The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is an excellent all-rounder that crams a load of smart skills into a tiny package

Brilliant in-body stabilisation; Compact size; Excellent stills performance; Very good 4K video

Plasticky feel; Average battery life; Slightly under-par continuous autofocus

The OM-D E-M5 III is the classic all-rounder: it excels across the board without ever quite being top dog at anything. It doesn’t quite beat the best for image quality, for instance, but it’s not far behind, thanks to the combination of the latest Micro Four Thirds sensor and its superb in-body image stabilisation. Video is generally very good, autofocus is excellent in most situations and it has plenty of neat little tricks that you’ll actually use. Despite its small stature, it’s also a really nice camera to shoot with – well laid out, nice in the hand and easy to use. Well, so long as you don’t have to delve into the menus. If you’re already invested in MFT as a system then the E-M5 Mark III would make a lovely upgrade. If you’re not, then there are probably slightly better cameras out there for around the same price – but there’s not much in it either way. While not exactly cheap at just over £1000 body-only, you’re getting a lot for your money here – and all crammed into an impressively compact package. So, if you’re looking for a small system camera that doesn’t skimp on the smarts, the OM-D E-M5 III is a fine choice.

Brilliant in-body stabilisation; Compact size; Excellent stills performance; Very good 4K video;

Plasticky feel; Average battery life; Slightly under-par continuous autofocus;

Stylish, lighter than ever, and crammed with shooting modes for users of all skill levels, power under the hood and improvements across the board, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is a sensible upgrade. It may not quite match the overall image quality potential of its larger-sensor rivals, but the E-M5 Mk III hits the sweet spot for size, weight, handling and features.

Powerful image processor; Much improved video spec; Insanely good image stabilization; Tiny body, excellent handling; A plethora of shooting modes; Stylish looks;

Smaller sensor than rivals; No longer has metal shell; Larger handgrip would be welcome; A little expensive

Of late, all of the attention has been on APS-C and full-frame cameras. It can be easy to forget the benefits of a smaller sensor – namely a smaller body and, importantly, a smaller overall system. The OM-D E-M5 Mark III is an attractive little camera, with a lightweight, travel-friendly body that's brimming with extras.

Small and light body; Lots of direct-access controls; Vari-angle, touch-sensitive screen;

Four Thirds sensor smaller than rivals; Not the best for low-light shooting; Single card slot;

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III gets a lot of things right. It produces great images, is packed with fun and genuinely useful features, is well-built and beautifully designed, and above all, fun to use and take control over. Unfortunately, its autofocus just can't keep up with the competition and the overly complex user interface could use updating. But for many types of photography, the E-M5 Mark III will be a rewarding and capable choice.

General and travel photography, landscape shooters wanting a compact kit and existing Micro Four Thirds users looking for some of the best image quality they can get.;

Those that photograph demanding sports and peak action and those that need a more full-featured video experience;

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III ($1,199.99) offers some upgrades from the aging Mark II version, a camera we reviewed in early 2015. Its sensor has more pixels, adds support for 4K, and phase detection for more reliable autofocus. The camera, and Micro Four Thirds system, have some appeal for photographers who prioritize light and compact lenses, as well as in-body stabilization. But it doesn't offer as much versatility or value as the Sony a6400 or Fujifilm X-T30, our co-Editors' Choice winners in this class. Plastic, But Still Protected The E-M5 Mark III's exterior is largely plastic—the sturdy, composite type, not anything flimsy. It's a change from the Mark II's magnesium alloy exterior, though, and one that will ruffle some feathers. Weather sealing is better, however—the camera boasts an IPX1 protection rating, so you can use it in rainy weather, assuming your lens is protected too. It's sold in black or silver versions—we received it in silver for review. The body measur...

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is an appealing camera for photographers already invested in Micro Four Thirds gear, but it isn't as innovative as previous entries in the series.

Compact, all-weather body; Stabilized image sensor; Includes external flash; Up to 30fps Raw capture; Vari-angle LCD and OLED EVF; Well-established lens system

Tops out at 5.3fps when tracking; Wide aperture lenses are bulky and expensive; Smaller image sensor limits resolution and depth of field control; Plastic exterior; Charging port not USB-C

I’m not entirely happy with the OM-D E-M5 Mark III. Olympus took what was an extremely well-made, all-metal camera body and replaced it with liberal amounts of plastic. The E-M5 had always been my favorite model from Olympus, but the Mark III changes that by taking an unfortunate step backward in the design department. It’s still pretty to look at, but it lacks the heft and solid feel of previous versions that gave the camera its charm. That’s not the only thing that rubs me the wrong way. This camera is an update nearly four years in the making, and I was looking to it to usher in the next generation of Olympus tech. The E-M5 line is known for this. It introduced the 16-megapixel sensor in the original, and High Resolution Shot mode in the Mark II. Yet the Mark III doesn’t show off anything we haven’t seen in the E-M1 Mark II, a camera that is three years old. As disappointing as that is for the camera geek in me, it’s not the whole story. My time with the camera made me face a truth ...

Excellent image stabilization; Fast, accurate autofocus; Very compact and lightweight; 4K video looks great; Weather-sealed;

Plastic body is a step backward; Low-resolution viewfinder; No truly new features or tech;

Brilliant in-body stabilisation; Compact size; Excellent stills performance; Very good 4K video;

Plasticky feel; Average battery life; Slightly under-par continuous autofocus;

Brilliant in-body stabilisation; Compact size; Excellent stills performance; Very good 4K video;

Plasticky feel; Average battery life; Slightly under-par continuous autofocus;