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I guess it’s what you’re used to and what your expectations are tbh. I have the EM1 and it’s not great imo, but then I have the D850 too so maybe my expectations are a bit skewed.
Olympus OM-D E-M5, E-M1, E-M10 - Mk1, Mk2 & Mk3 Owners Thread
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The consensus always seemed to be that the E-M1 MkI was usable but not as good as the best DSLR tracking systems. DSLR bodies that I've used are the Canon 5D MkI, MkII and MkIII. I've never really tried to use AI Servo on the MkIII in anger but on the 5D MkI and MkII AI Servo wasn't great so I guess my expectations weren't as high when I got the E-M1 MkI.
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I don't find the EM5II up to much for tracking my kids (4 and 7). Focus if they are not moving is fast but my old Canon 40D was much better. That said I've not picked up my 40D since switching, and have far more photos of my boys now as I take the EM5 out a lot, which I didn't with the 40D. So all in I have more photos of the family and other things, but with some compromises.
I've been trying the House Martins here on and off for a week and found it virtually impossible, bar right by the nests. My best results have been with 6 large focus points selected, all I've found tends to not achieve focus on anything as they are moving too fast or it gets confused. As you are on an EMImkii I think this may be of no relevance to you!
Here is the best I've got so far - got 2 more days to try!
HouseMartinFlightSky by alligator1975, on Flickr
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It is my understanding that the EM1 mk2 is a significant step up in terms of AF overall compared to the mk1......................plus with firmware v2 this has been further improved. The Pro Capture function (only works with the Pro rated lenses, as read it adds a new dimension to the tracking. Further as noted above by @maarten.dhaese the setup can have a significant impact. Note ~ the choice of tracking sensitivity is also relevant depending on the background i.e. uniform sky vs a busy background like trees behind flying birds as outlined by Scott Bourne. (In Canon setup ~ the Case chosen and the alteration from defaults were important to make sure the AI SERVO AF performed best for the subject)
Scott Bourne article here https://www.getolympus.com/us/en/au...email&emid=David.L.Black@earthlink.net&ref=CJ
I have been a Canon user since 1989, I got the 350D when it first came as my first dSLR, then the 40D and it was a major stepup in the AI SERVO department, then the 7D for its improved AF.................finally the 5D3 which has very good AI SERVO and very clean images>>>> I was toying for ages with getting the 5D4 for its AF improvements.
However, I am now switching to the EM1 mk2 which will be a new learning curve to get the best out of it for wildlife (and other subjects) but especially the challenge of BiF. The reduction in weight I normally lug around and the quality of the 'Pro' version lenses with, for the weight, and FL giving an effective FoV of in the case of the 300mm f4 is 600mm is very appealing (the 40-150mm I am getting combined with the 1.4x TC will give me the FoV equivalent of max zoom 420mm at f5.6). Oh, that 300mm lens is on my wishlist.................still looking for somewhere that hires it.
Will start by practicing on the garden birds very soon, i hope
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Biggest problem for me with the 300f4 and fast BIFs is keeping them in the frame due to the narrow field of view. Taking a lot of practice.
May use my 40-150Pro and 1.4TC and see how that copes with swallows and Martins.
May use my 40-150Pro and 1.4TC and see how that copes with swallows and Martins.
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P1010031
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Not seen one.
Do you want a wider coverage? If so which wide angle? Or do you you want a softer lighting? Where it has a bigger area, soft box like, attachment?
Either way, it sounds like a neat little project for a home made one.
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I just want the light to be a little softer, i am going to make something, but was just curious if there is one available to buy.
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You could try pro-capture low, 10 pre shots 4 post, try and get the bird flying towards you at a slight angle.
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I recall seeing something like this one for the dSLR popup flashes...........................but now only on the bay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Pop-up-Flash-Diffuser-Soft-Box-For-DSLR-Camera-UK-/272429745304
Wonder if that would be suitable (or not)?
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I had a quick look through my back catalogue of E-M5 and E-M5ii images to see what I had in terms of tracked AF photos. The answer was very few but I do have loads of great ones of the kids, even action ones. There are ones with lots of movement like them jumping through a water fountain where I would have just focussed on the fountain and used high frame rate to nail the moment (or not!). I'm not sure how much of a problem it is but if you want to photo them running about or riding a bike or sports or something, E-M5's were way behind even average DSLR's at the time. Focus on static stuff is lightning fast through and I do have some nice photos of a friends dog running on a beach but background meant there was nothing to confuse the camera. I remember being very frustrated trying to photo a friend taking part in the Great North Run. Camera was all over the place and the closest I got to a keeper was when I intervened and used manual focus and that's still off a bit.
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Perhaps I've never been spoiled by a great DSLR but I was always happy with the performance from my Olympus systems - E-PL5, E-M10 and now E-M10ii.
I just use S-AF and Sequential Low so the camera re-focuses for each exposure. I've not really played with the C-AF functions to be honest.
Obviously my kid has grown up so now she just moves her fingers over her phone screen so is easy to capture.
If you're near a dealer who participate you can use Olympus Test & Wow to try their latest and greatest kit at no cost.
https://wow.olympus.eu/
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I don't find the EM5II up to much for tracking my kids (4 and 7). Focus if they are not moving is fast but my old Canon 40D was much better. That said I've not picked up my 40D since switching, and have far more photos of my boys now as I take the EM5 out a lot, which I didn't with the 40D. So all in I have more photos of the family and other things, but with some compromises.
I've been trying the House Martins here on and off for a week and found it virtually impossible, bar right by the nests. My best results have been with 6 large focus points selected, all I've found tends to not achieve focus on anything as they are moving too fast or it gets confused. As you are on an EMImkii I think this may be of no relevance to you!
Here is the best I've got so far - got 2 more days to try!
I dont want to post pics in this thread as there from the panasonic g80 and leica 100-400 ,but I have little trouble with b.i.f with that rig ,there are lots in the Panasonic thread and even more on my flickr stream ,and thats from gannet sized birds right the way down to fast moving house martins and swallows . yes its been a massive culture shock switching from canon crop sensor and full frame 1D cameras plus a sigma 150-600 sport ,but the problems are not insurmountable and the benefits once achieved very worthwhile ,stick with it its often a small change in the menu system that does the trick , just wish we had a micro four thirds pictures section rather than the present two intertwining threads . i.e I use both panasonic and olympus bodies and soon probably lenses
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Yeah i've seen that one, i may try that or make one myself, i was hoping for a Stofen type diffuser but i'm beginning to think there isn't one.
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Yippeeee box arrived a little while ago 
Quick thoughts while the battery charges:-
A little surprised that the body & lenses in their foam cut-outs in the box were not individually wrapped!
As mentioned I bought this direct from Olympus (came from their German HQ) and in comms with them I was reassured they open the box to put in a UK plugged lead....................nope! I have notified them of this fact
Looking at the body, 12-40 & 40-150 I was intrigued to see they were made respectively in Vietnam, Vietnam, China. Well I suppose that is global manufacturing for you??? (NB AFAIK my Canon gear was all made in Japan?)
I had no real concept as to how big the included flash would be but to find it is the size of box of matches was a "really" moment!
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So just need my SD cards and 1.4xTC to arrive to complete the set...................................due Monday but hoping sooner???
PS but for now I have a 4GB slow Class 6 SDHC for my initial play. Big enough for a few hundred raw files
Quick thoughts while the battery charges:-
A little surprised that the body & lenses in their foam cut-outs in the box were not individually wrapped!
As mentioned I bought this direct from Olympus (came from their German HQ) and in comms with them I was reassured they open the box to put in a UK plugged lead....................nope! I have notified them of this fact
Looking at the body, 12-40 & 40-150 I was intrigued to see they were made respectively in Vietnam, Vietnam, China. Well I suppose that is global manufacturing for you??? (NB AFAIK my Canon gear was all made in Japan?)
I had no real concept as to how big the included flash would be but to find it is the size of box of matches was a "really" moment!
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So just need my SD cards and 1.4xTC to arrive to complete the set...................................due Monday but hoping sooner???
PS but for now I have a 4GB slow Class 6 SDHC for my initial play. Big enough for a few hundred raw files
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Save me looking back over the thread, what have you bought, my curiosity is killing meYippeeee box arrived a little while ago
Quick thoughts while the battery charges:-
A little surprised that the body & lenses in their foam cut-outs in the box were not individually wrapped!
As mentioned I bought this direct from Olympus (came from their German HQ) and in comms with them I was reassured they open the box to put in a UK plugged lead....................nope! I have notified them of this fact
Looking at the body, 12-40 & 40-150 I was intrigued to see they were made respectively in Vietnam, Vietnam, China. Well I suppose that is global manufacturing for you??? (NB AFAIK my Canon gear was all made in Japan?)
I had no real concept as to how big the included flash would be but to find it is the size of box of matches was a "really" moment!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So just need my SD cards and 1.4xTC to arrive to complete the set...................................due Monday but hoping sooner???
PS but for now I have a 4GB slow Class 6 SDHC for my initial play. Big enough for a few hundred raw files
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As mentioned I bought this direct from Olympus (came from their German HQ) and in comms with them I was reassured they open the box to put in a UK plugged lead....................nope! I have notified them of this fact
Oops, should've mentioned that, same for me, but a standard 2-pin shaver adaptor does the trick so that's what I used to charge my batteries until Wex sent me the "proper" lead.
Indeed, welcome to the miniature world of m4/3!
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Save me looking back over the thread, what have you bought, my curiosity is killing me
The Olympus E-M1 mk2 Dual Zoom kit ~ this has the 12-40mm f2.8 Pro & the 40-150 f2.8 Pro zooms in the box......this was bought via the Olympus webshop and as per 'in the shops' it came with bonus freebie of the HLB-9 Battery Grip, also £75 off using their webshop summer special voucher code.
Hmmmm! UK plug lead even missing when buying from WEX???
As for the mini flash....................well no excuse not to carry it around as it is so small, don't lose it as a new one is approx £69 Not sure I have read or seen what Guide Number it is but a push a little extra light when needed is better than no light when needed
As for the size of things, as part of my 'check the gear' I looked to see by eye what state(?) the sensor was in and it is small (but perfectly formed)!
PS a job for the weekend ~ to sort the Canon gear out for sale.............need to re-inject some cash back after this treat to myself. SWMBO pointed out that I still some 35mm film gear in the cupboard untouched for maybe 20 years, sounds like a trip to the charity shop might be in order for some of it???
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You may want to see what 35mm lenses you have in the cupboard as you can now get all sorts of adaptors to use them on your shiny new Olympus.
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Nothing special ~ old Canon EOS lenses and nothing of note spec wise.................I sold off my Pentax stuff when I went Canon in 1989
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Check what there going for on e.bay first you might surprise yourselfNothing special ~ old Canon EOS lenses and nothing of note spec wise.................I sold off my Pentax stuff when I went Canon in 1989
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I do use pro-capture low.....will try those pre and post shot numbers.
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Yippeeee box arrived a little while ago
I had no real concept as to how big the included flash would be but to find it is the size of box of matches was a "really" moment
About the same size as built in flashes on Nikon/Canon Prosumer models.
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Did not consider that ......... probably because don't use the bay!
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Nice kit. Waiting for a quote from mpb for my Fuji stuff, I was seduced by the extra mp, and I'll be buying another em5 mkii, can't afford the pro lenses tho.
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Yup, and bearing in mind it does not use it own batteries
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Well, I wanted to at least replace(?) the Canon 100-400mm IS Mk2 I have on my full frame 5D3
I certainly need to sell some Canon gear. FWIW my brother recommended Camera Jungle.....though considering putting it here first???
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OK, a quick insight please and a question.
Found that it is on firmware v1.3 so about to update to v2 NB the manufacture date of this body clearly goes back to 2017? I have found that v1.3 existed between June to December 2017
Question? ~ can others with the same lenses give me some feedback
The 40-150 zoom ring is very smooth with just enough resistance illustrating quality, silky comes to mind, however the 12 - 40 zoom ring/action is not as smooth and actually a little rough....................have you found the same???
@mark.roper @Gandalf Hi both, how have you found the zoom actions of the same two lenses???
Found that it is on firmware v1.3 so about to update to v2 NB the manufacture date of this body clearly goes back to 2017? I have found that v1.3 existed between June to December 2017
Question? ~ can others with the same lenses give me some feedback
The 40-150 zoom ring is very smooth with just enough resistance illustrating quality, silky comes to mind, however the 12 - 40 zoom ring/action is not as smooth and actually a little rough....................have you found the same???
@mark.roper @Gandalf Hi both, how have you found the zoom actions of the same two lenses???
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The 12-40 is external zoom so inevitably a bit rougher, mine loosened up over time (the 40-150 is probably the smoothest lens I've owned).
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Possibly now you come to mention it, but never been an issue, compared to what I had previously, a Nikon "consumer" zoom and a Sigma that was stiff as hell, the 2 M.ZUIKO lenses I have now are silky smooth, with the 40-150 probably edging it as it's internal zoom.
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Thanks all for the insight on the zoom action. I surmise there is the potential for there to be 'example to example' variance?
Been having a little initial play with setting up custom settings assigned to C1 to C3 (the Scott Bourne BiF settings are the ones I have tried for now) and photographing a few subjects out the back doors in the garden..........................will post some worth(?) showing later.
The one thing I need to tweak is the Pro Capture settings, without shutter sounds it just takes too many before you know it
This is with Pro Capture Low and have yet to find the setting (I think???) to limit the number of pre & post full shutter depression.
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Odd??? Even with the date & time set when I read the card the date of of the two default folders before you drill down is 31/12/2015 this is after updating firmware to v2.1
Looking at the folder & file numbering structure:-
How many shots before it starts another folder?
Does it natively use continuous numbering?
Has anyone used the function to uniquely prefix the file numbers, for example I think you can change the first 3 digits to your initals???
PS with my Canon raw files Windows could show thumbnails but with the Oly .orf files in Windows Explorer it does not. Does anyone know if there is a Windows codec to show the thumbnails?
Looking at the folder & file numbering structure:-
How many shots before it starts another folder?
Does it natively use continuous numbering?
Has anyone used the function to uniquely prefix the file numbers, for example I think you can change the first 3 digits to your initals???
PS with my Canon raw files Windows could show thumbnails but with the Oly .orf files in Windows Explorer it does not. Does anyone know if there is a Windows codec to show the thumbnails?
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OK just one I have a quick PP play with on this morning sky moon
Both taken using the 150mm end of the zoom
#1 this is approx a 50% crop
#2 Same image but at 1:1 (or thereabouts)
PS of the others I took only had a quick gander....................mixed bag but one thing, so far, is using Auto ISO works nicely but need to reduce the upper ISO limit as @ ISO 4000 with looks a bit too meh!
Both taken using the 150mm end of the zoom
#1 this is approx a 50% crop
#2 Same image but at 1:1 (or thereabouts)
PS of the others I took only had a quick gander....................mixed bag but one thing, so far, is using Auto ISO works nicely but need to reduce the upper ISO limit as @ ISO 4000 with looks a bit too meh!
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I've set mine up to put my initials at the front. I usually date time stamp on import (after a freaky time when my camera went round the clock). I keep meaning to try and set the rest to sequential, but at the moment it adds the day and is then sequential. I must get round to sorting this!
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Just thinking out loud
In my tests I was using CF+ Tracking.......now granted my subject was very small (a Humming Bird Hawk Moth) but the tracking sometimes got dropped the subject, this being with the Tracking sensitivity at (scratches head) +2. Also, tried it on a butterfly taking off.....a bit so-so though the frames in focus are quite pleasing (will post one/couple later )
My thought is that Tracking likely will work better on much larger birds or animals...............therefore I wonder (as have not looked yet) at re-assigning a custom function to say the WB button (the one on the front with the dimple in) to toggle between CF <> CF + Tracking??? Ideally a click toggle "one to the other" rather than a hold to toggle to the alternate setting. On the Canon 5D3 I reassigned the DoF Preview button to hold toggle function to switch between Single Shot AF & AI Servo, it was quite usefull
Has anyone else reassigned buttons to improve handling if so what worked for you???
In my tests I was using CF+ Tracking.......now granted my subject was very small (a Humming Bird Hawk Moth) but the tracking sometimes got dropped the subject, this being with the Tracking sensitivity at (scratches head) +2. Also, tried it on a butterfly taking off.....a bit so-so though the frames in focus are quite pleasing (will post one/couple later
)My thought is that Tracking likely will work better on much larger birds or animals...............therefore I wonder (as have not looked yet) at re-assigning a custom function to say the WB button (the one on the front with the dimple in) to toggle between CF <> CF + Tracking??? Ideally a click toggle "one to the other" rather than a hold to toggle to the alternate setting. On the Canon 5D3 I reassigned the DoF Preview button to hold toggle function to switch between Single Shot AF & AI Servo, it was quite usefull
Has anyone else reassigned buttons to improve handling if so what worked for you???
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I have on my panasonic g80 as all the controls where on the rear toggle that is now set to move the focus points instead and the functions that were on there are now assigned buttons i.e iso, focus points , compensation .but each to there own both panasonic and olympus are very flexible systems the only thing I miss from my 1D cameras is the ability to quickly change from single to multi point focus in one click .
your camera BB is far more complex but surely has more adjustments and it will be a lengthy learning curve (we have all been there0
your camera BB is far more complex but surely has more adjustments and it will be a lengthy learning curve (we have all been there0