Camera test 43
Photography News | Issue 50 | photographynews.co.uk
E-M10 III
Performance: ISO
Exposure for this low-light street scene at ISO 200 was 1/2sec at f/7.1 using the Olympus 14-150mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ with the camera fixed to a Gitzo GK1555T tripod. In-camera noise reduction was turned off and none was applied in post processing which was done in Olympus Viewer 3. At its lower ISO settings, the E-M10 Mark III produces very clean, crisp images full of detail and with smooth tonality. Detail starts to be impacted from ISO 800 onwards although it is true that the image quality at that speed was still
impressive so there‘s no problem getting first class prints here. I think ISO 1600 is perfectly usable for high class results, too, even though there is grain in the shadows – and that can be lessened in processing. In older Micro Four Thirds cameras, images at ISO 3200 and above could look poor with mottling, coloured noise and detail loss. The Mark III shows how much progress has been made, and the very high ISO settings have potential for quality work in low light.
Original image
ISO 200
ISO 800
Above top Predominantly dark scenes can trick camera meters into overexposing but that didn’t happen here. Shot with the 40-150mm lens at 1/125sec at f/8 and ISO 200. Above left Contrasty situations proved no problem for the E-M10Mark III and it was spot on here. Shot with the 40-150mm lens at 1/640sec at f/8 and ISO 200. Above right A dark interior and sunlit background meant a serious challenge for the E-M10Mark III, and one that was met very capably. Exposure was 1/1250sec at f/5.6 and ISO 25,600.
The Mark III’s exposure systemwas even more capable than the AF system in that it rarely needed correction from me. I left the camera in its multi zone metering mode and shot in program, manual and aperture-priority. I did get the occasional overexposure of dark subjects so setting -0.7EV was needed to keep the scene looking realistic. This was in JPEGs of course; correction of Raws in post was a simple matter with those files enjoying good exposure latitude. Strongly backlit scenes could also fox the meter but that is normal, although even here shadow detail was visible andout of the674pictures I shot, only a mere handful were consigned to the wastebasket on the basis of poor exposure. The AP mode is welcome and saves wasting time digging around the menus looking for the function
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
ISO 6400
ISO 12,800
you’re after. Now, if you want to take an HDR shot or use Live Composite, Olympus has made is really easy for you. I like and enjoy Olympus OM-D cameras because you are ensured impressive image quality
Above images There was a time when high ISO performance fromMicro Four Thirds sensors did not impress, with colourful mottled noise a serious issue. That situation is no longer the case and the E-M10Mark III shows the sort of high quality you can get from the newer models. You can shoot at ISO 3200 and even at that speed, big top-notch enlargements are well within reach.
ISO 25,600
from cameras that handle really intuitively and look the part The E-M10 Mark III is no exception and at £700 body only, it’s nicely priced too.
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