Olympus OM-D E-M5, E-M1, E-M10 - Mk1, Mk2 & Mk3 Owners Thread

RedRobin said:
.... Damselflies in particular are notoriously tricky to get in focus all along their body and of course the closer you are, the shallower the DoF (Depth of Focus Field).

I don't use Lightroom and so I can't comment. I'm not keen on Topaz and don't use that either.

If you shoot on an Olympus / OM gear which supports Focus Stacking it can be an enormous help but only providing that both target and camera can remain still.

If you are interested in damselflies and dragonflies and are on Facebook, I Admin this group :

Facebook

www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
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Cheers
Yes I am a member of that group and am the Dragonfly county recorder for where I live :)

I cant use focus stacking i dont think, I handhold so don't think its going to work?
 
justa1972 said:
Am I the only one that uses M43 for landscapes ?! Quick holiday snap of Symonds Yat in the Wye Valley with the 8-25.

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.... Is that a drone shot? Or did you find a very high point as the branches in the foreground suggest.

As well as wildlife I shoot surfers and railways. My 'landscape' shots are just spontaneous snaps and usually on my Olympus TG-6 pocket camera.

BIG WAVE SURFERS CAN DO AIRS TOO!! by Robin Procter, on Flickr
 
peat said:
Cheers
Yes I am a member of that group and am the Dragonfly county recorder for where I live :)

I cant use focus stacking i dont think, I handhold so don't think its going to work?
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.... Focus Stacking is supported on the OM-1 according to which Olympus lenses you have mounted. But not Panasonic lenses. Just for a laugh I am tempted to write "supported on proper Olympus lenses, not Panasonic" :ROFLMAO:

The Olympus TG-6 TOUGH pocket camera also supports it including handheld. Nearly all my focus stacking has been handheld :

BEAUTIFUL DEMOISELLE (Calopteryx virgo) by Robin Procter, on Flickr

So which county and what name are you on the group please? I assume you have posted there.
 
RedRobin said:
.... Focus Stacking is supported on the OM-1 according to which Olympus lenses you have mounted. But not Panasonic lenses. Just for a laugh I am tempted to write "supported on proper Olympus lenses, not Panasonic" :ROFLMAO:

The Olympus TG-6 TOUGH pocket camera also supports it including handheld. Nearly all my focus stacking has been handheld :

BEAUTIFUL DEMOISELLE (Calopteryx virgo) by Robin Procter, on Flickr

So which county and what name are you on the group please? I assume you have posted there.
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That is superb Robin, l will have to give focus stacking some effort one day.
 
ajophotog said:
That is superb Robin, l will have to give focus stacking some effort one day.
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.... Your macro work if you add focus stacking could be even more stellar!! I only use natural light rather than any diffuser rig like yourself.

Your flash will have to support focus stacking - The Olympus STF-8 Twinflash does but I haven't tried it yet. I seem to be too busy shooting with the big white supertelephoto - Averaging about 500 shots per day for the last few days and over 50 already this morning and it's only 8:05am.
 
Focus Stacked in camera, handheld but on monopod to help keep steady. Olympus 60mm Macro + E-M1X. Natural light, not flash, always my preference :

GARDEN SPIDER by Robin Procter, on Flickr
 
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Even the big white supertelephoto supports handheld focus stacking. Mounted on my monopod to help keep steady but Handheld setting :

Shooting focus stacks handheld is a bit hit-and-miss but often worth a go if you already have got a straight shot in the bag.

MIGRANT HAWKER TAKING SHELTER by Robin Procter, on Flickr
 
justa1972 said:
Am I the only one that uses M43 for landscapes ?!
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Nope - it does sometimes feel like birds and bugs are all that people shoot with M43 ;)
Nothing wrong with those subjects just not things that I'm interested in.

I shoot a bit of most things - mainly when I'm travelling rather than going out specifically to take pictures - but I love a landscape or seascape when one is in view.


Two and Three by AMcUK, on Flickr


Fleet Dyke by AMcUK, on Flickr
 
Just an update for those waiting on OM-1 accessory pre-orders : I shall be receiving my HLD-10 Battery Grip and OM twin battery recharger with extra battery via Parcelforce on Wednesday < YAY!!!

Obviously I have managed without but battery recharging has been both tedious and limiting as I rarely get more than 1,000 RAW images out of each battery and I often shoot between 500 and 1,200 per day.

Similarly and especially with a big telephoto mounted, I always have owned cameras with battery grips and have missed not having it quite often with the OM-1.

So this is good news for those waiting.
 
Ah right I’ll give focus stacking handheld a go then as I have the oly 60mm macro.

I must admit I am struggling a bit to find good af settings at the moment on both lenses.
I can see the focus going in and out when the subject is just sitting there. And going through the shots I would say about 50% are in focus.
Think I just need to watch a few of the settings videos on YouTube and try them all out (all seem to be different from what I have seen so far, it’s a shame there isn’t a consensus).

Bird tracking in flight is impressive to see how it finds them but I’m not getting the keeper rates I have seen people mention on the YouTube video reviews. Maybe a limitation of the lens.
 
peat said:
Ah right I’ll give focus stacking handheld a go then as I have the oly 60mm macro.

I must admit I am struggling a bit to find good af settings at the moment on both lenses.
I can see the focus going in and out when the subject is just sitting there. And going through the shots I would say about 50% are in focus.
Think I just need to watch a few of the settings videos on YouTube and try them all out (all seem to be different from what I have seen so far, it’s a shame there isn’t a consensus).

Bird tracking in flight is impressive to see how it finds them but I’m not getting the keeper rates I have seen people mention on the YouTube video reviews. Maybe a limitation of the lens.
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I had to do a backward search to see the lens you were referring to . It seems to be the PL 100-400 .. having owned that lens and used it on let’s see a pana g80 / g9 / omd 1/omd1-mkii/omd1-mkiii I think I’m fairly well qualified to state that although it functions on the olympus bodies it’s performance is sub par and often leaves you struggling .my own particular lens had back focus issues that needed complex MIcro adjustments . A common fault apparently .
When I traded it in for the olympus version it was like a breath of fresh air ,I use my oly 100-400 on the 1-mkiii body body now and find no focus issues at all ,but also now only use the two single point modes and couple that all point for b.i.f .. I find the other multi points to be unreliable
 
the black fox said:
I had to do a backward search to see the lens you were referring to . It seems to be the PL 100-400 .. having owned that lens and used it on let’s see a pana g80 / g9 / omd 1/omd1-mkii/omd1-mkiii I think I’m fairly well qualified to state that although it functions on the olympus bodies it’s performance is sub par and often leaves you struggling .my own particular lens had back focus issues that needed complex MIcro adjustments . A common fault apparently .
When I traded it in for the olympus version it was like a breath of fresh air ,I use my oly 100-400 on the 1-mkiii body body now and find no focus issues at all ,but also now only use the two single point modes and couple that all point for b.i.f .. I find the other multi points to be unreliable
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.... I'm afraid to say that this is exactly why I always mount same brand lenses on bodies - There are nearly always compromises and some I find unacceptable. If someone has budget limitations I think it's better/wiser to buy a secondhand same brand lens rather than a new third-party one.
 
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peat said:
Ah right I’ll give focus stacking handheld a go then as I have the oly 60mm macro.

I must admit I am struggling a bit to find good af settings at the moment on both lenses.
I can see the focus going in and out when the subject is just sitting there. And going through the shots I would say about 50% are in focus.
Think I just need to watch a few of the settings videos on YouTube and try them all out (all seem to be different from what I have seen so far, it’s a shame there isn’t a consensus).
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.... The Oly 60mm Macro is a superb example of how good Olympus/OM optics are and it's a lens which is quite a few years old now. It's as sharp as the renowned Canon EF 100mm F/2.8L IS Macro but it is tricky to use and takes practice.

The key to macro, as opposed to close-up, work is to manually focus and use Focus Peaking to help.

There is no magic formula in getting the best out of complicated modern digital cameras. Opinions are like arseholes in that everyone has one!

But here is an Olympus 60mm Macro article I found helpful :

Mastering the 60mm Macro | OM SYSTEM

Get tips to help you utilize the M.Zuiko 60mm F2.8 Macro for your photography.
learnandsupport.getolympus.com learnandsupport.getolympus.com
 
To encourage those who are thinking about the E-M5 iii and/or do other than wildlife, here's a shot of Brixham from across the harbour. It probably could have been taken with my 8-25mm but it's actually a two-shot 'panorama' taken with the 12-100mm as that was on the camera at the time. We're currently staying in Brixham so I've only got my laptop and any pp may not be all it could be......


P6110001-2.JPG
 
the black fox said:
I had to do a backward search to see the lens you were referring to . It seems to be the PL 100-400 .. having owned that lens and used it on let’s see a pana g80 / g9 / omd 1/omd1-mkii/omd1-mkiii I think I’m fairly well qualified to state that although it functions on the olympus bodies it’s performance is sub par and often leaves you struggling .my own particular lens had back focus issues that needed complex MIcro adjustments . A common fault apparently .
When I traded it in for the olympus version it was like a breath of fresh air ,I use my oly 100-400 on the 1-mkiii body body now and find no focus issues at all ,but also now only use the two single point modes and couple that all point for b.i.f .. I find the other multi points to be unreliable
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Thanks. Funnily enough I had come to the same conclusion today. As another attempt shooting birds even ones sitting on branches had a poor keeper rate and worst of all my bridge camera Sony rx10iv could get way more birds in flight keepers then my om1 and pany 100-400 combo.

Your comment has put the nail in the coffin for the pany lens.
 
Yep some could be user error but when I owned the PL on olympus bodies I felt it was a constant struggle , it did however put me in deep learning mode to eliminate any errors in my settings , so every cloud has a silver lining ..
The one incident that made me realise I had made the right move was shortly after acquiring the lens I was shooting down the estuary over high tide a herring gull picked up a black rat from the reeds , I shot off a burst of 36 shots with it carrying the rat , not only was EVERY shot sharp you could even see the toes on the rat. as here
lunch is served by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr
 
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I recognise the first two....

The second, wracking my brains, is that Bude :thinking:
We were there for the first time ever in January and walked past those huts.......I am sure we were in Bude....or were we ~ where else did we go???
 
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The first is Clovelly, the beach huts are at Crooklets Bay, and the last two are at Bedruthan steps the last one is incorrectly titled as Hartland Quay, which is another great place to visit.
 
the black fox said:
I had to do a backward search to see the lens you were referring to . It seems to be the PL 100-400 .. having owned that lens and used it on let’s see a pana g80 / g9 / omd 1/omd1-mkii/omd1-mkiii I think I’m fairly well qualified to state that although it functions on the olympus bodies it’s performance is sub par and often leaves you struggling .my own particular lens had back focus issues that needed complex MIcro adjustments . A common fault apparently .
When I traded it in for the olympus version it was like a breath of fresh air ,I use my oly 100-400 on the 1-mkiii body body now and find no focus issues at all ,but also now only use the two single point modes and couple that all point for b.i.f .. I find the other multi points to be unreliable
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I'm having terrible problems with that combination now. The only way I can describe most of the results I get is "mushy". I can't detect any camera shake, missed focus or any specific problem but they generally look from slightly unsatisfactory to a useless pile of ****. Sometimes I surprise myself and manage a result that is actually quite good! I'm coming to the conclusion that either the lens or camera body has to go. I'm waiting on a OM1D when it becomes available but maybe I should change lenses first?

Did you conclude that the lens itself was OK but that it was the combination with the Olympus body that was causing problems?
 
it was most definetly the lens Jeremy . the shop I bought from is in Colwyn Bay so the olympus was bolted on to the camera 10 minutes after purchase . a few shots of a cormorant flying at me with every frame sharp was enough to convince me it was a superb buy ..
don't get me wrong I still get o.o.f shots or press the shutter to late or to early .. but in every instance I can put it down to user error on my part . remember if your camera is updated to support the lens you also get i.s in the lens and pitch and yaw in the body . not full synch but far better than the PL . if your in range of Chester you can always try mine .
oh and dont forget the olympus one takes the 1.4 t.c to
 
the black fox said:
it was most definetly the lens Jeremy . the shop I bought from is in Colwyn Bay so the olympus was bolted on to the camera 10 minutes after purchase . a few shots of a cormorant flying at me with every frame sharp was enough to convince me it was a superb buy ..
don't get me wrong I still get o.o.f shots or press the shutter to late or to early .. but in every instance I can put it down to user error on my part . remember if your camera is updated to support the lens you also get i.s in the lens and pitch and yaw in the body . not full synch but far better than the PL . if your in range of Chester you can always try mine .
oh and dont forget the olympus one takes the 1.4 t.c to
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That's a great offer, Jeff. I'm wondering if I can justify a trip up to chester!

You said that you PX'd the Panasonic lens for the new Olympus......did Cambrian Photographic not worry that if you weren't happy with the results you were getting from the former that it might be faulty?
 
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jerry12953 said:
You said that you PX'd the Panasonic lens for the new Olympus......did Cambrian Photographic not worry that if you weren't happy with the results you were getting from the former that it might be faulty?
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.... The onus / responsibility is for the dealer to thoroughly inspect any goods submitted for PX to then afterwards offer you a price. So whether they were informed or not by Jeff should not have made any difference to their PX offer to him. At least, that's how it usually works in practice for part exchange.
 
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jerry12953 said:
That's a great offer, Jeff. I'm wondering if I can justify a trip up to chester!

You said that you PX'd the Panasonic lens for the new Olympus......did Cambrian Photographic not worry that if you weren't happy with the results you were getting from the former that it might be faulty?
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to be honest they never even opened the box , I could have put a house brick the box for all they cared .. but saying that I do know the owner quiet well .
 
the black fox said:
to be honest they never even opened the box , I could have put a house brick the box for all they cared .. but saying that I do know the owner quiet well .
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.... I would have thought that knowing you quite well Jeff would have given them extra reason to check it wasn't a house brick :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO: :exit:
 
peat said:
Thanks. Funnily enough I had come to the same conclusion today. As another attempt shooting birds even ones sitting on branches had a poor keeper rate and worst of all my bridge camera Sony rx10iv could get way more birds in flight keepers then my om1 and pany 100-400 combo.

Your comment has put the nail in the coffin for the pany lens.
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I'm in exactly the same position - got the Pany 100-400 just before Olympus released theirs and my keeper rate has always been disappointing. It might be cheaper to change the camera for a Pany rather than the lens, but sounds like I need to change one or the other!
 
magicolor1 said:
I'm in exactly the same position - got the Pany 100-400 just before Olympus released theirs and my keeper rate has always been disappointing. It might be cheaper to change the camera for a Pany rather than the lens, but sounds like I need to change one or the other!
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I did try that and bought a G9 sent it back after a very frustrating week , got to used to the bells and whistles on a mk2 and mkiii
 
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