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Camera review
Undoubtedly the most significant difference between the E-M10 and the other OM-D models is the image stabilisation – the others use 5-axis image stabilisation, while the E-M10 uses the 3-axis system from the PEN range. On paper, this means a 5-stop advantage in the E-M5 is whittled down to a 3.5-stop advantage in the E-M10, but in practice, performance is still good – using a focal length of 300mm, equivalent to 600mm with the crop factor, I could still get around 30% of shots sharp at 1/20sec shutter speed, a similar hit rate to using a shutter speed of 1/320sec with no image stabilisation. It’s worth pointing out though that this was when I had the accessory grip attached for a firmer hold – taking this off had a dramatic effect, and I could no longer get anything pin sharp at shutter speeds below 1/640sec.
difference, but in side-by-side comparison shots, images from the E-M10 were slightly sharper, with a little more definition. In JPEGs, this difference could be partly attributed to the newer processor, but there’s even a difference in Raw files. Focusing with any Olympus is about as fast as it gets with mirrorless cameras, and the E-M10 again delivers. With the option of touch focusing, it’s also easy to move the focus area anywhere in the frame, and you can choose whether or not touch focusing also triggers the shutter. The focusing area of the E-M10 is smaller than that of the E-M5, and this is welcome – it’s easier to lock onto the correct subject. You can get even more accurate too, with the option to reduce the AF area size when touch focusing, and even to magnify this area by up to 14 times. Despite the difference in price, the E-M10 in fact matches or betters the E-M5 in many ways – it has the same viewfinder but with adaptive brightness technology from the E-M1, a higher resolution LCD, a built-in pop-up flash, more focusing areas, the same metering system, focusing sensitivity down to -2EV instead of 0EV, integrated Wi-Fi, HDR, focus peaking – the list goes on. So you’re probably wondering why there’s any difference in price at all.
ABOVE This shot needed -1.3EV exposure compensation to avoid overexposure. BELOW The image stabilisation is great for wildlife shots – the shutter speed here was 1/160sec at 270mm.
Despite the difference inprice, the E-M10 in factmatches or betters the E-M5 inmanyways
Photography News | Issue 7
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