OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1X & E-M1 MARK III
“It may seem like there is a relatively large list of differences, but the reality is that they use the same sensor”
RIGHT Looking every bit the professional DSLR- style camera, the E-M1X offers lots of mirrorless advantages, too
There is a slightly different mechanism to access the memory cards on both cameras, but the biggest difference here is that both slots on the E-M1X are compatible with the UHS-II cards, while only one is on the E-M1 Mark III. And in terms of viewing, the magnification is 0.74x on the E-M1 III and 0.83x on the E-M1X, which has a larger eyecup. All of these detail changes make a difference in how the cameras handle, but not in the footage they record. The E-M1X has two of the Olympus TruePic VIII processors, while the E-M1 Mark III does have
technology, which is said to lock on to eyes sooner when a person is approaching. In comparison tests, we found it difficult to notice any real difference. However, the E-M1 Mark III does not have the Intelligent Subject Detection of the bigger camera. This uses artificial intelligence to detect cars, bikes, aeroplanes and trains and backs up the E-M1X’s credentials as a sports and action camera. In contrast, the E-M1 III has Starry Sky AF, claimed to use a special algorithm to acquire focus on stars. Or you could just manually focus at infinity, of course… How they compare It may seem like there is a relatively large list of differences, but the reality is that both cameras use the same sensor and record video in the same codecs, sizes, bit rates and with the same AF system and IS. Compared to any other previous Olympus cameras, both have improved audio, Log shooting with proper Rec. 709 ViewAssist gamma, longer battery life and fewer issues with heat. And as we said when we tested the E-M1X at launch a year ago in Pro Moviemaker , both have video spec that’s noteworthy, but not always for the right reasons. They record in Cinema 4K at 237Mbps, but only in 24fps. To record in 4K at 30p or 25p, that drops to just 102Mbps. If you want super slow-motion, then in Full HD you get 120fps, but the image is cropped. And in all cases the signal is 8-bit, whether you record to
a brand-new, ninth-generation TruePic IX processor, but only one of them – showing how far processingtechnologyhasimproved in such a short time. In theory, this could give the camera a slightly better high-ISO performance than its big brother, but we couldn’t detect a significant difference. The speedy processor has made a difference to the AF system spec, as the E-M1 Mark III uses the same system as the flagship, but adds updated face- and eye-tracking
LEFT Set the mode dial to movies and the E-M1 Mark III is a fine tool for creative cinematography
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SUMMER 2020 PRO MOVIEMAKER
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