While flagship cameras are fantastic, many budget options like Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Vs Nikon Z50 are still impressive for most people. These cameras take beautiful pictures, record videos, and are easy to use. However, both cameras also share some differences that may affect your buying decision. Today, we will see what else you can expect from the two, the notable differences, and which you may like better.
In this comparison, we will talk about the following?
- What is a Camera Sensor
- What are Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50
- How is the Handling of Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50
- What are the Camera Specs of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50
- How is the Image Quality from Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50
- How is the Autofocus Performance of Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50
- How are the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50 for Videos
- Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Vs Nikon Z50
Camera Sensor
Your camera has a sensor that captures the picture, like a single exposure film, but can be used repeatedly. Similar to photography film, the sensor comes in different sizes. The sensor is like a solar panel that gathers light to create an image. Thus, a bigger sensor will gather more light, producing a better picture. Camera manufacturers nowadays usually put a full-frame sensor (36 x 24mm) for their flagship models. Any sensor smaller than a full frame is called a crop factor because your image is cropped from a full frame.
About Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50
While a full-frame sensor is generally better, there are reasons to choose a crop factor, such as a smaller body and lower price. In addition, a smaller sensor is faster to read and easier to stabilize. Cameras are tools to capture still pictures and videos, but not everyone has the same purposes and photography styles, making the decision vary. Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50 are excellent options for beginners or those in the budget range. These cameras are comfortable, have great controls, and take beautiful images.
Nikon said that the Z50 is aimed at people who are not particularly interested in photography, which makes sense for the price; you can get a Z50 with a kit lens for less than $1000. On the other hand, the E-M5 Mark III has long been enthusiasts’ favorite, even for the older models and other cameras from the lineup. The main difference between Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50 is the sensor because Olympus uses a four-thirds sensor, which is bigger than a 1-inch sensor but smaller than an APS-C used by Z50.
As mentioned above, the advantage of a bigger sensor is better overall image quality. Does Z50 produce better images than E-M5 Mark III? There are a few differences, but not as much as we hoped because the Z50 has the same amount of pixels covering a wider sensor. In addition, there is no in-body image stabilization in Z50, which is surprising because many similar options have already planted this feature for better overall performance. Read also: Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Vs Fujifilm XT4 here.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50 Design
Camera handling is a crucial factor to consider in your camera because it affects how you use the device. Nikon Z50 has fantastic handling with a contoured and deep grip providing a substantial grip for your hand even with large aperture lenses. The only drawback is that the Z50’s display only flips downward and is not fully articulating like the E-M5 Mark III. The E-M5 Mark III is a more compact camera with a smaller grip, but it still fits most people. However, those with large hands will want a bigger grip.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50 Camera Specs
Let’s see what the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50 can offer, starting from the camera specs. The sensor difference usually makes a price difference, but the E-M5 Mark III is a costly camera, especially if you must buy the lens. This camera uses a 20MP four-thirds sensor with 5-axis stabilization and records up to 4K 30fps or 1080p 120fps. On the other hand, the Z50 uses a 20MP APS-C sensor without stabilization. This camera also records up to 4K 30fps or 1080p 120 120fps for slow motion.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50 Image Quality
Image quality is also crucial, but Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50 are impressive and can capture beautiful shots. The main difference from the sensor is apparent in maintaining details, especially in low light conditions when you shoot RAW files, similar to when taking JPEG. The difference is noticeable when you take pictures of something with great details like text because the Z50 is easier to read, while E-M5 Mark III looks softer the more you pick into the details.
The larger sensor also produces larger pictures if you want to crop it. We don’t have a specific preference for color processing, but the Z50 looks sharper overall. The Z50 makes a skin tone a bit reddish, while the E-M5 Mark III looks more natural. Like most cameras with different sensors, the bigger ones almost always perform better when shooting at higher ISO stops.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50 Autofocus
We also want to talk about the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50 autofocus because it ensures you always have an in-focus. These cameras don’t have the best autofocus performance among their peers but still perform well. The new face detection in E-M5 Mark III is a massive improvement over its older cameras as it now tracks well. The Z50 performs similarly to the other camera, but note that these two still stray and sometimes confuse your subject and track something else.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50 Video
Lastly, we want to see the video recording function on both cameras, which E-M5 Mark III wins easily. This Olympus camera is one of the best hybrid models in the market, with a microphone jack, 4K recording, image stabilization, and a flat profile. The Z50 can record uncropped 4K, which is great, but this camera doesn’t have a microphone jack. Still, the biggest drawback is image stabilization which makes the E-M5 Mark III a better overall choice if you use the video recording function often.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Vs Nikon Z50
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III and Nikon Z50 are impressive cameras but also pretty old. The image quality is better from Z50 as it has a bigger sensor which helps details and low light performance. The autofocus is similar, and both cameras could be better yet still get you some of the best shots. The video recording function is better than E-M50 Mark III for many reasons, such as articulating screen, image stabilization, microphone jack, and flat profile.
Conclusion
The decision is yours because we like both cameras. But, we recommend getting the OM-D E-M5 Mark III because it is the better choice, especially if you are a hybrid user. This camera is still affordable, very comfortable, and reliable across applications. Depending on your photography style and preferences, you also have a variety of lenses to pair with the camera.
