Olympus OM-D E-M10 II review: Verdict
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II is undeniably a handsome, well-built and highly specified camera that’s capable of taking fine images. Despite being a junior model in the OM-D line-up, it defies its billing by offering many of the key features found in its more advanced siblings.
Some may be irked that the sensor hasn’t jumped past the 16MP mark, particularly with the recent arrival of the 20.3MP Micro Four Thirds Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8. Nevertheless, images are perfectly usable straight from the camera, with the benefit of largely accurate metering and white balance systems. Taking the slight patterning from noise and noise reduction across the sensitivity range into account, however, users would be best advised to acquaint themselves with the effects of the camera’s noise-reduction settings to find out what they would prefer as a default setting – or of course, process raw images to their liking.
When you examine the differences between the camera and the next model up, the OM-D E-M5 Mark II, the E-M10 Mark II looks like something of a bargain, being around £320 cheaper at current street prices. Aside from the weathersealing and the 40MP High Res shot mode, the majority of the E-M5 Mark II’s advantages are extensions of what we see here; an IS system that promises 5 stops of correction instead of 4; a 10fps burst rate next to the 8.5 frames here; a vari-angle LCD screen instead of a tiltable one and so on. By this measure, the E-M10 Mark II is a camera that offers excellent value for money.
It’s also a far more significant upgrade over the E-M10, with plenty to justify the premium of around £150. Indeed, it’s not inconceivable that some E-M10 users would trade their models in for the better viewfinder, advanced video specs and 5-axis IS system, particularly if they already own a few optics and only need the body.
