Olympus E-M OM-D 10 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Review

Look, the Olympus E-M10 is a weird little camera. It's got a tiny sensor that's in the bottom 3% for image quality, which is a massive red flag. But here's the one thing you need to know: it's an absolute joy to use. The handling, the stabilization, and the creative features make it feel like a real tool, not just a gadget. It's a camera that makes you want to go out and shoot, even if the results aren't technically perfect.

The performance is a total mixed bag. The 8fps burst rate is solid for a camera at this price, landing in the 78th percentile. But the autofocus is just okay, sitting at the 45th percentile, so don't expect to nail every fast-moving shot. The real surprise is the stabilization, which is in the 90th percentile. It's so good you can handhold shots at ridiculously slow shutter speeds. That's its secret weapon.

At $600, it's a tough sell. You're paying a premium for the Olympus brand and the great handling. The image quality you get for the money is objectively worse than almost anything else on the market. It's only worth it if you value the shooting experience and portability above all else.

The Sony a6400 is the obvious competitor. For similar money, you get a vastly better sensor, superior autofocus, and much better video. You lose the incredible IBIS and the compact size. The Fujifilm X-S20 is another step up in price, but it smokes the Olympus in every performance metric while still being fun to use. If you're looking at the Pentax K-3 III, you're in a different world of DSLRs and shouldn't be considering this tiny mirrorless.

I can't recommend the Olympus E-M10 for most people. The sensor is just too much of a compromise in 2024. However, if you're a casual shooter who values a tiny, fun camera with killer stabilization above ultimate image quality, and you're locked into the Micro Four Thirds system, it's a charming option. For everyone else, look at a Sony a6xxx series or a Fujifilm X-E4 instead.