omd:troubleshoot
Troubleshooting Olympus OM-D cameras
half-press shutter will not attempt autofocus
check that the AF mode is S-AF or C-AF
viewfinder should display the AF mode on left side of screen, if not try pressing INFO button to toggle through display styles
alternatively, whilst viewing scene, press OK to bring up SCP which will allow you to not only see the AF mode but also select that cell then press OK to change it
on the E-M1 cameras, the top left controller has a quick access button to the AF mode menu
AF mode is displaying MF and it will not let me change it
check that the MF clutch type ring on the lens (if it has one) is not pulled back towards camera which forces camera into manual focus mode
if you have a lens which is not compatible with AF mode, you will not be able to select it
AF mode is displaying S-AF but half-press shutter button still does not try to AF
AF mode is displaying S-AF Limit
autofocus locks onto wrong subject
autofocus activates but will not lock onto subject
camera moving too much
subject moving too fast
insufficient contrast on subject
strongly backlit subject or close strong lights or reflections
subject too small (eg. thin stem of a flower)
try to AF on a subject at similar distance, then try again on the thin subject
alternatively, go into magnified view mode then try AFL
subject too dark
remove any ND or polarising filter
turn AF illuminator on (menu:cogs:A2:AF Illuminator)
use a torch, or if in studio, increase the modelling lights or ambient light
use a lens with a wider aperture that lets in more light
subject too close for the lens
subject outside the focus limiter range
check the lens is not malfunctioning
viewfinder is not displaying a lens aperture
pressing shutter does not take a photo
ensure camera has not powered itself OFF
if a compatible flash is attached and flash mode is not FLASH OFF, shutter will not fire until flash is charged and ready
in S-AF mode and AF is not able to be acquired, shutter will not release if Release Priority S is set to OFF which is the default
in C-AF mode and AF is not able to be acquired, shutter will not release if Release Priority C is set to OFF which is the default
flash does not fire
if using the bundled “popup” flash - make sure it is attached properly and flipped up 10-20 degrees
if using an external flash, ensure it is properly attached in the hotshoe and turned on, and ready light is ON
ensure RC mode is OFF unless you are using remote compatible flashes
ensure flash mode is not set to Flash Off
if using the E-M1 Mark II in silent shutter mode, check that flash in this mode is not disabled in the menu: Camera2: Anti-Shock/Silent:Silent Mode Settings:Flash Mode (note flash sync in silent shutter is limited to 1/50th sec)
flash is too dark
ensure flash exposure compensation not set to a minus value
ensure main exposure compensation not set to a minus value
if flash unit is in manual mode, increase the manual flash output
flash unit not powerful enough (ie. despite maximal output it is still too dark):
subject may be too far from flash - move closer, or increase ISO, or widen the lens aperture
lens aperture is too small - widen the aperture or increase ISO
you have left a ND or polarising filter on - remove it
ISO too low - increase ISO
top of frame is dark but bottom is OK
flash lit area OK but background too dark
change exposure mode of camera to Manual
choose a desired aperture and ISO (these will not affect the background differently to the flash)
now make the shutter speed longer - this will brighten ambient lit areas without affecting the flash lit areas
attached a flash but now image is over-exposed
if in Aperture Priority mode, check that the camera has not forced a longer shutter speed to sync with the flash and the selected aperture and ISO is causing the ambient light to be too bright even without the flash
lower the ISO, and/or,
use a smaller aperture, and/or,
use a ND or polarising filter to effectively lower the ISO further
ensure flash exposure compensation not set to a plus value
ensure flash is not too close
omd/troubleshoot.txt · Last modified: 2017/02/15 00:34 by gary1