The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro is a dedicated astrophotography version of the E-M1 Mark III, with an IR-cut filter optimized for approximately 100% transmittance of hydrogen-alpha light so red nebulae render vividly. It shares the E-M1 Mark III platform: a 20.4MP Live MOS sensor, 7.5-stop IBIS, Starry Sky AF, Live Composite, and weather sealing, and ships with a light pollution filter and soft filter. The modified filter gives a reddish cast in normal daylight shooting. It replaces the Olympus OM-D E-M1 II. At 580g, this is 42g above the M43 average of 538g, noticeable but within the expected range for a body with this feature set. The Panasonic Lumix G97 is 61g lighter if that matters.
Best for: Astrophotography
Pros
- Hα-optimized filter for vivid red nebulae
- Starry Sky AF and Live Composite for night work
- Bundled light pollution and soft filters
- 7.5-stop IBIS, weather sealed
Cons
- Reddish colour cast in normal daylight
- Based on the older 2020 E-M1 Mark III platform
Astrophotography
The reason this camera exists. A modified IR-cut filter passes hydrogen-alpha light at 656nm that standard cameras block by around 75 percent, so red diffuse nebulae render vividly straight out of camera without a third-party astro conversion. Starry Sky AF focuses on the stars automatically, Live Composite builds star trails without blowing out the sky, and in-body High Res Shot stacking reduces noise on tripod. The bundled light pollution and soft filters help in suburban skies and bring out brighter stars. The trade-off is a reddish cast in normal daylight, so it is best kept as a dedicated night-sky body. Full guide →
General photography
Outside astrophotography it behaves like a standard E-M1 Mark III: 20.4MP, 7.5-stop IBIS, phase-detect AF with subject recognition, and weather sealing. But the modified filter means daylight images carry a reddish cast that needs correcting, so it is not the right choice as an everyday camera.
Specifications
| Body | |
| Brand | Olympus |
| Status | current |
| Released | 2024-07 |
| Weight | 580g |
| Dimensions | 134.1 × 91.6 × 68.9mm |
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Weather sealed | IPX1 |
| Screen | Tilting |
| Screen size | 3" |
| Screen resolution | 1037k dots |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Sensor | |
| Description | 20.4MP Live MOS (Hα-optimized IR filter) |
| Megapixels | 20.4MP |
| Resolution | 5184 × 3888 |
| ISO range (native) | 64–25600 |
| High-res mode | 80MP |
| Viewfinder | |
| EVF | Yes |
| EVF resolution | 2,360,000 dots |
| EVF magnification | 1.48x |
| Stabilisation | |
| IBIS | Yes |
| IBIS stops | 7.5 stops |
| Dual IS | No |
| Autofocus | |
| Phase detect | Yes |
| Subject recognition | Yes |
| Subject types | human, animal, bird |
| AF points | 121 |
| Shooting | |
| Max mechanical shutter | 1/8000 |
| Max electronic shutter | 1/32000 |
| Burst (mechanical) | 18 fps |
| Burst (electronic) | 60 fps |
| Battery life (CIPA) | 420 shots |
| Video | |
| 4K | Yes |
| 4K 60fps | No |
| Log | No |
| Max video bitrate | 202 Mbps |
| Ports & storage | |
| Card slots | 2 |
| Card type | SD UHS-II + SD UHS-II |
| HDMI | micro |
| USB | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Mic port | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| GPS | No |
| NFC | No |
| Battery | BLH-1 |
| Pricing | |
| Price (approx.) | $2,199 USD |
Frequently asked questions
Does the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro have IBIS?
Yes. The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro has in-body image stabilisation rated at 7.5 stops.
Is the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro weather sealed?
Yes. The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro is weather sealed to IPX1, which means it is protected against dust and splashing water.
Does the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro shoot 4K video?
Yes. The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro records 4K video at up to 30fps.
Does the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro have phase-detect autofocus?
Yes. The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro uses phase-detect autofocus, with subject recognition for human, animal, bird.
What card does the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro use?
The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro has 2 card slots and accepts SD UHS-II + SD UHS-II cards.
How much does the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro weigh?
The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro weighs 580g (body only, with battery and card).
What did the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro replace?
The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Astro replaces the Olympus OM-D E-M1 II. It improves on AF system, sensor performance, and video capabilities compared to its predecessor.