Olympus OM-D E-M1X Mirrorless MFT (Micro Four Thirds) Camera Body, Black {20.4MP}

Olympus OM-D E-M1X: the integrated-grip MFT body built for action

The E-M1X is Olympus's answer to a full-size pro action body, built around a 20.4MP Four Thirds sensor driven by dual TruePic VIII processors. That processing muscle feeds a 60 fps electronic shutter burst mode, 121 AF points with subject-detection autofocus trained on cars, aircraft, and trains, and a 5-axis sensor-shift stabilization system rated at 7.0 stops body-only or 7.5 stops paired with the 12-100mm lens. The 2x focal length multiplier means a 300mm f/4 is effectively a 600mm equivalent, which keeps the total kit weight manageable compared to full-frame systems chasing the same reach.

The integrated vertical grip isn't a bolt-on afterthought. It houses dual BLH-1 batteries rated at 870 shots CIPA, charges over USB-C, and gives you a full set of controls in portrait orientation without swapping hands. Built-in GPS logs not just location but also direction, temperature, pressure, and acceleration alongside each frame, which is useful for expedition and wildlife shooters who need field metadata. Pro Capture mode pre-buffers frames at full 20.4MP RAW before you fully depress the shutter, so peak moments that happen before your trigger finger responds are still on the card. At under a kilogram with two batteries seated, it sits in a practical zone between a stripped mirrorless body and a flaghsip DSLR with a grip attached, backed by IPX1 weather sealing.

Who It's For

Motorsport and sports photographers will put the 60 fps electronic shutter and subject-detection AF to immediate use, tracking vehicles or athletes with the pre-buffer capturing frames before full shutter press. Wildlife shooters working long telephoto primes benefit from 7.0 stops of in-body stabilization and GPS metadata that logs position and elevation per shot. Documentary and expedition photographers running long days will rely on the 870-shot battery life and USB-C field charging from a power bank. Event photographers who regularly shoot vertical sequences gain a fully mirrored control layout on the integrated grip, keeping exposure and AF controls accessible without repositioning.

Key Features

• 20.4MP Four Thirds sensor with dual TruePic VIII processors
• 121 AF points with subject detection for cars, aircraft, trains
• 60 fps electronic shutter burst at full RAW resolution
• 5-axis stabilization rated 7.0 stops body-only or 7.5 with 12-100mm
• Integrated vertical grip with dual BLH-1 batteries (870 shots CIPA)
• Built-in GPS logging location, direction, temperature, pressure, acceleration
• Pro Capture pre-buffers RAW frames before shutter press
• 2x focal length multiplier delivers 600mm equivalent with 300mm f/4 lens

FAQ

What's the real-world battery life with the integrated grip?

Olympus rates 870 shots per CIPA cycle with both BLH-1 batteries seated. Dual batteries means you're not swapping mid-shoot, and USB-C charging from a laptop or power bank keeps you mobile. In the field, expect to change batteries during a full day of burst shooting, not hourly.

How does the 2x focal length multiplier affect reach compared to full-frame?

A 300mm f/4 lens becomes 600mm equivalent. For wildlife and motorsports, this means you get long-glass reach without the bulk and weight of a full-frame system. Smaller lenses, smaller body, same effective field of view.

Can the subject detection AF actually track cars and aircraft reliably?

It tracks cars and bikes, aircraft and helicopters, and trains as distinct object classes trained via deep learning. Works better on vehicles than on small birds mid-flight. Useful for motorsports and aviation, but wildlife shooters doing general wildlife won't see the precision of current Sony continuous AF systems.

What does Pro Capture mode actually do?

The camera pre-buffers frames at full 20.4MP RAW resolution before you fully depress the shutter. Moments that happen milliseconds before your trigger finger responds are captured. No other Canon, Nikon, or Sony body offered this at the time of release.

Is the built-in GPS metadata useful for expedition work?

Yes-it logs location, compass direction, temperature, pressure, and acceleration with every frame. The OI Track app visualizes your route and elevation. Expedition and wildlife shooters benefit most. Sports and studio shooters won't care.

How much stabilization improvement does the 12-100mm lens add?

Body-only stabilization rates 7.0 stops; paired with the 12-100mm f/4 IS PRO lens (which features Sync IS), that jumps to 7.5 stops. The lens contributes meaningful additional correction, making handheld slower shutter speeds realistic for static subjects.

Why is the viewfinder resolution lower than competitors?

2.36 million dots versus 3.68 million on rivals. Olympus chose LCD technology for refresh rates and skin-tone rendering; the trade-off is a coarser image, especially visible at the edges of text and fine detail. Not a deal-breaker, but noticeable at this price point in 2019.