Olympus E-M Mirrorless SLR OM-D 10 MarkII Body Review
The Olympus E-M10 Mark II feels great and has killer stabilization, but its decade-old sensor and slow autofocus make it hard to recommend at its price.
Overview
The Olympus E-M10 Mark II is a weird one. It's a camera that feels fantastic in your hands and has one killer feature, but its core technology is a decade old. The one thing you need to know? This is a camera for a very specific type of person who values handling and stabilization over image quality and speed. If you're chasing the latest specs, look elsewhere.
Performance
The in-body image stabilization is the star of the show, sitting in the 90th percentile. It's genuinely impressive and lets you shoot at surprisingly slow shutter speeds. But that's where the surprises end. The 16MP sensor is ancient, ranking in the bottom 4% of all cameras. It shows in the soft details and limited dynamic range. Autofocus and burst shooting are also well below average, so forget about fast action.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong stabilization (90th percentile) 90th
Cons
- Below average sensor (4th percentile) 6th
- Below average video (31th percentile) 8th
Specifications
Full Specifications
Sensor
| Type | MOS |
| Megapixels | 16.1 |
Build
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.8 lbs |
Value & Pricing
At $600, it's a tough sell. You're paying a premium for that excellent stabilization wrapped around very dated tech. For the same money, you can get cameras with much better sensors and autofocus. It's only worth it if you find it heavily discounted and stabilization is your absolute top priority.
Price History
vs Competition
The Sony a6400, at a similar price, runs circles around it with a far superior sensor, blazing autofocus, and much better video. It's the clear choice for most people. The Fujifilm X-S20 is a step up in price but offers a massive leap in performance and video features. Even older models like the Canon EOS R7, while more expensive, highlight how far behind the E-M10 Mark II's core imaging tech really is.
| Spec | Olympus E-M Mirrorless SLR OM-D 10 MarkII Body | Sony Alpha Sony a7 III Mirrorless Camera | Panasonic Lumix S Panasonic - LUMIX S9 Full Frame Mirrorless Camera | OM System OM OM SYSTEM OM-5 Mark II Mirrorless Camera with | Nikon Z Nikon Z6 II Mirrorless Camera | Fujifilm X-T FUJIFILM X-T30 III Mirrorless Camera (Black) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Mirrorless | Mirrorless | Mirrorless | Mirrorless | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor | 16.1MP | 24.2MP Full Frame | 24.2MP Full Frame | 21.8MP Four Thirds | 24.5MP Full Frame | 26.1MP APS-C |
| AF Points | - | 693 | 779 | 121 | 273 | 425 |
| Burst FPS | - | 10 | 30 | 30 | 14 | 20 |
| Video | - | 4K | 4K @60fps | 4K @24fps | 4K | 6K @60fps |
| IBIS | true | true | true | true | true | false |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | false | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 342 | 649 | 590 | 371 | 635 | 329 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Evf | Build | Burst | Video | Sensor | Battery | Display | User Sentiment | Connectivity | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympus E-M Mirrorless SLR OM-D 10 MarkII Body | 42.5 | 42.8 | 7.5 | 36.3 | 28.7 | 6.1 | 48.1 | 35.1 | 73 | 33.4 | 75.7 | 90 |
| Sony Alpha a7 III Compare | 97.7 | 93.4 | 97.9 | 76.7 | 74.6 | 94.9 | 98.8 | 91.7 | 0 | 96.1 | 98 | 90 |
| Panasonic Lumix S 9 Full Frame Compare | 98.4 | 93.4 | 58.7 | 92.1 | 88.6 | 94.9 | 97.5 | 95.5 | 0 | 86 | 84.9 | 98.6 |
| OM System OM 5 Mark II Compare | 92.1 | 94.3 | 93.2 | 92.1 | 59.2 | 70.9 | 95.5 | 95.5 | 0 | 90.4 | 92.4 | 98.6 |
| Nikon Z 6 II Compare | 94.5 | 97.5 | 97.6 | 83.6 | 82.6 | 96 | 48.1 | 86.9 | 0 | 96.1 | 95 | 90 |
| Fujifilm X-T 30 III Compare | 96.6 | 87.9 | 79.1 | 87 | 97.6 | 88.3 | 95.9 | 86.9 | 0 | 90.4 | 95 | 40.9 |
Verdict
I can't recommend the E-M10 Mark II to most buyers. Its fantastic stabilization can't make up for the poor sensor, slow autofocus, and lack of modern features. Unless you're a die-hard Olympus fan who found this for a steal under $400, you should buy a Sony a6400 or a used Fujifilm model instead. They're just better cameras.