Olympus E-M10 vs Olympus Stylus Tough 6010: A Hands-On, Head-to-Head Camera Comparison

In the world of Olympus cameras, the E-M10 and Stylus Tough 6010 represent two very different philosophies under the same brand umbrella. The former, an entry-level mirrorless camera introduced in 2014, targets enthusiasts looking for solid performance and flexibility in a compact package. The latter, a rugged waterproof compact from 2009, focuses on hardy field use where durability and ease trump imaging prowess. After years testing thousands of cameras across varied environments, I’m excited to unpack these two Olympus models side-by-side. What do they offer in 2024’s ever-evolving photo gear market, and how do they truly perform in real-world conditions? Let’s embark on this deep dive.

Seeing the Cameras Up Close: Size and Ergonomics

First impressions count, especially in the tactile world of cameras where ergonomics can make or break long shoots.

The Olympus E-M10 reveals itself as an SLR-style mirrorless camera with a solid grip, measuring 119 x 82 x 46 mm and weighing in at 396 grams with battery. It’s not oversized by any means but offers a reassuring hand feel that balances portability with control. The micro four-thirds body design lends itself well to swapping lenses, and the textured grip and physical dials reflect Olympus’s traditional commitment to photographic engagement.

By contrast, the Olympus Stylus Tough 6010 is compact and sleek, emphasizing portability and ruggedness. At 95 x 63 x 22 mm and 179 grams, it fits easily into a jacket pocket or glove compartment, perfect for spontaneous roadside shots or hiking excursions where every gram counts. Its smaller size, however, means the handling is minimalist and lacks the tactile precision that more serious shooters crave.

The E-M10's ergonomics encourage thoughtful composition and manual control, while the 6010 favors grab-and-go ease and environmental resilience. If you cherish feeling every adjustment, the E-M10 is the better bet. If lightness, compactness, and robustness are your priorities, the 6010 does the trick well.

Control Layout and Interface: How Olympus Thinks About Us

Olympus’s design language shines through in the user interface and button placement.

The E-M10 boasts a traditional top-plate with a mode dial that separates shooting modes including aperture priority, shutter priority, manual, and program controls - an immediate boon for enthusiasts comfortable with DSLR conventions. The tiltable 3-inch touchscreen LCD with 1,037k dots brings a modern flair, enhancing live view composition flexibility. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a resolution of 1,440 dots offers bright, sharp framing that’s crucial for bright daylight shooting.

The Stylus Tough 6010 is understandably pared down - there’s no EVF, and the fixed 2.7-inch LCD screen tops out at a modest 230k dots, lacking touch capability. Its physical buttons are straightforward, with less emphasis on nuanced exposure adjustment. This aligns with its target audience, favoring rugged utility over creative complexity.

In sum, the E-M10's interface suits shooters craving control depth and live feedback, while the 6010 provides a simple, rugged interface for quick snaps under less favorable conditions.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of Photographic Performance

Let’s talk pixels and processing - always important when weighing cameras separated by half a decade and wildly different sensor designs.

The Olympus E-M10 sports a 16-megapixel Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm with a sensor area of 224.9 mm². Coupled with the TruePic VII image processor, it manages solid DxOMark scores: overall 72, color depth 22.8 bits, dynamic range 12.3 EV, and low-light ISO rating near 884. These metrics indicate impressive color fidelity, decent shadow recovery, and respectable noise control for a sensor of its size.

In contrast, the Stylus Tough 6010 uses a tiny 1/2.3” (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD sensor with a sensor area of 28.07 mm² and 12 megapixels. Its max native ISO caps at 1600, with significantly lower dynamic range and color depth. This sensor is typical of compact waterproof cameras from the late 2000s, prioritizing size and ruggedness over high-fidelity imaging.

In practical terms, images from the E-M10 shine with sharpness, color accuracy, and noise performance suitable for printing and serious editing. The 6010 produces usable photos for casual sharing and documentation, with softer detail and more limited tonal flexibility.

The Image Pipeline in Action: Sample Photos Face-Off

Nothing communicates image quality better than examples shot in the field.

Olympus E M10 front Olympus E M10 screen back Olympus 6010 screen back

From landscape vistas to portraits and low-light interiors, the E-M10 consistently delivers crisp images with balanced color tones - skin tones in portraits look natural, and the micro four-thirds sensor’s bokeh when paired with fast lenses adds nice subject separation.

The 6010’s JPEGs tend to be softer with visible noise creeping in under dimmer conditions. The lens’s 28-102mm equivalent zoom range is versatile for snapshots, though aperture limitations (f/3.5-5.1) inhibit background blur and low light performance.

Assessing these photos side-by-side underscores the E-M10’s clear advantage in image quality and creative control, while the 6010 remains a capable, durable companion for less demanding image capture.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance

Speed and accuracy of autofocus can make or break opportunities, especially in fast-moving genres.

The E-M10 offers a contrast-detection autofocus system with 81 focus points and face detection. Continuous AF and tracking modes add versatility for sports and wildlife shooting. While not flagship grade, the E-M10’s AF is agile for its class, locking focus reliably in varied lighting conditions. Burst shooting at 8 fps, paired with steady AF, helps capture fleeting moments, though buffer depth is limited.

The 6010 has a simpler contrast-detection AF with a single or center-based focusing system. It lacks continuous tracking or face detection, focusing primarily on casual snap shooting. No continuous shooting mode limits action photography.

For wildlife, sports, or street photography, the E-M10’s autofocus capabilities clearly produce better results, especially when paired with Olympus’s extensive Micro Four Thirds lens lineup.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Ruggedness Sells Too

Build and durability are critical depending on your shooting environments.

The Stylus Tough 6010 stands out here - built to withstand water immersion up to an unspecified depth, shock resistance, and freeze-proof specifications. This camera can endure rugged outdoor abuse with little worry. Its compact size enhances portability during strenuous activities like hiking, kayaking, or skiing.

The E-M10, however, is not weather sealed or shockproof. Although its build is robust, it’s destined for guarded treatment to prevent dust, moisture, or impact damage. It’s a more delicate instrument by design, geared toward controlled use in everyday conditions.

This means if your adventures prioritize toughness and off-road photography, the 6010 is your tool. If you're mainly in urban, studio, or landscape environments without harsh exposure, the E-M10’s refined build is sufficient.

User Experience: Screens, Viewfinders, and Interface

We touched on this earlier - let’s run through the LCD and EVF differences more comprehensively.

E-M10’s tilting, touchscreen LCD is a joy in varied shooting angles, improving usability for macro and low-angle shots. The 1,440-dot EVF enables framing precision outdoors, where LCD glare can be an issue.

6010’s fixed, non-touch LCD with low resolution limits composition detail, and the absence of an EVF can frustrate bright light shooting. However, simplicity helps keep user distractions low in the field.

The takeaway: thoughtful interface design on the E-M10 supports creative flexibility, while the 6010 is minimalist, functional, and rugged.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

It’s valuable to see how each camera stacks up depending on your primary photography interests.

• Portrait photography: The E-M10’s superior sensor, face detection autofocus, and lens options enable flattering skin tones and smooth bokeh. The 6010’s limited aperture and lack of face AF restrict portrait creativity.
• Landscape: E-M10’s dynamic range and resolution excel at capturing nuanced scenes. The 6010 is adequate for casual landscapes but loses subtlety in shadows and highlights.
• Wildlife: E-M10’s faster AF, burst mode, and telephoto lens compatibility outperform the 6010’s slow, single-point AF and fixed zoom.
• Sports: Burst shooting and tracking in E-M10 cater better to sports capture; the 6010 lacks these options.
• Street: 6010’s small size and quiet operation offer discreet shooting; however, E-M10’s better image quality appeals to street photographers valuing detail.
• Macro: E-M10’s interchangeable lenses and tilting screen allow precise close-ups; the 6010’s fixed lens offers only a 2cm closest focus, limiting macro potential.
• Night/Astro: The E-M10’s higher max ISO and RAW support provide better night sky capture opportunities.
• Video: E-M10 records up to 1080p30 with advanced codecs, while the 6010 maxes out at 640x480, far behind modern standards.
• Travel: Thoughtfully, the 6010 wins on rugged portability and battery longevity, but the E-M10 offers creative versatility when weight is manageable.
• Professional: E-M10 is clearly more professional with RAW, manual controls, and lens flexibility; 6010 serves mostly amateurs and casual users.

Overall Performance and Rating Synthesis

Bringing all these factors together, let’s reflect on performance benchmarks.

Olympus E-M10 scores strongly in image quality, autofocus versatility, and creative control - core fundamentals for the enthusiast or semi-pro. The Stylus Tough 6010’s strength lies in durability and straightforward operation, with image quality and features reflecting its compact waterproof snapshot design.

Both cameras fill valid niches, but their wide gap in specs and intended users means they rarely compete for the same buyer.

Technical Deep Dive: Inside the Olympus Engineering

Having tested the TruePic VII processor in multiple Olympus bodies, I can attest that it’s a solid engine for image processing in the mid-2010s era. It balances noise reduction without overly sacrificing detail - a common pitfall in cheaper mirrorless sensors.

The E-M10’s sensor employs a standard Bayer filter with an anti-aliasing filter, standard for the time but sometimes criticized for slightly softening fine textures. Still, the camera’s output remains sharp when paired with high-quality primes or zooms.

Stabilization-wise, both cameras have sensor-shift stabilization. The E-M10’s system combined with interchangeable lenses yields better overall steadiness, especially for handheld video and macro work.

Connectivity in the E-M10 includes built-in Wi-Fi, facilitating easy image transfer and remote control; the 6010 offers no wireless options, reflecting its age and market segment.

Battery life of the E-M10, quoted at 320 shots per charge, is typical for mirrorless but requires spares for extended outings. The 6010’s efficiency is less documented but benefits from lower spec display and modest processing power.

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, one of the richest lens ecosystems available with over 100 lenses across prime, zoom, macro, and specialty categories. This expansiveness empowers photographers to tailor optical tools precisely to their styles and subjects.

The Stylus Tough 6010’s fixed 28-102mm equivalent zoom lens cannot be swapped, limiting creative shooting possibilities.

Value and Pricing Perspective

Original pricing shows the E-M10 at about $600 at launch, a reasonable value proposition for an entry-level mirrorless packed with features.

The 6010 is discontinued and often found used or as a budget option for tough, basic shooting. Its zero current MSRP reflects market rarity rather than actual sale price.

For those requiring higher image quality and versatility, the E-M10 represents a far better investment. However, if ruggedness and weather resistance for casual shooting are priorities, the 6010 offers excellent bang for your buck on essentials alone.

Final Thoughts: Match Your Camera to Your Needs

Having dissected both cameras thoroughly, it’s clear that these models cater to different photographers:

• Choose the Olympus E-M10 if you:

  • Want an affordable, flexible mirrorless system
  • Desire full creative control with interchangeable lenses
  • Shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or video seriously
  • Seek decent low-light and macro capabilities
  • Appreciate electronic viewfinder and robust focus options
  • Value wireless connectivity and more modern interface design

• Choose the Olympus Stylus Tough 6010 if you:

  • Prioritize ruggedness, waterproofing, and portability
  • Need a camera that withstands harsh environments and mishandling
  • Shoot primarily in casual, bright-light scenarios
  • Want a straightforward point-and-shoot device with moderate zoom
  • Are on a limited budget and want resilience over advanced features

Summary

The Olympus E-M10 is a sophisticated entry-level mirrorless camera that remains a strong contender for enthusiasts seeking capable image quality, creative lens options, and modern usability features. Its sensor, autofocus, and manual control give it a clear edge over the decade-earlier Stylus Tough 6010.

Meanwhile, the Stylus Tough 6010 shines as a rugged, no-nonsense compact camera, excelling in environments where gear takes a beating, but imaging demands remain basic.

By understanding these fundamental differences and examining both cameras’ performances thoroughly, we empower you - the thoughtful photographer - to identify which fits your style, budget, and ambitions best.

Happy shooting!

For a quick visual recap, here is the cameras' performance breakdown by genre and overall scoring: