LITTLE BEAUTY

Camera companies probably aren’t exactly thrilled when you suggest that the entry-level model in a line-up is actually the pick of the litter. This has arguably been the case with the last three generations of the E-M10, which have balanced affordability and capability in a way that none of the higher-end OM-D models have really been able to match. Since then, though, Olympus has upgraded both the E-M5 and E-M1, so there’s now some clear differentiation between them and the new Mark IV version of the E-M10. Moreover, the price has crept up a bit too, and that’s put the E-M10 Mark IV up against some stiff competition, including Fujifilm’s X-T200, the Canon EOS M50 and, from the M43 stable, Panasonic’s Lumix G100.

Of course, the Mark IV camera is offering quite a bit more than its predecessor, starting with a new M43 Live MOS sensor, which has an effective resolution of 20.3 megapixels, up from 16.1MP. It keeps the same dual quad-core TruePic VIII processor as before, but there have been small upgrades to a number of key specifications, including the maximum continuous shooting speed and the correction range of the in-body image stabilisation. There are also some tweaks to continuous autofocusing – specifically with subject tracking – and a number of new features that brings Olympus’ entry-level OM-D model up to speed with what’s happening across the industry – namely the addition of Bluetooth wireless connectivity to complement Wi-Fi, in-camera battery charging via USB (and an extended battery range), and a rear LCD that flips down 180 degrees for vlogging or taking selfies.

However, there are also still a few reminders that this is an entry-level camera – contrast-detection AF only, no weather sealing, a shared compartment in the base for the memory card and battery, and virtually no video frills such as a