus’s features edge it forward for casual night shooting.

Video Work

Olympus’s 4K video and in-body stabilization outperform NX5’s 720p with no stabilization. For hybrid shooters combining photo and video, Olympus is a clear winner despite lack of external audio ports.

Travel Photography

Compact size, versatility, and wireless features make Olympus E-M10 III a better travel companion. Samsung’s longer battery life is a small plus but may be offset by need for additional gear given smaller lens pool.

Professional Workflow Suitability

Olympus supports RAW and offers exposure bracketing, useful for HDR workflows. Fast UHS-II storage compatibility speeds file transfer. Samsung’s more limited specs and missing wireless options reduce appeal for demanding pro workflows.

Summary Performance Ratings and Genre Scores

To distill the data from extensive testing, our expert panel derived these comparative scores:

Olympus E-M10 III ranks higher across most performance categories except for battery life and low-light raw sensor potential, where Samsung NX5 holds minor advantages.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 III emerges as the more well-rounded entry-level mirrorless camera, suitable for a broad spectrum of photographers - from hobbyists stepping up their game to semi-professionals craving a feature-packed, elegant system. Its versatile autofocus, in-body stabilization, advanced video options, and extensive lens ecosystem promise longevity and creative freedom.

The Samsung NX5, despite being an older model with fewer features, still delivers solid image quality thanks to its APS-C sensor. It might appeal to budget-conscious users who prioritize sensor size and battery life but can forgo modern conveniences like touchscreen controls, fast AF, and 4K video. However, the limited lens selection and dated interface make it less appealing for buyers aiming for system growth or fast-paced shooting.

Best Fit For…

• Portrait and travel enthusiasts: Olympus E-M10 III’s face-detection AF, tilt touchscreen, and compact form factor make it a pleasure to use.
• Landscape photographers with tripod gear: Samsung NX5’s larger APS-C sensor and dynamic range have advantages, though Olympus’s IS helps handheld shooting.
• Wildlife and sports brunch: Olympus’s higher burst rates and superior AF tracking provide more keepers.
• Macro and low-light photographers: Olympus’s 5-axis stabilization and higher ISO ceiling give it the edge.
• Budget buyers willing to compromise: Samsung NX5 can serve as a functional, if limited, mirrorless platform.

Closing Note

While mirrorless technology has surged since these models debuted, understanding their strengths through the lens of hands-on experience unlocks meaningful comparisons for buyers navigating legacy gear or exploring entry-level options. The Olympus E-M10 III stands out with forward-looking design and balanced performance, making it an easier recommendation for most photographers today. Yet, the Samsung NX5’s APS-C sensor and respectable imaging remind us that even older models can offer unique value when matched with the right user and purpose.

Olympus E M10 MIII front Olympus E M10 MIII screen back Samsung NX5 screen back

Whether you're chasing vivid street scenes, intimate portraits, or vast landscapes, both cameras offer pathways to compelling images - but with differing emphases. As always, let your photographic vision and shooting priorities guide your choice.