Upgrade Guide
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III→Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the OM-D E-M1 Mark III. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the OM-D E-M5 III
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
Unchanged or similar
-
ResolutionSimilar (20MP)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | OM-D E-M1 Mark III | OM-D E-M5 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.3 | ||
| Street | +0.5 | ||
| Travel | +0.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -1.4 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +0.9 | ||
| Filmmaking | -0.6 | ||
| Documentary | -0.3 | ||
| Sports & Action | -1.0 | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Wildlife | -0.5 | ||
| Casual | +1.9 | ||
| Food | +0.1 | ||
| Macro | — | ||
| Architecture | — | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.1 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | OM-D E-M1 Mark III | OM-D E-M5 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £446 | £699 | |
| Released | 2020 | 2019 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 20MP | |
| Video | C4K/24p, 4K/30p, Full HD 1080p/120 | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 121-point all cross-type on-sensor phase detect + contrast AF, face / eye detection, Starry Sky AF | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis in-body stabilisation, 7 stops (7.5 with Sync IS) | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 60fps (18fps with continuous AF) | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~420 shots (CIPA) | 390 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 580g (with battery) | 414g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 2.36M dots, 1.48x | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots | Single SD UHS-I |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See OM-D E-M1 Mark III and OM-D E-M5 III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the OM-D E-M5 III against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Related buying guides
Camera family history