Bridging from Pro Film/dslr to m43rds difficulty

[Godfrey]

...
It's the settings and menus that bug me with the OMD.

I go from landscapes, to street Photography to birds in flight, cars at speed. I don't use the camera every day, and my simple mind makes changes. Then I wish I hadn't!

This is a common complaint with Olympus cameras. They take the strategy with their higher end cameras that the buyers are sophisticated and want a bunch of features, will learn how to sort them out for their use. By and large the menu structures are logical but it takes time and effort to learn the logic and 'get it' so that it becomes natural.

If you regularly use a few different camera setups optimized for your subject at hand, go to Page 42 in the manual and learn about using MySet custom configurations. You can define up to four custom configurations for your various uses and recall them to active, or reset the camera to its defaults, with the MySet facility. The advantage to this is that you can have four "starting points" stored, pick one, use it, modify it, and then return to it without batting an eye. Saves having to re-figure what you changed and modified everytime you get lost.

I've used this sort of facility on my Olympus, Leica, Panasonic, and Ricoh cameras. It's very handy when you get the hang of it.

...
Perhaps the problem is that I must be a technophobe. What happened to understanding light, setting ASA, aperture and shutter speed?

Understanding light, sensitivity, aperture, and shutter speed are all still there. Configure the camera to put those controls up front for direct access, create a custom config to store that configuration, and be happy. The first, and often the only, custom config I make for any camera is setup for aperture priority, center-weighted averaging meter pattern, direct control of aperture, exposure compensation, and ISO. I map any function that allows me to toggle AF/MF in a single button press to a convenient button, same for AE-Lock. That's how I shoot 99% of the time. When I've shifted the configuration of the camera to other things and forgotten all the details, I just load that config again.

Makes life simple. 🙂

G

(My alternative login should be "way2mnycameras" ... :-\)

 

[Range-rover]

I just got a Olympus E-P3 which replaced my E-PL1, I use it like all my cameras, one Lowe pro Reporter bag (I have three Sizes) and use 2 lenses
a 14mm and a 14-42mm, simple a go with that, it's just the light weight of it all when shooting that I like.


Range

 

[sfaust]

The first thing to do when switching from DSLRs, is to think differently. Why do you need a bag at all 🙂 So yes, I agree with others, ditch the bag.

One body one lens, two bodies two lenses both on neck straps, or one body and use pockets or something small like a waist pouch. All better than carrying a bag IMO.

My kit is typically an OMD w/14-54 F2.8/3.5 mounted (or 14-42 to be more compact), on a wrist strap with spare batts and cards in my pocket. If I take more, I use a small waist pack that holds one/part/all of; 20mm 1.7, 75mm 2.5, batteries, cards, and a table tripod and FL-LM2. Covers most situations I am likely to encounter. I also have a D-clip attached to the waist pouch belt by my hip, so that I can clip the camera to the belt (D-ring on belt to wrist strap) if I need a hands free moment, or when lying the camera next to me while sitting.

With the OM-D, you don't even need to carry a light meter. It has the most accurate exposure metering of any camera I've ever used.[/URL]

After spending a week in Barcelona followed by a week in Stockholm, and shooting many gigabytes, I have to agree with you. Very accurate metering. Happy camper. Well done Olympus.

What surprised me more was how accurate the white balance is. After a thousand or so exposures in the last two weeks, I don't remember adjusting the WB at all in post. Set and forget for the most part.

The first, and often the only, custom config I make for any camera is setup for aperture priority, center-weighted averaging meter pattern, direct control of aperture, exposure compensation, and ISO. I map any function that allows me to toggle AF/MF in a single button press to a convenient button, same for AE-Lock.

Godfrey, exactly how I configure mine too. Set to A mode, Dial 1 controls aperture, Dial 2 controls exposure comp, Fn2 for AE/AF lock, Fn1 for MF or AF, Rec button for ISO. 2 dials, 3 buttons, for most everything I need to change quickly, all on the top right next to my shutter release and index finger, and I can change them while still in the viewfinder. Super Control Panel w/ touch screen handles the rest quickly as well. Very fast handling camera when you take the time to customize it to how you work, not how Olympus thinks you should work 😉

And the image stabilization is awesome. It really smooths out the video clips, and I can venture down another two stops when hand held at low shutter speeds. It really opens up the low light end helping to keep the ISO a few stops higher.

So far very happy with the OMD.

 

[dlynch]

Stephen, incredible response.
I shall take heed.

I am pleased with the camera's high ISO response. White balance, auto focus, and image stabilization are incredible. Very pleased with my choice.

Thank you!