The OM-D E-M10 Mark IV ($699.99, body only) is the latest retro-styled mirrorless camera from Olympus. Inside it sports a stabilized Micro Four Thirds image sensor, records video at 4K quality, and includes a wealth of in-camera filters for creative photographers. It's a good entry-level option and is compatible with a big range of lenses, but isn't quite as capable as some others. For a bit more, the Sony a6100 focuses faster and supports external mics, but doesn't have a stabilized sensor.
Retro Style, in Black or Silver
The Olympus OM-D series has been defined by its retro style from the outset. The E-M10 Mark IV keeps the tradition alive. Available in your choice of black or silver finish (we received the former for review), the camera's prominent dials give it a more analog feel than other digitals.
It's one of the slimmer models with swappable lenses. The body measures 3.3 by 4.8 by 1.9 inches (HWD) and weighs about 13.5 ounces without a lens. It's available without a lens (if you already have one, or want to pick your own), or in a kit with the pancake power zoom 14-42mm for $799.99.
It's not as well made as some of Olympus' top-tier cameras. You don't get weather protection or a magnesium chassis here; instead you need to take care to stay out of downpours and be happy with a sturdy plastic body. There are some metal accents—the dials, and of course the lens mount—to give it a more upmarket feel.
Similar Products
Sony a6100
Fujifilm X-T30
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
Sony a6400
Fujifilm X-S10
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Nikon Z 50
Sony ZV-E10
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5
Sony Alpha 6000
Sony a6600
The image sensor is mounted on a 5-axis stabilizer, which is rare in an entry-level camera, and there's also a pop-up flash, a feature that's disappeared from enthusiast and pro models. Full automatic modes are available for beginners, but Olympus doesn't oversimplify controls.
The top plate includes dual dials, plus three customizable control buttons on the right. You can set the Digital Teleconverter, Record, or AE-L/AF-L buttons to perform a different function if you want. The buttons are a little bit cramped together, but dials are prominently raised and easy to turn.
Rear controls aren't as flexible—the marked button functions do what they do, and that's it. Menu, Info, Play, and Delete buttons flank a standard four-way control pad, used for setting the focus point and navigating through menus. Its directional presses also control camera functions—ISO, flash settings, continuous drive and self-timer settings, and autofocus control are available.
Physical buttons are supplemented by on-screen controls. There are two separate quick menus. Pushing OK, at the center of the rear d-pad, launches a basic left-side menu. It sets some basics—color settings, focus mode, white balance, ISO, and image and video quality. A slightly more extensive, full-screen overlay menu is available via the Arrow button, positioned at the far left corner of the top plate.
You'll interact with menus using the rear display. It's a quality panel, 3 inches and 1.04 million dots. You can pump up its brightness for use on sunny days, and a hinge offers some articulation to get around direct glare. The screen pulls out and tilts up for waist-level photography, and can tilt flat down for overhead shots.
There's a selfie mode too, but it's a little awkward to use. The screen flips under the camera, in contrast to most models where it flips over the top or out to the side. It makes it a little trickier to hold for selfies. It's also not great for vlogging—the tripod socket is blocked, so you can't use a grip or gimbal for handheld walk-and-talks. There's no way to add an external microphone, so this one is a nonstarter for video pros.
An eye-level viewfinder is included as well. The OLED EVF is as big as you find in midrange models (0.67x magnification) and sports an acceptably sharp 2.4-million-dot design. You can toggle overlay information to see framing grids, exposure settings, and the like, or get a clean view of the scene.
Because it's an EVF, you'll also get a preview of your final image—if you set the camera to black-and-white, the viewfinder switches to a monochrome view, and you can magnify it to see a close-up view, helpful for times when you want to set focus manually.
Power and Connectivity
The E-M10 Mark IV uses the same BLS-50 rechargeable battery as earlier models. It's rated for 360 shots between charges, not bad for a mirrorless camera. It can be topped off via a micro USB port. It's not a bad idea to pick up a spare battery—you can spend around $60 on one from Olympus, or opt for any number of third-party options if you want to save some money.
There's a single memory card slot, located in the battery compartment, with support for UHS-II SDXC media. The only other connections are a micro HDMI port (under the same flap as the micro USB charging connection) and a hot shoe.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are included, too. The E-M10 works with the OI Share app, a free download for Android and iOS handsets. The app supports image transfer and remote control.
Contrast Autofocus System
The E-M10 Mark IV uses a contrast-based focus system. It spreads focus points all across the frame, so you're not limited to focusing on subjects near the center of the frame as with entry SLRs. It also makes for better subject recognition—the camera is able to detect and set focus on faces and eyes.
It's based on the same algorithms used in the company's enthusiast-oriented E-M1 Mark III, but doesn't support phase detection, so it's limited to keeping focus on moving subjects at a modest 5fps. Subject tracking is also an option, but as with the E-M1, it tends to drift and lose subjects. It's just not as tenacious as the Fujifilm and Sony autofocus systems.
It's still possible to get action shots; focus response itself is snappy enough to get shots of birds in flight with a telephoto lens—just expect some missed focus shots when working with action. For slower targets, candid snapshots, and others, the focus is very effective.
You can fire off photos faster with the focus locked, 8.7fps. The buffer is big enough to hold about 30 photos before the camera slows down, but it clears quickly when using a UHS-II card, in about 6 seconds.
Imaging and Video
Earlier E-M10 models used a 16MP Micro Four Thirds image sensor. The Mark IV sports an upgraded imager, one with 20MP of resolution. It can be set from ISO 200 through 6400 in its native range—if you don't change settings, it won't go any higher than that in automatic mode.
Extended ISO is available up to 25600 for low-light use, and you can adjust the automatic range to go that high if you'd like. ISO 100 is an option for bright light and long-exposure photography, but you don't get the Live Neutral Density long-exposure feature included in the premium E-M1 Mark III and E-M1X.
You do get a number of filters, accessible via the Art setting on the top dial. They're a benefit for creative photographers—you can swap between black-and-white, pop art, bleach bypass, and many other looks. If you opt to use use Raw capture, you can apply art filters to any image after the fact.
If you use the camera in JPG mode, you'll enjoy images with excellent detail and little noise through ISO 1600. There's some loss of clarity at ISO 3200 and 6400, but results remain strong. Photos at ISO 12800 and 25600, the settings most sensitive to light, are soft. The camera applies quite a bit of noise reduction in its extended range.
See How We Test Digital Cameras
Raw images aren't processed by the camera, so you have more control over how they look. Adobe Lightroom's default processing shows excellent detail all the way through ISO 6400, albeit with more grain than JPGs. Images in the extended range show larger, harsher grain, so fine lines aren't as clearly defined.
You'll also have more room to edit colors and exposure with Raw files. You may want to give a photo a warmer or cooler tone, open up details in the shadows, or simply adjust exposure.
The E-M10 records 4K at 24 or 30fps, and can go to 120fps if you drop down to 1080p resolution. All of the color profiles and aft filters available for photography can be used for video, too. Getting the right creative look in-camera is important, as Olympus doesn't include a flat profile for color grading with this model—another feature reserved for higher-end models.
It's not a big omission considering the other limitations as a video camera. The flip-under screen isn't great for vlogging, and there's no way to connect an external microphone. In-camera audio is par for the course—good enough for a social media post or home movie, but not for a student film.
If video is important, think about the Sony ZV-E10, a specialist model with a high-quality mic, or the Fujifilm X-S10, a mirrorless camera with a stabilized sensor and support for external mics. Both cost a bit more—they're more midrange than entry-level.
A Good Starter Camera
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a welcome upgrade for owners of earlier models, and a fine starter for photographers beginning with the Micro Four Thirds system. It includes 5-axis IBIS, a rare feature in starter cameras, and is backed with a fully realized lens system—Olympus, Panasonic, and others have been supporting the M43 mount for more than a decade.
We're a fan of the camera's style, too, and there's some substance to go with it. Budding shutterbugs will enjoy tactile control, and creatives can go wild with art filters. Both the touch LCD and viewfinder show a clear view of the world. The tilting screen comes in handy for waist-level and tripod work, even though its flip-under design is a little awkward to use for selfies.
There are some limitations to consider. The contrast focus system isn't as good as some rivals, and doesn't track action as well as competing models with phase detection focus. And, for video, you can't connect an external mic.
You can spend a bit more on either the entry-level Sony a6100 ($750), or our Editors' Choice award-winning Fujifilm X-T30 ($900) to get those features. Another Olympus camera, the E-M1 Mark II, is also worth considering—it's an older enthusiast model, now selling at a steep discount, but is still more costly than entry-level. The E-M10 Mark IV covers the basics for fewer dollars.
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a solid starter camera, with support for swappable lenses, a stabilized Micro Four Thirds sensor, and a big lens catalog backing it up.
Like What You're Reading?
Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
Sign up for other newsletters
