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Olympus E-M5 III

 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III front
 
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 414g - 125 x 85 x 50mm
  • Launched October 2019
  • Superseded the Olympus E-M5 II
  • Later Model is OM System OM-5
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
80
Imaging
62
Features
88
Overall
72

Olympus E-M5 III summary

Olympus E-M5 III is Olympus's Advanced Mirrorless digital camera originally launched on October of 2019. The camera houses a 20MP, MOS Four Thirds size sensor with a full resolution of 5184 x 3888.

Olympus brought out this model in an effort to replace the earlier Olympus E-M5 II (Read Full Comparison) & subsequently introduced the fresher OM System OM-5 (Read Full Comparison) in order to update this camera.

The E-M5 III is ranked #25 out of 62 in Advanced Mirrorless cameras & over-all #137 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. Please try out our Advanced camera filter to see camera results based on your customized criteria.

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Here is a diagram of different factors used in the rating system.

Olympus E-M5 III history

The Olympus E-M5 III is part of a family of products. You can view the complete list below.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
OM-System-OM-5 front thumbnailOM System OM-5
E-M5 III vs OM System OM-5
20MPFour Thirds10.0 fps2022
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10-IV front thumbnailOlympus E-M10 IV
E-M5 III vs E-M10 IV
20MPFour Thirds8.7 fps2020
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Olympus-OM-D-E-M1-Mark-III front thumbnailOlympus E-M1 III
E-M5 III vs E-M1 III
20MPFour Thirds60.0 fps2020
Olympus-OM-D-E-M5-III front thumbnailOlympus E-M5 III20MPFour Thirds30.0 fps2019
Olympus-OM-D-E-M1X front thumbnailOlympus E-M1X
E-M5 III vs E-M1X
20MPFour Thirds60.0 fps2019
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10-Mark-III front thumbnailOlympus E-M10 III
E-M5 III vs E-M10 III
16MPFour Thirds8.6 fps2017
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
Olympus-OM-D-E-M1-Mark-II front thumbnailOlympus E-M1 II
E-M5 III vs E-M1 II
20MPFour Thirds60.0 fps2016
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10-II front thumbnailOlympus E-M10 II
E-M5 III vs E-M10 II
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2015
Olympus-OM-D-E-M5-II front thumbnailOlympus E-M5 II
E-M5 III vs E-M5 II
16MPFour Thirds10.0 fps2015
Olympus-OM-D-E-M10 front thumbnailOlympus E-M10
E-M5 III vs E-M10
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2014
Olympus-OM-D-E-M1 front thumbnailOlympus E-M1
E-M5 III vs E-M1
16MPFour Thirds10.0 fps2013
Photography Glossary
Olympus-OM-D-E-M5 front thumbnailOlympus E-M5
E-M5 III vs E-M5
16MPFour Thirds9.0 fps2012

Olympus E-M5 III Pros and Cons

Here is a checklist of pros and cons of the Olympus E-M5 III based on factors that are oftentimes regarded as necessary in a digital camera.

comes with phase detect auto focus
comes with touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sized screen (3")
delivers RAW formats
does have HDMI support
does have mic jack
fast shooting (30.0 frames/s)
focusing manually
good high ISO (25,600)
good resolution screen (1,040 k dot)
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
great video quality (4096 x 2160 pixels)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
provides tracking focus
screen articulates
selfie friendly display
silent mode (1/32,000s)
supports bluetooth
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
touchscreen
weather sealing
does not have headphone jack
not so great battery life (310 CIPA)
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Olympus E-M5 III Sensor information

The Olympus E-M5 III features the TruePic VIII processor chip. The sensor measurement in the Olympus E-M5 III is 17.4mm x 13mm (Four Thirds). The 226 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 5184 x 3888 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis). Optical stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization as the latter might lead to cropping.

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The MOS sensor has 20 megapixels and delivers a standard ISO range of 200 - 25600. The ISO can be expanded digitally to a minimum of 64. RAW photos are saved which means that the user has more margin for error.

The graphic below displays the E-M5 III's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The E-M5 III sensor has a crop factor of 2.1 and is presented in green.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 III sensor size Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

To get a sense of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Olympus E-M5 III dimensions

Olympus E-M5 III has a weight of 0.91 lbs (414 grams or 14.60 ounces) & the size of the camera is 125mm x 85mm x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0"). The weight of average Advanced Mirrorless camera is 454 grams so the Olympus E-M5 III is similar as compared to various rivals.

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Listed below is a pic of the Olympus E-M5 III besides a softdrink so you're able to get a sense of its size.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 III dimensions scale

The top view directly below will illustrate the button layout on the E-M5 III.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 III topview buttons dials

Olympus E-M5 III Lens information

The E-M5 III works with the Micro Four Thirds mount and has 162 lenses available on the market. Here is a few of the lenses we have in our collection that will fit the E-M5 III.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-75mm-f1.8 lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f1.875mmf/1.8 305g
Panasonic-Leica-DG-Vario-Elmar-100-400mm-F4.0-6.3-ASPH-Power-OIS lensPanasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm F4.0-6.3 ASPH Power OIS100-400mmf/4.0-6.3 985g
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Olympus-Zuiko-Digital-ED-50mm-f2.0-Macro lensOlympus Zuiko Digital ED 50mm f2.0 Macro50mmf/2.0 300g
Panasonic-Lumix-G-Vario-12-60mm-F3.5-5.6-ASPH-Power-OIS-Micro-Four-Thirds lensPanasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS12-60mmf/3.5-5.6 210g
Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-75-300mm-f4.8-6.7 lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f4.8-6.775-300mmf/4.8-6.7 430g
Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-7-14mm-F2.8-PRO lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm F2.8 PRO7-14mmf/2.8 534g
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Panasonic-Leica-DG-Summilux-25mm-F1.4-II-ASPH lensPanasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm F1.4 II ASPH25mmf/1.4205g
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Olympus E-M5 III Connectivity

The E-M5 III has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that incorporate NFC and / or Bluetooth support can easily be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You will be able to transfer files and in some cases change camera settings without connecting directly with the camera.

Certain apps also allow a Liveview and release the shutter in case you are not near the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI port, it could be attached to an external monitor. A lot of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack using the USB port.

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Olympus E-M5 III Video information

The highest possible video quality in the Olympus E-M5 III is 4096 x 2160 and you can save in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 2160p is an exceptional quality for video. You are able to downsample to 1080p in order to get better video. Be wary of the considerable file sizes and ensure you own decent SD cards with good write speeds. Although the body contains a mic socket, it is missing a headphone socket which means that you will not have the capability to check your sound levels.

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Olympus E-M5 III Weather Sealing

Olympus E-M5 III has got weather proofing making it a fantastic choice for use during challenging locations. This is especially helpful whenever you are not sure about the conditions you may face during outdoor photography.

Olympus E-M5 III Screen and Viewfinder

The Olympus E-M5 III is equipped with a 3" fully articulated display with a resolution of 1,040k dots.

The screen is selfie friendly for self portraits and even group shots when needed. Additionally the display is touch friendly which means that you are able to adjust focus point as well as change settings by using your finger.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 III screen and viewfinder Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The ViewFinder specifications for Olympus E-M5 III are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • ViewFinder Resolution 2,360k dots
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100 percent
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.68x

For bright outdoor conditions that make the camera displays washed out and challenging to see, viewfinders will be particularly valuable.

Olympus E-M5 III Shutter information

Olympus E-M5 III has the capability to shoot continuously at 30.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/8000 seconds. The camera also offers silent electronic shutter of 1/32000 seconds. Beware that the electronic shutter might produce "rolling shutter" under some situations.

Photography Glossary

Olympus E-M5 III Flash and Hot shoe information

Olympus E-M5 III comes with external flash support but comes without built in flash. The maximum flash sync speed is 1/250 seconds.

Olympus E-M5 III Autofocus information

Olympus E-M5 III comes with both Phase Detect Auto Focus plus Contrast Based Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier and accurate compared to Contrast Based focusing. The camera supports Face detection which is valuable for portraits.

The Sensor supports 121 focus points to select from. Olympus E-M5 III has tap to focus. You can easily use your fingers in order to switch focus points. It also includes Tracking Auto Focus for moving things. Olympus E-M5 III supports manual focusing when needed during low light or you need to have more precise control on focusing.

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Olympus E-M5 III Battery life

The battery life (BLN-1) on the Olympus E-M5 III is made to last for 310 images with respect to the CIPA specifications which is lesser as compared to it's rivals. The average Advanced Mirrorless camera battery life is 390. Sony A6600 features the best (810) battery life within this range of cameras.

Following is a collection of Advanced Mirrorless cameras which have the best battery life:

Olympus E-M5 III for different categories of photography

The following bar chart provides a rundown of the Olympus E-M5 III for different categories of photography. To find out more, check out the specific section below.

Olympus E-M5 III Portrait photography highlights

The Olympus E-M5 III has a rating of 77 which is great, meaning that it is a excellent pick for portrait photography. Taking portrait images favors heavily to sensor dimensions, RAW support and capability to work with off-camera lighting.

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manual focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW formats

Olympus E-M5 III as a Street photography camera

With a wonderful score of 83, the Olympus E-M5 III is a excellent pick to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera has a fine balance of image quality plus portability.

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screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with touch to focus
weather proofing
very good high ISO (25,600)

Olympus E-M5 III Sports photography features

A excellent sports photography score of 76 suggests the Olympus E-M5 III is a wonderful option for photographing sports. A camera must have great focusing and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (30.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
terrible battery power (310 shots)

Olympus E-M5 III Travel photography factors

Weight is pretty important in buying a travel camera. On the whole, the Olympus E-M5 III gets a wonderful 77 for a travel camera which makes it a excellent fit to purchase for your journeys.

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weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
includes touch focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
low battery (310 shots)

Olympus E-M5 III Landscape photography features

If you're looking to choose a camera for landscape pictures, the biggest aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Olympus E-M5 III at it's tremendous grade of 77 for a landscape camera is a terrific fit compared to it's competition.

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manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
terrible battery life (310 per charge)

Olympus E-M5 III Vlogging factors

A camera for vlogging preferably should have a moving display screen, mic port and ideally IBIS. Taking everything into account, the Olympus E-M5 III is a wonderful pick as a vlog camera as it receives a great rating of 84.

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selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
good video quality (4096 x 2160 resolution)
includes mic port

Olympus E-M5 III Alternatives

If you want replacements to the E-M5 III, here is a range of the highest ranked cameras that fall into the family of Advanced Mirrorless.

The line chart down below provides you a summary of the E-M5 III vs it's highest rated competitors listed earlier.

There are more cameras you may view as alternative options. To go through a detailed comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Olympus
Model type
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Category
Advanced Mirrorless
Launched
2019-10-17
Body design
SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
MOS
Processor
TruePic VIII
Sensor size
Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions
17.4 x 13mm
Sensor surface area
226.2mm²
Sensor resolution
20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution
5184 x 3888
RAW data
Maximum native ISO
25600
Lowest native ISO
200
Lowest enhanced ISO
64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points
121
Lens
Lens support
Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses
107
Crop factor
2.1
Screen
Range of screen
Fully Articulated
Screen size
3"
Resolution of screen
1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
2,360k dot
Viewfinder coverage
100 percent
Viewfinder magnification
0.68x
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Minimum shutter speed
60 secs
Fastest shutter speed
1/8000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed
1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter speed
30.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance
no built-in flash
Flash settings
Auto, redeye, fill, off, redeye slow sync, slow sync, 2nd-curtain slow sync, manual
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync
1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 237 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution
4096x2160
Video data format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
414 gr (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions
125 x 85 x 50mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 2.0")
Other
Battery life
310 photos
Battery format
Battery Pack
Battery ID
BLN-1
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media
SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots
1
Cost at release
$1,199