Chuck:
I found the menus intimidating, when I started. The OM 4T doesn't have
quite so many!!!
I downloaded the manual and used the following to help. The DPR review
is useful because it list all the menu options (#9 and #10, IIRC).
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusem5
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/9115179666/user-guide-getting-the-most-out-of-the-olympus-e-m5
Part of the customization confusion lifted when I realized that a number
of the settings apply only to jpgs. Not needed if you shoot RAW or RAW+jpg.
Perhaps the most difficult to grasp was how the mysets do and don't work
(and are saved).
If it's useful, here's what I have mine set at (as I remember). It's
quite simple, as I use it in aperture priority.
MYSet 1 = normal AF use (Aperture Priority)
· Front dial=Aperture (Front dial=Shutter)
· Rear dial= exposure compensation (rear dial=exposure compensation)
· Fn 1 = AF Home
· Fn 2 = Magnify
· REC = ISO
· set AF region to smallest square in the centre
· Shooting Menu 1:
o Picture Mode = Natural
o Still Picture - LF+RAW
o Image Aspect = 4:3
o Digital teleconverter = OFF
· Shooting Menu 2:
o drive = single shot
o Image stabiliser = IS1
· AF/MF:
o AF Mode = S-AF
o Full-time AF = OFF
o AEL/AFL = S1/C2/M3
o MF Assist = ON
o AF Illuminator = ON
· Release:
o Halfway Rls With IS = ON
· Disp:
o LV Close Up Mode = mode 2
o LV Boost=OFF (so it shows effect of compensation)
o Info Settings= SCP and Live Control =ON
o Beep = OFF
· Exp/ISO:
o ESP
o ISO-Auto Set upper limit = 6400
o ISO Auto = ALL ON
o Live Bulb=0.5sec
o Live Time = OFF
· Quality/Color/WB:
o Noise Reduction = Auto
o Noise Filter = LOW
o WB=Auto
o Shading Comp=ON
o Flash+WB=FLASH/WB
· Record/Erase
o Priority Set=Yes
On 19/01/2013 1:14 PM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
> The E-M5 has arrived but I am nowhere near figuring out how to use it.
>
> I fully expected the battery to need charging first but was surprised to
> see that it indicated near full charge... or so I thought. I started
> with some basic setup including setting date and time. After about an
> hour of fiddling with things the battery symbol turned red indicating
> need for recharging. I charged it for about 4 hours. After
> reinstalling the battery I was surprised to see that the date and time
> setting had been lost.
>
> My first thought was something was wrong with the small lithium backup
> battery such as used in my Canon 5D. A thorough search of the camera
> and manual turned up no such device. As it turns out the clock is
> maintained only by a capacitor. That requires that a well charged
> battery has been in the camera for some unstated period of time to
> deliver a charge sufficient to last "about one day". Clock is now
> working and doesn't get reset if you remove the battery.
>
> The menus are extensive and almost overwhelming but I am finally getting
> a bit more comfortable with them. I've done some basic setup such as
> getting a grid displayed and enabling many things that were initially
> off just so I can see the functions. My biggest confusion point at the
> moment is the "super control panel" and variants. I couldn't even get
> it to display for a long time since the instructions seem to start from
> the default state of the viewfinder/monitor control switch as it comes
> out of the box. I had apparently pushed that control a few times and it
> took much more reading of the manual before I really understood how it
> was controlled. And I'm still not 100% sure I completely understand it.
>
> The Canon 5D has a single button dedicated to ISO and drive mode. After
> pressing that one button you turn one control wheel to change ISO and
> the other control wheel to change drive mode. The E-M5 has two
> buttons labeled Fn1 and Fn2 which are freely reprogrammable between
> various functions. I had already reprogrammed those to move the AF
> button off the shutter button and add the missing DoF preview button.
> But I was missing a button for ISO. I didn't realize at first that the
> video mode button can be reprogrammed in the same way. If you want to
> shoot video and have reprogrammed that button just switch the mode dial
> to video/movies. Anyhow the movie button is now something else.
>
> I've moved the buttons around and am not sure whether the assignments
> will move around again. I wanted the Fn1 button (thumb operated on
> back) to be the focus button but it's partially blocked by the ridge of
> the raised thumb rest and a bit difficult to press. So right now the
> Fn1 button is depth of field preview, Fn2 (next to the shutter button)
> is the focus button and the movie button is the change ISO button. The
> X-Y arrow keys can also each be individually reprogrammed to some other
> function but you'd have to give up the ability to move the focus point
> while shooting.
>
> But I have a long, long way yet to go. I haven't even begun to
> understand manual focus, the touch modes of the screen (when enabled),
> various live view stuff and much, much more. I just stumbled across the
> fact that it has bluetooth a few minutes ago. I'm not surprised but I
> hadn't known that until just now.
>
> I'd like to get a small waist belt bag for it but don't know what. I'd
> like to carry the camera, the two lenses (12-50 & 14-150), maybe a
> third lens, a flash (probably a T-32 but maybe the Canon 540-EZ) a spare
> battery and some other miscellany.
>
> Carry bag, lighter weight tripod and usage suggestions will be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Things that bug me a bit -
> I'd like to shrink the giant screen in favor of another couple buttons.
> Can't view flashies and histogram at the same time
> Top of shooting histgram is truncated
> Separate colors RGB histograms (plural) only available in review mode.
> Olympus owner's manuals, eg; page 30, 31 show high data content
> viewfinder and monitor displays that I have been totally unable to
> reproduce on my own camera.
>
> Luke warm -
> The 800x600 EVF display is not bad but even I (vs Eagle-eye Moose) can
> see some pixellation. It blows my Minolta A1 out of the water but it
> will take another generation or two before it's really great.
>
> Things I love
> Both highlight and shadow flashies
> Live preview of exposure and compentation
> Freely moveable focus point over most (but not all) of the screen
> Full time vertical/horizontal leveling bars
> Multiple grid displays
> Body with 14-150 about like carrying an OM-1 with 135/3.5
>
> Chuck Norcutt
>
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