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OM-3

OM System

OM-3

Retro-styled MFT body with modern AF and creator-friendly design.

$1,699

Launch price

Released Jan 2025

vs

OM System

OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Compact pro MFT with IBIS and weather sealing.

$1,199

Launch price

Released Oct 2019

OM-3 is 5.3 years newer.

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Wins

6categories

OM-3

Sports & ActionTravel

Wins

4categories

OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Sports & ActionWildlife

7 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

OM-3 wins 3 categories·OM-D E-M5 Mark III wins 2 categories
  • AOM-3 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 15 fps)
  • BOM-D E-M5 Mark III has lower ISO min (native) (100 vs 200)
  • BOM-D E-M5 Mark III has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)
  • AOM-3 has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 6 fps)
  • AOM-3 has higher EVF magnification (1.23 × vs 0.78 ×)

Key specs at a glance

OM-3OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Resolution20.4 MP20.4 MP
SensorMFTMFT
ISO max25,60025,600
Burst120 fps15 fps
4K59.94 fps60 fps
IBIS6.5-stop6-stop
Weight413 g580 g
Battery640 shots640 shots

Size and weight, to scale

OM-3 front view

OM-3

139 × 89 × 46 mm

413 g (0.91 lb / 14.57 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

OM-D E-M5 Mark III

134 × 91 × 72 mm

580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz)

OM-3 is 2mm shorter and 26mm thinner than OM-D E-M5 Mark III but it is also 5mm wider.

OM-3 is 167 g lighter than OM-D E-M5 Mark III.

Depth (front-to-back): 46mm OM-3 · 72mm OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Back view, to scale

Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.

OM-3 back view

OM-3

139 × 89 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

OM-D E-M5 Mark III

134 × 91 mm

Top view, to scale

Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.

OM-3 top view

OM-3

139 × 46 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

OM-D E-M5 Mark III

134 × 72 mm

Sensor size, to scale

OM-3

17.4 × 13 mm · Compact / large-type

226 mm² area

OM-D E-M5 Mark III

17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds

225 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

OM-3

✓ more lenses

Micro Four Thirds

130+

native lenses available

60 first-party70 third-party

OM-D E-M5 Mark III

✓ more lenses

Micro Four Thirds

130+

native lenses available

60 first-party70 third-party

Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseOM-3OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Portrait
4.0Fair
4.0Fair
Sports & Action
8.5Excellent
8.5Excellent
Video & Hybrid
3.5Limited
6.0Good✓ wins
Landscape
2.5Limited
3.5Limited✓ wins
Travel
8.0Excellent✓ wins
7.5Good
Wildlife
5.5Fair
8.0Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
6.5Good
7.0Good✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

OM-3

  • Subject recognition

    Adds People, Birds, Animals…

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 139.3, 88.9, 45.8

  • Card types

    Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC

  • Burst (electronic)

    120 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds MOV, MPEG-4 AVC

  • Burst (mechanical)

    10 fps vs 6 fps — higher is better

  • EVF magnification

    1.23 × vs 0.78 × — higher is better

  • Weight

    413 g vs 580 g — lower is better

Reasons to choose

OM-D E-M5 Mark III

  • AF low-light limit

    -7 EV vs -5.5 EV — lower is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Human, Animal, Bird…

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 134, 91, 72

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-II

  • AA filter

    Only OM-D E-M5 Mark III supports it

  • ISO min (native)

    100 vs 200 — lower is better

  • Card slots

    2 vs 1 — higher is better

  • 4K max frame rate

    60 fps vs 59.94 fps — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • ResolutionBoth 20.4 MP
  • ISO max (native)Both 25,600
  • AF points / zonesBoth 1053
  • AF frame coverageBoth 100 %
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

OM-3

Pros

  • Retro design
  • Modern AF
  • Compact

Cons

  • MFT sensor
  • Premium for MFT
  • Smaller lens selection

OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Pros

  • Compact pro
  • Weather sealed
  • IBIS

Cons

  • Older
  • MFT
  • Superseded

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the OM-3 and OM-D E-M5 Mark III at major authorized retailers.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

OM-3
OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Resolution
20.4 MP
20.4 MP
Sensor type
BSI Stacked MOS
Four Thirds Live MOS
Sensor size
17.4 x 13
17.3 × 13.0 mm
AA filter
No
Yes
OM-3
OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Processor
TruePic X
TruePic X
OM-3
OM-D E-M5 Mark III
ISO min (native)
200
100−100 less
ISO max (native)
25,600
25,600
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
102,400
OM-3
OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Shutter type
Mechanical Focal Plane Shutter and Electronic Rolling Shutter
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/32000
1/16000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for video, OM-3 or OM-D E-M5 Mark III?

OM-D E-M5 Mark III scores 6.0/10 versus 3.5/10 for OM-3 — 4K recording.

What's the resolution difference between the OM-3 and OM-D E-M5 Mark III?

Both cameras share the same 20.4 MP resolution.

Do the OM-3 and OM-D E-M5 Mark III have in-body image stabilization?

OM-3 has 6.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while OM-D E-M5 Mark III has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the OM-3 or the OM-D E-M5 Mark III?

OM-3 reaches 120 fps electronic. OM-D E-M5 Mark III reaches 15 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the OM-3 and OM-D E-M5 Mark III?

OM-3 weighs 413 g and OM-D E-M5 Mark III weighs 580 g, so the OM-3 is 167 g lighter.

Do the OM-3 and OM-D E-M5 Mark III record 4K video?

OM-3: 4K up to 59.94p. OM-D E-M5 Mark III: 4K up to 60p.

Are the OM-3 and OM-D E-M5 Mark III weather sealed?

OM-3: Yes. OM-D E-M5 Mark III: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the OM-3 and 640 shots for the OM-D E-M5 Mark III, giving the OM-D E-M5 Mark III the edge.

How much does each cost?

OM-3 launched at $1,699 and OM-D E-M5 Mark III at $1,199. The OM-D E-M5 Mark III is $500 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way OM-3 vs OM-D E-M5 Mark III vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.

Product images courtesy of OM System press materials.