using your Olympus OM-D with Four Thirds or manual focus lenses
see also:
these tips are largely applicable to other MFT cameras such as the Olympus E-PL5, E-PL6, E-P3, E-M5, E-M10 and E-M1
introduction
optimising your E-M5 or E-M10 for faster focus use with non-CDAF Four Thirds lenses
optimise camera stability to reduce camera shake
optimise AF with Four Thirds lenses
set Picture Mode = Vivid (gives faster AF)
do not use C-AF modes - use S-AF instead
turn off fulltime AF
avoid using dark filters such as ND or polarising filters
use Four Thirds lenses with CD-AF compatibility if possible
set camera to manual focus
half-press of the shutter activating AF will drive you crazy as focus lock can take a second or more, and perhaps never happen if your subject is low contrast or moving
thus set focus mode to MF
assign REC button to AFL/AEL function
set AEL/AFL mode to S1/C2/M3
enable half-press shutter image stabilisation activation
this is important when manual focus is being used as it helps stabilise the image while you are trying to gain accurate manual focus
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NB. the E-M1 will automatically activate IS when you enter magnified view mode, whereas with the E-M5, you must also half-press the shutter to activate it
enable manual magnified view function
allocate Fn2 button to magnified view
by default this is already set to “MultiFunction” and thus by holding it down you can set it to Magnified View functionality, alternatively, set the button to Magnify via the menu system as for other buttons.
the default behaviour is that when you touch the shutter button to activate IS as above, you are automatically exited from magnified view mode - exactly what we don't want.
enable manual focus peaking
Olympus E-M5 only (the others have focus peaking available)
unfortunately Olympus is yet to implement a manual focus peaking functionality in the E-M5 firmware despite the latest PEN and OM-D camera's having it.
not to worry, there is a work-around by using the ART filter 11 set to Keyline type II as follows:
1st choose type II for Keyline:
Now alter some settings ready to save to My Settings 1 so this mode can easily be activated
set Picture Mode to Key Line
Menu, Camera 1, Picture Mode, scroll down to Key Line and hit the OK button (not the right arrow as before!)
optionally, to save card space, as you are not really interested in saving the Key Line jpeg file, set jpeg to smallest size (you cannot just save the RAW file in ART Filter mode), however, if you don't press the shutter button in this mode, this becomes irrelevant
Set desired MF settings:
Menu, Cogs, AF Mode, Still Picture, right arrow then select MF
Menu, Cogs, AF Mode, MF Assist, right arrow and select OFF (you don't want enlarged view as well in peaking mode as this makes it difficult when using dedicated lenses, although the MF Assist plus peaking may still be a useful adjunct for legacy MF lenses as you have more control over when it is activated)
Save settings to MySet1
Menu, Camera 1, Reset/Myset, press OK, scroll down to MySet1, press OK, then choose Yes then OK
Set Fn1 button to MySet1
Menu, Cogs, Button/Dial, Button Function, set Fn1 Function item to MySet1 by right arrow then scroll to MySet1 then press OK
remember to go back and change all your settings to what you normally use
when you need focus peaking, just hold the Fn1 button and adjust the manual focus, then once focus is achieved as indicated by sharp black lines, release the Fn1 button to return to your normal settings
how to use these settings
manual focus using peaking
obtain approximate focus by rotating the lens manual focus ring
hold down Fn1 button (activates Keyline effect) while optionally half-pressing shutter (activates IS)
adjust focus until sharp black lines appear on your subject
you can now either:
fully press shutter button to take a Keyline jpeg + RAW image, or,
remove thumb from Fn1 to exit Keyline, then press shutter to take normal image according to your settings
manual focus using manually activated magnified view
obtain approximate focus by rotating the lens manual focus ring
press the Fn2 BRIEFLY ONCE to bring up the green MF area
whilst in green area selection view
arrow buttons move the area around the screen to select the area to be magnified
long press of OK button resets the magnified view to the central portion of the frame
short press of Fn2 changes to magnified view
long press of Fn2 exits magnified view
whilst in magnified view mode:
half-press shutter to activate IS
adjust focus
you can now either:
take your shot by full press of shutter, or,
exit magnified view mode first by pressing Fn2 button again
single auto focus lock
optionally obtain approximate focus by rotating the lens manual focus ring (this may improve chances of AF lock occurring, especially for subjects that would otherwise be very out of focus at the current lens setting)
press REC button until AF lock occurs then release
optionally you can now adjust focus manually as above
take the photo as usual whenever you want