Camera test 44
Photography News | Issue 50 | photographynews.co.uk
Performance: exposure latitude
Original image
-4EV
-3EV
-2EV
-1EV
0
+1EV
To test the exposure of Raws from the E-M10 Mark III, manual exposure mode was used. I fixed the camera on a tripod and shot a sequence on metered correct exposure from -4EV to +4EV at ISO 200. For this set of shots, the metered correct exposure was 1/125sec at f/8. The Raws were then corrected using Lightroom Classic and the results checked on screen. Latitude is very good, especially with underexposure. The corrected -4EV shot looked impressive. Fine detail appeared really good and, while noise is visible it’s not offensive, being regular, filmic and neutral.
The straight processed image had a magenta tinge in the shadows but that can be corrected. While it took the -1EV shot to match the quality obtained from the correctly exposed picture, both the -3EV and -2EV delivered great looking images too, with excellent detail and low noise. With overexposure, the camera’s ability was slightly less capable. The +1EV and +2EV shots were perfectly recoverable, but the +3EV needed more work to resolve a colour cast and the bright highlights struggled to show detail. Nothing could be done at all with the +4EV shot.
+2EV
+3EV
+4EV
Images A variety of lighting situations was shot to assess exposure latitude, including this sunlit scene shot in Stockholm. As you can see, the latitude for overexposure is less good than with underexposure and more work was needed to get a decent picture from the -3EV shot.
Verdict
Features 16-megapixels only, but has 4K video and refreshed controls Performance Produces clean images at ISO speeds up to 3200 Handling Minor niggles, such as the movie record button can’t be disabled Value formoney 23/25 The Mark III is a quality product at an attractive price Overall 90/100 Exciting and innovative it isn’t, but it’s capable, good to use and nicely priced Pros High image quality, good stabilisation system, control design, AP setting, 4K video Cons Only 16-megapixels, few customoptions, not much of an upgrade from the Mark II The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III is a step ahead of the Mark II and, while it is not a giant leap, the handling enhancements do make the new model better to use. Mark II owners are unlikely to buy the Mark III on the basis of gaining a bleach bypass art filter, the AP mode, the use of a new TruPic processor and more positive controls. But it is priced to attract would-be Micro Four Thirds owners and those wishing to upgrade from older models so its rich feature set is appealing. 23/25 22/25 22/25
Performance: art filters
NO FILTER
BLEACH BYPASS I
The EM10 Mark III has gained one new Art filter, Bleach Bypass with the option of two strengths. In colour film processing side- stepping the bleaching stage meant the silver in the film was
retained, ie not bleached out, pictures that looked desaturated, almost monochrome, and had a cool colour cast. It was a tactic, just like cross processing, used by trendy people photographers.
The Mark III’s two options emulate the effect well and while you are not going to buy this camera just for this mode, it will be enjoyed by its owners so a welcome addition.
There is also a full complement of art filters including toy camera, dramatic and cross processing so if you want great effects from your straight out of the camera JPEGS, it is no problem at all.
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