By Tati Taylor 14 days ago, Cameras & Lenses
The best micro four thirds cameras at affordable price.
Finding the best micro four thirds camera may be a real challenge. First off, it is necessary to decide what purposes the camera will serve you for and define your budget. The next step is selecting the type of camera.
You can choose between a DSLR, compact, and mirrorless camera. Each type has its upsides and downsides. Everything depends on the photography genre you are engaged in and how often you are going to use your device. A good camera can take high-quality images in any condition, whether you are shooting during the daytime or at night.
This article will come in handy for different categories of users. If you are a skillful enthusiast, most likely, you know what factors to pay attention to, but you will still need to learn more info to decide on the right model.
In case you are an aspiring photographer, who wants to replace a compact camera with something more serious, carefully study all the overviews provided below. Professional photographers usually know for sure what they need. So, if you are an expert, read on to refresh your knowledge.
Type: m43 | Sensor size: 17.3mm x 13.0mm | Resolution: 20.30 MP | Lens: 60 mm | Viewfinder: EVF | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 6 fps
⊕ Suitable for inexperienced users
⊕ Produces high-quality JPEGs
⊕ Ability to take selfies
⊕ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
⊖ Feels bulky
Panasonic LUMIX G95 is one of the best micro four thirds cameras due to its 20.3MP digital live MOS sensor that doesn't have a low-pass filter. Apart from excellent performance, it has ISO25600 maximum sensitivity.
Also, this model boasts the Lumix g 12-60mm F/3.5-5.6 micro four thirds lens. The camera offers 4K 24p/30p internal video recording and the ability to shoot in V-Log L that can give you a wide dynamic range with 12 stops for better flexibility during the video editing process.
LUMIX G95 includes 4:2:2/8-bit HDMI output to connect your camera to the external monitor. This allows you to record and view your footage simultaneously.
Using the 3.5mm adapter, you can plug in an external microphone for high-quality sound recording. For example, it is possible to connect Shotgun microphone dmw-ms2 to your camera.
Type: m43 | Sensor size: 17.3 x 13 mm | Resolution: 50 MP | Lens: 100 mm | Viewfinder: EVF | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 60 fps
⊕ Built-in vertical grip with dual batteries
⊕ Shooting in 4K with OM-Log400
⊕ Great weather protection
⊕ Long-lasting battery
⊖ High price for the format
This micro four thirds camera has a 20.4MP live MOS sensor with dual Tropic VIII image processors. It provides a more powerful compensation of 7.5 EV Stops with 5-axis sync. Moreover, Olympus OM-D E-M1X has excellent in-camera image stabilization. With the help of High Res Shot mode, you can take photos up to 50MP without any stabilizing equipment.
If it comes to ISO sensitivity, there is an Auto ISO LOW (equivalent to approx. 64) with control available up to ISO 6400 and native ISO range from 200 to 6400. Manual ISO LOW (equivalent to approx. 64, approx. 100) has an ISO range from 200 to 25600. You can adjust the ISO settings in 1/3 or 1 EV steps.
One of the most distinctive features of OM-D E-M1X is Live ND which fully replaces an ND filter. Multi-selector control (joystick) is perfect for moving the autofocus area no matter whether you are holding a camera vertically or horizontally.
This model offers shooting at 60fps (s aft), 18 fps (c aft tracking) burst shooting with disabled shutter sounds. Besides, the design incorporates 121 Point all Cross-type on-chip phase detection and contrast detection AF.
Type: m43 | Sensor size: 18.96 x 10 mm | Resolution: 21.2 MP | Lens: 3.5 mm | Viewfinder: LCDVF| Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 50 fps
⊕ Budget-friendly
⊕ Easy to use menu controls
⊕ 5-inch touchscree
⊕ Pro-style connectors
⊖ Poor battery life
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema is a decent choice among micro four thirds cameras due to its advanced features that allow you to achieve a Hollywood look in your works. It combines high dynamic range, ability to shoot in poor light conditions, Blackmagic RAW feature to give your videos accurate skin tones, and natural-looking colors.
Moreover, you can shoot both 4K or 6K footage and control the action on a massive 5-inch touchscreen. Support for CFast and SD cards, a USB-C port for recording externally to disk, and EF or MFT lens mounts are great additions that let you boost your productivity.
Moreover, you can edit your projects, perform color correction, work with visual effects, using DaVinci Resolve Studio which is included in the kit.
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema offers a four thirds image sensor that delivers a 4096x2160 resolution and has an MFT lens mount which allows you to achieve a Hollywood-like quality while holding your camera in hand. Thanks to a Micro Four Thirds lens mount, you can attach compact and lightweight lenses and enjoy the portability of the camera.
Type: m43 | Sensor size: 17.3mm x 13.0mm | Resolution: 20.3 MP | Lens: 60 mm | Viewfinder: EVF | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 50 fps
⊕ Touch-sensitive screen
⊕ Great design
⊕ Fast AF
⊖ Short battery life
With a tiltable LVF, you can frame your photos and capture the smallest detail even while shooting from low angles. Panasonic Lumix GX9 is another great micro 4/3 camera that offers a high 2,760k-dot-equivalent resolution and excellent color reproduction.
These features let you shoot in any situation and enjoy amazing results. GX9 is rather intuitive to operate. You can change the aperture and shutter speed settings using the front and rear dials. Thus, it is possible to quickly adjust white balance, exposure compensation, and ISO levels.
Also, the camera allows you to easily select the best images. Due to the Auto Marking feature, the camera quickly identifies motion and automatically sets a marker.
When selecting pictures from a 4K burst file, you can stitch the shots in the recording sequence. Also, it is possible to create a sequence composition of a moving subject. All you need is to select the desired frames from the 4K burst file and compose a photo.
Type: m43 | Sensor size: 17.3 x 13 mm | Resolution: 50 MP | Lens: 150 mm | Viewfinder: EVF | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 10 fps
⊕ Compact, weather-sealed body
⊕ Improved image stabilization system
⊕ Comes with an external flash
⊕ Captures RAW images at up to 30fps
⊖ Plastic body
Being compact and lightweight, Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is a perfect option to carry with you no matter where you want to organize your photoshoot.
It offers a rich array of advanced features such as 30fps continuous shooting, AF system that combines both 121 on-chip phase and contrast detection points, built-in 5-axis image stabilization, and High Res Shot mode. With this four thirds camera, you can take jaw-dropping photos on the move which makes it a perfect option for traveling.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III includes a variety of useful features such as anti-flicker shooting and 20MP live MOS sensor as well as Live Composite, Pro Capture, and Focus Bracketing modes. This camera offers portability, lightness, and excellent weather-sealed design, which is especially great for those, who are looking for an all-in-one camera always ready to shoot.
Type: m43 | Sensor size: 17.3 x 13 mm | Resolution: 10.2 MP | Lens: 3.5 mm | Viewfinder: OLED| Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 60 fps
⊕ High-quality videos
⊕ Build quality identical to GH5
⊕ Two slots for cards
⊖ Lacks in-camera stabilization
This micro thirds camera deserves praise for its 10.2MP MFT sensor and considerably increased photoreceptive surface per pixel that ensures an ultra-wide dynamic range. Also, Panasonic Lumix GH5S boasts Dual Native ISO technology to reduce digital noise and boost sensitivity during video recording.
Heavy-duty magnesium alloy construction can handle any weather conditions and is freeze-resistant up to -10 degrees. The camera body, including dial and buttons, is water-resistant. Moreover, GH5S supports internal SD card video recording.
You can enjoy exceptional performance, durability, and portability due to the 4K Anamorphic professional video production camera system that uses interchangeable lenses. An electronic shutter has an awesome shutter speed of 1/16,000 sec.
Besides, GH5S has convenient connectivity options such as TC Synchro/In/Out/ Terminal (BNC cable included), 3.5mm headphone jack, 3.5mm mic jack with line input, 2.5mm remote socket, USB-C 3.1 and HDMI-A sockets. Also, the device includes dual card slots.
Type: m43 | Sensor size: 17.3mm x 13.0mm | Resolution: 16MP | Lens: 42 mm | Viewfinder: No | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 8.5 fps
⊕ Agile autofocus
⊕ 8,5fps burst mode
⊕ Effective image stabilization
⊕ 4K video
⊖ Restricted buffer for shooting Raw
This is the best m43 camera for quickly getting the hang of photography. Learn how to operate the camera following the on-screen guides and trust it to its automated features.
It can stabilize the image well so you can take clear photos and unblurred 4K video simply with your hand. The camera has a 16 Megapixel sensor, a TruePic VIII Image Processor, a super-convenient 3" display that rotates 180 degrees, a flash and two modules for wireless connection to the internet or other devices.
Type: m43 | Sensor size: 17.3 x 13 mm | Resolution: 20 MP | Lens: 60 mm | Viewfinder: CMOS | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 20 fps
⊕ Outstanding specs
⊕ Great value for money
⊕ Praiseworthy viewfinder
⊕ 6.5-stop image stabilization
⊖ Burst mode issues
This micro four thirds camera is shelled in a robust magnesium alloy material with extra steps taken to protect your camera body from splashes, debris and temperature drops. That made the camera lighter than its competitors, as well as more compact.
The device is fit for professional use with its outstanding 4K performance that can be recorded either in 60P (4:2:0 8-bit) or in 30P (4:2:2 10-bit). There is also an exclusive feature that can take an 8MP or 16MP image out of the highest-quality video right on the go.
Having the interchangeable lens camera (ILC) standard that the brand itself brought to the market, the micro four thirds camera can be supplied by a wide range of great lenses from the best manufacturers. You will find such popular features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DFD focusing, OLED viewfinder, a stunning 5-axis stabilization module. It is also filled with HDMI, microphone, headphone connectors, SD card slots, a dust reduction filter and countless other little useful features.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Panasonic LUMIX G95
Our choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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Olympus OM-D E-M1X
Modern |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema
Stylish |
CHECK PRICE → |
This system has the largest number of lenses available and they also come in either good or excellent quality with no poor models on the market. You can select a prime or a zoom not just among a couple of alternatives but from a long list with a range of prices and qualities.
If you’re fond of primes, prepare to be overwhelmed by the variety that ranges from the equivalents of 24mm up to the 600mm ones.
The list and quality of zoom lenses will also be impressive. They start from the 14-28mm models and reach 80-300mm equivalents, capturing visuals of pro DSLR levels with f/2.8 apertures. You can go for something more affordable or get a very specified zoom.
Would you describe yourself as a starter, having an intermediate or advanced level of photography? Answering this question will help you decide on a more appropriate camera.
Beginner cameras. If you recently discovered a passion for photography and want to switch from your phone to a proper camera, getting a full-blown DSLR is not a great idea.
First, that thing is pretty cumbersome, second, it will be deprived of the assisting features that help beginners progress. Otherwise, mirrorless cameras and even a good point and shoot would be convenient, especially where you can set things manually.
Intermediate and advanced. Here, you should already know what genre you’re inclined to. Interested in star photography? Make sure the camera has an intervalometer. Drifting towards videos? There are some 4/3 camera models that successfully combine the two functions. Aspiring to cover some sports events? Pay attention to the burst rate and autofocus speed for good performance in fast-paced environments.
Limiting yourself financially is going to be useful because there is huge choice on the market and any way of narrowing it down facilitates the process. The high-quality cameras of a DSLR type can be costing anywhere above $1,000 whereas the decent affordable point-and-shoot devices start from around $150. If you decide on a $500 limit, finding the best four thirds camera within it will be much easier.
Compare these cameras to the compact models and you will see that the MFT sensor is 5-9 times bigger. This directly influences the quality of the visuals and can show improvement in such conditions as insufficient light. These cameras also have a greater dynamic range and tend to produce less noise. Last but not least, on a compact camera, you cannot change the lens so you’re greatly limited by what’s already on.
There is a whole array of professionals as well as amateurs who prefer this type of camera for particular circumstances. Being small, they can be useful for discreet work or lightweight travel. Good micro 4/3 cameras can easily have great performance, housing a 16mp (or greater) sensor and working with HDR or high ISO sensitivity.
A full-frame device will gather more light from the environment and thus obtain a clearer image in unfavorable conditions like an evening or a dark room. Take photos in the latter and the difference will be perceptible, the full-frame camera is better.
No, these cameras are far from losing popularity. They are mirrorless devices operating on a Four Thirds sensor and have the benefits of being more portable, both the bodies and the accessories.
