Overall Rating:
Olympus OM-D E-M1X
Pros:
- + Superb build quality and ergonomics make the camera a joy to shoot with
- + Excellent JPEG output with well-judged exposure and attractive colour
- + Incredibly effective in-body stabilisation keeps images sharp
- + Very effective continuous autofocus and subject detection
- + Huge range of useful additional photographic features
Cons:
- - Bulky body
- - Lower high-ISO image quality than larger-sensor peers
- - Restricted top-quality telephoto lens range
Manufacturer:
Manufacturer: OlympusPrice as Reviewed:
£2,799.99 (Body Only)Andy Westlake investigates Olympus’s innovative new flagship camera: a pro-focused, rapid-shooting Micro Four Thirds powerhouse
Olympus OM-D E-M1X: At a glance:
- £2799.99 body only
- 20.4MP Four Thirds MOS sensor
- 121-point phase-detection AF
- 15fps shooting (10fps with C-AF)
- 2.36m-dot EVF, 0.83x magnification
- 3-in fully-articulated touchscreen
- 5-axis in-body stabilisation, up to 7.5 stops
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In October it will be 100 years since Olympus’s foundation, and to celebrate, the firm has produced a real statement model for Micro Four Thirds. The OM-D E-M1X takes all the things that its previous flagship OM-D E-M1 Mark II did particularly well – high-speed shooting, autofocus tracking, in-body stabilisation and durability – and cranks the dial to up 11. At £2800 body-only it doesn’t replace the Mark II, but instead forms a new tier in the line-up.
In essence, the E-M1X is designed for shooting sports and wildlife under demanding conditions. It’s one of only a handful of cameras to include an integrated vertical grip for portrait-format shooting, alongside the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and Nikon D5. Its mirrorless design means that it’s not as huge as these two behemoths, but it still weighs in at almost a kilogram. At first sight this is a strange choice from Olympus, but after using the camera for a while, I can see the point. Many photographers habitually use add-on grips when shooting action with long lenses, and integrating the grip has allowed for a more robust body with additional controls and features.

The E-M1X is all about shooting sports and action. Olympus OM-D E-M1 X + M.Zuiko 300mm F4 IS PRO, 1/160sec at f/8, ISO 200
Olympus is making a number of eye-catching claims for the E-M1X. It says it has the world’s best dust, splash and freeze-proofing for shooting in severe weather; the most effective image stabilisation; the industry’s highest viewfinder magnification, and a remarkable battery life of 2,580 shots. Notable new features include AI-powered subject-detection autofocus, a hand-held version of the firm’s high-resolution composite mode, and a Live ND function for shooting long exposures.
- Sensor: 20.4MP Live MOS, 17.4 x 13mm
- Output size: 5184 x 3888
- Focal length mag: 2x
- Lens mount: Micro Four Thirds
- Shutter speeds (mechanical): 60sec – 1/8000sec
- Shutter speeds (electronic): 60sec - 1/32000sec
- Sensitivity (standard): ISO 200-25,600
- Sensitivity (extended): ISO 64-25,600
- Exposure modes: PASM, B, Video, Custom x 4
- Metering: Pattern, Centre Weighted, Spot, Highlight Spot, Shadow Spot
- Exposure compensation: +/- 5EV in 0.3 EV steps
- Continuous shooting: 60fps (fixed focus), 18fps with AF
- Screen: 3in fully-articulated touchscreen
- Viewfinder: 2.36m-dot, 0.83x magnification
- AF points: 121, phase detection, all cross-type
- Video: Cine 4K (4096 x 2160), 30p, 102Mbps
- External mic: 3.5mm stereo
- Memory card: 2x SD, SDHC, SDXC (both UHS-II)
- Power: 2x BLH-1 Li-Ion
- Battery life: 2850 shots
- Dimensions: 144.4 x 146.8 x 75.4mm
- Weight: 997g (with batteries and cards)