Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus E-M10 III

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus E-M10 III

Leave Feedback

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
20.3 megapixels
24.00mm - 1200.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon SX540 HS Review.

4/3 226.2mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Olympus E-M10 III Review.
How does it shoot? Olympus E-M10 III in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the E-M10 III.
Compare Olympus E-M10 III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Olympus E-M10 III conclusion.

Buy From

Differences

Canon SX540 HS advantages over Olympus E-M10 III

Less expensive
$329* vs $799
Save money for lenses or accessories
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
More pixels
20.3 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos

Olympus E-M10 III advantages over Canon SX540 HS

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
4/3 vs 1/2.3 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Bigger pixels
~ 3.78 vs 1.19 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
RAW file ability
Yes vs No
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Longer video battery life
80 vs 45 minutes
Capture more video
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

330 vs 205 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
49 mm vs 91 mm
Thinner
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Higher-res screen
346k vs 154k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Longer exposure
60 vs 15 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster JPEG shooting
8.6 fps vs 5.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon SX540 HS

Canon SX540 HS

All SX540 HS Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Olympus E-M10 III

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Body Only (Silver)
Kit with 14-42mm EZ lens (Black)
Kit with 14-42mm EZ lens (Silver)

All E-M10 III Deals

Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Canon SX540 HS.
Read our Canon SX540 HS Preview

Superbly-built, comfortable and compact body; Pairs beautifully with pancake kit lens; Excellent image quality; Excellent performance in most respects; Great single-shot autofocus; Really nice viewfinder and touch-screen display; Friendlier user interface courts amateurs.
Some controls are a bit small and tightly-packed; Hand grips are still a bit modestly-sized for larger lenses; Continuous and video autofocus just isn't up to snuff; New user interface can feel limiting to advanced photographers; Underwhelming battery life.
Read our Olympus E-M10 III Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon SX520 HS

Canon SX540 HS

Canon SX520 HS

$364
1/2.3 inch

Built-in Wi-Fi
More telephoto lens reach

$345
1/2.3 inch

Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Canon SX540 HS vs Canon SX520 HS

Olympus E-M10 III

Canon SX520 HS

$549
4/3

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$345
1/2.3 inch

Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Canon SX520 HS

Compared to Canon SX530 HS

Canon SX540 HS

Canon SX530 HS

$364
1/2.3 inch

More pixels
Shoots 60p video

$259
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive

Compare Canon SX540 HS vs Canon SX530 HS

Olympus E-M10 III

Canon SX530 HS

$549
4/3

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$259
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
NFC

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Canon SX530 HS

Compared to Olympus E-M10 II

Canon SX540 HS

Olympus E-M10 II

$364
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
NFC

$349
4/3

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX540 HS vs Olympus E-M10 II

Olympus E-M10 III

Olympus E-M10 II

$549
4/3

Shoot 4K video
Bigger JPEG buffer

$349
4/3

Less expensive

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Olympus E-M10 II

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Canon SX540 HS

Panasonic GX85

$364
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
NFC

$598
4/3

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX540 HS vs Panasonic GX85

Olympus E-M10 III

Panasonic GX85

$549
4/3

More telephoto lens reach
Higher max flash sync

$598
4/3

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Panasonic GX85

Compared to Nikon B600

Canon SX540 HS

Nikon B600

$364
1/2.3 inch

NFC
Manual focus

$327
1/2.3 inch

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Canon SX540 HS vs Nikon B600

Olympus E-M10 III

Nikon B600

$549
4/3

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$327
1/2.3 inch

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Olympus E-M10 III vs Nikon B600

Compare Other Cameras?