Fujifilm XP130 vs Olympus E-M1 III

The Fujifilm FinePix XP130 and the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in January 2018 and February 2020. The XP130 is a fixed lens compact, while the E-M1 III is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (XP130) and a Four Thirds (E-M1 III) sensor. The Fujifilm has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Olympus provides 20.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Fujifilm XP130		Olympus E-M1 III
Fixed lens compact camera		Mirrorless system camera
28-140mm f/3.9-4.9		Micro Four Thirds lenses
15.9 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor		20.2 MP, Four Thirds Sensor
1080/60p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-3,200		ISO 200-25,600
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0 LCD, 920k dots		3.0 LCD, 1037k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Swivel touchscreen
10 shutter flaps per second		18 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		In-body stabilization
Waterproof body (nom)		Weathersealed body
240 shots per battery charge		420 shots per battery charge
110 x 71 x 28 mm, 207 g		134 x 91 x 69 mm, 580 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Fujifilm FinePix XP130 and the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Fujifilm XP130 and the Olympus E-M1 III is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The XP130 can be obtained in five different colors (black, blue, yellow, green, white), while the E-M1 III is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Olympus E-M1 III is considerably larger (56 percent) than the Fujifilm XP130. More than that, the XP130 is water-proof up to 20m and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the XP130 has a lens built in, whereas the E-M1 III is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the E-M1 III and their specifications in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the XP130 gets 240 shots out of its NP-45S battery, while the E-M1 III can take 420 images on a single charge of its BLH-1 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)		Street Price
1.		Fujifilm XP130	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	n	Jan 2018	229
2.		Olympus E-M1 III	134 mm	91 mm	69 mm	580 g	420	Y	Feb 2020	1,799
3.		Canon SX600	104 mm	61 mm	26 mm	188 g	290	n	Jan 2014	249
4.		Fujifilm XP140	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	207 g	240	Y	Feb 2019	229
5.		Fujifilm XP120	110 mm	71 mm	28 mm	203 g	210	Y	Jan 2017	229
6.		Nikon W300	112 mm	66 mm	29 mm	231 g	280	Y	May 2017	389
7.		Olympus E-M5 III	125 mm	85 mm	50 mm	414 g	310	Y	Oct 2019	1,199
8.		Olympus E-M1X	144 mm	147 mm	75 mm	997 g	870	Y	Jan 2019	2,999
9.		Olympus TG-5	113 mm	66 mm	32 mm	250 g	340	Y	May 2017	449
10.		Olympus E-M1 II	134 mm	91 mm	67 mm	574 g	440	Y	Sep 2016	1,999
11.		Olympus TG-4	112 mm	66 mm	31 mm	247 g	380	Y	Apr 2015	379
12.		Panasonic G95	130 mm	94 mm	77 mm	536 g	290	Y	Apr 2019	999
13.		Panasonic G9	137 mm	97 mm	92 mm	658 g	400	Y	Nov 2017	1,699
14.		Ricoh WG-60	123 mm	62 mm	30 mm	193 g	300	Y	Oct 2018	279
15.		Sony HX99	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	242 g	370	n	Aug 2018	449
16.		Sony HX95	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	242 g	370	n	Aug 2018	429
17.		Sony WX800	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	233 g	370	n	Oct 2018	399
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The XP130 was launched at a lower price than the E-M1 III, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Fujifilm XP130 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Olympus E-M1 III a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the E-M1 III is 704 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 2.0. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

With 20.2MP, the E-M1 III offers a higher resolution than the XP130 (15.9MP), but the E-M1 III nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.34μm versus 1.33μm for the XP130) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the E-M1 III is a much more recent model (by 2 years) than the XP130, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Olympus E-M1 III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the E-M1 III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Fujifilm XP130 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The E-M1 III has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

Unlike the XP130, the E-M1 III has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (80MP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Fujifilm FinePix XP130 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III are ISO 200 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 64-25600.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports		DXO Overall
1.		Fujifilm XP130	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	..	..	..		..
2.		Olympus E-M1 III	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
3.		Canon SX600	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	..	..	..		..
4.		Fujifilm XP140	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/15p	..	..	..		..
5.		Fujifilm XP120	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	..	..	..		..
6.		Nikon W300	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
7.		Olympus E-M5 III	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
8.		Olympus E-M1X	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
9.		Olympus TG-5	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
10.		Olympus E-M1 II	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	23.7	12.8	1312		80
11.		Olympus TG-4	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/30p	..	..	..		..
12.		Panasonic G95	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
13.		Panasonic G9	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/60p	..	..	..		..
14.		Ricoh WG-60	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	..	..	..		..
15.		Sony HX99	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
16.		Sony HX95	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
17.		Sony WX800	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	..	..	..		..

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the E-M1 III provides a better video resolution than the XP130. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Fujifilm is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the E-M1 III has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the XP130 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Fujifilm XP130 and Olympus E-M1 III in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Fujifilm XP130	none	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
2.		Olympus E-M1 III	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	18.0	n	Y
3.		Canon SX600	none	n	3.0	461	fixed	n	1/2000s	3.9	Y	Y
4.		Fujifilm XP140	none	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
5.		Fujifilm XP120	none	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
6.		Nikon W300	none	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	7.0	Y	Y
7.		Olympus E-M5 III	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
8.		Olympus E-M1X	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	18.0	n	Y
9.		Olympus TG-5	none	n	3.0	460	fixed	n	1/2000s	20.0	Y	Y
10.		Olympus E-M1 II	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	18.0	n	Y
11.		Olympus TG-4	none	n	3.0	460	fixed	n	1/2000s	5.0	Y	Y
12.		Panasonic G95	2360	n	3.0	1240	swivel	Y	1/4000s	9.0	Y	Y
13.		Panasonic G9	3680	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	20.0	n	Y
14.		Ricoh WG-60	none	n	2.7	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0	Y	n
15.		Sony HX99	638	n	3.0	922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
16.		Sony HX95	638	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
17.		Sony WX800	none	n	3.0	922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The XP130 has one, while the E-M1 III does not. While the built-in flash of the XP130 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the E-M1 III is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Fujifilm XP130 and the Olympus E-M1 III both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the XP130 and the E-M1 III write their files to SDXC cards. The E-M1 III features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the XP130 only has one slot. The E-M1 III supports UHS-II cards on its first slot and UHS-I on its second one, while the XP130 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Fujifilm FinePix XP130 and Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Fujifilm XP130	-	mono	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
2.		Olympus E-M1 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon SX600	-	mono	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Fujifilm XP140	-	mono	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
5.		Fujifilm XP120	-	mono	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
6.		Nikon W300	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
7.		Olympus E-M5 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
8.		Olympus E-M1X	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	Y
9.		Olympus TG-5	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
10.		Olympus E-M1 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
11.		Olympus TG-4	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
12.		Panasonic G95	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
13.		Panasonic G9	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.0	Y	-	Y
14.		Ricoh WG-60	-	mono	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Sony HX99	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
16.		Sony HX95	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
17.		Sony WX800	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the E-M1 III has a microphone port, which can help to improve the quality of audio recordings by attaching an external microphone. The XP130 does not feature such a mic input.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Olympus E-M1 III (unlike the XP130) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The E-M1 III is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Olympus. In contrast, the XP130 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the XP130 was succeeded by the Fujifilm XP140. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Fujifilm and Olympus websites.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Fujifilm XP130 or the Olympus E-M1 III – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Reasons to prefer the Fujifilm FinePix XP130:

• Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the E-M1 III requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (110x71mm vs 134x91mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the E-M1 III).
• Water-proof: Is rugged and sealed and can thus be used for underwater photography (up to 20m).
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2018).

Advantages of the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (20.2 vs 15.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 13%.
• High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 920k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (18 vs 10 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (420 versus 240) out of a single battery charge.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports Ultra High Speed (UHS-II and UHS-I) SDXC cards.
• More modern: Reflects 2 years of technical progress since the XP130 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the E-M1 III is the clear winner of the contest (26 : 7 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Fujifilm XP130 and the Olympus E-M1 III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the XP130 and the E-M1 III in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)			Street Price
1.		Fujifilm XP130	..	o	..	3.5/5	4/5	Jan 2018	229
2.		Olympus E-M1 III	5/5	..	83/100	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2020	1,799
3.		Canon SX600	..	+	..	4/5	4/5	Jan 2014	249
4.		Fujifilm XP140	..	+	..	3.5/5	4/5	Feb 2019	229
5.		Fujifilm XP120	..	o	..	3.5/5	4/5	Jan 2017	229
6.		Nikon W300	..	+	..	4/5	4/5	May 2017	389
7.		Olympus E-M5 III	5/5	+	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2019	1,199
8.		Olympus E-M1X	4.5/5	o	..	4.5/5	..	Jan 2019	2,999
9.		Olympus TG-5	..	+ +	..	4/5	4/5	May 2017	449
10.		Olympus E-M1 II	5/5	+ +	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	1,999
11.		Olympus TG-4	..	+	79/100	4/5	4/5	Apr 2015	379
12.		Panasonic G95	4.5/5	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2019	999
13.		Panasonic G9	..	+ +	85/100	5/5	5/5	Nov 2017	1,699
14.		Ricoh WG-60	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	279
15.		Sony HX99	..	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	449
16.		Sony HX95	..	..	..	..	..	Aug 2018	429
17.		Sony WX800	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	399
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Fujifilm XP130 vs Olympus E-M1 III

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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