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Olympus E-510 vs E-M1 III

The Olympus E-510 and the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in March 2007 and February 2020. The E-510 is a DSLR, while the E-M1 III is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Both cameras are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. The E-510 has a resolution of 10 megapixels, whereas the E-M1 III 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
Olympus E-510
versus
 Olympus E-M1 III
Olympus E-510   Olympus E-M1 III
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
10 MP – Four Thirds sensor 20.2 MP – Four Thirds sensor
no Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-1,600 ISO 200-25,600
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
2.5" LCD – 215k dots 3.0" LCD – 1037k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Swivel touchscreen
3 shutter flaps per second 18 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
750 shots per battery charge420 shots per battery charge
136 x 92 x 68 mm, 538 g 134 x 91 x 69 mm, 580 g
logo
Check E-510 offers at
ebay.com logo
Check E-M1 III offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Olympus E-510 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.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Olympus E-510 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 successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Olympus E-510 vs Olympus E-M1 III
Compare E-510 versus E-M1 III top
Comparison E-510 or E-M1 III rear

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 somewhat smaller (3 percent) than the Olympus E-510. However, the E-M1 III is markedly heavier (8 percent) than the E-510. It is noteworthy in this context that the E-M1 III is splash and dust-proof, while the E-510 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Both cameras have similarly sized sensors, but DSLRs have a larger flange-to-focal plane distance than mirrorless cameras, which imposes contraints on the optical engineering process and generally leads to bigger and heavier lenses. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-510) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (E-M1 III). Mirrorless cameras, such as the E-M1 III, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the E-510 gets 750 shots out of its Olympus BLM-1 battery, while the E-M1 III can take 420 images on a single charge of its Olympus BLH-1 power pack. The power pack in the E-M1 III can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. 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.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model 		Camera
Width 		Camera
Height 		Camera
Depth 		Camera
Weight 		Battery
Life 		Weather
Sealing 		Camera
Launch 		Launch
Price 		Street
Price
1.
 
 Olympus E-510 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 538 g 750 i Mar 2007 US$ 799ebay.com
2.
 
 Olympus E-M1 III 134 mm 91 mm 69 mm 580 g 420 i Feb 2020 US$ 1 799ebay.com
3.
 
 Olympus E-30 142 mm 108 mm 75 mm 701 g 750 i Nov 2008 US$ 1 299ebay.com
4.
 
 Olympus E-400 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 i Sep 2006 US$ 699ebay.com
5.
 
 Olympus E-410 130 mm 91 mm 53 mm 435 g 500 i Mar 2007 US$ 699ebay.com
6.
 
 Olympus E-500 130 mm 95 mm 66 mm 479 g 750 i Sep 2005 US$ 599ebay.com
7.
 
 Olympus E-520 136 mm 92 mm 68 mm 535 g 750 i May 2008 US$ 699ebay.com
8.
 
 Olympus E-600 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 535 g 500 i Aug 2009 US$ 449ebay.com
9.
 
 Olympus E-620 130 mm 94 mm 60 mm 521 g 500 i Feb 2009 US$ 699ebay.com
10.
 
 Olympus E-M1 II 134 mm 91 mm 67 mm 574 g 440 i Sep 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
11.
 
 Olympus E-M1X 144 mm 147 mm 75 mm 997 g 870 i Jan 2019 US$ 2 999ebay.com
12.
 
 Olympus E-P1 121 mm 70 mm 36 mm 355 g 300 i Jun 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
13.
 
 Olympus E-P3 122 mm 69 mm 34 mm 369 g 330 i Jun 2011 US$ 799ebay.com
14.
 
 OM System OM-1 135 mm 92 mm 73 mm 599 g 520 i Feb 2022 US$ 2 199ebay.com
15.
 
 Panasonic G9 137 mm 97 mm 92 mm 658 g 400 i Nov 2017 US$ 1 699ebay.com
16.
 
 Panasonic G95 130 mm 94 mm 77 mm 536 g 290 i Apr 2019 US$ 999ebay.com
17.
 
 Panasonic L10 135 mm 96 mm 78 mm 556 g 450 i Aug 2007 US$ 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
  empty Camera
Model 		Camera
Width 		Camera
Height 		Camera
Depth 		Camera
Weight 		Battery
Life 		Weather
Sealing 		Camera
Launch 		Launch
Price 		Street
Price
  empty Camera
Model

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The E-510 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 56 percent) than the E-M1 III, which puts it into a different market segment. 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 size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Technology-wise, the E-M1 III uses a more advanced image processing engine (TruePic IX) than the E-510 (TruePic III), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Olympus E-510 and Olympus E-M1 III sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the E-M1 III offers a higher resolution of 20.2 megapixels, compared with 10 MP of the E-510. This megapixels advantage translates into a 42 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the E-M1 III has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.34μm versus 4.74μm for the E-510). However, it should be noted that the E-M1 III is much more recent (by 12 years and 11 months) than the E-510, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the E-M1 III has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its 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 Olympus E-510 are 18.2 x 13.7 inches or 46.3 x 34.7 cm for good quality, 14.6 x 10.9 inches or 37.1 x 27.8 cm for very good quality, and 12.2 x 9.1 inches or 30.9 x 23.2 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 E-510, 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 Olympus E-510 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. 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.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

E-510 versus E-M1 III MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. 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 table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model 		Sensor
Class 		Resolution
(MP) 		Horiz.
Pixels 		Vert.
Pixels 		Video
Format 		DXO
Portrait 		DXO
Landscape 		DXO
Sports 		DXO
Overall
1.
 
 Olympus E-510 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736i21.210.044252
2.
 
 Olympus E-M1 III Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.313.1135676
3.
 
 Olympus E-30 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024i21.310.453055
4.
 
 Olympus E-400 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736i21.010.612753
5.
 
 Olympus E-410 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736i21.110.049451
6.
 
 Olympus E-500 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448i20.710.34551
7.
 
 Olympus E-520 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736i21.410.454855
8.
 
 Olympus E-600 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024i21.510.354155
9.
 
 Olympus E-620 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024i21.310.353655
10.
 
 Olympus E-M1 II Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.712.8131280
11.
 
 Olympus E-M1X Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.213.0125475
12.
 
 Olympus E-P1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024720/30p21.410.453655
13.
 
 Olympus E-P3 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i20.810.153651
14.
 
 OM System OM-1 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.413.4155377
15.
 
 Panasonic G9 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.112.8113874
16.
 
 Panasonic G95 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.213.0127375
17.
 
 Panasonic L10 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736i21.310.842955
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
  empty Camera
Model 		Sensor
Class 		Resolution
(MP) 		Horiz.
Pixels 		Vert.
Pixels 		Video
Format 		DXO
Portrait 		DXO
Landscape 		DXO
Sports 		DXO
Overall
  empty Camera
Model

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The E-M1 III indeed provides for movie recording, while the E-510 does not. The highest resolution format that the E-M1 III can use is 4K/30p.

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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), while the E-510 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the E-M1 III offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the E-510 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the E-M1 III has a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.46x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Olympus E-510 and Olympus E-M1 III in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model 		Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots) 		Control
Panel
(yes/no)		 LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)		 LCD
Attach-
ment		 Touch
Screen
(yes/no)		 Max
Shutter
Speed *		 Max
Shutter
Flaps *		 Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)		 Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
 Olympus E-510optical i2.5 / 215 fixed i 1/4000s 3.0/s i i
2.
 
 Olympus E-M1 III2360 i3.0 / 1037 swivel i 1/8000s 18.0/s i i
3.
 
 Olympus E-30optical i2.7 / 230 swivel i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
4.
 
 Olympus E-400optical i2.5 / 215 fixed i 1/4000s 3.0/s i i
5.
 
 Olympus E-410optical i2.5 / 215 fixed i 1/4000s 3.0/s i i
6.
 
 Olympus E-500optical i2.5 / 215 fixed i 1/4000s 2.5/s i i
7.
 
 Olympus E-520optical i2.7 / 215 fixed i 1/4000s 3.5/s i i
8.
 
 Olympus E-600optical i2.7 / 230 swivel i 1/4000s 4.0/s i i
9.
 
 Olympus E-620optical i2.7 / 230 swivel i 1/4000s 4.0/s i i
10.
 
 Olympus E-M1 II2360 i3.0 / 1037 swivel i 1/8000s 18.0/s i i
11.
 
 Olympus E-M1X2360 i3.0 / 1037 swivel i 1/8000s 18.0/s i i
12.
 
 Olympus E-P1i i3.0 / 230 fixed i 1/4000s 3.0/s i i
13.
 
 Olympus E-P3optional i3.0 / 614 fixed i 1/4000s 3.0/s i i
14.
 
 OM System OM-15760 i3.0 / 1640 swivel i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
15.
 
 Panasonic G93680 i3.0 / 1040 swivel i 1/8000s 20.0/s i i
16.
 
 Panasonic G952360 i3.0 / 1240 swivel i 1/4000s 9.0/s i i
17.
 
 Panasonic L10optical i2.5 / 207 swivel i 1/4000s 3.0/s i i
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
  empty Camera
Model 		Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots) 		Control
Panel
(yes/no)		 LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)		 LCD
Attach-
ment		 Touch
Screen
(yes/no)		 Max
Shutter
Speed *		 Max
Shutter
Flaps *		 Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)		 Built-in
Image
Stab
  empty Camera
Model

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The E-510 has one, while the E-M1 III does not. While the built-in flash of the E-510 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The E-M1 III has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the E-510 does not have a selfie-screen.

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 Olympus E-M1 III has 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.

The E-510 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or xD Picture cards, while the E-M1 III uses SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails.

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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 Olympus E-510 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.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model 		Hotshoe
Port 		Internal
Mic / Speaker 		Microphone
Port 		Headphone
Port 		HDMI
Port 		USB
Port 		WiFi
Support		 NFC
Support		 Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
 Olympus E-510ii / iiii2.0iii
2.
 
 Olympus E-M1 IIIistereo / monoiimicro3.1iii
3.
 
 Olympus E-30ii / iiii2.0iii
4.
 
 Olympus E-400ii / iiii2.0iii
5.
 
 Olympus E-410ii / iiii2.0iii
6.
 
 Olympus E-500ii / iiii2.0iii
7.
 
 Olympus E-520ii / iiii2.0iii
8.
 
 Olympus E-600ii / iiii2.0iii
9.
 
 Olympus E-620ii / iiii2.0iii
10.
 
 Olympus E-M1 IIistereo / monoiimicro3.0iii
11.
 
 Olympus E-M1Xistereo / monoiimicro3.0iii
12.
 
 Olympus E-P1istereo / iiimini2.0iii
13.
 
 Olympus E-P3istereo / iiimini2.0iii
14.
 
 OM System OM-1istereo / monoiimicro3.0iii
15.
 
 Panasonic G9istereo / monoiifull3.0iii
16.
 
 Panasonic G95istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
17.
 
 Panasonic L10ii / iiii2.0iii
  empty Camera
Model 		Hotshoe
Port 		Internal
Mic / Speaker 		Microphone
Port 		Headphone
Port 		HDMI
Port 		USB
Port 		WiFi
Support		 NFC
Support		 Bluetooth
Support
  empty Camera
Model

It is notable that the E-M1 III offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the E-510 does not provide wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Olympus E-M1 III (unlike the E-510) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the E-510 and the E-M1 III have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The E-510 was replaced by the Olympus E-520, while the E-M1 III was followed by the OM System OM-1. Further information on the features and operation of the E-510 and E-M1 III can be found, respectively, in the Olympus E-510 Manual (free pdf) or the online Olympus E-M1 III Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Olympus E-510 better than the Olympus E-M1 III or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.


Reasons to prefer the Olympus E-510:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 420) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (56 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in March 2007).


Arguments in favor of the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (20.2 vs 10MP), which boosts linear resolution by 42%.
  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (TruePic IX vs TruePic III).
  • Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/30p video.
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.46x).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 215k 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 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (18 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • More modern: Reflects 12 years and 11 months of technical progress since the E-510 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the E-M1 III is the clear winner of the contest (26 : 6 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

E-510 06:26 E-M1 III

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Olympus E-510 and the Olympus E-M1 III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the E-510 and the E-M1 III in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 		  AP 
 score 		  CL 
 score 		  DCW 
 score 		  DPR 
 score 		  EPZ 
 score 		  PB 
 score 		 Camera
Launch		 Launch
Price 		Street
Price
1.
 
 Olympus E-510..89/100..+ +3.5/54.5/5 Mar 2007 US$ 799ebay.com
2.
 
 Olympus E-M1 III5/5..5/583/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2020 US$ 1 799ebay.com
3.
 
 Olympus E-30......71/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2008 US$ 1 299ebay.com
4.
 
 Olympus E-400..85/100....4/54/5 Sep 2006 US$ 699ebay.com
5.
 
 Olympus E-410..86/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Mar 2007 US$ 699ebay.com
6.
 
 Olympus E-500..76/100..+ +.... Sep 2005 US$ 599ebay.com
7.
 
 Olympus E-520..87/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 May 2008 US$ 699ebay.com
8.
 
 Olympus E-600..........4.5/5 Aug 2009 US$ 449ebay.com
9.
 
 Olympus E-6203/588/100..72/1004.5/55/5 Feb 2009 US$ 699ebay.com
10.
 
 Olympus E-M1 II5/5+ +5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
11.
 
 Olympus E-M1X4.5/5o5/585/1004.5/5.. Jan 2019 US$ 2 999ebay.com
12.
 
 Olympus E-P1..+..66/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
13.
 
 Olympus E-P3..83/100..74/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2011 US$ 799ebay.com
14.
 
 OM System OM-15/5....87/1005/54.5/5 Feb 2022 US$ 2 199ebay.com
15.
 
 Panasonic G9..+ +5/585/1005/55/5 Nov 2017 US$ 1 699ebay.com
16.
 
 Panasonic G954.5/5+4.5/583/1004.5/54.5/5 Apr 2019 US$ 999ebay.com
17.
 
 Panasonic L10..85/100..+3.5/54/5 Aug 2007 US$ 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
  empty  Camera 
 Model 		  AP 
 score 		  CL 
 score 		  DCW 
 score 		  DPR 
 score 		  EPZ 
 score 		  PB 
 score 		 Camera
Launch		 Launch
Price 		Street
Price
  empty  Camera 
 Model 

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Specifications: Olympus E-510 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.

Camera Specifications
Camera Model Olympus E-510 Olympus E-M1 III
Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Camera Lens Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
Launch Date March 2007 February 2020
Launch Price USD 799 USD 1,799
Sensor Specs Olympus E-510 Olympus E-M1 III
Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
Sensor Resolution 10 Megapixels 20.2 Megapixels
Image Resolution 3648 x 2736 pixels 5184 x 3888 pixels
Pixel Pitch 4.74 μm 3.34 μm
Pixel Density 4.44 MP/cm2 8.96 MP/cm2
Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
Movie Capability no Video 4K/30p Video
ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 200 - 25,600 ISO
ISO Boost no Enhancement 64 - 25,600 ISO
Image Processor TruePic III TruePic IX
DXO Sensor Quality (score) 52 ..
DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.2 ..
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.0 ..
DXO Low Light (ISO) 442 ..
Screen Specs Olympus E-510 Olympus E-M1 III
Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Field of View 95% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.46x 0.74x
Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
LCD Framing Live View Live View
Rear LCD Size 2.5inch 3.0inch
LCD Resolution 215k dots 1037k dots
LCD Attachment Fixed screen Swivel screen
Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
Shooting Specs Olympus E-510 Olympus E-M1 III
Focus System Phase-detect AF On-Sensor Phase-detect
Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 18 shutter flaps/s
Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/32000s
Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
Image StabilizationIn-body stabilizationIn-body stabilization
Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
Storage Medium CF or XD cards SDXC cards
Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Dual card slots
Connectivity Specs Olympus E-510 Olympus E-M1 III
External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.1
HDMI Port no HDMI micro HDMI
Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
Body Specs Olympus E-510 Olympus E-M1 III
Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
Battery Type Olympus BLM-1 Olympus BLH-1
Battery Life (CIPA)750 shots per charge420 shots per charge
In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
Body Dimensions 136 x 92 x 68 mm
(5.4 x 3.6 x 2.7 in) 		134 x 91 x 69 mm
(5.3 x 3.6 x 2.7 in)
Camera Weight 538 g (19.0 oz) 580 g (20.5 oz)
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