Olympus OM-D E-M10

Olympus introduced the OM-D E-M10 in 2014 as a compact mirrorless camera built around the Micro Four Thirds system. At 396g and measuring 119 x 82 x 46mm, it slips easily into a small bag, which makes it a practical companion for travel, walks and everyday photography.

The electronic viewfinder, with its 1,440,000 dots, gives you an eye-level shooting option, while the flip-out touchscreen handles waist-level and overhead framing. WiFi is built in, so a wireless connection is available when needed.

The E-M10 pairs a 16.1 megapixel Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor with the TruePic VII processor. That resolution suits everyday prints and web sharing, and the small sensor format helps keep the body compact. Its Optics score of 57 is modest, and the camera sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics.

In-body stabilisation is the standout feature here. It counters camera shake so you can keep shooting handheld at slower shutter speeds indoors or towards dusk, though it will not freeze a subject that is moving quickly.

Autofocus uses 81 points, and burst shooting reaches a maximum of 8fps, enough for short action sequences. The maximum shutter speed of 1/4000s may limit wide apertures in strong daylight.

Sensitivity spans ISO 200 to 25600, so settings remain available as light fades. The Micro 4/3 mount matches the camera's Micro Four Thirds sensor format.

Video recording tops out at Full HD resolution, with a maximum frame rate of 30fps. Recordings are saved as MOV files. For family clips, travel footage and simple web sharing, Full HD resolution is a workable ceiling.

A built-in timelapse mode is the more creative option. Set the camera on a static scene such as drifting clouds or a street filling with people, and it produces the frames for a motion sequence without extra equipment.

The video score of 57 is modest, and it reflects the Full HD resolution cap, the 30fps maximum frame rate and the built-in timelapse mode. Think of the E-M10 as a stills camera that can also handle casual movies.

The 3-inch LCD offers a sharp 1,037,000-dot display with touch control, and live view lets you compose on the screen. It flips out, so waist-level, overhead and close-to-the-ground framing stay comfortable, and the touchscreen makes settings and playback quicker to navigate.

WiFi is built in, so the camera has a wireless connection available. There is no Bluetooth, and there is no GPS for location tagging.

Light comes from a built-in flash for gentle fill, and an external flash is also supported when you want more power or bounce control. There is no weather sealing, so keep the camera dry in rough conditions.

The E-M10 writes to SD, SDHC and SDXC cards, so any of those three types will fit. With only one slot, there is no in-camera backup and no second card to move to when the first fills.

The BLS-5 battery is rated at 320 shots, a figure that does not guarantee real-world endurance in every situation. For a long day out, a charged spare is a sensible addition to the camera bag.

The camera does not support USB charging. The storage and battery score of 21 is limited, and the single slot, modest endurance and lack of USB charging are what hold this area back.