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Micro 4/3 manual focusing

felix5616

Member
Of the newer crop of micro 4/3 cameras how easy or difficult is manual focusing, with kit lenses of adapted lenses? i was forced to sell an M9 and was hoping to use a micro 4/3 camera until i can get another M9. I am under the impression the manual focusing is somewhat complicated.
 
K

Kewk

Guest
Depends a lot on the lenses and it's depth of field. I'm an old Leica film guy (can't afford the digital stuff). My favorite focal length on an M was 35mm with a lot of scale focusing on the street. On my E-P1, I've found my newly purchased 15mm voigtlander works nicely using the same method.

For adapted lenses that require fine focusing, like a 75mm f1.9, it's a lot more complicated. You must press a button to bring up the 10x focusing view, focus, then press the button again to see the entire scene, then press the shutter. Fine for landscapes, but my success rate with my 2 year old is about 1 out of 20 shots.

With the kit lens I don't know why you'd bother with manual focus. It is a bit easier in that moving the focus ring brings up the 10x view.

All I've written above refers to the E-P1. Not sure how Panasonic does it.
 

pellicle

New member
it also depends a lot on the camera ... as Kewk suggests the Panasonic is different. I love the ability to get right where I want with the EVF on the G1, its so good I seldom need to use the magnification.

I think Hodad will be quick to agree with this if he spots this thread.

I hand hold telephoto lenses and focus with confidence even in low light, for instance some with my 300mm





50mm at f1.4



even macro with extension tube:
 

Diane B

New member
I have a G1 and GF1. With the GF1 its a one button push (dial actually) for MF assist--and quite easy for MF focusing. I would only really do this, particularly for longer lenses, with the EVF. For the G1--I roll my thumb from the left button of the 4 way to the ok as I bring it to my eye--very quick and into MF assist without a lot of time. The wonderful EVF on the G1 is terrific for MF--and I easily shoot with my 135 f/2.8 (I don't have longer--and actually prefer less long). OFten I can MF without using MF assist since the EVF is so big and bright.

Diane
 
K

Kewk

Guest
One more note, from what I've read the E-P2 has the best EVF (also an option on the E-PL1). I won't get into all the pluses and minuses of the various MFT cameras, but screen resolution might be more important to you if you plan on a lot of manual focusing. I went with the E-P1 because it was cheap, but the LCD screen is pretty bad.
 

Diane B

New member
If you want to stick with the smaller bodies, then the EP2 would be the better choice for the best EVF--though as I understand, the MF assist is not as easily used. Overall--the G1/GH1 would certainly qualify as equal to best for sure for their EVFs. They are terrific big, bright, great resolution EVFs. For all round, the G1/GH1 would be my choice with MF lenses both for ergonomics and EVF.
 
K

Kewk

Guest
Personally, I found the E-P2 just too bulky with the EVF attached. The GF1 has the same problem. They really aren't that compact once you add the finder.

I bought the cheap E-P1 and I'm waiting for a MFT camera with the form factor of the L1 (EVF in the corner like a rangefinder).
 

pellicle

New member
Kewk

I've handled the E-P2 in the shop and found that the G1 / GH1 viewfinder is better. A quick look at the specs will also support that the Panasonic being better on paper. The Olympus has only 1.15x viewfinder magnification vs 1.4x on the G1 and as well the EP2 uses a chip made by Epson for the display which (unlike the G1) has individual points for R G and B (whereas the G1 has a single point which is cycled through R G and B 180 times a second). As I understand it the lower magnification is required so that it does not look like a magnifying glass put to a TV screen.

Also I found the EVF on the EP2 a wee bit 'jumpier' than that of the G1 (which is very smooth) when moving around and chasing moving targets ... especially with that on screen histogram (which btw is much better than Panasonic's pathetic live historgram)

However all can be solved by trying both together ... I think you'll see what I mean

lastly, I'm not trying to be contrary, just reporting what I see and what I have read. I hold no religious preference for Panasonic and would jump ship to Oly if they made a camera that was as good to use as the Panasonic is ... (especially since they have IBIS and better access to 4/3 Oly lenses:)

PS:


... I'm waiting for a MFT camera with the form factor of the L1 (EVF in the corner like a rangefinder).
you mean like the old L1



that would be nice
 
K

Kewk

Guest
I compared the E-P2 to the GF1 with finders in the store and found the E-P2 much more to my liking. I don't care for the G1 type bodies. I have Canon DSLRs when I want SLR form factor. Just my preference.

Yes, I was referring to the old Panasonic L1.
 

Jack

Sr. Administrator
Staff member
I have not used other cameras extensively, but have to say that even with my weak eyes, MF on the GF1 is a breeze! Here is a shot of Guy at breakfast during our Salton Sea workshop. I was using the GF1 with a Konica 40mm f1.8 lens wide open. To focus manually, you simply push in the rear command wheel and the screen magnifies, focus to taste, shoot. I have to wear cheaters to read the restaurant menu, but wasn't bothering with them here -- the LCD is good enough even with my eyes. (FWIW, I borrowed the EVF a few mornings later, and it is even better for this type of shooting -- I now have one in the bag ;).)

Oh, one last thing -- the little Konica 40 is NOT a laser wide open, in fact it more resembles an old Summarit. I use it for portraits because I LOVE the spherical aberrations, slight veiling flare and bokeh. Interestingly, the aberrations and flare go away by f4 and the lens becomes a relative laser -- best of both worlds in one, el-cheapo lens!

GF1, ISO 400, hand-held at 1/60th, Konica 40 at f1.8 in Chinese adapter, raw processed in C1, converted to B&W in CS. Here's the full frame:



Here's the crop. I focused on his glasses frame thinking that would be "close enough to his eye --- WRONG!:

 

Diane B

New member
Straying OT here--but I like that 40 f/1.8 myself. I like that shot of Guy also.

I'm older than Jack but can use the LCD on the GF1 okay--but I'm a VF kind of person LOL--and I DO have to use the EVF for outside shooting most of the time, so I just leave it on all the time.

I have not used other cameras extensively, but have to say that even with my weak eyes, MF on the GF1 is a breeze! Here is a shot of Guy at breakfast during our Salton Sea workshop. I was using the GF1 with a Konica 40mm f1.8 lens wide open. To focus manually, you simply push in the rear command wheel and the screen magnifies, focus to taste, shoot. I have to wear cheaters to read the restaurant menu, but wasn't bothering with them here -- the LCD is good enough even with my eyes. (FWIW, I borrowed the EVF a few mornings later, and it is even better for this type of shooting -- I now have one in the bag ;).)

Oh, one last thing -- the little Konica 40 is NOT a laser wide open, in fact it more resembles an old Summarit. I use it for portraits because I LOVE the spherical aberrations, slight veiling flare and bokeh. Interestingly, these all go away by f4 and the lens becomes a relative laser -- best of both worlds in one, el-cheapo lens!

GF1, ISO 400, hand-held at 1/60th, Konica 40 at f1.8 in Chinese adapter, raw processed in C1, converted to B&W in CS. Here's the full frame:



Here's the crop. I focused on his glasses frame thinking that would be "close enough to his eye --- WRONG!:

 
K

Kewk

Guest
No need to apologize Pellicle. I should have been more clear.
 

retow

Member
Manual focusing with EP2 is a joy, thanks to its excellent EVF. With this combo, I never use the mf assist. EP2 with Leica Macro Elmar 90, focusing on the letters "N an L" on the lens barrel.
 
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retow

Member
cute camera there (with the Fujinon lens)

what is it pray tell?
What is it pray?
It's dreaming of being reborn as a digital camera, with a large sensor, maybe a Foveon one, or an improved mft, but otherwise exactly as it is.
It would be a serious contender to Leica's X1.
 
V

vlatko

Guest
Manual focusing on Pens is a bit fiddly with the screen. Press OK, focus, press OK again to see the complete picture, press shutter. It works, though.

But with the EVF on E-P2, it's much much less problematic because the EVF gives the same image as the optical viewfinder on E-3. Has a very nice resolution. Mostly you don't need to use the magnification at all. Except with the extremely shallow DoF cause my eyes are really not what they were. But with magnification I can focus with the LCD, too.
 

ReeRay

Member
Of the newer crop of micro 4/3 cameras how easy or difficult is manual focusing, with kit lenses of adapted lenses? i was forced to sell an M9 and was hoping to use a micro 4/3 camera until i can get another M9. I am under the impression the manual focusing is somewhat complicated.


Manual focusing is a breeze even for a little action - GF1, RJ adapter, Contax G 90mm @ f.5.6
 

Rich M

Member
Manual focusing with EP2 is a joy, thanks to its excellent EVF.
I'm going to jump in here. I think something that has not been mentioned is the IBIS that goes along with the E-P2. Maybe it's just me, but my longer MF lenses are problematic on my GF-1 in low light. If I don't keep in mind the old rule....length=speed, then I get lots of motion blur.

So, it's not an issue of the focus.......it's an issue with shake.

On my E-P2, I am getting shots (again on longer lenses >50mm) that I was not able to get on my GF-1. Does that mean the E-P2 is a "better" camera? No....I just shoot more of my legacy lenses on it.

R
 
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