Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Mirrorless Camera Body, Black

2022-09-29T20:00:00

I absolutely love the EM-5 Mark iii as a camera. It is small, lightweight and takes great photos. Since I am in my late 60?s it is the perfect camera for me to carry on hiking trips. However, I have had issues with the camera?s reliability. The first EM-5 I ordered in 2021 didn?t work and I sent it back to the on-line retailer. I then re-ordered an EM-5 directly from the Olympus website (I have also ordered lenses and flashes from Olympus directly). Camera worked great for the first 10 months then I had a couple of minor issues with the shutter. Unfortunately, I did not call Olympus at the first sign of any problem. At 13 months the camera shutter/IS system failed completely. I called Olympus and set up a repair. I was hoping that since I had a prior issues and it was only about 4-5 weeks out of warranty that they would repair at no charge. However, they didn?t make any exceptions and I was charged $248 plus shipping one way for repairs (new shutter). I will say that the Olympus customer service reps were extremely nice, and the repairs were done relatively fast. But I am disappointed that the camera failed right after the warranty expired and, an earlier EM-5 I ordered never worked. Maybe just bad luck on my part?? I had been wanting to upgrade my EM-5 (prior to its failure) to an OM-1 or maybe even the new OM-5 if/when it is released. However, now I am questioning that plan. Both Fujifilm and Cannon are making small cameras with larger sensors and at decent pricing. So, I am now looking into other options since my trust in Olympus products has unfortunately diminished and I am sure that I will stay with the Olympus system.

Stewart

Originally posted at

2022-08-31T15:29:12

I have only had this camera a bit over two months so I have not taken a lot of photos with it - only a few hundred. It works well and takes good pictures. It is very easy to use. I tend to use the auto-focus mode because with the "video display" of the "mirrorless camera" it is difficult to see detail when using the manual focus mode. Because of the somewhat "grainy" nature of the image display using manual focus I take a few to several photos adjusting the focus to help ensure that what I want to be sharpest is likely to be in sharp focus in at least one of the pictures.

Eric L.

2022-08-21T20:00:00

There have been numerous first-hand reports of failure of the baseplate around the tripod socket. Olympus was apparently aware that this area was going to be fragile, as evidenced by the corrugation and extra plastic around the tripod mount. Unfortunately, this slightly raised area only serves as a hinge to promote flexing and to exacerbate the problem. According to first-hand reports, Olympus will not repair such failures under warranty. There should be a recall and replacement of the baseplate, or at the very least, an extended warranty if this part fails in the future. The Owners Manual is very poor, with some important functions not listed in the index or not addressed at all in the manual, and others addressed only sketchily. The camera menus are often puzzling. For example, you can set some patterns of exposure bracketing in the Bracketing section, as is appropriate, yet several slightly different patterns of exposure bracketing can only be set in the HDR section. Some settings require going to different sections of the Menu to complete the setup instead of logically being grouped together. The USB port is a micro USB, not USB-C. You cannot save and restore custom settings in Olympus Workspace as you can with previous E-M5 models and EM-1 models. You cannot use tethering with Olympus Capture software as you can with the E-M5ii and other models. There are many improvements over previous E-M5 models to be sure, but the downgrades were unexpected and irritating and seem arbitrary. There are 3 Custom modes, but only one is accessible on the mode dial. To use the other two, you must do a menu dive, and they are not assignable to any custom function buttons or switches, you must go several steps into the menu. There are numerous examples of this kind of really bad user friendliness. Some of these negative features could seemingly be remedied with firmware updates, but there does not appear to be any desire on Olympus' part to do so. The E-M5iii can definitely deliver high quality images and has a rich and clever feature set, all in a form factor that is relatively compact and a pleasure to shoot with. It is a shame that some of the negatives make it far less appealing than it could be.

David

Originally posted at

2022-06-21T20:00:00

I bought this in anticipation of an upcoming trip to Europe, and I want to take a lighter weight camera than my current Fuji X-H1. So far I'm very happy with the camera and find the IBIS superior to my Fuji. I'm able to handhold down to 2 seconds no problem (I have the 12-45 f/4 PRO lens). The weight is ideal for me. I do wish the Olympus had an eyecup (although I haven't looked to see if they're available), and I am disappointed there is no hard copy manual, both which I have on all my other model cameras. The resolution so far, to my limited pixel peeping, is satisfactory. If Olympus would send out hard copy manuals (come on, I spent well over $1000 for my camera/lens), they'd get a 5 star rating.

New2Oly

Originally posted at

2022-04-25T17:26:48

Great photos. Fantastic bit of gear. This is my daily shooter now. If you can catch it on sale, it's a fantastic value. And everything that it offers and yet so light. I am glad I left APS-C in the past. Absolutely no regrets on selling one system and moving to a new one.

Danny D.

2022-04-14T20:00:00

Love the size, weight, feel ? but I am dumbfounded as to why I can not use this camera for web conferencing when the OM-D EM5 Mark II you could... Am I missing something?!

Sean

Originally posted at

2022-03-02T19:00:00

The E-M5 Mark iii is my first foray into MFT territory. After retiring 3 years ago, I decided to get back into photography after only using point-and-shoot for 50 years. After 6 months of research, I bought a Nikon Z6 and a few lenses. While the cachet of full-frame felt good, lugging around the body and lenses detracted from our travel experiences. So I started moving down to APS-C format, but found the ergonomics not comfortable. Still dissatisfied, I decided to give Olympus a shot, and it was the best decision of my life. Lightweight, great grip and balance, pocket-size lenses, and spectacular image quality have made me appreciate what I was missing. I have a 12-200mm lens on the camera most of the time, a 17mm f/1.8 for low light, a 12-45mm f/4 for focus-stacking, and a 14-150mm which I will sell. Super compact and easy to carry. I have found my new home thanks to Olympus.

Mike R.

Originally posted at

2021-12-20T06:39:16

When I received my camera it really is a compact camera. You really don?t realize the size until you actually can hold the camera. My first film camera was an Olympus camera. To have one of the last cameras with the Olympus logo is a great feeling. I do not have a lens yet but will be purchasing an Olympus lens.

CHRIS C.

2021-12-07T15:37:29

I am a former pro photographer and this is a fine camera. I traded in or sold my Canon cameras and L lenses because of weight and the cell phone doesn't cut it for large enlargements. GREAT weight. I won't use all the presets but there are so many it is mind-boggling. I will use it like a basic camera and I have already tested enlargements and I got up to 20x24 equivalent crops. , but I bought the body and zoom lens separately like I have been doing for 25 years. I don't want to type more, sorry.

FRANCIS K.

2021-12-02T08:30:39

Still learning the use of the camera. Like it so far. Takes nice pictures.

Alvin A.

2021-11-11T19:00:00

Great camera for traveling. Not heavy as other cameras. Has everything I was looking for-bracketing, sequential shooting, Raw and Jpeg saving-and simple to operate. Love it.

Fred

Originally posted at

2021-10-14T11:04:40

Went from Nikon DSLR to this. Very satisfied and so much that the camera offers for in use editing makes it very versatile.

lory s.

2021-10-04T13:36:44

I am very pleased with my OM-D E-M5 Mark III camera. I had an older PEN E-PL2, which I liked for its small size but felt it was time to upgrade. This camera offers a much more sophisticated focusing system, better flash system, and a more useful and better LCD screen in a size that is not much larger than my old E-PL2. The more powerful battery is also a plus. Of course, I can use the same lenses with both cameras, which gives me two cameras of small size to choose from for different situations. The printed basic manual that comes with the E-M5 identifies the various parts of the camera but nothing else. I had to go online to find more helpful information about the various functions, and I will purchase a book especially for the E-M5 Mark III when it becomes available in December 2021. Unlike my E-PL2, this camera has wi-fi and Bluetooth, but I have yet to take advantage of them.

Ross D.

2021-10-04T13:35:30

I am very pleased with my OM-D E-M5 Mark III camera. I had an older PEN E-PL2, which I liked for its small size but felt it was time to upgrade. This camera offers a much more sophisticated focusing system, better flash system, and a more useful and better LCD screen in a size that is not much larger than my old E-PL2. The more powerful battery is also a plus. Of course, I can use the same lenses with both cameras, which gives me two cameras of small size to choose from for different situations. The printed basic manual that comes with the E-M5 identifies the various parts of the camera but nothing else. I had to go online to find more helpful information about the various functions, and I will purchase a book especially for the E-M5 Mark III when it becomes available in December 2021. Unlike my E-PL2, this camera has wi-fi and Bluetooth, but I have yet to take advantage of them.

Ross D.

2021-09-28T20:00:00

This is a really great camera that has super functions in a very small and light body. I see me using it as my "walk around" camera. It seems very solid and well made and takes great photos. The dust and splash proof features will be perfect if I am out photographing in damp conditions.

Tom

Originally posted at

2021-09-26T20:00:00

The camera seems a good option for a travel camera, good size, and nice features; but beware of the quality, I received a defective product, and I have to pay for the shipping to return it

Edgar

Originally posted at

2021-09-07T20:00:00

This is my first ?real? camera except a few point and shoot digitals I had about 15 years ago. I?ve been wanting something better than my smart phone and after watching what seemed like 100 hours of YouTube and web reviews, this seemed perfect for what I was looking for. It?s compact enough that it doesn?t get in the way and I mostly use the 17mm 1.8 lens for travel and landscape photography. I was even able to shoot the stars the other night handheld and the pics turned out amazing.

Nathan

Originally posted at

2021-09-01T12:15:16

Great Compact Camera. I had an Olympus OM-D for 10 years This was a nice improvement. Great Camera for travel

STEVE D.

2021-08-04T14:25:27

Great camera and i love it. Easy to use.

GEORGE E.

2021-07-18T08:45:36

I do a fair bit of wildlife travel and birding. The Olympus cameras and lenses are perfect for me. They are light weight and small. I can easily carry two camera bodies each with a lens on each plus a 1.4 x teleconverter giving me 12 mm - 210 mm (24-420 mm equivalent). Having the two camera bodies with a lens allow me to get the shots I want without having to switch lenses, frequently in environments were you would prefer not to change lenses. Image quality is excellent and the image stabilization is fabulous. With the Olympus equipment, I never have to worry about size or weight restrictions on small plane excursions.

Kevin M.

2021-06-27T20:00:00

After being a Canon user for ten years I became tired of hauling around heavy gear. I travel and hike a lot and I needed a camera to fit my lifestyle. The em5 miii fit the bill perfectly. I love this camera. I thought I?d take a huge image quality hit going from full frame to m4/3 but I have been pleasantly surprised by the consistency in quality this camera offers. I wish I made the switch sooner. I truly enjoy using this kit. It does what I want it to do without weighing my down. I bought it and took it on a two week trip to the Smoky Mountains and it surpassed all my expectations. I took just the body and the 14-150mm lens. That?s it! It was great to have such a wide range in one lens. Not all is perfect with this kit but most of it is down to the learning curve going from Canon to Olympus. I would buy this camera all over again. I love it.

Joe

Originally posted at

2021-06-25T08:34:38

I am a fan of the OM-D series! The EM-5 does more than what I need day-to-day, but those functions of high ISO, 50 mp composite shots, burst shot speeds and so on give me the opportunity to be creative or capture what are for me once in a lifetime moments. So I love that they are there! I am also pleased with the consistent image quality I get out of this camera and the various lenses I have. But the three stars come from the M. Zukio 12-45 Pro lens that came with the camera. It was unfortunately defective out of the box. When I attach it, I get a ?Please check the status of a lens? error message. The lens occasionally turns on (no black screen) but then both the auto focus and manual focus ring have problems and will not focus. I have tried reattaching the lens several times and the problem always repeats. I have used my other Olympus lenses on the camera body without problems. Adorama customer service was quick to respond but directed me to Olympus customer service.

ROMAN T.

2021-06-09T20:00:00

solid build quality, excellent controls (including some of the best-feeling control dials on the market) and generally pleasing out-of-camera files make it a supremely engaging camera to take pictures with. It's compact, but manages to shoehorn some of the best bits of the E-M1 Mark II into an appreciably lighter, smaller and more manageable body. I like the addition of 4K video, the stabilizer is still among the best in the industry

Martin

Originally posted at

2021-05-14T09:44:46

GREAT CAMERA EASY TO USE TAKES GREAT SHOTS LOVE THE CAMERA..

JAMES L.

2021-04-29T20:00:00

I was so excited for the camera when it came out. I had been using a EM10-Mkiii which was fantastic. But shooting outside mostly I was looking forward to the weather sealing of the EM5, not to mention the high res shot mode and much improved AF. However.... There's one HUGE flaw. The plastic body. I was hesitant about this going in but believed the marketing. The tri pod mount is fragile and will flex and bow dramatically. On my first EM5 body the mounting area actually failed and cracked. This is not with some third party lenses. My daily driver is the 12-100 F4 pro, it's not a light lens but is a Olympus lens on a Olympus body. Trying to focus at 100mm on a tripod and the image bounces everywhere due to the bottom plate of the camera flexing. Just a note this is not an issue with EM10-mkiii at all, even when i forgot the lens mount for the 40-150 f2.8pro and mounted it on a tripod from the camera body. For me this has really ruined the camera for me, sad that they made such a basic design flaw when typically everything olympus is engineered so well. Also very sad they have not admitted to this issue.

Fletcher

Originally posted at

2021-04-09T08:55:07

I purchased this to upgrade from a OM-D E-M5 II to this Mark III. It's exactly what I expected. I like the lighter weight and features that are like my OM-D E-M1 Mark II. Makes a great companion to the M1 Mark II.

LARRY G.

2021-04-07T03:27:17

Small, light, sophisticated. A lot smaller than my E-510, and before that, OM-1 (remember film? How quaint!). I don't yet have any idea what all it can do, but I'm enjoying exploring that.

BERNARD R.

2021-04-05T16:03:33

This camera is performing very well so far. I'm coming from a cannon t3i, the settings on the Olympus is a little different and there is a learning curve with all the features. The product is performing good, I haven't used it on portraits yet.

josh t.

2021-03-23T14:35:49

The image stabilization is mind blowing, and the quality of JPEG’s straight out of the camera is amazing. I can definitely recommend this as a travel camera.

Alejandro V.

2021-03-09T19:00:00

I bought the OM-D E-M5 MARK III + M.ZUIKO 14-150MM LENS and I bought the M.Zuiko 12mm f2.0 separately. I could not be happier. The size is perfect. It's not too big but also not so small as to feel like a toy. It has great weight and balance. The features are abundant in this camera and going through them was pretty easy. I have taken some great shots of night skies and some birds in my neighborhood. The camera in easy to use in any mode and is great for any user. I have always been happy with Olympus products!

Rob M.

Originally posted at