The complete guide to Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and an in-depth review of its features, specs, problems and known issues. Show
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III retro silver camera This is the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III. It is a mirror-less camera with a micro four third sensor. It was released in November 2019. Physical/Hardware Specs
Firmware updateThe current firmware version on my camera was version 1.0, however looking at the Olympus website it appears that there are a number of firmware updates available. Some of which have made important improvements aside from updates to support additional lenses.
Firmware updates require Olympus Workspace, so I went to the Olympus website and followed the instructions to download and install Olympus Workspace, in order to update the firmware on the camera. Olympus Workspace and Firmware updateInitially I tried to install Olympus Workspace on a Windows 7 computer which didn’t work. I then installed Olympus Workspace on a Windows 10 computer and immediately had to update the Olympus Workspace software. Once I completed that, I went on to update the firmware on the camera and could see the current version of the firmware on the camera and the attached lens. I updated the camera firmware to version 1.5 and checked again to make sure the update had taken effect and there were no newer updates to apply. LCD screen on Olympus camera (OM-D E-M5 III) Flip Screen / EVF
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ I ➡ EVF Auto Switch ➡ Off / On1 / On2]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ D3 ➡ Selfie Assist ➡ Off | On] [MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ A4 ➡ Focus Ring ➡ ↪ | ↩]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ D2 ➡ Settings ➡ Live View Boost ➡ Off | On]
[MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥Display Settings ➡ 🎥Info Settings ➡ Custom1 | Custom2 ➡ …] [MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ D1 ➡ /Info Settings ➡ LV-Info ➡ …]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ J1 ➡ Touch Screen Settings ➡ On | Off] Super Control Panel
[MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥Display Settings ➡ 🎥Control Settings ➡ ☑ Live Control | ☑ Live SCP]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ D1 ➡ 📷Control Settings ➡ P/A/S/M/B ➡☑ Live Control | ☑ Live SCP]
Battery / charging
Connectivity
Storage / SD cards
[MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥Sepcification Settings ➡ 🎥<:- ➡ MOV🎥FHDSF60P ➡ …]
Sensor / Processor
IBIS/Stabilization
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ C2 ➡ 📷 Image Stabilizer ➡ S-IS Off | S-IS AUTO | S-IS 1️⃣ | S-IS 2️⃣ | S-IS 3️⃣] [MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥 AF/IS Settings ➡ 🎥 Image Stabilizer ➡ M-IS 1️⃣ | M-IS 2️⃣ | M-IS Off]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ H1 ➡ Lens Info Settings ➡ Create Lens Information]
[OK ➡ M-IS2️⃣ ➡ INFO ➡ UP | DOWN | LEFT | RIGHT]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ C2 ➡ ⬜Image Stabilizer ➡ Fps Priority | IS Priority]
Image Quality
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ G ➡ <:- Set ➡ <:-1 L SF | <:-2 M SF | <:-3 S F | <:-4 S N]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ G ➡ Pixel Count ➡ Middle ➡ 3200x2400 | 1920x1440]
[MENU ➡ 📷1 ➡ 📷<:- ➡ LSF + RAW]
If you look at the bottom right hand side of the screen you can see two numbers:
High Resolution mode
[MENU ➡ 📷2 ➡ High Res Shot ➡ High Res Shot ➡ Off | 0sec] Exposure/Metering/ISO
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ E1 ➡ ISO Step ➡ 1/3EV | 1EV]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ E1 ➡ ISO-Auto Set ➡ Upper Limit / Default ➡ Upper Limit | Default]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ E1 ➡ ISO-Auto Set ➡ Lowest S/S Setting ➡ Auto | 1/250sec ➡ ]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ E3 ➡ Metering ➡ …]
AutoFocus
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ A1 ➡ 📷AF Mode ➡ S-AF+MF]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ A1 ➡ 📷AF Mode ➡ C-AF+TR]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ A3 ➡ AF Illuminator ➡ Off | On]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ A4 ➡ MF Assist ➡ Peaking ➡ On | Off] [MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ D3 ➡ Peaking Settings ➡ Peaking Color ➡ Red | Yellow | White | Black]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ B ➡ 📷Button Function ➡ … ➡ Magnify] Preset Manual Focus
The focus distance can be set in three ways:
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ A1 ➡ 📷AF Mode ➡ Preset MF] [MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥AF/IS Settings ➡ 🎥AF Mode ➡ Preset MF] OK ➡ PreMF ➡ INFO ➡ turn focus ring or press shutter halfway to set distance value [MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ A4 ➡ Preset MF distance ➡ xxx.x meters] ShutterIt has three shutter types:
[MENU ➡ 📷2 ➡ Anti-Shock[♦]/Silent[♥] ➡ Silent[❤]Mode Settings ➡ 🔊 ➡ Not Allow | Allow] Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III top view Bulb
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ E2 ➡ Bulb/Time Timer ➡ 1min — 30m]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ E2 ➡ Live Bulb | Live Time]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ E2 ➡ Live Time ➡ Off — 60sec] Drive modes
[MENU ➡ 📷1 ➡ ⬜/🕙/🅾 ➡ ⬜/🕙 ➡ …]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ D1 ➡ ⬜/🕙Settings ➡ …]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ C1 ➡ ⬜HSettings ➡ ♥⬜ ➡ Max fps ➡ 30fps]
[MENU ➡ 📷1 ➡ ⬜/🕙/🅾 ➡ ⬜/🕙 ➡ 🕙C ➡ …]
[MENU ➡ 📷1 ➡ ⬜/🕙/🅾 ➡ Intrvl. Sh./Time Lapse ➡ Off | On ➡ …] Bracketing
[MENU ➡ 📷2 ➡ Bracketing ➡ Off | On ➡ … ]
[MENU ➡ 📷2 ➡ Bracketing ➡ Off | On ➡ AE BKT ➡ … ] Focus Bracketing
[MENU ➡ 📷2 ➡ Bracketing ➡ Off | On ➡ Focus BKT ➡ … ]
Focus Stacking
[MENU ➡ 📷2 ➡ Bracketing ➡ Off | On ➡ Focus BKT ➡ Off | On ➡ Focus Stacking ➡ … ] HDR (High Dynamic Range)
[MENU ➡ 📷2 ➡ HDR ➡ Off | HDR1 | HDR2 | … ] Pro-Capture
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ C1 ➡ ⬜LSettings ➡ ProCap ➡ Pre-shutter Frames ➡ 14]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ C1 ➡ ⬜LSettings ➡ ProCap ➡ Frame Count Limiter ➡ 99]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ C1 ➡ ⬜HSettings ➡ ProCap ➡ Max fps ➡ 15fps | 20fps | 30fps] [MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ C1 ➡ ⬜HSettings ➡ ProCap ➡ Pre-shutter Frames ➡ 14] [MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ C1 ➡ ⬜HSettings ➡ ProCap ➡ Frame Count Limiter ➡ Off | 25➡99] Video
[MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥Mode Settings ➡ 🎥Flicker Scan ➡ Off | On]
[MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥Specification Settings ➡ 🎥 <:- ➡ FHDHighSpeed120fps ➡ 60 | 50 | 30 | 25 | 24]
[MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥HDMI Output ➡ Output Mode ➡ Monitor Mode | Record Mode]
[MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥Specification Settings ➡ 🎥<:- ➡ MOV🎥4K30p] [MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥HDMI Output ➡ Output Mode ➡ Monitor Mode | Record Mode]
[MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥Specification Settings ➡ 🎥Picture Mode ➡ Off | On]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ D4 ➡ HDMI ➡ HDMI Control ➡ On | Off] [MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ D4 ➡ HDMI ➡ Output Size ➡ C4K | 4K | 1080p | 720p | 480p/576p]
[MENU ➡ 📷1 ➡ ⬜/🕙/🅾 ➡ Intrvl. Sh./Time Lapse ➡ Off | On ➡ …] Flicker
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ C1 ➡ Flicker Reduction ➡ Anti-Flicker LV ➡ Off | Auto | 50Hz | 60Hz]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ C1 ➡ Flicker Reduction ➡ Anti-Flicker Shooting ➡ Off | On]
[MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥 Mode Settings ➡ Flicker Scan ➡ Off | On]
Audio
[MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ Movie 🎤 ➡ Off | On ➡ Recording Rate ➡ 48kHz/16bit | 96kHz/24bit]
[MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ Movie 🎤 ➡ Off | On ➡ Wind Noise Reduction ➡ Off | Low | Standard | High] Buttons
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ B ➡ 📷Button Function ➡ …]
[MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥Button/Dial/Lever ➡ 🎥Button Function]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ D1 ➡ Multi Function Setting ➡ ☑] Mode dial includes “C” option (E-M5 III Olympus OM-D camera) Custom Mode Dial
[MENU ➡ 📷1 ➡ Reset / Custom Modes ➡ Assign To Custom Mode ➡ Custom Mode C➡ Set ➡ OK] [MENU ➡ 📷1 ➡ Reset / Custom Modes ➡ Recall from Custom Mode ➡ Custom Mode C➡ Yes | No ➡ OK]
Depth of Field Preview Button
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ B ➡ 📷Button Function ➡ 🔘Function ➡ Preview] Art modes / etc.
[MENU ➡ 📷1 ➡ Picture Mode ➡ …]
[MENU ➡ 🎥 ➡ 🎥Display Settings ➡ 🎥Info Settings ➡ Custom2 ➡ ✔Movie Effect]
On-camera post processing
[MENU ➡ 📷2 ➡ Keystone Comp. ➡ Off | On]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ H1 ➡ Copyright Settings ➡ Copyright Info. ➡ Off | On] [MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ H1 ➡ Copyright Settings ➡ Artist Name ➡ …] [MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ H1 ➡ Copyright Settings ➡ Copyright Name ➡ …]
[MENU ➡ 🔧 ➡ Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Settings ➡ Power-off Standby ➡ Off | On | Select]
[MENU ➡ ⚙ ➡ D1 ➡ /Info Settings ➡ Settings ➡ 4 | 9 | 25 | 100 | Calendar]
Menu system organisation on Olympus cameras
ManualThe basic manual for this camera has an English part. The English language part of the manual is 13 pages which has been translated to 33 languages, to make up the 332 pages of this basic manual. There isn’t any useful information in this basic manual but there is a more detailed instruction manual for this camera which you can download from the Olympus website. The instruction manual is 258 pages of useful content but to my knowledge it is only available in an electronic format. Olympus also provides a function guide on their website. Olympus Image Share — mobile applicationThere is a mobile app called Olympus Image Share mobile app. I haven’t used this app myself because my phone is running an old version of Android which isn’t supported. At the time of this review, the supported operating systems are:
The app allows you to control your camera remotely.
The App uses both WiFi and Bluetooth and it requires scanning a QR code to pair the devices. I don’t know how easy the integration is to tag photos with GPS coordinates coming from your phone but it is mentioned in the documentation, so it can be done. But as I haven’t used the App, I can’t provide comprehensive information about the app and its features. Broken tripod mount screw-hole on E-M5 Mark III Problems and IssuesThis camera meets the requirements that I had for a camera but I will summarise the problems with this camera for awareness of others:
ReviewOverall I am impressed with the features of this camera, particularly given its size and weight.
This camera and the E-M10 Mark IV have the same battery which means, I have ended up with a spare battery as well as an external battery charger in addition to the USB charger which came with the E-M10. So I can use these peripherals with either cameras and treat E-M10 as a backup body since the lenses are already compatible. When it comes to small and light cameras that still have an interchangeable lens mount, I have not come across any cameras that are better than the E-M5 Mark III and the E-M10 Mark IV. Aside from the camera bodies there are some really small and light lenses that go with these cameras that make them portable without sacrificing too much on features. Videos on Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL42hO7UHafKsyFnOpxuWhAxPwFXNVOOKZ Anyway, please let me know if you have any questions about this camera or if you would like me to provide more information about a feature or functionality. |