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Re: [OM] The E-M5 has arrived

Subject: Re: [OM] The E-M5 has arrived
From: Chuck Norcutt <chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2013 15:35:17 -0500
Thanks.  I'll re-read the DPReview article.

Chuck Norcutt


On 1/19/2013 2:55 PM, Paul Braun wrote:
> I originally used the DPReview defaults, then changed some after watching 
> that online seminar.  Still many layers I haven't experimented with yet....
>
>
> Paul Braun
> Certified Music Junkie
>
> "It's such a fine line between stupid, and clever." -- David St. Hubbins
>
> "Music washes from the soul the dust of everyday life" - Harlan Howard
>
> On Jan 19, 2013, at 13:33, "Jim Nichols" <jhnichols@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> I know the feeling of being overwhelmed, Chuck.  My solution is to pick the
>> most useful features, learn them, and forget about the other features that
>> you paid for.  Use the manual if they must be activated.  I firmly believe
>> that, as I push more details into this old brain, others are pushed out.  It
>> works like a maxed out HD. ;~)
>>
>> Jim Nichols
>> Tullahoma, TN USA
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Chuck Norcutt" <chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: "Olympus mail list" <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2013 12:14 PM
>> Subject: [OM] The E-M5 has arrived
>>
>>
>>> 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
>>> --
>>> _________________________________________________________________
>>> Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
>>> Archives: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/private/olympus/
>>> Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/
>>
>>
>> --
>> _________________________________________________________________
>> Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
>> Archives: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/private/olympus/
>> Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/
>>
-- 
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Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
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Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/

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