Settings guides · low-light photography · Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
Best Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV settings for low-light photography
Low light is a balancing act between three levers: open the aperture, slow the shutter as far as you safely can, then raise ISO for the rest. Shoot RAW to recover the most. Here it's tuned to the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV.
Recommended Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV settings for low-light photography
Tuned for your Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
- Reach: its 2× Micro Four Thirds crop turns a 300mm lens into about 600mm of reach — a real advantage for low-light photography, though it narrows your wide end.
- Clean ISO: modern Micro Four Thirds bodies like the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV stay usable up to about ISO 3200 — cap Auto ISO there so your shutter stays fast without over-cooking noise.
- Autofocus: use C-AF with a zone or tracking area, and drop to a single point when it keeps grabbing the background.
- Stabilization: the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV has in-body stabilization, so you can handhold a few stops slower for static subjects (and turn it off on a tripod).
Set up your Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV for low-light photography
- Back-button focus: assign AF to the AEL/AFL button (Button Function) and set focus priority.
- For action: use C-AF (or C-AF + TR tracking).
- Eyes & animals: enable Face/Eye priority and subject detection (OM-1).
- Burst: use Sequential High — or ProCapture to pre-buffer the moment.
Exact menu wording can vary by firmware.
Why these settings
There's simply less light to work with, so you spend your aperture and a safe slow shutter first, and only then accept higher ISO. Underexposing to keep ISO low backfires — lifting a dark file adds more noise than the higher ISO would have.
Common mistakes
- Underexposing to protect ISO, then brightening later and amplifying noise.
- Letting the shutter fall below 1/60s handheld and getting shake.
FAQ
What ISO for low light?
Whatever it takes after you've opened the aperture and reached your slowest safe shutter. A correctly exposed high-ISO shot beats an underexposed low-ISO one.
How do I avoid blur in low light?
Open the aperture and keep the shutter above your handheld floor (around 1/60–1/160s). Add light or stabilization rather than dropping the shutter further.
Does the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV have good autofocus for low-light photography?
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV can handle low-light photography well if you use C-AF (continuous AF) with a tracking or zone area and keep your shutter speed high.
Is the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV good for low-light photography?
Yes. With the settings above and its Micro Four Thirds sensor (2× crop for extra reach) and in-body stabilization, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is well suited to low-light photography. Dial the settings in for your exact lens with the coach.