Angela Nicholson
AP Technical Editor
Reged: 07/02/2006
Posts: 142
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The E-3 is to be the next subject in our series on getting the best from your DSLR.
I’d be interested to hear from E-3 owners about your favourite custom settings and how they help you with your photography?
Also, is there anything specific that you would like us to cover? No promises – but I’ll see what I can do  .
Angela
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Rugby_Nut
member
Reged: 08/07/2008
Posts: 121
Loc: High Wycombe, Bucks
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Would it be possible to somehow include the E520 in this? As I understand it the functionality between the E3 and the 520 is very similar (in terms of settings, processor etc). Even if it was a sub-article indicating what can or can't be done with the E520 (or even the E420)? I appreciate that the E3 is the flagship camera but including it's baby brothers may increase sales of the mag 
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Chris
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Repton
Mr Test Shot
Reged: 05/07/2005
Posts: 1758
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Be ground-breaking Angela - do the E-1 first - plenty of users out here
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9277
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Perhaps the E-1 is better suited to Ivor Matanle's "Classics to Buy and Use" feature.............
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
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Repton
Mr Test Shot
Reged: 05/07/2005
Posts: 1758
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The E-1 certainly meets the quality criteria - and the classic criteria - and the 'not just bought cos it's the latest gizmo' criteria.
I'd be happy to read Ivor's comments (enjoyed all the others) but wouldn't say no to a touch of the full monty offered in this new 'make the most of' series. You never know I might even learn something 
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Angela Nicholson
AP Technical Editor
Reged: 07/02/2006
Posts: 142
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Quote:
Be ground-breaking Angela - do the E-1 first - plenty of users out here
Maybe we will at some point in the future, but for now...your thoughts on the E-3 article?
Angela
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Repton
Mr Test Shot
Reged: 05/07/2005
Posts: 1758
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Quote:
Quote:
Be ground-breaking Angela - do the E-1 first - plenty of users out here
Maybe we will at some point in the future, but for now...your thoughts on the E-3 article? Angela
Don't have an E-3 though so no real thoughts on that - other than it's excellent low-light capabilities
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Iloca
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 06/12/2005
Posts: 3774
Loc: Northern Ireland
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A few things that I've set to suit me are,
Image Review 'Off'
FN buton set to switch to MF ( A curious thing is that if you switch to MF using the FN button, then switch the camera off it will still be in MF when you switch on. The problem is that the FN button won't allow you to switch back to AF, you have to use the AF button on the L/H shoulder. It didn't work like that on the 1st firmware but happened after the update IIRC.
Rear command Dial for Aperture In Aperture P and Manual, front Dial is then used for Exp Comp in Aperture P.
Front Dial for Shutter Speed in Shutter P and Manual, rear dial is for Exp Comp in Shutter P
The Direct Function Buttons are set to stay active for 8? seconds to avoid having to keep them pressed when changing settings via the command dials.
Shoot Raw.
Avoid ISO3200 if it's really dark due to banding (works ok if there's reasonable light but I need a fast shutter speed)I'd try IS and only use 3200 as an absolute last resort and I'd also convert ISO 3200 to jpeg using Olympus Master rather than Lightroom so that I can apply Noise reduction to the Raw file)
2 quick tips,
If you're revuing a shot and have zoomed in you can switch back instantly by pressing the FN button rather than scrolling back.
If want to zoom in on a particular area press the FN button before zooming in, a green rectangle will appear which can be moved around, pressing the FN button again instantly zooms to the selected area, you can then use the arrow buttons to view the next image zoomed in on the previously selected area. Press the FN button twice to return to the un zoomed image.
Pressing the focus area button at any magnification allows you to compare two shots.
That sounds very complicated  but it's easy to do and hard to describe.
I can't think of anything else but the Dual Function buttons on the L/H shoulder are carp, I still can't get it right every time and I need to use the Meter and Mode buttons pretty often, I'd have preferred the WB button and Meter button to be swapped around as I don't change WB as often (always set to cloudy and shoot Raw. I don't set WB to auto even though I shoot Raw as I think it can lead to inconsistancy, could be wrong about that though)
I can't think of anything else, look forward to the feature and I hope you get some decent lenses to try, the 150 f/2 is nice, the 70-300 seems good at the price. If you can figure out what AF mode suits various subjects (1 point, 1 point dynamic or All Points/ static, moving/AF/S, AF/C etc) that would be a bonus as no one else seems to know for sure
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Mi Vid Iloca
My Flickr Gallery
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Footloose
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 11/08/2005
Posts: 3188
Loc: Berkshire based.
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I have an E3 and would be interested in the article explaining the ISO (ASA) bracketing mode. Does this result in the camera user taking 1 (One) shot and the camera then automatically converting and saving the predefined 'bracketed' exposures?
This would be a very useful and time saving feature and remove the hassle of the user having to depress the shutter release for each of the 3 or 5 bracketed exposures as happens when using the 'conventional' bracketing mode?
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Trainee reprobate with a pronounced limp (spelt L .. I .. M .. P.)
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Footloose
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 11/08/2005
Posts: 3188
Loc: Berkshire based.
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I've just contacted Olly Europe and they say that the ordinary and ISO(ASA) bracketing work the same way ... 3 & 5 bracketed, require you to depress the shutter 3 or 5 times, or keep it depressed until this number of shots are taken, at which point the bracketing cycle begins again.
If these bracketing modes offered the option of either the photographer pressing the shutter for every exposure OR the camera automatically takes the number of required exposures on a SINGLE depression of the shutter release, this would reduce the risk of getting sequences of bracketed exposures out of sync ... and then discovering the problem when you download and edit the images later on.
Maybe I'm just lazy, but my short-term memory is bad at times and it has caufgt me out when working quickly.
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Trainee reprobate with a pronounced limp (spelt L .. I .. M .. P.)
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Steve_Thomas
newbie
Reged: 01/07/2006
Posts: 34
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It's my wife who is the E-3 user, not I, but as someone occasionally called on to help out with it (so not really accustomed to it) I observe that:
(i) I don't know how to select and move around the focus points. This should be EASY but seems to involve a lengthy trip to a menu - not something I'm going to try in the heat of the moment.
(ii) The camera's indication of battery status seems to be erratic, to say the least. It will frequently signal "Battery Empty" (stupid expression) within a few frames of newly-charged batteries being inserted. I'd be interested to hear how you get on with batteries in extended use.
In theory the 4/3 lenses are great - my wife uses the 150mm f/2 plus converters so gets a 300mm equivalent field of view with a huge relative aperture - but the autofocus speed seems to be a let-down when tracking moving subjects. How about you have a go at a birds of prey flying display and see how you get on with it?
Looking forward to reading your thoughts!
Cheers
Steve
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"If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough" - Robert Capa
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zuiko
Olympian...
Reged: 19/06/2006
Posts: 426
Loc: Norfolk.
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E3 is one of those camera that requires a bit of practice before you use it in anger, especially with sports or things that move! If you don't then you put extra pressure on yourself and that is the time when things go wrong and the camera gets the blame. You have to read the manual and check out other peoples settings that work for them and experiment. There are various web sites which have good advice. I made the mistake recently at an airshow i was using Ap and M settings when Tv for speed was the what was required. So your wife has a E3 with 150mm f2 does she. That means bread and dripping for two years in my book and i would lose three stone in weight.
Here is a starter for help, there are other articles on AF points etc
http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/43/e3-sett.html
David.
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" ENCEFFC!" "ENNSEAEFFSEA!"" ENNCEFFC!" "ENNCEEFC!"
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Habanero
newbie
Reged: 20/02/2008
Posts: 2
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When is this article being published?
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Rugby_Nut
member
Reged: 08/07/2008
Posts: 121
Loc: High Wycombe, Bucks
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Next Tuesday 26 August
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Chris
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