Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Priced at $1199, Available on November 18th, Full Specifications

October 16, 2019 | Mark Goldstein | Compact System Camera | Comment |

2019 is Olympus' official Centenary year (Congratulations!), and following the launch of the E-M1X camera back in the Spring, the company are now reportedly gearing up for the launch of a much more affordable successor to the popular OM-D E-M5 Mark II (pictured), somewhat predictably called the OM-D E-M5 Mark III. Read on for everything that we know so far...

Update 1: Internet giant Amazon has now confirmed the price and launch date of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III - it will apparently cost £1,355.60 and be available on November 18th 2019. It will feature re-engineered 5-axis image stabilisation for handheld shooting, a new OLED electronic viewfinder, and be weather-resistant. Amazon have predictably pulled the leaked product page...

Update 2: The full specifications and US price for the E-M5 Mark III have now been leaked by 4/3rumors.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III - Specifications

Sensor: Live Mos 4/3, 17.4 x 13 mm, 20.4 Mpxl, 4/3 format
Max Definition: [4/3] 5,184 x 3,888
Video definition: C4K (4096 x 2160 pixels, 24p, IPB at 237 Mbps), 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1080p (100p, 50p, 60p, 30p, 25p, 24p), stereo sound
Frame: Micro 4/3
Multiplier coefficient: 2x
Stabilizer: 5 axes on sensor stabilization
Sensor cleaning: Yes, ultrasonic filter (Super Sonic Wave Filter)
Case protection: Anti-dust, anti-run-off, -10 ° C
Wi-Fi & Bluetooth: with OI Share app; connected shooting with Olympus Capture Wireless
GPS / Manometer / Compass: –
Sensitivity: 200-25,600 Iso (Low extension to 64 and 100 Iso)
File formats: Jpeg, Raw (ORF, 12 bit), MOV and AVI (video)
Color space: AdobeRGB, sRGB43rumors
Focusing: Dual Fast AF: 121 points / cross points for phase detection AF; 121 points / AF with contrast detection. All targets, single target (normal / small), group target (5 zones / 9 zones / 25 zones), custom target 1-4 (AF area and adjustable increment)
Exposure mode: PASM, artistic filters
Exposure metering: Multi-zone Evaluative (324 zones), Center-weighted, Spot, Spot Highlights, Spot Lowlights; correction on +/- 5 EV by 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
Speeds: shutter with focal plane: 1/8 000 to 60 s, B, T, sync at 1/320 s; electronic shutter: 1/32 000s to 60 s
Burst: 10 fps (AF-C, mechanical shutter)
Self-timer: 2 or 10 s
Miscellaneous: artistic filters, HDR, timelapse, B-exposure with continuous visualization, Raw editing, focus peaking, Live Composite, focus stacking, high resolution
Flash: – (FL-LM3 external flash supplied)
Flash plug: Claw and sync socket
Flash control: Auto, red-eye, backlight, slow sync first or second curtain, manual, wireless flash control; correction on +/- 3 IL
Viewfinder: Oled 2.36 Mpts, 100%, 0.69x, 27mm clearance, brightness and color temperature correction, anti-flicker
Monitor: LCD multi-directional touchscreen 1.04 Mpts
Storage: SDXC / UHS-II 43r
Interfaces: USB 2.0, micro-HDMI, WiFi, microphone input, headphone output,
Supplied accessories: strap, USB cable, flash, battery, flash FL-LM3
Power supply: Li-Ion battery BLS-50 (about 310 images according to CIPA standards)
Dimensions W x D x H: 125.3 x 65.2 x 49.7 mm
Weight: 414 g (SD and rechargeable)

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III - Sensor

The E-M5 Mark III will use a 20.4 megapixel Four Thirds sensor with 121 cross-type phase detection pixels, exactly the same as the one featured in the two-year-old OM-D E-M1 II flagship camera, and a step up from the 16 megapixel sensor used by its immediate predecessor, the E-M5 Mark II. So there probably won't be too many surprises from an image quality point of view.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III - Burst Shooting

The latest Truepic VIII processor will naturally make its way down the range to the EM5 Mark III, which could possibly allow the new camera to shoot at the same 18fps with AF/AE tracking as the E-M1 II, unless Olympus cap the rate to help differentiate between the two models.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III - High Resolution Mode

As it uses the same sensor and processor, the E-M5 Mark III will also benefit from sharing the same 50 megapixel high-resolution shot mode that the E-M1 II offers, although you'll need to mount the camera on a tripod, rather than also being able to shoot handheld in this mode.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III - Video

While this new release will focus on the stills side of things, Olympus can't afford to rest on their laurels and ignore video, so expect to see at least 4K/30p recording on the EM5 Mark III, hopefully with the Log profile from the E-M1 range and maybe even a built-in headphone jack.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III - Battery Life

The new model will use an existing battery in the form of the BLS-50 battery, which in other cameras is good for around 450 shots. We'll have to wait and see what impact the Truepic VIII processor has on battery life.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III - Memory Cards

Unlike the more pro-focused E-M1 range, which usefully has dual slots, the E-M5 III will continue to offer a single SD memory card slot.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III - IBIS

The EM5 Mark III will have Olympus's excellent internal image stabilisation system that's worth up to 5.5 EV steps of compensation, giving it an advantage over some of its main rivals, like the Nikon Z50 which won't offer this feature at all.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III - Weather Sealing

Apparently the E-M5 Mark III will also be fully weather sealed, despite being mainly built out of plastic and weighing in at a mere 366g, again giving it an advantage over its main rivals.