Unlike other mirrorless camera manufacturers who all started making cameras with bigger sensors, Olympus is focusing on customers who are interested in compact cameras with micro 4/3 sensors. They don’t plan to stop the development of new cameras or lenses anytime soon, and we think it’s the right move. Not everybody needs a full-frame camera and micro 4/3 cameras definitely have some advantages.
First of all, there’s a huge selection of micro 4/3 lenses from Olympus, Panasonic, and third-party manufacturers. Secondly, even Olympus’ cheapest model has in-body image stabilization that works better than on most cameras that cost four or five times as much. They also look great, are well-built and most of them have weather sealing. In this guide, we’re going to cover the best Olympus mirrorless cameras. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an advanced user, we’ll be going over some of the best Olympus cameras you can buy in 2020. Keep checking back, as we plan to update this article as new models arrive.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III – Best Value Olympus Camera
image source: Olympus
The E-M5 Mark III was a long-awaited camera among micro 4/3 shooters, and it was finally released in late 2019. It features the same 20MP micro 4/3 sensor found on the E-M1 Mark II. It also comes with excellent in-body image stabilization, 4K video recording, great weather sealing, and all of that in a smaller body.
Essentially, this camera is a more compact version of the E-M1 Mark II and it even has some features that its big brother doesn’t have – 120 fps recording in 1080p, for example. Of course, the E-M1 Mark II is still a better camera. It has a better grip, a longer-lasting battery, two memory card slots, Log profile for video and other useful features. That being said, we think the E-M5 Mark III offers amazing features for the price, making it the best value Olympus mirrorless camera, in our opinion.
Olympus E-M5 Mark III Pros
- Borrows E-M1 Mark II’s excellent 20MP sensor
- Weather-sealed
- Great autofocus
- Excellent body image stabilization
- 120 fps video recording in 1080p
- Compact
Olympus E-M5 Mark III Cons
- Battery life could be better
- Only one SD card slot
- No log profile
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II – Best Olympus Mirrorless Camera
image source: Olympus
In our opinion, this is the best Olympus mirrorless camera you can buy even today. Sure, Olympus also released the E-M1X, but that camera is enormous and defeats the purpose of using a micro 4/3 system. That’s why we think the E-M1 Mark II, which was released in late 2016, is still the top choice from Olympus. It packs a 20MP sensor with excellent image quality, it’s weather-sealed, and has the best in-body image stabilization in our opinion.
The autofocus on this camera used to be decent, but it got way better thanks to a recent firmware update. It was already pretty good when it comes to photos but now you can comfortably use it for videos as well, without the fear of the camera hunting all of the time. The E-M1 Mark II comes with a fully-articulating screen, which is very useful for video shooters. Speaking of video, the camera can record 4K videos, 1080p at up to 60 fps and has a Log format that allows better color grading. We think this camera is also excellent for action shooting and wildlife photography since it can capture up to 18 fps using the mechanical shutter.
Olympus E-M1 Mark II Pros
- Weather-sealed
- Great autofocus thanks to firmware update
- Class-leading in-body image stabilization
- Up to 18 fps burst shooting
- Excellent build quality
- Good grip
Olympus E-M1 Mark II Cons
- Still a bit expensive considering the sensor size
- No 120 fps in 1080p
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III – Best Budget Olympus Camera
image source: Olympus
If you’re just a beginner looking for an entry-level mirrorless camera, the E-M10 Mark III is an excellent choice. Not only is it beautiful and well-built considering its price, but it’s also pretty capable and has some unique features for its price range.
It has a 16MP sensor, which is getting quite old these days, but it’s still capable of delivering good-quality photos. That being said, it is one of the rare few cameras that is this affordable and sports 5-axis in-body image stabilization that works amazingly well, even when you compare it to more expensive cameras from other manufacturers.
The E-M10 Mark III feels great in hands thanks to its premium finish. The camera is also pretty decent for video, as it supports 4K recording but keep in mind its autofocus is not that impressive. Overall, we find this camera to be an excellent choice for amateurs getting into photography. It definitely has some great features for the price and is a great choice if you don’t mind its older low-resolution sensor.
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Pros
- Excellent build quality for the price
- Great image stabilization
- 4K video
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Cons
- The sensor is old
- Low-resolution sensor
- Autofocus is decent for photos, but not so much for videos
Which Olympus mirrorless camera to buy is the question we get asked often and that’s exactly why we created this guide. We hope that it helped you pick the right Olympus camera for your needs.
