The OM-D E-M5 III link is here.
Considering the typical store price of the 25mm F1.8 Lens is between $350-400, the E-M10 effectively costs ~$550, the E-M5 effectively ~$800!
Even less if you use Shopback app's 3% off Gift Cards.
The lens have good reviews, good for portrait, street and low light.
Also qualified for the bonus 25mm lens are their respective (14-42MM), (12-45MM) and (14-150MM) Camera Kits.
Olympus lens redemption link
You might want to check out the E-M5 Mk III, also good prices as well https://www.ebay.com.au/str/nofrillssydney?_bkw=olympus+e-m5…
Eh! I think the em5 mark 3 is a bigger deal than the em10 mk4.
Chuck them into the description?
I think so too.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/520547
nothing beats that deal, mate
got mine e-m5 mii there. m43 is a great format, but not my kettle of fish. sold it on for more than I paid, which is a fantastic bonus
Haha, I am glad you benefit from that deal.
haha. my em5 mk 2 lasted many years before i dropped and broke it. I then bought a second hand one for $500 and is still going strong.
that deal you linked was 100% a superb deal.
I'm really sad olympus cameras has been sold - and I am not hopeful for its new owner.
I really miss m4/3 but I still don't miss the fact that sensor tech hasn't advanced much compared to the competitors. Deep down I think a lot of people would be really happy if there was some leaps in better ISO perf and low light, but I feel it's limited due to sensor size. Not to mention, the price point of the cameras is just too close to the Sony full-frames Em5 M3 vs a A73 when they are on sale.
Granted of course lenses on m43 are cheaper, more portable, etc.
E-M5 MK3 for $1168 with a bonus $400 lens is a long way from the A73 even when that was on sale + rebate (I recall $1800 body only, after rebate) :-p
I've well committed into m4/3 but im also looking to move to full frame. They've shrunk in size a lot over the years.
I am using both systems, body may shrink but lens size and hence weight cannot. There are times and places where M43 is more practical.
yeah definitely a trade off. decisions decisions. Not to mention the lenses are EXPENSIVE af…
Yeah, this. I have M43 and full-frame. The full-frame IQ is awesome, but M43 still takes excellent shots, and the premium lenses I have for M43 are smaller and lighter than my equivalent full-frame stuff.
I would also argue that M43 excels for super-telephoto work (birds, nature, sports), and also macro. It can actually be an excellent choice for these types of photography.
@Banj0: I know what you meant, it's easier for me to pan M43 with 100-400mm lens than my full frame with 150-600mm, not to mention I would have to carry a tripod for it as well LOL.
I moved from m43 to Sony full frame and now desiring to return to m43 lol. The smaller cameras and lenses of M43 makes it so much easier to carry around and to shoot. Besides, the EM5 looks pretty damn good.
I agree, I used the EM5 III myself. I also have a full frame with Sigma 150-600mm lens which is heavy as. But with the Lumix 100-400mm lens on M43, it's more portable when I am travelling and give me more zoom range as well. Horses for courses, I enjoy both systems.
I went from APS-C to full frame and am regretting not sticking with APS-C or getting into m43. Full frame lenses are too big and expensive unfortunately.
Completely agree with everyone's point of view, m43 system is like 80% perfect, 20% not perfect in terms of sensor performance relative to how long it's been around.
I am also still wary and worried with the sell off of Olympus Digital Division, seeing what they bring to the tables still.
Yeah i loved my em5 and the 12-40 2.8 pro but moved last year to a fuji.
Similar form factor, much better sensor.
Hi Op, just a minor tweak to your post: The second kit lens is 12-45mm I think. Great deal by the way. A shame I already have the 25mm (like many probably do in the M4/3 ecosystem), it's a handy little lens.
Right thanks. Guess you can on sell the bonus 25mm lens to offset the cost of the new body ;-)
ogod i missed my em10 mk1….. sold it and out from olympus system long ago…
but i have @buy2much already :(
Under $1200 for an E-M5 III and the 25mm f/1.8 is a hell of a deal, that's an incredibly capable camera
exactly my thoughts too
Yeah it's a very nice deal, i got the mkII and a 14-150 for about $950 and i thought that was good (it WAS a couple of years ago)
Hi guys - hows this camera + lens for food photography?
Olympus devoted a whole page for food photography and mentioned the lens here
This compact prime lens is ideal for creating beautiful three-dimensional images with soft defocused backgrounds. Its fast f1.8 aperture makes the most of low light indoor settings.
right lens for it, and both cameras will take solid shots for food photography. sensor shift high res mode would also work well for stationery objects.
That being said if you want the razor thin depth of field (ie plate sharp but table slightly out of focus) - you might want to do full frame.
I know a mate who does food photography carries around a chunky FF just for that nice background blur.
Has anyone used the Fuji XT lines and used the m43, how do the XT compare, I know they're APS-C so is it a big different and in terms of I guess overally ecosystem.
Fuji lenses are quite expensive, but generally pretty compact and with good optical performance.
Only the very latest Fuji bodies (like the X-T4) have comparable In-Body Image Stabilisation to Olympus from 8 years ago, but they have just about caught up.
If you like Fuji's JPGs and are willing to cough up the dough they're a great choice.
I actually sold my E-m5iii and all my MFT lenses in July last year when Olympus announced the sale and jumped ship to Fujifilm. I now have an X-T4, 27mm f2.8, 35mm f2, 16-80, 10-24, 50-230 and the samyang 12mm f2.
I really miss how compact and lightweight the Olympus gear was but the X-T4 image quality is much better than the em5. I mostly just take family shots right now thanks to the addition of a child, but my main love is landscape and Astro, where the Fujifilm is hands down the better option. Much better ISO performance, better DR and that really odd quirk in Olympus bodies where you couldn't combine timed shot with exposure bracketing is not an issue here.
The X-T4 also feels amazing in the hand and it's super quick to change settings. Olympus Ibis is still leagues ahead of Fujifilm though, especially when it comes to video. The Fuji is good for static or slow panning shots but the Olympus excels at smoothing out bumps when walking. X-T4 video quality is better, but the E-m5iii was great for just taking little clips of family, especially because it had focus tracking in video whereas Fuji only has zone or wide area continuous plus face.
The lenses in Fuji lineup are maybe a tiny bit sharper but I reckon Olympus lenses are way better for focus speed and video. When zooming with Fujifilm lenses in video they're very obviously varifocal, but Olympus lenses mostly adjust the focus quick enough that they act almost parfocal. They're also much cheaper.
I miss my E-m5iii, but for landscape and Astro it ended up disappointing me. The high res shot mode is fun but there were a lot of artifacts, the dynamic range was ok, but not great and long exposures resulted in a LOT of hot pixels. I don't have any of those issues with my x-t4 (obviously because it doesn't have high res mode) but I personally prefer the 4:3 ratio of MFT compared to 3:2, and I personally think that 20MP is the sweet spot. The extra 6MP doesn't really make a huge difference for me but I suppose it lets me crop back down to 4:3 if I want without worries.
Geez that was a Wall of text. There's more I can probably dig into but that might be enough for now
It's not hugely popular compared to Canikony, but the Pentax K-1 is (still) an excellent astro and landscape beast.
Tad bigger/heavier than X-T4 though.
When you tried the E-M5 for astro were you stacking shots?
Yes I generally stack about 8 shots. I mean it wasn't terrible at astro, but I actually think the E-M10ii gave me better results. I found that the M5iii gave me a lot more hot pixels than the M10iii which surprised me. Agreed that Pentax looks great for landscape/astro, but I find the X-T4 is kind of the best of all worlds for me.
@chartparker: I don't have any Fujifilm gear, but have always wanted to try it. I love good physical manual controls, and Fujifilm ergonomics look superb.
Olympus is decent in that regard too…though those menus are terrible!
May pick up an X100 or X-E* some day.
You really notice a difference going from m43 to apsc like any of the fujis you've mentioned.
Anytime it gets slightly shady, you're sitting up at iso 3200 on m43 whereas you're still doing alright on about iso 1600-2000 on apsc.
Any night-time photos from after sun-down, you're almost better off using your latest iphone because its computational photography renders you a more pleasing result than any straight out of camera m43 sensor pic any f/1.8 prime.
I've become quite the camera snob so I'm on FF for the lowlight capabilities and background blur.
The advantage is that on olympus, you can set the shutter to be slower to compensate instead of pushing up the iso due to the strong IBIS.
100%. Where this doesn't work though is with fast moving toddlers. I learned that the hard way, but with the X-T4 I'm happy to just crank ISO up to 6400 to get a faster shutter speed
@chartparker: I haven't bought a camera for years; I still use the Sony A7s and I can get the ISO up quite high before they're unusable. But with the lenses I use, it does get quite heavy and so sometimes I just feel reluctant to bring it out to shoot. M43 almost feels like a 'fun' camera whereas FF or APSC is more of a workhorse.
@Hamlet: When I had my 6D I never took it anywhere. That why I loved Olympus - I was happy to just throw my E-M10ii/E-M5iii in a bag and take them where ever I went cos they were so small, light and inconspicuous. What I really want is a new high end PEN with built in EVF. I find the DSLR style bodies annoying because of the EVF hump, and rangefinder style just goes in and out of a bag so much easier. The new E-P7 actually looks very compelling but I do wish it had an EVF.
Another big difference between the E-M5ii and X-T4 is that the E-M5 had an almost unfillable buffer! It could shoot ridiculous amounts of RAW+Jpg before slowing down, and the time to clear was very fast. The X-T4 shoots faster, but only hits about 30 odd before needing to clear, and it takes a bit longer to do so.
The X-S10 is the best competitor to the E-M5iii, but the UHS-I card slot and tiny buffer is the biggest downside. If you don't shoot burst then it won't really matter though.
@chartparker: Same here. I usually take a lighter camera if I go on trips or walking National Parks.
BTW the X-S10 is not weather resistant. I could take the E-M5 to the beach, snow or wet areas without worry.
@Buy2Much: Ah yes, that was the other big difference! As long as your lens is also sealed. I found the 12-40 was just a bit too big and unwieldy but the 12-45 looks like a perfect pairing for the 5iii
I don't want all the people in my pics to be blurred, although that does have a stylish look about it too.
Some nice deals on m43 gear running at the moment.
Digidirect also have the GX9 for $499 while the Pana 25mm f/1.7 is $199 at Amazon. Similar set-up to the Oly duo above but at $698.
GX9 at $499 is an excellent price. $700 for a interchangeable lens street shooter capable of taking really excellent pics.
Loved m43 but have moved away from the system. The sensor is really dated and no more R&D seems to be going into the system. I think it's on its death bed.
But no doubt I'll get downvoted because people don't want to accept it.
Pretty sure they just announced a new sensor (possibly from Sony). It's not dead yet
I think it's on its death bed.
Don't know about that. People have been saying that for the last 5 years. Yet here we are. Olympus released their 150-400 lens end of last year. Panasonic has just released the GH5 II, with GH6 coming end of the year. M43 still have a lot of advantages for hybrid stills/video use, and video making (not only are the MFT cameras smaller and often less expensive, they offer more lens choices, longer shooting times, and greater depth of field). Blackmagic is also still using the M43 format.
Sorry man but any downvotes will be due to it being an uneducated take.
We've had two new m43 cameras in recent months, the confirmation of a GH6 release this year, the release of the Olympus 150-400mm f4.5 Pro with built-in teleconverter, the newly released Leica 25-50mm f/1.7 lens just last week, and today the announcement by Sony of a new Four Thirds sensor capable of 120 fps full-width readout.
Sure - but with the absurd price of newer m43 body and lenses, the numbers just don't stack up. Poor dynamic range, low light capability and resolution for a body which is not much smaller than full frame. Yes there is an advantage with lens size and IBIS - but that's about it. I do see the benefit of m43 for video shooters though.
The pro lenses had a ridiculous markup for whatever reason a year or two ago, but you still get the occasional good deal on them, and a lot of the standard lenses are great
@dav3: Yeah, that was weird. I bought my 12-40 for a little over $600 from CameraPro and the next time I checked it was over $1100 🤔
To get comparably priced full-frame bodies you need to go old, real old, lacking in a lot of features. Modern full-frame bodies (any Nikon, Canon (not RP), Sony A7III onwards) are fantastic, but pricey.
M43 prime lenses are absolutely miniscule and great quality. There's a great range of superzooms, and the super-telephotos give you massive reach for the size.
Dynamic range is still good, better than a 5D III for instance.
M43 is definitely a bit of a niche, but it's a good one.
@cyrax83 Not much of what you say resonates outside of the pricing issue (which isn't system specific). If you need resolution for landscapes then shoot the internal high res mode - - the camera will output a raw with higher resolution and wider DR than an A7R iv. If you feel a burning desire to shoot iso6400 then grab a copy of DeepPrime. For most everything else the system excels.
@[Deactivated]: For portraits FF still rules if you want to get that creamy shallow DoF, with 3/4 you have to use expensive F1.2 lenses (I have one) but still nowhere near what FF can give you. and for outdoor photos F1.2 is not always feasible (too fast).
@OzHan: But people don't just take portraits. Shallow depth of field can work against you if you take group photos or general street shots in low light.
@Buy2Much: Even in this scenario FF may not at a disadvantage, increase the aperture and ISO (bear in mind FF offers 2 stop better ISO than 3/4).
@OzHan: We talk a lot about camera gear but in the end it's just different cameras for different purposes. I think M43 definitely has that street/travel/candid photography niche because of its small size factor.
This travel series here shot with the m43 system inspired me to get my first m43 a few years back.
@Hamlet: Agree. The camera is just a tool, and you use the right tool for the right job. The main thing to do is work on your techniques by taking your camera out and shoot away.
M43 is the go to sensor size for content creators due to the amazing blog-ability of Panasonic's GH series. It is also DJI's system of choice for their high-quality drones. Plus it has a big professional following due the size and weight gains you get from the smaller sensor.
I really don't think it is dying. People were saying the exact same thing when I bought into the system five years ago. Just because it doesn't work for you doesn't mean it is dead.
As an anecdote, I often got much better shots than my friends with FF sensors because I can chuck on a small and light prime and literally pocket my camera. Remember, the best camera is the one you have with you.
I struggle to think of any m43 cameras with a prime are pocket-able, unless you have an unusually deep pocket.
I could fit it in my fanny pack though LOL.
the GM5 with the 20mm or 14mm primes, or even the kit 12-32mm, can be pocketed, depending on the jacket
My go-to small system is EM10 mk2 + Panasonic 20mm f1.7.
Small enough to fit into just about any jacket pocket.
Those body cap lenses are pretty tiny
The kit with discount is good
$1531, we get a kit len ~$600, bonus lens ~$380, and a body ~ $1200
it's like a free $600 from the deal
OM-D E-M5 mk iii is a tempting update for my mk ii body at this price. But plastic body on mk iii? What the…? Does anybody think this is an issue and a step backwards?
Used to own an Mkii before, I could not bear with its poor DR and IQ (previous camera was an a6000). I'd say it'd be worth it to upgrade to the 20MP sensor, but yes the plastic body might be a downgrade.
Thanks. I am wondering what other pros in favour of mk iii are there. I notice they changed af to phase-detection on mk iii. I guess I am trying to justify to myself why to upgrade or not.
tbh I could not bring myself to upgrade to mkiii for various reasons, battery life is one of them. I grabbed an em1 mkii when it was on promotion late last year. PDAF is a worthy upgrade IMO.
@findingbargains: Look in the past OZb deals. not sure if they're still available new anymore. for good used ones probably around $800.
@findingbargains: They are at No Frills currently for $1494 after 12% off, https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/262932225707
Or from HK store, $1024 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/383454214987 (not sure if you get charged duty on entry into Aust, unless they under-declare the value)
But if you are not in a hurry, wait when both eBay promo and factory rebate happen at the same time.
BTW on the EM5- III, taking one full day of holiday photos, I had about 1/3 battery charge left.
I have the E-M5 III, it's what making the body lighter. It is very well built nevertheless. Does not feel cheap at all.
Thanks, appreciate it.
The plastic body never bothered me to be honest. Yes the metal bodies feel nicer, but the mkiii feels good in the hand. The reports about cracking around the tripod is a little bit of a worry, but I never experienced any issues and the weather proofing on the mkiii is excellent
I am absolutely spewing I sold my 5mkII recently with all associated gear. Also sold my Canon 70D. Both because I needed the money. I’ve just bought an Oly E-PL8 (lens borked in transit) but I’m so pissed I won’t be able to afford to cash in on this. Sure the low-light AF on the 5II was behind other sensors or at least cameras with phase+contrast AF, but overall it was an amazingly capable camera once you wrap your head around everything it has to offer. Also I never even ended up buying a prime other than the 30mm macro… apart from the awesome vintage OM Zuiko primes which look amazing on the camera and give beautiful images.
Think I'd rather buy a Ricoh GR III at those prices.
I mean, if you only want to use one lens and you like the wide focal length then yeah. It's not quite comparable to an interchangeable lens system.
I'd mostly use it for street photography anyway, so yes the 28mm on APS-C would be perfect.
Thoughts on M4/3 v canon M50?
Depends what you want. Much better lenses and range in M43. Much better features in the bodies and very little "catches" like Dual Pixel only working in 4k on some canon bodies and not others. Also massive video crop on some Canon bodies. Canon hasn't released any EF-M lenses in donkey's years, where MFT recently got both the excellent Oly 8-25mm f4 pro and the Pan/Leica 25-50 f1.7.
I love Canon but I wouldn't touch the M bodies unless you're happy just sticking with the few lenses and don't expect any updates/upgrades.
Olympus E-M10iv and E-M5iii are both excellent, well featured and well rounded cameras with excellent lens selection. They're the jack of all trades with reasonable compromises in good looking and handling bodies and will suit most people who aren't obsessed with specs and pixel peeping.
Ok cheers. Yeah there's an m50 on ozBargain for $680ish so just thought I'd ask. Olympus just seem expensive for that smaller sensor but you're right about the lens selection.
There's not as much difference in sensor size and the image quality between MFT and Canon APS-C there really isn't that much difference. Check out some sample images side by side. I find that Canon sensors really struggle with dynamic range in the shadows and they exhibit some really bad banding and noise if you try and boost shadows. Both the Olympus 16MP and 20MP sensors still behave quite well with boosted shadows and show more of a "film-like" noise.
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/image-comparison?attr18=day…
I mean APS-C vs M4/3…
For those who might not know the differences in sensor sizes and the differences between them:
https://nightskypix.com/aps-c-vs-full-frame-vs-micro-4-3/
I don't know specifically with the m50 though as I'm not a Canon user. Might want to research on their lens offerings.
Thanks OP. Proud owner of an Olympus E-M5 Mark iii.
Enjoy. I really like it.
Bit the bullet on the E-M5 with SB's 3% cash back on eBay GCs ($1,150 worth) and hopefully it stacks up with the 1% general cash back on cameras. Thanks OP.
Now waiting for the physical camera so I can redeem the lens. On the Olympus website, it also mentions upto $700 Visa prepaid card for eligible purchases? E-M5 is on the list of cameras. Hopefully be able to redeem both. Do lmk if you know the fine print of the Visa offer.
I think that was the previous promotion that ended 30th June. The current one is just bonus lens.
Ah yes, thanks for that lol. Completely missed the dates.
![[eBay Plus] Olympus E-M10 MK4 $905.39, E-M5 MK3 $1168.51 Delivered, Bonus Zuiko 25mm F1.8 Lens via Redemption @ NoFrills eBay](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/80/638280.jpg?h=9c2791db)
Have the lens. Decent lens.