Tired of lugging a huge DSLR and massive glass around stadiums, arenas, racetracks, and remote locations Wish you could ditch the monopod and shoot handheld all day Hate having to decide whether or not to grab your camera's bulky rain gear Come meet the Olympus OM-D E-M1X .

Class-leading image stabilization; Toughest pro camera on the market today; Fast AF; Hand-held High Res Shot & Live ND work great; Strong image quality in good/great lighting; Excellent battery life and fast in-camera charging; Wonderful ergonomics; No fatigue after long shoots; Best Olympus video...

Image sensor not great with recovering shadows or higher ISOs; We'd like to see Olympus upgrade their displays; Its fastest burst shooting modes don't include full-time AF; Experienced a few AF bugs; Sensor dust was an issue despite the Super Sonic Wave Filter; Missing touch-and-drag AF when using...

Announced on January 24, the Olympus OM-D E-M1X is a speedy, 20-megapixel pro mirrorless camera that will make you want to trash your tripod. Targeted towards sports and wildlife photographers, the Micro Four Thirds camera boasts the world's most powerful image stabilization, with up to 7.5 stops of...

7.5-stop image stabilization; Fast burst shooting and autofocus; Integrated dual-battery grip; 4K video with OM-Log400; Excellent weather-sealing

Expensive for the format; EVF is lower resolution than the competition; Larger; heavier than full-frame mirrorless

There's no doubt the Olympus OM-D E-M1X is a tough, confident and capable camera, with a wealth of unique features that make it stand out in the crowd. It has the best built-in image stabilisation of any camera I've tested, allowing you to handhold stills that would normally require a tripod or film...

There are just some things that seem to be mutually exclusive. Night and day, power and portability, complexity and reliability. So when someone comes up with a way to bring opposites together, it's almost always regarded as nothing short of genius.

While the buzzword in photography may be full-frame right now, with even Micro Four Thirds stalwart Panasonic launching two professional full-frame mirrorless cameras later this year, Olympus doesn't seem to have got the memo.

AI autofocus system; Up to 7.5 stop image stabilization; Rugged and durable build; Live ND looks like a useful feature; EVF magnification

Constrained by MFT sensor; ISO limited to 25,600; EVF resolution not as high as rivals

If you're thinking about buying the E-M1X, it shouldn't be for its modest imaging and performance improvements. The E-M1 Mark II is still on sale for about $1,700, and is nearly the E-M1X's equal in many respects.

Sturdy, all-weather build; Five-axis sensor stabilization; Vari-angle touch LCD; Integrated vertical grip; 60fps Raw capture; Dual batteries and memory card slots; 4K video capture

Expensive; Tracking not available at top burst rate; Relatively small Raw buffer; Incremental improvements; Underwhelming EVF

When the E-M1X is playing to its strengths, it's a top piece of kit, but the best way to describe it is "niche". If you're somebody who almost exclusively shoots action and can live with such a small sensor, with the various advantages and drawbacks that come with it, the E-M1X is worth checking...

Great battery life; Excellent for wildlife/action; Built-in portrait grip; 60fps raw shooting

Bulky; Expensive; Small sensor; Limited pro lens range

The E-M1X is the only twin-grip Four Thirds camera on the market squarely aimed at pros - it's large, fast and tough-built. But its price tag puts it in a tricky position, as plenty of other larger-sensor cameras can be had for considerably-less coinage - many even offer more reliable AF.

Current Micro Four Thirds shooters who want a twin grip camera to photograph fast-moving subjects

Anyone not already heavily-invested in Micro Four Thirds glass; Those seeking a small, light camera

The OM-D E-M1X is a fantastic camera for those who like to shoot sports, wildlife and action. But at this price, it's certainly in niche territory.

Up to 60fps burst shooting; Fantastic battery life; Great handling

Small sensor; Limited telephoto range; Expensive

In 1965, Car & Driver magazine said this when testing the latest Mercedes Benz 190 sedan: "It's as if a team of fanatical German engineers got together to produce a perfect 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air.