Olympus unveiled that it plans to release a new firmware upgrade for the E-M1 and E-M5II sometimes in November. This is the official press text:
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 Olympus Linear PCM Recorder LS-100 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.
3 Responses
Here it comes. Olympus dies what I’ve been asking to samsung for years. Focus stacking and bracketing. Total shame that samsung didn’t do that for first. Perhaps now that somebody else did it, they will finally care.
Nice features and improvements !
The Micro 4/3 format will always lag behind FF and APS-C in overall image quality.
Olympus could increase its market share by using its crop factor to offer long focal lengths without objectionable size and weight. The new Zuiko PRO 300mm will be a welcome addition to Olympus with a reach equivalent to 600mm, possibly making myself and others new Olympus customers.
I’m really liking all these new features coming for the E-M1. It helps keep it ahead of the M5II and M10II. Hopefully they take a page from Canon and Nikon and when they come out with the M1II they use the same body. I would hate to have to buy another underwater enclosure 🙂