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Olympus OM-D E-M10 Review

Olympus is serious about killing DSLRs. After releasing two stellar OM-D cameras, the E-M5 and E-M1, which were aimed squarely at pros due to their high prices, Olympus is finally setting its sights on a larger audience with a camera that's both sleek and reasonably priced.

If Olympus learned anything from its two OM-D cameras, it's that retro design and cutting-edge performance are a winning combo. What's not so hot is asking people to cough up $1,000 just for a camera body.

With the OM-D E-M10, Olympus finally gets it right: a $699.99 all-metal body camera with the purr of its top-of-the-line E-M1. The skeptic in you is probably wondering how many corners Olympus had to cut to get the E-M10 well under $1,000. Surprisingly, not many.

Best of two OM-D's

You'd be forgiven if you mistook the E-M10 for the E-M5, Olympus's first digital OM-D camera from 2012. From the puny grip on the front, to the tiltable 3-inch touchscreen, to the rear button layout, the two cameras look virtually identical. That's not a bad thing since the E-M5 was (and still is) a very stylish camera.

Heck, internally, the two cameras are pretty similar, too. The E-M10 has the same 16.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor, same ISO 200-25,600, and same 1/4,000 shutter speed. It also records 1080p HD video at 30 frames per second. And since the E-M10 is a Micro Four Thirds camera, it supports a vast collection of compatible lenses.

While the E-M10 shares a similar design and basic specs with the E-M5, it also has some DNA from the pro-level E-M1. We're talking the TruePic VII image processor, built-in Wi-Fi and the lightning quick 81-point Fast autofocus system. One feature in the E-M10 that's not quite on par with the E-M1, but still a very capable addition, is axis image stabilization: 3-axis instead of 5-axis. Moreover, the E-M10 can burst shoot at 8 fps, which is one shy of the 9 fps the E-M5 can execute. But again, it's not earth-shattering.

So what's difference? For one thing, the E-M10 is ever so slightly lighter (0.87 lbs) versus the E-M5 (0.94 pounds), although you probably won't notice it. Additionally, the E-M10's electronic viewfinder "hump" is squatter and now includes a built-in flash. It's a nice feature to have, especially for the beginner and intermediate-level users Olympus is marketing the camera toward.

Still a sharp shooter

There really isn't much to complain about when it comes to the E-M10's shooting capabilities. Autofocus speed is still one of the quickest available, thanks to the aforementioned E-M1's 81-point focusing system, which is significantly faster than the E-M5's (now laughable) 35 points of focus.

The E-M10 performed admirably when paired with the new 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ electric zoom lens ($350) and the 25mm f/1.8 prime lens ($400). Pictures are pretty sharp and colors are quite accurate — two key points to look for.

As expected, low-light shooting is fantastic, boosted by the newer processor and 3-axis image stabilization. I was able to consistently get great shots even in the darkest of nights without having to worry about motion blur. Most of the time, I didn't even have to use a tripod.

Image: Mashable, Raymond Wong

All of the fun features such as HDR, time-lapse movie and that new "Photo Story" mode from the E-M1 also make a return in the E-M10.

Technically speaking, the E-M10's 1.4 million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) is a huge downgrade from the E-M1's 2.3 million-dot EVF. In fact, the E-M10's EVF is actually the same one used in the older E-M5. The inclusion of a lower-res EVF would have been strike against it, if not for improvements such as adaptive brightness and lower latency.

I was ready to really dislike the E-M10's EVF, but the faster refresh rate really was a lot better than the E-M5's. I suspect buyers considering the E-M10 won't care that it has a lower-resolution EVF. It's the camera equivalent of choosing between a cheaper 720p and more expensive 1080p resolution HDTV; most people will pick the one that's cheaper.

Weather sealing takes a hike

Aside from sleek retro designs and fast autofocus, Olympus's OM-D mirrorless cameras are loved by all for another reason: weather sealing. Both the E-M5 and E-M1 are splash-proof and dust-proof, with the latter even freeze-proof down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. In non-geek speak: Both cameras can survive photo shoots in rain or shine without conking out.

Imagine my disappointment when I learned that the E-M10 has an all-metal body, but lacks weather sealing. It was depressing, especially since New York City was hit with some insane blizzards during my review period.

With so many consumer gadgets now embracing some kind of weather sealing, it's sad to see Olympus cut corners like this. I have no doubt that the weather sealing was removed to keep costs down, but it's still a loss for users, especially the more daring and adventurous photographers who shoot in extreme conditions.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Sample Images

Modern day essentials

There's a misconception that anyone other than a beginner doesn't want or need a touchscreen on their camera. Ignore that nonsense. It's 2014, not 2004, and touchscreens should be standard on all cameras, much like Wi-Fi and GPS are these days. As always, Olympus is ahead of the pack with a responsive 3-inch touchscreen that's great for touch-to-focus, tap-to-shoot and photo review. The screen still lacks multitouch for pinch-to-zoom, but that's an oversight found on all touchscreen-equipped Olympus cameras.

The E-M10 also has built-in Wi-Fi and GPS. With the free Olympus Image Share app for iOS and Android, you can remotely control the E-M10's shutter, import photos to mobile devices for sharing online and geotag pictures. These are nice conveniences if you can get the Wi-Fi between the E-M10 and your smartphone or tablet to stay connected.

Setting up Wi-Fi was easy (scan a QR code on the E-M10's screen to configure settings), but maintaining the connection was challenging in areas with lots of Wi-Fi networks and radio interference. During my testing at home, the Wi-Fi disconnected frequently, making it difficult to use the remote shutter without having to manually reconnect in between handfuls of shots. On the street, the issues were somewhat lessened, but I found the range (about two feet) to be a bit limited.

When the Wi-Fi works, it's really convenient to use. While I enjoyed using the Image Share app's LiveView mode to take still photos and adjust camera settings, I found myself wishing there was a way to trigger video recording, too. Can we get an update, Olympus?

Image: Mashable, Raymond Wong

Big bang for the bucks

With the maturation of image processors and electronic viewfinders, it's now harder than ever to declare one camera mightier than another. For the most part, they're all pretty darn fast and they've all got more than enough megapixels to sling around. So how do you pick one?

It comes down to three factors: design, brand loyalty and price. With the OM-D E-M10, Olympus nails all three. It has a rock-solid retro design, a huge selection of lenses to purchase and, at last, a competitive price. Aside from the really small quips I mentioned earlier, I couldn't find many faults with the E-M10. The fact that Olympus was able to squeeze so much tech normally reserved for its top-of-the-line cameras into a $699.99 device (body-only) is a true testament to the company's engineering chops.

The closest rival to the E-M10 is probably the Sony A6000, which sells for $649.99 (body-only) and has a larger APS-C sensor and more megapixels (24.3). However, the E-M10 crushes the Sony E-M10 in terms of design, having a touchscreen, image stabilization, GPS and supporting twice as many native lenses. Whether those features are worth the extra $300 is ultimately up to you and your budget. Remember, the camera is only a tool to capture images, it's up to you invest the time to make great pictures and art.