Photography News issue 72

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PERFORMANCE: ISO

SPECS

ISO 200

ISO 800

›  Prices £1099 body only ›  Sensor 20.4megapixels, Live MOS, TruePic VIII, supersonic wave cleaning filter ›  Sensor format Micro Four Thirds, 17.4x13mm, 12-bit Raw, 5184x3888 pixels ›  Lens mount Micro Four Thirds ›  ISO range 200-25,600, expands 64-25,600 ›  Shutter range 60secs- 1/8000sec, flash sync 1/250sec, electronic shutter 60secs- 1/32,000sec ›  Drive modes Single, continuous at 10fps, silent mode at 30fps, pro capture at 10fps or 30fps with 0-14 frames recorded by partial depression of shutter release ›  Exposure system PASM, iAuto, bulb (live bulb, live composite), time, scene modes, art filters, 324multi segment meter ›  Exposure compensation +/- 5EV on 0.3EV, 0.5EV and 1EV steps, AEB 2, 3, 5 in 0.3, 0.6, 1EV ›  Monitor Touch, articulating LCD, 3in, 1040K dots ›  Viewfinder 2360k dots ›  Focusing Contrast detect (sensor), phase detect, multi area, centre, selective single point, tracking, single, continuous, touch, face/eye detection, live view. Single AF, manual, AF tracking, continuous AF, preset manual, focus stacking – eight shots merged into a single image; focus bracketing 3-999 shots, ten step levels ›  Focus points TTL phase-and contrast-detect, 121 points all cross type, 121 points contrast- detect. All target, single zone (normal/small), five area, nine area and 25 area ›  Video 4096x2160@ 24p, 3840x2160@ 30p/25p/23.98p, 1920x1080@ 120p/60p/50p /30p/25p/23.98p ›  Connectivity USB 2.0, micro HDMI, wireless, Bluetooth, microphone port ›  Other key features USB charging, multiple exposure. High-res shot mode with eight shots combined into a single file using sensor shift – JPEGs 8160x6120 pixels/5760x4320 pixels, in Raw 10,368x7776 pixels ›  Storage media 1xSD, UHS-II supported ›  Dimensions (wxhxd) 125x85x50mm ›  Weight 414g Contact olympus.co.uk

ISO 1600

ISO 6400

ISO 3200

ISO 12,800

This twilight scene was shot with the OM-D E-M5 Mark III fitted with a 12-40mm f/2.8 zoom, and mounted on a Gitzo GT1555T Traveler tripod. The ISO 200 image needed an exposure of six seconds at f/7.1. No noise reduction was applied either in camera or in Raw processing, which was done in Olympus Viewer 3. The OM-D E-M5 Mark III delivered a sound, high ISO performance, and while noise

started appearing from ISO 800 it was fine, and easily processed out with a little noise reduction in software. In areas of even mid-tones and shadows, noise was more obvious by the time ISO 1600 was reached, and fine detail started to be impacted. Noise started to be more of an issue by ISO 3200 – fine detail was starting to lose its bite and the graining effect was quite strong. I’d probably stop at

ISO 3200 if, say, A3 prints are the goal, but it all depends on an individual’s shooting situation and expectations for the end picture. However, if you need to ramp up the ISO to ensure sharp images, even at ISO 6400 the results are impressive – a good showing from a Micro Four Thirds sensor.

IS0 25,600

PERFORMANCE: EXPOSURE LATITUDE

-3EV

-2EV

0

-1EV

+1EV

+2EV

+3EV

To assess the latitude of Raws from the OM-D E-M5 Mark III, several sets of exposures featuring a variety of lighting situations were made inmanual exposure mode. The metered correct exposure in this example was 1/250sec at f/10, and this was bracketed in 1EV up to +/-4EV. The Raws were processed and exposure corrected in Olympus Viewer 3. Tolerance to overexposure was okay but not outstanding, and exposures at +2EV andmore did not respond well to exposure correction;

Raw files from the OM-D E-M5 Mark III had respectable exposure latitude, especially with underexposure, but were not so good with overexposure, where highlights were recovered less successfully.

even the +2EV showed slightly grey, veiled tones in the strong highlights. Overexposure by +1EVwas recovered muchmore successfully, with a result almost identical to the correctly exposed image.

Amuch better showing was seen with underexposure, and while the -2EV and -3EV images gained a little digital noise in the shadows, it was acceptable and not too obvious. The -1EV image recovered perfectly well.

Issue 72 | Photography News 49

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