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OM System

OM-D E-M1 Mark III

Previous Olympus flagship still capable for wildlife.

$1,799

Launch price

Released Feb 2020

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vs

Panasonic

Lumix G9

Original G9 stills flagship with 20MP MFT sensor, 60fps electronic burst, and excellent IBIS.

$1,699

Launch price

Released Nov 2017

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OM-D E-M1 Mark III is 2.3 years newer.

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Wins

9categories

OM-D E-M1 Mark III

★ Wildlife★ Sports & Action

Wins

3categories

Lumix G9

★ Sports & Action★ Vlogging

6 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

OM-D E-M1 Mark III wins 4 categories·Lumix G9 wins 1 categories
  • AOM-D E-M1 Mark III has higher AF points / zones (1053 vs 225)
  • BLumix G9 has higher Burst (electronic) (60 fps vs 20 fps)
  • AOM-D E-M1 Mark III has lower ISO min (native) (100 vs 200)
  • AOM-D E-M1 Mark III has higher RAW buffer depth (120 frames vs 60 frames)
  • AOM-D E-M1 Mark III has higher Battery life (CIPA) (640 shots vs 400 shots)

Key specs at a glance

OM-D E-M1 Mark IIILumix G9
Resolution20.4 MP20.3 MP
SensorMFTMFT
ISO max25,60025,600
Burst20 fps60 fps
4K60 fps60 fps
IBIS7-stop6.5-stop
Weight580 g658 g
Battery640 shots400 shots

Size and weight, to scale

OM-D E-M1 Mark III

134 × 91 × 72 mm

580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz)

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

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

Lumix G9

137 × 97 × 92 mm

658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)

OM-D E-M1 Mark III is 3mm narrower, 6mm shorter, and 20mm thinner than Lumix G9.

OM-D E-M1 Mark III is 78 g lighter than Lumix G9.

Depth (front-to-back): 72mm OM-D E-M1 Mark III · 92mm Lumix G9

Sensor size, to scale

OM-D E-M1 Mark III

17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds

225 mm² area

Lumix G9

17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds

225 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

OM-D E-M1 Mark III

✓ more lenses

Micro Four Thirds

130+

native lenses available

60 first-party70 third-party

Lumix G9

✓ 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-D E-M1 Mark IIILumix G9
Portrait
4.0Fair
5.0Fair✓ wins
Sports & Action
8.5Excellent
9.5Excellent✓ wins
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good
6.0Good
Landscape
3.5Limited
3.5Limited
Travel
7.5Good✓ wins
6.0Good
Wildlife
9.0Excellent✓ wins
7.0Good
Vlogging
7.0Good
7.5Good✓ wins

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

OM-D E-M1 Mark III

  • AF low-light limit

    -7 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 134, 91, 72

  • AF points / zones

    1053 vs 225 — higher is better

  • AA filter

    Only OM-D E-M1 Mark III supports it

  • ISO min (native)

    100 vs 200 — lower is better

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Bird, Vehicle

  • RAW buffer depth

    120 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds H.265

Reasons to choose

Lumix G9

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 136.9, 97.3, 91.6

  • Burst (electronic)

    60 fps vs 20 fps — higher is better

  • Codecs

    Adds MP4, AVCHD

  • Subject recognition

    Adds Face, Eye

  • Burst (mechanical)

    12 fps vs 8 fps — higher is better

  • EVF magnification

    0.83 × vs 0.78 × — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • ✓ISO max (native) — Both 25,600
  • ✓AF frame coverage — Both 100 %
  • ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
  • ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
  • ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
  • ✓4K max frame rate — Both 60 fps

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

OM-D E-M1 Mark III

Pros

  • ✓Pro build
  • ✓60fps mode
  • ✓Great IBIS

Cons

  • –Superseded
  • –MFT
  • –Older AF

Lumix G9

Pros

  • ✓60fps electronic burst
  • ✓Strong IBIS
  • ✓Weather sealed
  • ✓Large EVF

Cons

  • –Older contrast AF
  • –MFT sensor
  • –Superseded by G9 II

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the OM-D E-M1 Mark III and Lumix G9 at major authorized retailers.

OM System OM-D E-M1 Mark III

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Panasonic Lumix G9

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Full specifications

✓ = category winner

OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Lumix G9
Resolution
20.4 MP✓
20.3 MP
Sensor type
Four Thirds Live MOS
Four Thirds Live MOS
Sensor size
17.3 × 13.0 mm
17.3 x 13.0 mm
AA filter
Yes
No
OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Lumix G9
Processor
TruePic X
Venus Engine
OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Lumix G9
ISO min (native)
100✓−100 less
200
ISO max (native)
25,600
25,600
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
25,600
OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Lumix G9
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Focal-plane mechanical + electronic shutter
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/32000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for wildlife, OM-D E-M1 Mark III or Lumix G9?

OM-D E-M1 Mark III scores 9.0/10 versus 7.0/10 for Lumix G9 — 20fps burst captures fleeting moments.

What's the resolution difference between the OM-D E-M1 Mark III and Lumix G9?

OM-D E-M1 Mark III is 20.4 MP and Lumix G9 is 20.3 MP, so the OM-D E-M1 Mark III captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the OM-D E-M1 Mark III and Lumix G9 have in-body image stabilization?

OM-D E-M1 Mark III has 7-stop in-body image stabilization, while Lumix G9 has 6.5-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the OM-D E-M1 Mark III or the Lumix G9?

OM-D E-M1 Mark III reaches 20 fps electronic. Lumix G9 reaches 60 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the OM-D E-M1 Mark III and Lumix G9?

OM-D E-M1 Mark III weighs 580 g and Lumix G9 weighs 658 g, so the OM-D E-M1 Mark III is 78 g lighter.

Do the OM-D E-M1 Mark III and Lumix G9 record 4K video?

OM-D E-M1 Mark III: 4K up to 60p. Lumix G9: 4K up to 60p.

Are the OM-D E-M1 Mark III and Lumix G9 weather sealed?

OM-D E-M1 Mark III: Yes. Lumix G9: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the OM-D E-M1 Mark III and 400 shots for the Lumix G9, giving the OM-D E-M1 Mark III the edge.

How much does each cost?

OM-D E-M1 Mark III launched at $1,799 and Lumix G9 at $1,699. The Lumix G9 is $100 less.

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

Add any camera to get a three-way OM-D E-M1 Mark III vs Lumix G9 vs X comparison.

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