New features on the E-M1 firmware 4.0
Olympus Global announced that it will release a new firmware update for the E-M1 and E-M5II by end of November. New features:
New main features added in firmware upgrade
1) Focus Stacking Mode (OM-D E-M1 only)
Focus Stacking Mode let you shoot macro photos that are completely in focus at all depths. A single press of the shutter button captures 8 shots with different focal positions, automatically merging them into a single shot on the camera. Depth of field larger than that of minimum aperture and high resolution without diffraction can be achieved.
2) Focus Bracketing Mode
This function captures up to 999 shots with the focus position for each shot being changed, allowing you to use photo retouching software to merge the images with larger depth of field that cannot be achieved in focus stacking mode (8 shots).
3) S-OVF (Simulated OVF)
S-OVF enables a view that is similar to that of an optical viewfinder.
Exposure compensation and white balance are purposely not shown in S-OVF so that users who are comfortable with the optical viewfinder in DSLR cameras can use the camera in the exact same way.
4) Movie-Exclusive Picture Mode: Flat (OM-D E-M5 Mark II only)
Movie-Exclusive Picture Mode Flat provides beautiful post-editing or grading color by lowering the contrast to minimize highlight blowouts and loss of detail in shadows.
5) Synchronized PCM Audio Rec. with Movie Recording
Functions have been added for shooting movies when connecting [shoplink 55579 ebay]Olympus Linear PCM Recorder LS-100[/shoplink] via USB cable. Slate Tone can be added to make it easier to synchronize the audio and image after recording is complete, and a function for synchronizing the start of audio recording with movie recording on the camera is also available.
6) Enhanced functions on Olympus Capture Version 1.1
You can customize the display of items on the Super Control Panel so that only the required functions are displayed, and you can change the layout for easier access of the most frequently used functions. Direct PC saving is also available and the transfer speed is made faster by saving images directly to a computer without recording to an SD card. Transfer speed is improved up to 4 times faster than before. Tether shooting capabilities are also expanded. Features such as Keystone Compensation are now available to operate via a computer by connecting the camera to a computer.
7) MF Clutch and Snapshot Focus Disable
You can change settings from the menu to disable MF Clutch and Snapshot Focus.
8) Latest firmware for M.Zuiko Pro and Premium lenses
Along with this latest firmware upgrade, latest firmware for the M.Zuiko Pro and Premium lenses will also be released. Aperture drive has been improved for smooth exposure control even when shooting movies in situations with sudden changes in brightness. It also supports for disabling the MF Clutch and Snapshot Focus.
229 Responses
Cool! Could this also mean E-M1 II is in the pipelina and this is the last effort to add more extra appeal to the current model?
Yes, in the pipeline for Photokina next year in 2016 (so the rumours go, per Simon). They would hardly give these updates if it was any sooner. Of course the E-M1 Mk II has been in the pipeline for ages, it’s just that it would not be sensible to release it earlier (unless particularly pushed by competition) & is likely to have a new sensor too, which might not have been possible had it come earlier perhaps.
These updates for the E-M1 will help keep it a worthwhile saleable model well into next year.
Unfortunately no trackpad AF / Targeting pad AF mentioned. Was really looking forward to that.
Yeah, that would have been really nice – my GM5 has it, E-M10 mark II has it, why not E-M1?
It doesnt have a fully articulated screen, maybe that’s why.
Neither do GM5 nor E-M10 mark II. In fact fully articulated may be not convenient for this feature. HOwever, with the fixed screen of my GM5 I use this feature all the time.
Many doesn’t use as you can’t get your thumb between your face and the camera. Already a right thumb position is so close that it hits your face if you don’t use just right eye.
And that is reason why the EVF needs to be on the top left corner instead center, making that possible, but weakening the camera three-point handling.
With E-M1 you don’t want to use touchpad, because you are faster to move focus point without loosing grip by using a front and rear dial.
Front dial moves AF point horizontally (+-2 steps moves AF point in rule of thirds position) and rear vertically (you really don’t often need to move it).
Wow, electronic shutter for my trusty EM-1. Like it!
At last 25p for the em1!! I guess it is too much to ask for a better codec 🙁
What I really want is 60FPS so that I can do smoother slow downs, I think it’s almost certain that’s not coming anymore. =(
Higher frame rates definitely desirable. At least 5 Mark II has 60fps 1080. I use that setting with gopro and it gives nice options for changing video speeds. Want 120 fps now.
Yeah, I don’t consider myself fussy with video editing, but in today’s day and age where slowing footage down to 50% still results in smooth jutter-free video, the EM1 is severely lacking behind. I could be wrong but I understand that the processor on it is similar to the EM5 II, so my only guess is they are purposely limiting the feature. =
Who knows. I am convinced Olympus updated the codec in the E-M5 without mentioning it. I bought one shortly after it was released and it still had the original 1.0 firmware and test videos had terrible motion smearing artifacts. Some time later after several firmware updates I tried to recreate the artifacts I remembered and couldn’t.
Yes 25fps! For me more important than a better codec (although agree that would be nice). Have experienced flickering with TL-lighting setups even with compensation set to 50Hz with the 30fps recording. Also got a GF2 which does 25fps – looking forward to play with two camera position recording EM1 + GF2 both at 25fps.
Focus bracketing, silent shutter, improved anti-shock mode. Wow, nice work Olympus!
4 colors focus peaking, 25fps, flat-profile, touch screen movie operation, focus stacking/4K interval.
Flat profile will only be coming to the E-M5 Mk II, not the E-M1 if you look at the table.
I was about to say I wished the update include other focus peaking colour choices beside the white. Where did you see that and what other 3 colours?
Near the top of the table under Focus Bracketing Mode.
3 – Advanced Focus Peaking (4 colors)
Does this mean that the EM-1 will have the same stabilisation capabilities like the EM-5 II?
Not quite, because the actual physical IS mechanisms are actually different.
http://i1351.photobucket.com/albums/p794/An0nemu5/Forum/olympus-EM1-%20EM5%20II%20IBIS_zps51e0eokd.jpg
The IBIS is little different, but IBIS are capable for same range of movements and stabilizate as well.
The difference is in gyros and that the new IBIS can actually be controlled when disabled for HR mode.
The E-M5 II gyros are far more accurate to older gyros that makes it possible to sense the smaller shakes/motions in macro photography, that the old gyros had in its limits.
Both are 5-stop effectiveness but new gyros just makes things better in extreme situations, unless you create additional shake to E-M1 so its gyros can work with it 🙂
Isn’t the effectiveness of the E-M5 II IBIS quite a bit more effective when shooting video – or is that just the gyros?
It is the gyros and the E-M5 II has M-IS1 and M-IS2. The M-IS1 is sensor shift + digital correction. M-IS2 is just the sensor shift. And now E-M1 gets M-IS2 as well. But the gyros that can detect the camera motion/shake more accurately, allows of course logically more accurate movement corrections. Think it just like a light bulb. Light flickering at 30Hz is annoying as hell. Flickering at 60Hz improves it a lot. But if you get 100Hz flickering, it is hard to detect even at corner of the eye (that you can spot with 60hz). Same thing is with gyros, capturing more information between movement and capturing even smaller movement.
But once the motion is stronger that isn’t anymore in E-M1 IBIS extreme limitations, there is no difference. So when going to very stable areas that are almost like on non-motion, there is difference. And same thing when going to very long exposures where there is very small movement, where there is difference (think about 150mm at 1-2 second shutter speeds).
https://youtu.be/JQgIiZeksFI?t=65
And it’s free. See that Panasonic? All this extra functionality just as a “thanks for buying the product”.
Except these features from Olympus aren’t coming from a $3500 camera but just enthusiast & entry models. There’s a big difference to what Panasonic is bringing for a cost (& also it would be useless for the average owner/shooter & likely to attract useless complaints from them too) & what Olympus is nicely giving us, as great as these features are.
Suck on it, Mr Allcaps.
“The Real Stig: I would prefer Sony were doing this because they seem to be a more
even-handed supplier than Panasonic are. If Simon’s rumour is true and
Panasonic required Olympus to limit the video modes in the E-M1via
contractual restrictions, then I think it would be better if Olympus
were getting their sensors from somewhere else.”
“MrALLCAPS -> The Real Stig
Dumbest rumor EVER.
Stupidest thing I’ve ever heard around these parts. So in return Panasonic had to do what? -Limit ibis in their GX7?
And
in return for what? -Sensors? Olympus uses both Panasonic and Sony
sensors, so it can’t be that. Even when Olympus has stated that they’re
focused on stills FIRST.
This is a rumor only the Olympus fan boy wants to believe, which makes it even stupider.”
,,I,
http://www.43rumors.com/ft2-panasonic-fuji-toshiba-will-have-an-announcement-before-mid-september-organic-sensor/
Exactly!
Olympus has now going to release the 23,937fps (some people know it as well 24fps, while it is not same as 24fps) and 25fps, with flat profile and new movie controls.
Great!!! Will anything be still missing in E-M1 in comparison to E-M5 mark II?
a lot of video related stuff, High res mode, and stabilisation 0,5 stops or so worse(that is still hardware related).
The stabilization is actually same for most common things. Same 5 stop effectiveness. But where E-M5 II wins is when you get to situations where there are VERY SLIGHT movement that effects much. Meaning only actually the macro photography. There with E-M1 you actually need to shake the camera to keep it steady, with E-M5 II it detects correctly that there is slight motion/shake and it keeps photo still without requiring additional shake to be caused.
That is the thing really. Olympus Engineers as well have touted the E-M1 IBIS and E-M5 II IBIS same level in the house. But if you are to macro photography and you shoot in very slow shutter speeds (relative to subject motion) then E-M5 II is better. But as said, if you generate some shake to camera, E-M1 will keep it same way steady. E-M1 gyros are just not so accurate as E-M5 II has. And that is the real difference, the gyros accuracy.
Interestring, tnx.
YAAAY! … (if true). …. and yes – if true, I might just buy me a second E-M1. 🙂
Nah, wait for next years II version with the 18 MP sensor, high DR and very low noise at high ISO, all combined with hand-holdable high res mode.
Now that Simon’s rumour credentials have been confirmed, the rest are likely to prove accurate also.
Now, as E-M1 just got even better, just imagine what Mark II will have to offer to top it off. If that won’t turn out to be the best mirrorless camera I will be kinda disappointed 🙂
Quite nice features update but well I’m still waiting for that promised Olympus anniversary camera release. Where is it ??
Here it is: http://gopc.olympus-imaging.com/
It is the main prize. E-M1 is the prize for winners in every category.
So it will be something really amazing as E-M1 is even just a “second glass”. Possibility of course is that the main winner wins in the category and then between the category winners is chosen the main winner, so the main winner gets E-M1 + anniversary PEN.
Well it might be …. thanks.
It is the E-PL7 in pink color 🙂
Now we’re talking!
Damn, this is looking good!! Go Olympus!
Is there any possibility that focus bracketing can be developed for E PL7?
It is possible, but it is PEN line so unlikely no.
And only E-M1 has the focus stacking mode, while it and other OM-D got focus bracketing.
Great news – thank you Olympus, but as an avid macro shooter using the E-M5 II, I can’t help but wonder why only the E-M1 will get the Focus Stacking mode? Is PDAF capability somehow required (the only relevant hardware difference in the E-M1’s favor that I can think of)??
I wouldn’t be surprised if it got it in a subsequent firmware update, but possibly not until the E-M1 II is out. They will want to keep a significant differentiation for a while to help sell-down existing stocks of the E-M1.
I am really getting the impression Olympus believes in looking after flagship customers first and foremost.
This is why I really wonder why they don’t try to make money on firmware upgrades.
If you own a E-M5 II or even a E-M5 I, those kind of upgrades give a lot of value to your camera. So why not slowing down the production of cameras and increasing the speed of firmware upgrades and selling them ?
I personaly would not mind paying 30$ or 50$ for a firmware upgrade as long as it gives value to my current camera instead of paying 1000$ for the Mark 2 version even more if I don’t like the Mark 2 body or design.
Forcing your customers to upgrade to a Mark 2 body to enjoy software upgrades is just bad even though I understand they probably do not know of to deal with piracy if they start selling firmware upgrades.
Look at all the beatching about paying for the V-Log upgrade for the GH4.
I think Olympus take the view you Pay upfront and they will look after you. Olympus could have provided these video related improvements to the E-M1 some time ago, but their hands were tied by contractual obligations to Panasonic related to the sensor. It wasn’t a matter that could have been speeded up by charging for firmware.
I am not aware of any I/II model differntiation that is only firmware.
Man, that V-Log Drama… Paying 100$ to give so much value to your camera… I am not a videographer but I wouldn’t mind paying that much money to extend the lifespan and functionalities of a camera that just works perfectly fine for me.
As long as I have the choice to upgrade or not, it’s fine. But if firmware upgrades are not available for my camera model then I am stuck and forced to buy a new body to have the benefit of a few functionalities.
Well, I think it also has something to do with consumerism and people wanting more MP, mooore stabilized axis, MORE focusing points, FASTEEER auto-focus, MOAAAAAAR ISO… and still taking crapy holidays pictures. 🙂
Anyways, I will stop here, go out and take a few pics with my four years old GX1. 😛
I would even throw a $1500 for that V-log because I know how damn uselful it is in very rare situations, where it rules do you make it or don’t.
Because I could have used a GH4 size body with old legacy lens instead rent (or worse, buy) a $55 000 movie camera that weights a lot, is big and you get grey hair just by dealing with the insurance company to get insurance for the day or two for that thing when they hear what you are going to use!
Good Work Olympus!!
Only thing the EM5 MKii needs now is a faster sleep and wake up mode
and 4k Video 🙂
LOL
‘Wartburg’ mode in BMW for drivers who are not familiar to powerful motor cars.
Yep. Isn’t it a joke that Olympus needs to add a S-OVF mode, that removes all the EVF benefits, just so that the DSLR shooters can feel at home?
Seriously saying, I know why it is there.
Example I am shooting with flashes on the beach the bikini babe under sunset. So of course I need to choose the flashes white balance and not the sun (that is anyways altering its temperature all the time it is getting down) and the babe looks odd because WB setting.
The other thing is as well when I give the camera to DSLR pro shooter who can’t handle full manual mode but use automatic modes (P/A/S) and point metering changing the exposure makes them go crazy as they can’t see what they get when they correct exposure with EV correction dial before the flash hits.
So it is mainly for flash photographers who need this feature.
As it is like “Use the correct white balance for the image, but show me the correct white balance to my eye”.
But going to sports, wildlife, landscape, street and other photography where you don’t use flashes and the EVF wins every single time speeding the process and offering instant results with a single exposure.
S-OVF – finally a way to shoot manual flash without hassle! That one the one big thing I was annoyed of 🙂
Fantastic! Thank you, Olympus. Wish my Em5II also got the focus stacking, but the focus bracketing will provide a similar end result with a bit of PP.
No trackpad focusing like Em10 II? Odd. Surely both Em1 and Em5II could do it?
Focus stacking sounds nice but I doubt it will be as powerful as offboard SW solutions (like eg. Helicon Focus) due to limited uP performance. Just like the HDR feature. I am fully satisfied with bracketing, this will decrease effort and complexity to produce a stack and increase the quality of raw material.
As to trackpad focusing I am also disappointed not to see it on the list.
Could it be possible they they shift focus a mm(settings) automatically? I could make a 8 photo stack within a second without manually shifting focus(hard thing to do).
That would really be awesome and not possible with software afterwards.
That’s exactly the way it works (bracketing). However, merging the individual shots into one stacked image (stacking) will not be done by E-M5II but only E-M1. And this is exactly what apps like HeliconFocus or Zerene do and can manage even if the individual shots are not perfectly superposable.
No, I think you’re missing my point. I mean the camera actually controlling/shifting the FOCUS point, not only the shutter(as with bracketing). So 1 button press releases the shutter, then shifts focus a mm(or part of an inch or however that is called 🙂 ), then fires the shutter again, then shifts focus…..etc..
If it’s just bracketing, then why are there only 3 lenses supported by this feature?
The camera is moving the focus motors of the MFT lenses back and forth, if that´s what you’re asking. A timesaver for sure.
Haha Oly releases a flat profile to stick it to Panasonic
There was already flat profile.
https://vimeo.com/107907420
https://vimeo.com/75937813
You just needed to adjust the S-curves in the still mode, then switch to Movie mode to use it. It offered very good results if knew what was doing.
Yes, but not for EM5II, lol.
GH4 doesn’t have a proper flat profile out the box. Yellow skin tones ahoy
E-M5 II has it.
http://www.absolutephoto.com/images/NEWS/Cameras/Olympus/EM5MkII/EM5MKII-top-plate.jpg
You can see it in Fn2 button. And apply same manner.
While this is very welcome indeed, it will likely not compare to V-Log. More likely will compare to Cinelike D. This is great progress, but its not quite the same thing.
I am speechless. This is GREAT,
Why all the complaining and asking for more????
Because Panasonic fanboys have to say something.
Panasonic fanboys are bitter bitter bitter
LOL, they are complete losers. They have to jump ship and swim to Fujifilm when bragging about Panasonic becomes too difficult. i.e MrALLCAPS.
We finally get 25p video for the EM-1!! yes.
Yep! Yes, it toke 2 years but we got 25fps!
I don’t care as I have great footage already with 30fps. But now I can get more freedom in indoors and in low light because 25fps!
And finally the hipsters can STFU with their whining of “it needs to be 24fps for movie look…”. They are never happy for anything because they can’t handle cameras.
Give a good cinematographer a movie camera with 6 stops exposure range and they can produce movies like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCN5JJY_wiA
And it was captured using a film that had just a 6 stops exposure range capability.
Oh, you want 10 stops or 14 stops? You need more? Oh, even more?
Or how about this, 8 stops exposure range in most of the scenes with the film they used:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cb3ik6zP2I
A skilled cinematographer enters to the scene and work with the lights to get what they need to see, leaving rest out. They don’t try to capture everything, every possible details from everywhere.
The only real difference really was that film was forgiving for the details because it blended details so nicely. Digital is harhs and rough, requiring lower resolution or soft lenses to get great quality. Instead people get the sharpest lenses and highest resolution and flattest profile, and they can’t produce what is done with much “lower quality” gear.
It’s not a joke by Olympus. Make sure to thank Panasonic for the delay and the laughs:
“2. It is a problem of their contract with Panasonic. The Sensor of the EM-1 can do more Video rates ( also 4K) but Olympus ist not permitted to bring
the results. As far as he knows the contract limitation was for 2 years. EM 1 enter the market in September 2013 so in September 2015 Olympus could bring a videoupdate with allowens of Pana.
i hope they do it
greets
Simon”
And this firmware is coming in next 2 months. And the deal with Panasonic is ending on this month.
That means that Olympus would 1) be free to start developing the firmware for better video only after this month.
2) Save the 4K (or anything else) for the II model?
Unfortunately the new sensor will also be coming from Panasonic so absolutely no chance of 4K with 5 axis IBIS.
I have no personal need for 4K, it’s overblown hype, but I rather wish Olympus could source their sensors from a non-competitor.
Not sure about the hype. 4K turns my LX100 into a 24mm-150mm camera when I conform 4k down to 1080p. Also the 4k -> 1080p downsampling using editing software looks much better than most 1080p down-conversion in camera.
We don’t know whos sensor Olympus is going to use in E-M1 successor. It can very well come from the “Kodak” or from the Sony.
Olympus doesn’t just go shopping day before manufacturing and pick something up.
Olympus works with every sensor manufacturer out there and does even own sensor manufacturing and development for research purposes. Then Olympus queries others who is willing to manufacture the sensors by Olympus specs. And if there isn’t one, it checks what everyone could do and so on.
This firmware and it’s timing prove that ‘Simon’ really does have access to reliable and accurate information. He told us there would be a video-centric update for the E-M1 and here it is.
So given that, he also said the E-M1 II (EM-DR) would be getting an 18 MP Geomembrane sensor which I believe is the Panasonic-Fuji collaboration. If it’s going to maintain 4/3 C-AF compatibility, it is also likely that Panasonic will be the supplier.
Match what he said with this rumour which also seems to mention the new sensor being in the Panasonic AF-100 replacement: http://www.43rumors.com/panasonic-press-conference-on-april-13-new-ag-af-4k-mft-camcorder-coming/
Actually, re-reading what Simon said – ha h! – about what’s coming, it looks like I am wrong and am being overly pessimistic and that 4 or 5K may be coming.
“Simon MarcoSartoriPhoto • 18 minutes ago
I called my freind 10min ago to ask for some more infos. Well, you were right, “DR” means Dynamic Range. Olympus will NOT join the megapix. race. the new sensor will have 18 MP & a new “foil” on the sensor, they call it geomembrane (whatever this means), but the EM-DR will have a 10 step hires modus to make such fotos with 1/60 sec. out of hand. Great !!! AND they will bring next Year 3 new lenses with the new EM-DR. 12mm/1.0; 25mm/1.0 & 50mm/1.0.
Simon • 2 hours ago
I asked again to explain me what ment “Geomembrane”. He said, that this is a shortcut for “Gyro Electodes Organic Membran”. That means for non engeneers like me, that you can upgrade the “view angle”for the sensor from (EM-1)today 36 ° to the new sensor 58°. This leads to an increasing absorption capability. BUT again, this for the future System expecting announced in September 2016 !!
Simon Oskar • 6 hours ago
The 300mm is planed to start for serialproduktion end of September. I expect my new 300mm lens on my EM-1 in week 46 (mid November). The price should be something between 1799 – 1999 €. The retailprice is reliant on the exchange rate of the dollar to Yen.”
i ever saw it on rumors,but something tell me may wait for long time.
that why late of organic sensor,disappear of MCS
The geomembrane may be an Olympus new technology, a layer they put on sensor to expand sensor’s DR capability. I am sure that the E-M1mkII will be full of new and exclusive technologies.
4K timelapse video should be interesting when you set the interval to 1/30th sec
😉
4k timelapse is the only content for 4k tv’s in stores lol
If you shoot a time lapse with 30 frames a second – what do you get 😉
You get lots of stills 😉
Pity that’s limited to 1 shot every 5 seconds, at least in the E-M10II 🙁
“4K Time-Lapse: Capture up to 999 images automatically at an interval of one image every five seconds.”
This is some real customer care. Even though I don’t have either of the camera, I am happy to see Oly is moving in the right direction and will feel confident investing in their top models in the future.
What is the difference between focus stacking and bracketing modes?
The stacking mode takes 8 automatically shifted expoures and does the processing for you while I’m guessing that the bracketing mode automates the capturing of a(ny) number of focus shifted exposures that you’ll then have to stack yourself.
From the sounds of it, Stacking does all the work in-camera while the bracketing mode just spits out a series of pictures that you need to postprocess outside the camera.
Thanks guys, it’s explained in the article, I didn’t look Nice firmware update
Excellent news. It makes it far more likely I will be moving towards m4/3. I haven’t made the move yet, and unfortunately I’ve had to update my Canon system in the mean time. I just got a Tamron 150-600mm because I had been holding out for the arrival of the 300mm f4. If it had come out by now I had the money waiting, But as I have some projects for this Winter I had to get the Tamron 150-600mm and I’ll be getting a 70D to go with it.
However, I am really interested in these in camera focus stacking and bracketing features. I’m mainly a macro shooter, and these features will be a game changer. However, it leaves me with a stack of Canon macro stuff I will be holding onto. At one time I was seriously considering moving completely to m4/3, but the lack of a native quality long lens option and long macro option was the bar.
You have a point there, a 100/2.8 1:1 lens would be absolutely amazing with auto-stacking
What I am really interesting in seeing is a combination of the high resolution sensor shift trick, and focus bracketing. This could really revolutionize macro photography. I just got a Canon 100mm L IS this year (I already had 3 macro lenses for my Canon system), but whilst hopefully it could be used on an Olympus with a Metabones adapter, obvious the focus bracketing wouldn’t work. I did see an Olympus patent for a 150mm macro lens. That would be superb.
What patent are you referring to? With my FT SLR, I used to have the Sigma 150/2.8 which was fantastic. My whole FT stuff was stolen and I can’t see myself investing again in FT, but if an MFT version comes out, I won’t resist!
Yes, I have the Sigma 150mm f2.8 for Canon. I have the 105mm for FT, but sadly it has a fungus spot in it. I tried to get the Sigma 150mm for FT, but it was out of stock everywhere and I couldn’t get one.
There is this one, and I seem to remember a newer patent than this.
http://www.43rumors.com/patent-olympus-is-working-on-a-new-150mm-macro-for-43-and-m43/
Hmm interesting! I really hope the lens is coming, but given the patent age, I am not too optimistic…
Tamron? Sigma?
Personally I think that Sigma should re-design their old 180mm f5.6 macro, give it 1:1 focusing and a tripod collar (more for rotating the lens than balance. They could make it available for both CDAF mirrorless and DLSR cameras. I think it would be very popular. f5.6 would be fine on a lens primarily for macro, and it would be far lighter and cheaper than the other options. I think it would be a good seller. On m4/3, not only would it make a great macro lens, but it would make a perfect lightweight high quality telephoto prime.
I used to have one years ago for an old Nikon 35mm film SLR system, and it was a very sharp lens, but very compact for what it was.
Could you please elaborate why the focus bracketing would not work with the metabones adapter?
It requires the camera to alter the focus of the lens in small increments, something that can only be done with M/4/3 lenses because of the electrical connections between body and lens.
It is not just the electronic connection, but as well the lens design.
The focus bracketing and focus stacking (E-M1) works only with m4/3 bayonet lenses. It doesn’t work with 4/3 bayonet lenses.
So only lenses designed to follow CDAF commands can be moved so accurately with their stepping motors, while lenses designed PDAF commands in mind can’t be used so accurately as their stepping isn’t so accurate.
“as their stepping isn’t so accurate.”
Nor fast enough AF movement.
To be precise, the focus stacking only works with three lenses:
”
The following 3 lenses are compatible: M.Zuiko Digital ED
60mm f2.8 Macro, M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f2.8 PRO, and M.Zuiko
Digital ED 40-150mm f2.8 PRO. Approx. 7%of the top and bottom, left and
right are cut out from the composited image.”
“Could you please elaborate why the focus bracketing would not work with the metabones adapter?”
Focus bracketing requires the body to drive the focus of the lens. My understanding is that so far with the Metabones smart adapter, the AF is disabled on Olympus bodies, with Canon EF lenses. It would be nice if it did work because I have 4 Canon EF fit macro lenses. It’s only a guess if the AF is disabled and it would be better if I was mistaken.
Notwithstanding Juurikas’ comment below re PDAF limitations, the vendor info at http://www.metabones.com/products/details/MB_SPEF-M43-BT4 kind of implies that APS autofocusing mode does work with Olympus, but I don’t know if that focusing mode is applicable to focus bracketing operations.
And judging from the comment by sgm0369 below, it does appear that all bets are off re hardware compatibility of this bracketing feature, and we need to wait for field reviewers to see what the constraints are.
Focus bracketing works with all MFT lenses, Focus stacking only works with three lenses (for the time being?). Check the footnotes of the official announcement.
I’m also eagerly waiting for the 300 mm
Seems that we have to wait before we see the 300/4:
“M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm F4 PRO (Planned for launch after 2015)”
http://asia.olympus-imaging.com/product/dslr/mlens/mc14/index.html
I came from Canon DSLR, and love my EM5II and especially my 2 Pro lenses and 60 Macro. I used to use the Canon 100 Macro, and wow, what a difference in size and weight. Image quality is at least as good, if not better. Buy a fast prime or use a long zoom (seems like nearly all Olympus lenses have very close minimum focusing distances even at long FL) and you can get good subject isolation and bokeh. Not as easily as 35mm FF, but you can get it, and M43 is much more portable and IMO fun to use.
If I am reading it right, the improved anti-shock feature is available for drive modes??
“Adds sequential shooting in Anti-Shock mode when the time from a full
press to the beginning of exposure is set to 0 sec. and first-curtain
electronic shutter will be used all delay times.”
Excellent!! This fw upgrade makes me a happy camper 🙂
Thanks for pointing this out – makes me very happy as well 🙂
Yes, as that is what is available on the E-M5 Mk II now.
No mention of the clean feed out issues? Its fixed at 30fps when using my atomos. Why can’t we have 24/25 fps. Surly not that hard.
Would also be great if it can record internally to SD and still have the clean HDMI out at the same time.
it about manufacturer setting,
i talk about hdmi clean out to Nick Driftwood,he can record lumix G7 with Atomos Shogun.
How he do it,you can ask him on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8tBUiiMNlA
My dream became true and finally focus Stacking from the camera it self wow Olympus
I’m a happy landscape photographer
Now I can get even sharper images from corner to corner at sharper aperture from each lens i have ?
Thank you olympus for the innovations
Shit, I’ll have to learn to drive a “new” camera again. Oh well.
Excellent news . Olympus are really pulling all the stops out lately and consolidating the OMD system. OTOH, DSLRS brands , Nikon in particular, are increasingly looking more staid in the lower and mid end. M4/3s is on a roll ,as is Sony with full frame in both stills and video. Which begs the question ,what is the point of APSC anymore, it seems redundant?
APS-C and 35mm are redundant. The DSLR had its time 2001-2012 period. It was strong 11 years and remarkable in the convert from film to digital.
But, DSLR suffered from APS-C, as most people was shooting with a 35mm film, so suddenly their camera gear had 1.5x extra magnification so they got shocked and blamed the digital cameras. It was the birth time to “equivalent” argument (on film era it was simply a “format ratio” and “magnification ratio”) that eventually ended to “equivalent math” that is lying to people how you need to multiply aperture and so on, while you don’t!
On that period, digital sensors evolved a lot. A digital camera that was 2 years old or just 1 model newer had dramatic difference in noise quality. Everything in digital cameras was improved. Meaning like FPS from 2.5-3 to 6-8. AF got better so you could actually trust camera instead using manual focus. Memory cards got bigger, no more 128MB or 1024MB cards but actually 2-8GB. The cameras got bigger and heavier because additional computer parts, and people thought “This is improvement” when for decades the small and light was the success reason for 35mm format (look example Olympus OM line, everything from 24mm to 200mm is damn small and light even when lenses are f/2.8 or even f/1.2 or f/1.8) and optically many even beated Zeiss lenses). And then came the megapixel wars, 2Mpix, then 4Mpix, suddenly 8Mpix and 12Mpix.
But the ugly fact is, 2012 when Olympus released OM-D line with its first E-M5 model, technology was already very well polished. Display panels for EVF was there, memory card sizes were there, capability to take fast bursts was there.
And the whole 4/3″ sensor is just the 110 format, not a 135 like it use to be. And 110 format already on film era proofed to be excellent quality and idea, but it just came too late so the digital transform was already going. If it would have come out 10 years earlier, it would have overrided 135 format and 4/3″ format would have had better start.
Now today, we have excellent 4/3″ sensors and m4/3 cameras are proofen to be top notch, with optics from Olympus and Panasonic/Leica over what even Zeiss has and what Canon/Nikon/Sony can produce. But we pay, we pay high price as camera gear, but we get ultra high quality in half or less the price than what it would be 135 format.
We have the technology, high framerates, high C-AF performance (E-M1 only but, still) big memory cards, more megapixels than needed for almost anything, wider exposure range than needed (unless you want to capture sun and the deepest black point in the frame same time (that is over 84 stops exposure range)
Now we can do with m4/3 camera that is possible with any 35mm camera. There really isn’t visual difference. We actually can do more than with most DSLR because we have EVF. And we can take the camera with us, use it differently and more easily than DSLR or anything Sony has.
If someone wants to have higher resolution or something, then there is nothing 35mm can offer over 4/3″. Nothing that APS-C can offer. We need to go and look to the medium format like PhaseOne IQ250. Or if wanted a cheap option, get the Pentax one. Those are cameras that offer much better value to money than anything with 35mm sensor. But you are again carrying bigger camera, handling bigger files and everything. And that is where there is difference to 4/3″ sensor but that as well is very small difference in normal art work or advertising work when you put cameras side by side and you use both at the max capabilities and you do the big ads (150cm that you see on product marketing on tax free areas on airports etc).
So instead wasting money from m4/3 system > 35mm system, spend it to lighting system. $1500 per flash head and $7000 per powerpack and then get some experience under belt with training to use those first with cheap speedlights (like Yongnuo 560 IV that is just $70 a unit). With the correct lighting setups and powerful (flexible) lighting system m4/3 camera produce same quality as any 35mm camera.
And if you are not going to do larger landscape prints than 60-70″ at the wide side, 35mm is not going to help there much.
Olympus should hire you! Lots of good points, although some generalizations that don’t apply across the board. Apple and Sony demonstrated that even smartphones and 1″ sensors can perform well, and there’s no doubt Sony’s latest FF cameras outperform mFT cameras in significant ways, esp. IQ and high ISO capture. IMO the format most likely to go dinosaur will be medium format. Olympus and Panasonic really have led the way toward smaller practical cameras that advance the photography art form and that are good enough for professional work. I, for another, am glad to be on board. BTW good point about lighting — I see far too many photos that are lacking in this aspect. I always carry an external flash and I use multiples on assignments.
I wish you could be 100% right, but you’re not.
For some kind of work m43 is not (yet) enough: as you know I am a long time m43 (Oly) user, but when I had to work for AP two weeks ago the files of my em1 and em5mark2 were simply not enough good.
The boss gave me a DX1 with the f2.8 trinity, and a 300mm f2.8 (just in case..) and sent me to work.
Leica Q was ok, but files are too big and need to be resized before being uploaded to the system.
When I was “free” it was a relief to go back to the em5 and nocticron: suddenly even that lens looked tiny and light..
Great news, I can’t wait! Lately I’ve been busy with Associated Press and left the m43 System on the shelves. Time to prepare it and have some fun with it again. Thenk you Olympus!
Quite impressive!
The long awaited E-M1 update! Finally! Not written off just quite yet.
and for em10 mark 1 nothing? Olympus should see at fuji and “kaizen”
But there is an update for the E-M10! It’s called the E-M10Mk II. 😉 Sorry, it’s not FW though & it costs. :
Have you seen the feeling of Fuji users to ‘Kaizen’ these days, it is no longer all love and roses in their garden any more, ‘Kaizen’ is no more what it should be, Fuji owners are screaming out for the smallest of upgrades these days, hoping users will purchase new cameras in stead of providing the smallest of features such as film sim’s.
You’re referring to all of those X-M1 updates Fuji put out? Fuji’s great about updating the flagship bodies, but that doesn’t seem to trickle down to the lowest tier bodies.
Sounds promising. I’m only a little bit sad that Focus Stacking will not come to my E-M5 II. On the contrary if you don’t get good results with thie Focus Stacking Mode the Focus Bracketing Mode maybe even is the better choice.
The only difference is that the Focus Stacking does it in the camera, while Focus Bracketing does it on the card.
You most likely want to do it for the card, but the bracketing is there so you can easily pre-vision the image before you actually make it. You anyways get the JPEG and RAW in both.
E-M1 is still the flagship model. E-M5 line is, and will always be the “prototype” aka “testbench” model. E-M10 will be the “polished” entry level model and E-M1 will always be that gets all the bells and whistles for photographers (but not for video, as E-M5 can be the one that is directed now on more to videographers).
Are you complaining because you can’ that’ve your cake and eat it, too?
🙂
End of November? Cool! It’s a birthday gift for me. THANKS Olympus!
This is a complete bombshell, fired squarely at the bow of Panasonic! What a brilliant business move by Olympus, riding the wave of public outcry from Panasonic’s paid V-Log firmware upgrade and offering such significant functionality for free!
And believe me, I paid for V-Log, and would do it again because of the value it gives me. But if Olympus gets it’s act together on the video front Panasonic will have no choice but to raise the bar to survive in the m43 market.
Then, all Olympus needs to do is introduce a clearer, more efficient menu system.
Next, stop the slavish and fussy nostalgic industrial design to focus more on improved handling, ergonomics (EM1 aside) and general usability.
As far as Panasonic goes, you’re absolutely right, they real need to step up to the plate with firmware updates with updated and added features, not the rare and minor bug and compatibility fixes.
Fuji certainly leads the way in that regard and it’s good to see Olympus following suit! C’mon Panasonic, just do it!
You wouldn’t really want that as then Olympus would be outselling Panasonic 6:1 instead of just 4:1.
🙂
i don’t know how much olympus selling.
but camera manufacturers still inspire on new camera.
that good things.
Or you sure panny make all very bad ,no inspire ,bad quality.
Are you confirm?
I was mostly joking, hence the smilie. Olympus have a larger market share than Panasonic so they probably are outselling them.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KvQ64vgj450/VM_4NejjThI/AAAAAAAAMqw/rNOVZu0WYRs/s1600/mirrorless%2Bcamera%2Bsales%2Bstatistics%2Bfrom%2Bjapan%2Bbcn%2Bm43photo.png
Olympus has fallen,lol that is true.
Panny slow fall,i think they go to bottom of selling.
Sony is the one rising ,oh oh don’t miss Canon MIL they incoming.
It already is very clear. Forget the Shooting Menu 1 and 2. Just use the Custom Menu and there you have everything laid down very logically.
Trough A to K, each area color coded even and everything is usable with the dual wheels and shutter button.
People should just sit down for a five minutes and actually look the Olympus menu design and they would find it is very powerful, logical and easy to use. It isn’t easy to learn, and that is the problem, as people need to actually see the trees from the forest.
I have. Numerous times. And at length.
It blows.
That’s one way to say it! 🙂
I am an Oly fan…but don’t even try to defend the menu infrastructure, LOL!..the menu system is a mess…at least on some of the newer cameras Oly stopped hiding the Super Control Panel under layers of menu. The SCP is nice…but if you are an avid photographer, you want to set up these complicated machines for your needs and therefore have to deeply get into the menu system. Let’s face it…there are so many options we always want to tweak something…and the layout here is just a mess.
If the Oly menus is a mess, then what about the Panasonic one? At least the Oly one has some logical approach. The Panasonic does not.
No…I disagree…I had Panasonic cameras early on and one of the things I liked about them was the menu system…switching to the Oly menues was ROUGH! I just like their cameras so much more for shooting still. All this stuff varies from individual to individual though….there is no right or wrong, I guess.
I have owned and still own both Olympus and Panasonic cameras, and between the two I prefer the Olympus menus x100. De gustibus I guess.
Panasonic’s menu system is putrid chaos, and you need to figure out which dial setting allows you access to a certain menu, as many items, they are locked to a dial mode
Juurikas, I agree. The menus are extensive, and require the user to be semi-intelligent. They are not for dummies who just want to press a button and make selfies. But they’re not rocket science either, and they give you great control over the camera setup.
No..no…no…don’t you dare! We have all suffered long and hard to get used to this ridiculous menu system….you CANNOT take that away from us! LOL!
Please, don’t get so enthusiastic. It is Olympus after all and you are not going to get the flat profile anything like V-log from Panasonic.
The new profile probably is nothing like even “worst” panasonic profile.
But hey, what ever makes Panasonic fans to grape that Olympus offers something. And that some Olympus users (E-M1 didn’t get it) get something else now.
More to the point if you look at the table this firmware upgrade with few exceptions like the stacking for EM1 simply adds features already provided in the EM10 II and EM5 II to the top of line EM1.
The new Olympus FLAT profile is NOT a LOG format, so the best you can hope for is something like Cine-D on the GH4. Still, this is a big step in the right direction.
Given that Olympus and Panasonic were the creators of the Micro 4/3 format, I have always had a strong suspicion that they have an internal deal that Olympus takes care of high-end photo while Panasonic takes care of high-end video, and they won’t ever go head-to-head against each other. ( which is why Olympus has always been so far behind when it comes to video )
It will be better than Cine-D. Cine-D has a nasty colour cast, horrible skin tones
I’ve never found Cine-D to be a problem with skin tones, but it doesn’t retain the highlight detail the way a LOG profile does. I think a lot depends on how you light your scene, and how you process your footage in post.
this is the good way by olympus,all of year.
They have no new hardware/device,high-res mode on e-m5 is best for same hardware.
i grad to olympus,they make new alternative for improve camera.
no doubt,panny will upgrade firmware for G7/GX8 on future.
new future call post focus will interest.
but olympus is not video centric,they must much improve codec algorithm.
this time if you want hybrid camera i recommend Sony,Panasonic.
I doubt this flat profile from Olympus will be anywhere near what V-Log L offers. It’s a good start and probably a sign that Olympus is starting to take video more seriously. So good for us.
Olympus – just need 4K video on EM5m2, will live without IBIS initially. Nice update.
Don’t hold your breath, if they don’t have hardware encoder on TruePic VII (and they do not) capable of encoding at least 4k/24, and full-sensor readout at these speeds, you are not going to get it in firmware (or at most 4k/6fps or so).
Focus Stacking is only available with 3 different Lenses? The 60mm Macro and two of the PRO Lenses? Why not all the PRO? Yes the 7-14 isn’t exactly what most people use for Macro but it does have a nice short focus distance, too.
Focus Bracketing however is supported on every Lens. Anybody any idea why this limitation with the stacking? Not that I really cared since I won’t get the feature but I’m a little curious as to how this stuff works (technically).
Looks like for their stacking algorithm to work properly, they need to know some specific profiles of the lenses, either optical or mechanical, or both. This way adding support for more lenses would cost extra money, and so it is surprising they even support the two non-macros for which the usefulness of this feature is not as high as on the macro.
I hope it’s because the camera needs to know how to shift
focus(a fraction), and that would be really lens dependent. So the lens/camera
doing the focusing, then release shutter, then shift focus a little, then
release shutter….
This would save me a lot of time when doing stacks, which
can be really hard in an uncontrolled environment(outside).
http://cameras.olympus.com/stack/en/ Read and enjoy!
The Olympus Focus Stacking and Focus Bracketing are truly amazingly simplifying the process (again, like LIve Bulb, Live Composite etc).
7-14mm isn’t Macro.
Macro is photography where camera is capable to get 1:1 magnification. Meaning if you have a sensor of 17.3x13mm size, then 1:1 means that your frame is filled by subject that is 17.3x13mm by size.
Anything smaller magnification than 1:1 is just a CLOSE-UP.
And anything higher magnification than 10:1 is then Micro.
7-14mm PRO while having excellent close-up focusing capabilities, is no where near Macro capability. Even 40-150mm PRO manages to get 0.42x magnification, less than 1:2 capability. The old 4/3 lens from Olympus the 70-300mm was capable to 1:2 magnification. It was truly amazing lens back then, while being cheap.
And yes, 7-14mm PRO would really benefit from it. The focus stacking and focus bracketing are not just for macro, or close-up photography. It is as well very usable in landscape and product photography.
And yes, 7-14mm does get narrow depth of field on normal ranges. Even the Samyang 7.5mm fisheye gets at f/5.6 a shallow depth of field when focusing to 3-5m distance. And 7-14mm gets even more so it would benefit in landscape photography from it. And close-ups too!
WHAT? I have the Panny Leica 45mm Macro….I guess that will NEVER be supported! That’s lame Olympus…you are part of the MFT “system”. Pretty poor way to show up.
Where is this information coming from, Olympus?
great news! I’m very exited!
That’s my E-M1 back to factory settings again, yaaay! This just brings back memories of Windows 95 days. Aah.
Could Olympus add a 4:3 aspect ratio like the GH4, to make the EM5ii useful for anamorphic, and still have the video be hd? Or is that impossible with this sensor? I would love to move to Olympus for the stabilization but I need to be able to shoot decent quality anamorphic footage.
FINALLY STACKING FROM 1.5 Y/O tg-3 WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THEIR TOP OF THE LINE…
I know! Great news, isn’t it?
Yes, yes it is. m43 was the best for macro for quite some time already, and now it is just a must, anything else is not even close.
Says the 13 year old who still can’t find the caps-lock button even with a bright green light giving a big hint.
At least you didn’t have to pay for it. 🙂
You’re just saying that because you drive new cars every day you didn’t have to pay for.
Still no news about it on dpreview – lagging behind 🙂
Time zones?
I guess this means that the EM1 mark 2 is at least a year away.
feel like that,may release on time of GH5.
The rumors say that it will be introduced at Photokina 2016.
What are “M.Zuiko Premium” lenses? Is this an existing denomination I missed or a hint to a new category?
It’s an existin group, see here:
http://cameras.olympus.com/mzuikopro/assets/img/panel/03_lens_lineup_01.jpg
Thx. That’s a pity… I thought maybe something in the future.
12mm/1.0; 25mm/1.0 & 50mm/1.0 coming next… not enough?
Since you’re asking… No, I’d really like an 8 mm/2.0. 🙂
Hehe, bad luck then I guess.
Yes!! That’s a real opportunity for Olympus, a rectilinear UWA. I’d buy that lens.
Examples of focus stacking and bracketing. http://cameras.olympus.com/stack/en/
Thanks for the link, impressive
Thanks! Great stuff.
It’s like getting a new camera!
Any chance this update includes a more configurable Auto-ISO mode for Aperture Priority or at least the ability to set exposure compensation on Manual with Auto-ISO?
In full manual, you set your ISO yourself.
In Automatic modes, you let the camera think and you just press the button like a monkey!
Setting the iOS manually is not the same as ev compensation in manual mode with auto iso. There’s a big difference. If the scene changes the ev compensation metering will still be applied. Not so with setting the iOS which now you have to change.
This has been a bit of a pain for me to shoot at night in full manual on the one em5 mini because the Olympus metering blows highlights a bit easy in many of those situations.
iOS -> ISO.
Agree, when I shoot a white Egret I use manual with -1 ev and let the ISO float, works well with my Nikon (old D2X), can’t do that with my EM-1. Constantly changing light as the bird moves.
Using spot metering? Otherwise it should not do that. Mine doesn’t.
If you shoot in full manual, the camera doesn’t change the exposure at any point to wrong direction. You are in control. If you choose to overexpose, it is your fault.
Don’t try to use automatic modes and then react to its faults with exposure compensations, use full manual and you don’t have any problems to get perfect exposure every time no matter of what situation, you can even predict the exposure, unlike the automation.
That would exactly be what I’m missing most, too, but if it is not mentioned it won’t be in it – nevertheless this is great stuff and shows that not just Fuji can do serious firmware updates…
Fuji firmware updates 10% are serious updates, 90% is either fixing the camera or adding the features the camera was missing at launch but was marketed to have those (even hardware buttons or dials didn’t work on launch, required a firmware updates to add functions to them. Or added later the features that every competitor had before the launch).
Fuji gets way too much credit for firmware updates, when they are catching others or fixing own missing features they didn’t have time to finish in first place.
I guess that’s true; I personally know someone who switched from Olympus to Fuji and rates the Fuji firmware updates similarly…
Great to see they are still supporting EM1! New focus peaking, yay! I just ordered a manual lens, happy days. Maybe should buy more vintage glass 🙂 Live composite for OI. Share, will be easier to do star trails. And 24/25p for video, finally! I knew it will come eventually. And I’m sure the flat profile will come eventually too. Thank you Olympus, great news.
To unlock the flat profile, maybe hook it up to your smartphone. 😛
It’s available through OI Sharing? Or there’s some trickery that can be applied? 😀
It’s merely a joke based on the GH4’s V-LOG glitch I’m afraid. 😉
Although, who knows, right?
I didn’t read about the vlog failure till today) I’m sure flat-ish profile will still come to em1 since they added 24/25p modes too. As Oly keeps proving time and time again – just wait and good things will happen)
Excellent! Thank you OLYMPUS for continuing to support the now aging E-M1 with new features! I patiently await the E-M1 II which I hope will have a 20+MP sensor, a new, sharper, larger, faster EVF, and even better IS!
Oh, and I need to add… THANK YOU for not charging us for these updates, like a certain other camera company is doing. That earns OLYMPUS a lot of loyalty from me.
I hope the lens firmware upgrade includes the Pro Series Four Thirds. 9-14 14-35 35-100 150mm 90-250 and the 300mm. That would be sweet.
There is no PRO series on 4/3 line, only a S, HG and SHG. And those don’t get developed anymore.
And those are PDAF lenses and not CDAF that is required here. And anyways the lens needs to be mapped for specific depth of field distances at specific focal lengths and apertures.
Wow thanks for setting me straight. The SHG series has been referred to as the Pro line up of Olympus Optics for years. Nikon/Canon also clasify there optics as Consumer / Prosumer and Pro Grade.
Bottom line I’m hopeful for some extra tweaking for the SHG (Pro) lineup.
There was some naming confusion, series names were (are) different across regions. At least in parts of Europe the three ranges (S, HQ, SHQ) actually were (are; they’re still in production) named Standard, Pro and Top Pro. And while all of them can be driven by contrast-detection AF, they may not be fast enough for a couple of hundred shifts in just a few seconds, which is what Focus Bracketing as such seems to be able to, and I’m not sure they’ll be able to do small enough focus shifts for what is needed here. On the other hand, Olympus already used to make a Four Thirds camera several years ago which included focus bracketing – the E-330. The feature didn’t make it into any of the later DSLRs, though…
Highly unlikely, as no FT lens can be used with focus stacking for technical reasons.
Too bad some of the features aren’t available on the E-M1, but still a very nice firmware update! Excited too see if continuous and tracking AF on the 40-150mm f2.8 PRO improves.
Some?
Only one feature isn’t available for E-M1. And that is the low-contrast video update.
Otherwise E-M1 received all updates.
What E-M1 doesn’t get is of course still things like “TouchPad” (terrible but some people insist).
So all updates to E-M1, but some had some limitations like focus peaking while recording. That is one thing I miss as I would definitely start using manual focus more.
why this is not available for EM10 I.
Why not for E-M5?
Answer is, E-M5 and E-M10 has been dropped from the development. Those cameras will only receive a bug fix if there is found to be a such serious bug in a year.
yeah I’m not expecting any EM5 updates apart from potential new lens compatibility bugs.
Though of course I would like more 🙂
Firmware for free?! But people were working on it! And new features add value to
this cameras! And it will not prevent amateurs from using it!
Did I miss any nonsense Panasonic fans were saying?
You mixing up stills and video.
Or as some more eloquent person had put it: “who wants a video camera for less than $8000?”
Am I? Theoretically it is much more complicated to make camera focus faster, than to ask camera to interpretate colours in a less drastic way. So technically there are no catches.
The difference is in the marketing departments: Oly’s decide to make customers happy, Pana’s decided to make people pay in order to differentiate camera lineups.
This is why I love ONLY Olympus, best technology on the planet !
1) Focus Stacking Mode (OM-D E-M1 only)” Is it for JPEG output only ore will it make a RAW?
2) Focus Bracketing Mode” the 999 photo mode… Is it for E-M5II also?
Hopefuly the E-M1 II will have focus stacking, combined with high res mode! That would be brutal for Macro work!
Focus Stacking Mode will make 8 original images, which can be RAW, JPEG or even RAW+JPEG, and produce 1 combined JPEG out of them, in-camera.
Yes, Focus Bracketing Mode will come to the E-M5 II, too.
I see your point regarding hi-res + focus-stacking. We’ll see if the E-M5 II will be able to combine both…
How to initially focus when using the new Focus Stacking and Focus Bracketing features?
How do these functions alter the focus?
I mean where do the focus wander after the first shot?
Does it first get closer and closer for the first half of the series, then farther and farther for the other half?
Or must you place focus for the first shot at one “end” of the desired focus range (either closest or farthest), and thereafter the focus will wander in one direction only from there?
If I understood it correctly, you focus on the closest point and the camera then moves the focus farther away.
no hi res mode was hoping for that, and no wifi tethewr mode. you can already hack it with automatic wifi saving to computer. its already in the camera why not make it work stably
High res is achieved via updates to actual hardware. Can’t add that with firmware.
Sounds like better video quality in em5ii
” Version 2.0 firmware upgrade for E-M5 Mark II further enhances the camera’s ability to capture crisp, clear video with no need for additional editing software. “
So, the E-M10 is the camera with the perfect firmware right now… Never an update for it 🙂
“Improved Anti-Shock Mode – Adds sequential shooting in Anti-Shock mode when the time from a full press to the beginning of exposure is set to 0 sec. and first-curtain electronic shutter will be used all delay times.”
Yes!!! Finally, one of my only complaints about the E-M1 will be fixed. Between that, silent mode (another big “yes”!), and 25p (why not 50p also?), it’s basically on par feature-wise with the E-M5 II for my needs with better ergonomics. Great job, Olympus!
Olympus, please add ON/ OFF function for rear lever 🙂
Best,
Wiktor
It says, “Functions have been added for shooting movies when connecting Olympus Linear PCM Recorder LS-100 via USB cable”, but connecting the PCM recorder is made using the 1/8 stereo jack headphone out to the camera’s mic in – like this –
http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/recorders/filmmaking
It looks like a fix for the E-M1 to bring it up to E-M5ii capability.
And I’m still trying to figure out what USB cable one would need to connect PCM to camera to synch recording. It might well need a special one.