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Thank you for showing us how to best use our camera instead of telling us how much better other cameras are at certain things. We are often told to avoid using tracking because it’s not as good as it should be. Maybe it’s not perfect but you are showing us the best ways to use it. Much thanks.
Thank you very much David! I'd say it is not perfect, but it is a tool for a specific purpose. And for this purpose, it is very close to perfect. The OM-1 is very complex and many functions are highly specialized. I think this is a great design choice - a tool for professionals like us. Thanks again David!
Very well done. The first positive explanation of the tracking feature. The OM-1 is an amazing piece of kit. Unfortunately, the manufacturer has not shared how to use it. Selling a complex device without a complete owners manual. Very short sighted.
Thank you very much Kent! I agree, the lack of proper documentation is a big mistake made by practically all manufacturers which leads to frustrated customers switching to other brands only to bump into similar issues.
I agree Barry and Thomas. What you do right now Thomas, is that you slowly write the expert book for OM-1 with your videos. So many of them are so very good. It takes a very cleaver man with lots of adventurous ideas to investigate the vast tech in a camera like this. I hope your videos will be transcripted into a "how to understand and use OM-1 features book" in the future.
This explains the problem that I’m having with bird detection. I have my OM-1 set to CAF-Tracking with bird detection on and I’m getting undesirable results. I do notice the change in the focus box once I hit the back focus button and I couldn’t understand what was happening. There is much more to this camera than can be imagined. Once again you have delivered…..thanks.
That is so great to read! I'm happy that I was able to help you out on this one - I was confused by exactly the same behaviour when I first got the camera. But as you've said, the camera is much more than can be imagined. It is a sophisticated tool indeed.
Thank you so much for this video Thomas! You are the first professional photographer that I know that has actually recommended CAF+Tr. 🙂 Not even OM Ambassadors do that. They all suggest to avoid CAF+Tr like the plague. I get the feeling that they did not bother to actually test it out and understand how and why it works the way it does. I am new to the OM-1 and found it curious why would OM System add a AF method that did not work well, when everything else about the OM-1 is so amazing. You have shed a lot of light into this and I really appreciate it!
Thank you so much for stating that - I am honored. And I agree, why should they put a feature in their flagship premier product that does not work at all!
Thanks! You are the only one I am able to find who truly understands the more complex features of the OM-1 and OM-1 Mark II. Watching this video saved me a great deal of time.
This is by far the best Series on the OM1. You are really doing the Job for OMDS. Hopefully they will pay you a fortune. Now on CAF+TR and AI, Im somewhat a dark horse as I actually use this all the time for any Wildlife (with the 150-400), meaning deer, fox, mice, buttterflys birds, BIF you name it and I found it more consistent then just CAF+AI. But from my experience it needs all AF Points (the whole area) as once you limit it it can get flawed. Of course ON2 and Senstivity 0 or 1. CAF, I found, for whatever reason has a problem with AI detection if it is not in movement. For example if bird sits on a perch and you wait for the bird to start so you can track him in flight or a deer that starts to run (not ProCapture)-….. If you want to really narrow the AF field, then of course CAF all the way. Maybe this is something you want to have a close look at - CAF vs CAF+TR and AI in Wildlife situation with all AF fields.
Hey Tim! Thank you very much, I'm honored, really! Unfortunately, OMDS does not pay me anything, so this is purely for the love of the OM-1 hehe. Thank you for sharing your tips regarding the activation of all AF fields for such scenarios - I think this will be very helpful for other wildlife photographers! I'm pretty sure that I know what you are describing here as I discovered the same behaviour during early tests. When you select only the small or single AF target, the camera will focus on finding a subject in the vicinity of it first. This can be good if there are multiple subjects in the frame, but also decreases the overall detection threshold, so it seems. So by selecting ALL, the camera is actually performing better. Regarding C-AF with no movement - do you mean it does not detect the subject or that the resulting images are out of focus? If I got that correctly, you actually also had positive experiences with SubjDet + C-AF+TR in general, as you prefer it over just SubjDet + C-AF, right?
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Hi Thomas. it can’t be nothing from OMDS. I might need to have word with Nils on that one as they promised a Video on AF Functions and so far nada and you are really doping their job.😉 Now, on the matter of wildlife (AI) I nearly use all the time CAF-TR + AI over just CAF + AI. I found it more reliable when you observe the wildlife, recompose and wait. Example: when a bird sits on perch for while and you lock the CAF+TR and then recompose it stays relatively good on the subject matter (however, moving gras, branches etc distract easily) and then you can take you shots or wait for the action and then follow the subject (not ProCapture). If I try this common approach when observing I found CAF+AI isn’t reliable on the subject, often even slightly off in the Viewfinder. When I try to grab a BIF then yes CAF+AI is good, but i really cannot say batter then CAF-TR +AI with all AF fields. Thats why on the overall I stayed so far with CAF-TR and AI. This however is actually against the recommendation by OMDS themselves. They state to use just CAF + AI for wildlife as the preferred method. Maybe Im complete wrong on this one but for me so far it works with CAF-TR +AI. What I also do sometimes is to guide the AF with SAF on the subject and then switch to CAF-TR. Now on the AF fields, yes, I think CAF-TR can get confused if you narrow it done to a smaller AF area, like the old recommend 5X5 field from the EM1X days, and if the subjects are outside this are /you try to recompose. If I do not have the AI Subject, however, I switch to CAF for movements. But as Sport and Humans aren’t my subject for everything OMDS (I have a Leica M for Street) i haven’t found this a massive issue - unlike a lot of OM1 User why moan about the poor Face defection (which to be fair isn’t as good as what the other offer)
Thank you very much for your kind support! Yes, I agree - it is about how to get the job done! Thanks for writing that and again, thank you very much for your support!
Another great video. I’ve been using Olympus cameras for years. I tried using C-AF+TR years ago and had such a poor hit rate that I quite trying it. I have 2 OM-1’s and have never used this feature due to my prior experience, but because of you video, I’m going to give it a try again. Thank you.
Great video clarifying this feature based on your analysis. For video I use bird subject detection with C-AF + tracking. What I find with video is the AF initially picks up the bird with subject detection then the C-AF + TR takes over and tracks it. So the subject detect seems to be used for the initial acquisition in this scenario, although I have seen it reacquire the bird in the case of a duck that dives below the water and resurfaces for example. It is always worth experimenting with these features like you have done to see how they work in practise!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography I am itching to put your information to the test with my OM1 and 150-400 lens, but the camera is away with Olympus technicians. It has had crazy auto focus problems since I bought it. I am guessing faulty motherboard, maybe.
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that! That is unfortunate, I hope it will be back soon and you can try it. I actually always avoided it, but as I said, now I use it quite often for many situations. Just requires some practice and getting used to, I'd say.
Yet another wonderfully instructive video - crystal clear and so helpful. A camera is a tool and it is essential we know how to use that tool to its fullest. You are an invaluable tutor helping me to extract more out of my OM1. Thank you!
Wow! Rudy, congratulations - welcome to the OM-1 club! And yes, I agree - switching from a DSLR to the OM is quite something. There is a learning curve, but after a few weeks, the camera will be second nature. Feel free to get in touch if you run into any problems!
Hello Thomas, Jose from Puerto Rico. Thanks for these valuable tips. I've read nightmare stories of how photographers ignore this setting on the camera, because of the bad reputation it gets from many TH-cam videos that bash the system. You touched on something very valuable when you said that it works "if used correctly". That is something I think many reviewers are not doing and immediately criticize the camera. I'm eager to try out the methods you laid out in this video and see how it goes.
Thank you very much Jose! I'm very happy to read that - because I really think tracking is far better than its reputation - "if used correctly", as you've said. Keep me updated on how it works for you, I'd be interested to know :-)
Brilliant Thomas and thanks for focussing (pardon the pun) on it's merits and strong points rather than finding little quirky faults of this camera, your videos are great
Easily the best series for information about Olympus/OM cameras! Your explanations are clear, detailed, and most helpful. I am still using the EM1 II. I assume that most of the information applies to that camera as well. Frankly, I haven't really seen anything that compels me "upgrade" to the OM-1. Most of my limitations are in my own ability to master the camera. Thanks for your videos - they are great.
Dear Ken! Thanks for the kind words - and I agree, most information can be applied to the predecessors as well. The M1II is a great piece of equipment, capable of getting the job done! Thanks again!
Thank you so much in general for teaching us the technical backgrounds! I think understanding what you are doing has to be the basic for every profession! Please go on producing!
Thanks for a very helpful video presentation! I'm mostly interested in wildlife photography, and AF+TR for birds in flight has always been a problem when I used Olympus EM-5 and EM-1 cameras. Now with your explanation, I want to give it another try using the OM-1, your recommended settings, and when the light permits a smaller aperture to get more depth of field.
Hey Ross, by coincidence, I found that you've shared this and other videos I produced - many thanks for the support, this means a lot. The technical research, controlled testing and exchange with experts takes a lot of effort, and I appreciate your support by sharing and commenting. Just wanted to let you know. Best wishes from Vienna!
Very interesting! I really wasn't happy with the CAF+track but now I've learned that it can be better! This is a great pleasure. Thank you for this very useful guide, knowing that I can learn about Om1 every week is great!
I was searching for C-AF for videos (sometimes it is not the same in Video vs. serial images.B ut still this was a very very informative video and calmly explained. Well done Thomas, regards Thomas :)
Fantastic! Let me know how it worked for you! Also consider setting up a custom AF target instead of C-AF+TR for BIF - that should also work really well!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography. Update: Hi Thomas. I went out yesterday and took 351 shots of Canada Geese, Grey Lag Geese, Mallard, Crows, Magpies and Skylarks in flight. Unbelievably, every shot was in focus - even the eyes. I set up my OM1 CAF + TR as you recommended (0 sensitivity, etc.), with all AF points, 1/2500, f8, SH2 @ 50fps and auto ISO (my default settings for larger birds). Unbelievably, every shot was pin sharp, including the eyes. I find this result rather extraordinary, but I checked my images via LR Classic at 200% using a Samsung 4K 55" UHD TV, so I know it is fact. I normally have sensitivity at +2, but even set to 0, CAF + TR continued to track the Mallard, Crows and Magpies when they flew in front of a tree line. The other shots were against a clear, overcast sky. I intend to go out again tomorrow to a different location and continue the experiment but, as of right now, you have convinced me to use CAF + TR as a default. I will be using it on dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies in flight in the summer.
I trust you! So, even if my previous use of C-AF+TR on E-M1 m2 was not so useful, I'll try again with OM-1. I think it could be good this function with new 90mm macro lens using it without tripod. Bravo Thomas! Sergio from Milano Italy
Good evening Sergio! Thank you very much for your trust and comment - I'd be very interested to hear how it worked for you! You should also try the AF+TR for photojournalistic work with a wide angle lens - it really shines in those scenarios, I'd say! Have a nice weekend, all the best, Thomas
Thank you Thomas! I'm going to give it a try for sure. Like you I tried it, didn't get impressed by it and after testing the ai and cf modes I left it aside...
Yes, I don't want to give the impression that it is the one mode that does it all - but it has its use cases and it is better than its reputation. I use it quite a bit. I'm interested to hear more about your experiences with it after you gave it another try!
Perfect timing Thomas! I had just set this AF option to try tracking a Barn Owl in flight. I had the AF target set to All, assuming the birds movement would activate the tracking. Having watched your excellent video I think I will use a small target on the Owl to start/lock the tracking. Thank you very much for these insights.
Awesome! Quick clarification: The size of the target when you use C-AF+TR does not impact the tracking. It will automatically expand so it does work like you thought it would. To track the Barn Owl, you can also use bird detection + C-AF (no tracking). In my video about the OM-1 Autofocus System I explain the subject detection modes and how the AF mode impacts them, it is not very straightforward, unfortunately. In any case, you can also use bird + C-AF+TR, but then you will get an initial bird detection followed by C-AF+TR only. Maybe I got your comment wrong, but I just wanted to make sure. Cheers and happy "shooting"
@@ThomasEisl.Photography I have tried the Bird detection and Af-c but not had much luck with it yet. I think due to lack of experience shooting with a long/narrow lens. I did get some keepers tho. :0)
Just purchased an OM-1. Currently flooding my brain with all the information for it on TH-cam. I have been practicing on Sparrows in the back yard to get a feel for the camera. Tried subject detection then tracking, was blown away with how different the camera acts. Came across your video, it now makes perfect sense! Thank you Thomas! New subscriber! Can I be safe in saying tracking would be good for panning motorsports shots? Or the car subject detection works better? Cheers and greetings from Australia.
Welcome to the OM-1 club, I'd say you just bought one of the best cameras money can buy. Thanks for the feedback regarding the videos and thanks for subscribing! Personally, I'm using tracking a lot in reportage scenarios, so rather close up. Also, it works better with a more or less uniform background. I'd therefore recommend trying the vehicle detection first. It works really well in my experience. King of reliability is always manual AF target selection and placement, just as a side note. Hope this helps, best Thomas 📸
@@ThomasEisl.Photography thank you for the advice. OM Systems have just released that there will be a firmware update for the OM-1 for improved auto focus, so I will be definitely downloading when it comes available. 👍🏻
I have taken your recommendations with the c-af with tracking and it turns out there are no miracles with a tweak with some of the settings, I do think the engineers at OM system know their product quite well and if the c-af with tracking feature has not improved if at all, if there is a huge improvement like the AI subject detection, they would have waved about it from the get go. We all have to realize OM system is now being restructured and is not a large company like Sony does. They have to prioritize what they need to improve first with limited resources so they chose to work on the AI subject detection first because OM-1 target market is outdoor adventure photographers and wildlife photographers and for that, OM-1 works like a flagship camera but for general purpose photography, it lacks far behind even a four year Canon RP in terms of its caf with tracking. I hope OM system will eventually address this and make it a more complete camera if not for this generation of cameras but at least for the next generation cameras so there clearly is a market for compact, weather seal and lightweight cameras.
Miracles don't exist - and if they do, they are definitely not found in a camera menu, I agree. I'm sorry to hear that the tips did not work for you as well as they did for me. Thanks for the comment!
You are absolutely right. the c af tracking is not useful at all with subjects such as animals or children running in a schoolyard. Have self tried out the first Sony a9 yourself. it has no subject recognition. But the tracking is so super good that you don't need anything else. no single focus either. Olympus is really for people who want light gear. The OM-1 really drops big stitches compared to Sony, Canon and Nikon
Hi Thomas, Thanks a lot for you super videos! I often use my OM1 with a Zuiko 40-150 mm f2.8 pro + 2.0 coverter or Zuiko 100-400mm for shooting surf. Is it possible to set CAF + tracking with a smaller AF area?
No, it is really intended to track the whole subject more or less automatically - that makes it very reliable as it "sees" the subject, but comes at the cost of not being able to select a smaller AF area.
Thank you. Until this video, I never understood how to use the C-AF+Tr feature in my OM System OM-1 & OM-5 cameras properly. I have found all of your videos excellent and appreciate your attention to detail as I am an engineer by training as well as an amateur photographyer.
Hi & thank you for this video…I have just applied the AF Area Pointer on 2, turned on the Face & Eye detection, and have the C-AF Sensitivity set to zero. I am on video mode and what I film is people surfing. A tricky thing with this camera for an amateur. My video will find the subject (the person) but will occasion blur and record a wave breaking in front of my subject. I haven’t tried filming since I did these settings…is there anything I should change to capture these types of videos? Thank you for your time😊
Fantastic content! Thank you so much for this video! I'd like to know your impressions on the C-AF+TR of the OM-5 System, it is comparable to the OM-1 or not? I was recently given an OM-5 as a gift and I'm planning on using it for content creation as a video camera for a Film Photography blog I'm starting soon in which I'm planning to include video and pictures, I found the OM-5 a very convenient camera in terms of size and portability, what are your thoughts on this? Thank you in advance and keep up the good work!
Many thanks - the 5 is definitely the perfect camera for your purposes! So yes, it is definitely comparable - the overall performance is bit different as the OM-1 has higher readout speeds and a faster CPU, but the algorithm is at least very similar. To be very precise, the OM-5 seems to use pretty much the same AF system design implemented in the E-M1III. Hope this helps! Best, Thomas
Great video, Thomas ! Encouraged me to give tracking another chance. By default I use bird-detection (for wildlife) which works very fine on OM-1. But this mode is not available in video, but I can use tracking there. Perhaps tracking works different in the video mode, I have to try.
Thank you very much! My guess without testing is that tracking in video uses a similar or the same algorithm that it uses in stills mode - which should be suitable for shooting videos of birds. Otherwise, the single/small AF + C-AF should do the trick as well. Looking forward to hear about your results!
Excellent explanation. I’m learning so much from you. Question: I’m about to travel to India on a tiger safari and planning on taking the OM-1 and Nikon D850, the latter has the big lenses which I don’t have for the OM1. Do you have any similar advice for how to handle spot metering with the D850 with wildlife and continuous autofocus and tracking?
That is great to hear! I'll be publishing videos for exposure metering with tips applicable to all models and brands in the near future - the general principles shared in my OM videos can be applied to all cameras, also to your formidable D850. Also, I'll follow up with Nikon DSLR specific content, it will take a while, however! Please stay tuned hehe 📸😁
Thomas, Thank you for your time and effort with providing us these fantastic informative videos; it's really appreciated. I do have a question for your insight regarding eye-detection settings for portraits or slow moving people. Which collective settings would you suggest to use to accurately track eyes or faces with portraits or slow moving people; AF-Mode, AF-Target Mode and Metering Mode. I've observed eye or face detection cannot be enabled with some combinations of these settings and can be enabled with other combinations. Which combination of these collective settings would you recommend for the best eye or face tracking for slow moving people? Thank you again for your time; your consideration is greatly appreciated. Russell
Hey Russell - thanks for your kind words! I would recommend: C-AF // C-AF Sensitivity to 0 or +1 // Digial ESP metering or Manual Mode with manual exposure settings. The AF Target does not impact face and eye detection, you can select any one of those. I've got another potentially useful video about the OM-1's AF system that you might want to check out. Let me know if I was able to help! Best wishes, Thomas
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Thank you so much Thomas, I really appreciate your time and insight with this; your knowledge and videos are invaluable. Thank you again, Russell
Hello, please, what mode of approach do you recommend for athletics races, not speed races, it is half-distance. What af c? With human tracking? What area of focus? In summary, what configuration of the OM1 Mark II do you recommend? I have seen that if I select the af c + tracking it does not let me select all the focus points "all". Thank you
Hey there! I'm a bit surprised to hear that - I use it quite a bit, so maybe I can help: Tap the WiFi/Camera symbols at the bottom of the app screen, and then use "easy setup" - this is how I do it all the time. Let me know if this worked for you!
OI Share works flawless on my tablet, but my phone is very stubborn. Simply refuses to connect to the camera. Not in the app, not without the app. Seems to be more of a phone issue than an app issue. Frustrating. Already spent hours trying to get it to work.
Hallo Thomas Tolle Erklärung...ich habe im letzten Urlaub viele Vögel im Flug fotografiert..bin mit der ausbeute nicht wirklich zufrieden. Jetzt hat mir jemand gesagt bei caf und tracking muss der Stabilisator aus sein....was ist deine meinung dazu 😮 herzlichen dank
Vielen Dank! Tatsächlich sollte man sollte den Stabilisator nicht deaktivieren, und das kann man technisch begründen: ohne Stabilisator "wackelt" das Bild mehr. Dadurch ist für die Kamera das Bild noch mehr in Bewegung, die Verfolgung des Motivs wird dadurch erschwert. Theoretisch kann man eine Achse des IS deaktivieren, wenn man zum Beispiel horizontal oder vertikal nachführt. Aber das hat keine wirklichen Auswirkungen auf den AF. Danke für die Frage und den Kommentar!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Dankeschön Das ist eine klare Aussage..dann liegt es wohl klar an mir und meinem "wackeln"... ich hätte noch einen Wunsch für ein weiteres Tutorium...Zusammenhang zwischen Brennweite, blendenöffnung und Schärfe...verhält sich die om anders als meine canon? Ich denke ja aufgrund der sensor Größe Liebe Grüße aus Bayern...
@dorisniklas5633 Gerne! Doris, tatsächlich ist kein echter Unterschied. Wenn Du möchtest, ich biete Einzelgespräche an in denen ich effizient und detailliert alle Fragen beantworten kann. Schick mir einfach ein E-Mail wenn das für dich von Interesse ist. Viele Grüße aus Wien! 📸
Very clear video but unfortunately I still have serious issues using it. I selected an area 3x3 but it focuses outside of that area. I'm using the 17mm 1.8. After several attempts I was not able to make it. The AF was not starting in the area I've selected but always outside. Tested with 3x3, 5x5, cross, nothing to do the AF refused to lock the subject in the area but others outside.
Hmmm, that is very strange! I'm sorry to hear that. I recommend using a single AF point so you can tell the OM-1 more precisely where to start looking for a subject! Hope this helps!
Is it caf + tracking is available for the car panning shot / moving car shooting on the road ? I use the subject mode with caf , the successful hitting rate is not good . Thx for help
I think it’s great to make the best of C-TR of the OM-1, but we shouldn’t be complacent and not demand OM Systems improves on it becuase the truth is, it’s indeed subpar to the competition. I have not seen a single Olympus camera to date to do this well, the OM-1 must be improved, but obviously there are issues as this is one of the vaunted OM-1 MKII improvements. So the tips and particularly the explanations are very welcome, but let’s not pretend the current state is all good because it really isn’t in todays market and we should let OM Systems clearly this is an area that they need to catch up. Ditto then for the OM-5 and E-P7. I really think Olympus/OM have made this mode plus doing the all points feedback more complicated than it should be - they should just show the little grid of dots in a region you specify (all screen view or smaller square), and show them in a very fast feedback fashion. This is what Sony /Canon have done for years, Fuji also shows these dots though not as fast as the Sony/Canon feedback, and Nikon is pretty good too. It really makes a difference when using the tool in knowing what exactly the camera is “thinking” on where to focus. Thanks again for explaining the nuances of the settings.
Thanks for the tips Thomas. Useful as usual. I do have one question. I know you use Nikon SLRs. Do you use the tracking with those cameras, and if so how does it compare? I ask this, because it seems to me that many of the criticisms of the OM1 are based on people comparing it to say the Z9 or the high end Sony cameras, or the high end SLRs of yesteryear.
@@richardfink7666 Agreed. But it would certainly help OM if they can meet industry standards. They are supposed to be king of computational after all. I realize there is a big price difference. Perhaps processing power is a hardware limitation, or maybe firmware improvements will improve things. It doesn't really matter to me personally. The Om-1 works fine for me, but if you are a sports shooter for example, you might actually prefer an SLR. I'm sure that Thomas is right. One needs to learn how to use the camera properly before judging its performance, and this will no doubt help a lot.
Hey Jon! This is a very interesting question, one that is very difficult to answer. One problem is that the different AF systems are programmed very differently, and it takes a long time to really learn how to make best use of them. Only then, a fair comparison would be possible. I mean, we see it with the OM-1: Right out of the box, it might even frustrate you. But when you train with it, you will get hit rates close to 100%. One big "advantage" of the DSLRs I use compared to the OM-1 is that they are far less complex. They also use only phase detection and these systems behave more or less the same regardless of whether it is set to S-AF or C-AF. The often highly acclaimed 3d tracking in Nikon DSLRs is really good, yes. But it also fails in some circumstances. It also loses the subject. Sony's tracking also loses subjects. Regarding the Z cameras - I had a Z7II and had quite some issues with the AF behaviour. Is the AF bad? No, but you also have to learn it. The Z9 is said to be the best, some who used the OM-1 and the Z9 said that there is no difference in performance. You can see people switching systems left and right, and the opinions differ greatly. I don't want to bore anyone with this monologue, but the issue is really big: Most camera tests and experiences are hampered by very limited understanding of the system. And if someone really knows how to work with Nikon DSLRs, they might fail with Z cameras as they do not know anything about them initially. Same goes for the OM-1 and so on. I am almost certain that most of the criticism of the OM-1 or any other camera is not very "objective" to say the least. What is also important to state: It is very hard to "best" even a very old DSLR when it comes to basic autofocus performance. Many of them are practically infallible (thanks to the wide PDAF measuring base among other reasons), but not as convenient and configurable as today's mirrorless cameras. Last but not least, I am absolutely confident to state that after about a year with the OM-1: It is definitely one of the best - if not the best - camera when it comes to AF that I have ever used. But it took time to learn. From my experience, with this tool, the sky's the limit.
I'd say yes - the mode was improved in the OM-1, but the overall principle stayed the same, according to my knowledge. At least concerning the E-M1II and III, this should be the case!
Grundsätzlich ein gut gemachtes Video. Jedoch das Beispiel aus der "Praxis" finde ich dann doch etwas dürftig, da Du das Objekt in der Fokuseben langsam bewegst. Für Tiere (Vögel) in Action taugt nach meinen praktischen Wildlife-Erfahrungen des letzten Jahres taugt CAF+Tracking überhaupt nicht, da einfach viel zu langsam.
Vielen Dank für dein Feedback! Ich denke auch, dass Tracking für diese Motive nicht die erste Wahl ist - Subject detection und C-AF oder C-AF Point ist die erste Wahl für diese Bereiche. C-AF+TR ist vor allem für die genannten Szenarien gut - ich liebe es für Events, Red carpet usw., auch bei Walks im Studio wirklich gut. Danke fürs teilen deiner Erfahrungen!
Ich würde sagen, die Funktion ist einfach wirklich für andere, spezielle Szenarien gedacht - da verhält sie sich teilweise sogar besser finde ich. Man muss wirklich probieren um für sich eine gute Technik damit zu entwickeln. Aber ja, es gibt ein gewisses Frustrationspotential bis dahin - hab C-AF+TR auch lange nicht verwendet aus diesem Grund.
Hallo, ich hab` jetzt 2 Tage lang C-AF+TR ausgiebig getestet. Und ich komme zu dem Schluss, dass sich das Tracking für sich eher langsam bewegende Objekte durchaus eignen kann, aber für meine Zwecke (Wildlife) ist es doch zu träge. Zum Schluss hätte ich noch eine Anregung für ein weiteres Thema: Gesichts-und Augenerkennung. Das hat irgendwie bei meiner Nikon Z6II und der Olympus OMD-E-1 Mark III besser funktioniert.
Hallo Richard! Ja, schnell bewegende Objekte sind besser mit einem custom AF target zu erfassen. Gesichts- und Augenerkennung: Werde ich beobachten in den nächsten Wochen. Bislang war ich zufrieden, ich werde sehen ob ich etwas bemerke. Hab aber auch derzeit keine Mark III und die Z7II ist auch schon länger nicht mehr bei mir in der Tasche zum direkten Vergleich. Danke für die Anregung! "Much appreciated" hehe
Hallo, für Wildlife würde ich es auch nicht unbedingt benutzen. Dafür sind die Erkennungsmodi viel besser geeignet. Ein Custom AF Feld, ich habe z.B. ein "Kinolweinwand" für BIF, Birdtracking und SH2, das funktioniert für mich super.
wie kann ich denn mit dem Finger ( Kamera am Auge ) den AF Punkt schnell ansteuern/verschieben. Bei mir geht das AF verschieben es nur mit dem joystick .Kamera nicht mehr am Auge: mit dem Finger kann ich auslösen ( was ich auch gerne abstellen würde )...2 Probleme also
Danke für die Frage! Dazu empfehle ich die entsprechenden Kapitel in der Bedienungsanleitung - hauptsächlich Touch AF. Gerne helfe ich auch persönlich bei der Konfiguration und den Problemen per Videocall oder Workshop. Viele Grüße, Thomas 📸
Some photographers (like me) who try to push a long lens to its limits lose a bird because it occupies too few pixels in the frame. Focusing is not reliable on the shutter half-press, and tracking is a hit or miss proposition on subsequent shots in ProCap. Poor panning technique exacerbates the problem. I think this behavior can be tested with birds that are 50 x 50 pixels, or 100 x 100 pixels, etc., to determine the precise breaking point. An artificial bird on a wire can be used as the experimental subject.
Yes, for those situations, I don't think C-AF+TR is the best mode. I would rather use the single/small AF target and maybe even consider turning subject detection off.
I'd recommend bird detection + C-AF. There is more info on the AF system here, might be useful: th-cam.com/video/qo9xAAjOffA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=0PAQu6Us-Ujo3BAK
A guy posted this video in which C-AF+TR fails to stay on a background focussed with green box, because camera change focus on other parts of frame, Aldo with every recognition off. How to solve? th-cam.com/video/SS55IAHsnZ8/w-d-xo.html And if i want photos of my dog running to me (distance is less at every shorts) what are the best settings? thanks Thomas
Hey Marco, I've only glanced at the video - I don't know what he is doing to be honest and what he is trying to achieve. Might be the language barrier. To answer your questions: My three videos on the OM System AF system contain exactly what you are looking for. You can find them in the dedicated OM-1 Playlist on my channel! Best wishes and thanks for asking!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography i've wathced every single video of your Channel, or almost ahahah :D i tries to replicate the scenario but It worked for me on firmware 1.5. don't know of It Is the firmware or using ESP spot, but worked Better, not flawlessy. Having Better results with C-AF and touch focus+recognition for video selfie, but also a simple tracking worked with C-AF+TR. Of course, It would be nice of Om-1 sistem improves too :)
Ah! OK So what I would try is C-AF, sensitivity+2 and AF target "small". Subject recognition on/off - well, you have to try, really! I leave it off almost always, but that's my style. Should get you great hit rate with the dog 🐶
It’s doesn’t works as most of people expected, that’s why most of people don’t recommend to use. It’s like driving manual car with auto-clutch when other manufacturers already have auto-transmission.😅 It’s useful only because there is nothing better in MTF ecosystem. 😂
Touchy subject 😂 you know what what we Europeans think of auto clutch drivers haha - they can't actually figure out how to operate a real car 😂 some might argue that this is not even driving 😂
@@ThomasEisl.Photography we Asian loves auto transmission since here are too crowded. Manual shifting too frequently will make you have cramp in the middle of traffic. 🤪
As much as I like Olympus and now OM cameras, I have to admit that tracking C-AF is still not on par with with Canon, Sony and even Nikon. More work is needed there. It is still not very reliable.
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Thank you for showing us how to best use our camera instead of telling us how much better other cameras are at certain things. We are often told to avoid using tracking because it’s not as good as it should be. Maybe it’s not perfect but you are showing us the best ways to use it. Much thanks.
Thank you very much David!
I'd say it is not perfect, but it is a tool for a specific purpose. And for this purpose, it is very close to perfect.
The OM-1 is very complex and many functions are highly specialized. I think this is a great design choice - a tool for professionals like us.
Thanks again David!
Very well done. The first positive explanation of the tracking feature. The OM-1 is an amazing piece of kit. Unfortunately, the manufacturer has not shared how to use it. Selling a complex device without a complete owners manual. Very short sighted.
Thank you very much Kent!
I agree, the lack of proper documentation is a big mistake made by practically all manufacturers which leads to frustrated customers switching to other brands only to bump into similar issues.
Agree. This video was a breath of fresh air.
I agree Barry and Thomas.
What you do right now Thomas, is that you slowly write the expert book for OM-1 with your videos. So many of them are so very good. It takes a very cleaver man with lots of adventurous ideas to investigate the vast tech in a camera like this.
I hope your videos will be transcripted into a "how to understand and use OM-1 features book" in the future.
Thank you very much!
@@sweden_ove2074 I’d buy that book!
This explains the problem that I’m having with bird detection. I have my OM-1 set to CAF-Tracking with bird detection on and I’m getting undesirable results. I do notice the change in the focus box once I hit the back focus button and I couldn’t understand what was happening. There is much more to this camera than can be imagined. Once again you have delivered…..thanks.
That is so great to read! I'm happy that I was able to help you out on this one - I was confused by exactly the same behaviour when I first got the camera.
But as you've said, the camera is much more than can be imagined. It is a sophisticated tool indeed.
Thank you so much for this video Thomas! You are the first professional photographer that I know that has actually recommended CAF+Tr. 🙂 Not even OM Ambassadors do that. They all suggest to avoid CAF+Tr like the plague. I get the feeling that they did not bother to actually test it out and understand how and why it works the way it does. I am new to the OM-1 and found it curious why would OM System add a AF method that did not work well, when everything else about the OM-1 is so amazing. You have shed a lot of light into this and I really appreciate it!
Thank you so much for stating that - I am honored.
And I agree, why should they put a feature in their flagship premier product that does not work at all!
@@ThomasEisl.Photographyk
Thanks! You are the only one I am able to find who truly understands the more complex features of the OM-1 and OM-1 Mark II. Watching this video saved me a great deal of time.
That is amazing, thank you very much for the feedback and the generous donation. I'm very thankful!
Fantastic video! The practical demonstration on spot metering with tracking on was very useful. Thanks Thomas.
Great to read!
This is by far the best Series on the OM1. You are really doing the Job for OMDS. Hopefully they will pay you a fortune. Now on CAF+TR and AI, Im somewhat a dark horse as I actually use this all the time for any Wildlife (with the 150-400), meaning deer, fox, mice, buttterflys birds, BIF you name it and I found it more consistent then just CAF+AI. But from my experience it needs all AF Points (the whole area) as once you limit it it can get flawed. Of course ON2 and Senstivity 0 or 1. CAF, I found, for whatever reason has a problem with AI detection if it is not in movement. For example if bird sits on a perch and you wait for the bird to start so you can track him in flight or a deer that starts to run (not ProCapture)-….. If you want to really narrow the AF field, then of course CAF all the way. Maybe this is something you want to have a close look at - CAF vs CAF+TR and AI in Wildlife situation with all AF fields.
Hey Tim!
Thank you very much, I'm honored, really! Unfortunately, OMDS does not pay me anything, so this is purely for the love of the OM-1 hehe.
Thank you for sharing your tips regarding the activation of all AF fields for such scenarios - I think this will be very helpful for other wildlife photographers!
I'm pretty sure that I know what you are describing here as I discovered the same behaviour during early tests.
When you select only the small or single AF target, the camera will focus on finding a subject in the vicinity of it first. This can be good if there are multiple subjects in the frame, but also decreases the overall detection threshold, so it seems. So by selecting ALL, the camera is actually performing better.
Regarding C-AF with no movement - do you mean it does not detect the subject or that the resulting images are out of focus?
If I got that correctly, you actually also had positive experiences with SubjDet + C-AF+TR in general, as you prefer it over just SubjDet + C-AF, right?
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Hi Thomas. it can’t be nothing from OMDS. I might need to have word with Nils on that one as they promised a Video on AF Functions and so far nada and you are really doping their job.😉
Now, on the matter of wildlife (AI) I nearly use all the time CAF-TR + AI over just CAF + AI. I found it more reliable when you observe the wildlife, recompose and wait. Example: when a bird sits on perch for while and you lock the CAF+TR and then recompose it stays relatively good on the subject matter (however, moving gras, branches etc distract easily) and then you can take you shots or wait for the action and then follow the subject (not ProCapture). If I try this common approach when observing I found CAF+AI isn’t reliable on the subject, often even slightly off in the Viewfinder.
When I try to grab a BIF then yes CAF+AI is good, but i really cannot say batter then CAF-TR +AI with all AF fields. Thats why on the overall I stayed so far with CAF-TR and AI.
This however is actually against the recommendation by OMDS themselves. They state to use just CAF + AI for wildlife as the preferred method. Maybe Im complete wrong on this one but for me so far it works with CAF-TR +AI.
What I also do sometimes is to guide the AF with SAF on the subject and then switch to CAF-TR.
Now on the AF fields, yes, I think CAF-TR can get confused if you narrow it done to a smaller AF area, like the old recommend 5X5 field from the EM1X days, and if the subjects are outside this are /you try to recompose.
If I do not have the AI Subject, however, I switch to CAF for movements. But as Sport and Humans aren’t my subject for everything OMDS (I have a Leica M for Street) i haven’t found this a massive issue - unlike a lot of OM1 User why moan about the poor Face defection (which to be fair isn’t as good as what the other offer)
Love your videos Thomas. You break down the complexity into the small steps we all need to really learn how to master this great camera.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback! Awesome to hear!
Merci! Thank you. Excellent explanation. There's too much negative video out there on what it can not do. Good to see what it can do.
Thank you very much for your kind support!
Yes, I agree - it is about how to get the job done! Thanks for writing that and again, thank you very much for your support!
Thomas..your explanations are brilliant. I have an OM-1 and am continuously learning about its features..from you. Thank you!
Awesome! That is great to read! Thank you!
Another great video. I’ve been using Olympus cameras for years. I tried using C-AF+TR years ago and had such a poor hit rate that I quite trying it. I have 2 OM-1’s and have never used this feature due to my prior experience, but because of you video, I’m going to give it a try again. Thank you.
Great to read - I'm quite sure that you will be pleasantly surprised. I've used it in the studio yesterday, works really well!
Thank you for taking the time to make this video! I will definitely give this mode another chance now that I better understand how it works.
Thank you!
Please do and share your experiences if you have the time. That would be awesome!
Thank you very much. You brought it to an other level. 🎉
Thank you Sir!
Great video clarifying this feature based on your analysis. For video I use bird subject detection with C-AF + tracking. What I find with video is the AF initially picks up the bird with subject detection then the C-AF + TR takes over and tracks it. So the subject detect seems to be used for the initial acquisition in this scenario, although I have seen it reacquire the bird in the case of a duck that dives below the water and resurfaces for example. It is always worth experimenting with these features like you have done to see how they work in practise!
Hey Bill! Thank you very much for your kind comment!
I will take a look at video AF in a future video! Thanks for the input!
Again a very useful, informative Session which clarified a lot for me even after using the OM-1 now almostva year with fun! Thanks!
Great to hear! Thank you Volker!
Thank you. Best explanation I have found. Your tutorials are always excellent.
Great to hear - thanks for the feedback!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography I am itching to put your information to the test with my OM1 and 150-400 lens, but the camera is away with Olympus technicians. It has had crazy auto focus problems since I bought it. I am guessing faulty motherboard, maybe.
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that! That is unfortunate, I hope it will be back soon and you can try it. I actually always avoided it, but as I said, now I use it quite often for many situations. Just requires some practice and getting used to, I'd say.
Yet another wonderfully instructive video - crystal clear and so helpful.
A camera is a tool and it is essential we know how to use that tool to its fullest. You are an invaluable tutor helping me to extract more out of my OM1.
Thank you!
Awesome! That is so great to read! Thank you very much for your kind, much appreciated feedback 📸
Received my OM-1 last week. Coming from a Nikon APS-C DSLR the learning curve is steep. So once again a big thanks for your video's, Thomas.
Wow!
Rudy, congratulations - welcome to the OM-1 club!
And yes, I agree - switching from a DSLR to the OM is quite something. There is a learning curve, but after a few weeks, the camera will be second nature.
Feel free to get in touch if you run into any problems!
Thank you Thomas useful tips especially tracking.
Any time!
Thanks for clearing that up Thomas, much appreciated!!
Awesome, great you appreciate it!
Hello Thomas, Jose from Puerto Rico. Thanks for these valuable tips. I've read nightmare stories of how photographers ignore this setting on the camera, because of the bad reputation it gets from many TH-cam videos that bash the system. You touched on something very valuable when you said that it works "if used correctly". That is something I think many reviewers are not doing and immediately criticize the camera. I'm eager to try out the methods you laid out in this video and see how it goes.
Thank you very much Jose!
I'm very happy to read that - because I really think tracking is far better than its reputation - "if used correctly", as you've said.
Keep me updated on how it works for you, I'd be interested to know :-)
Brilliant Thomas and thanks for focussing (pardon the pun) on it's merits and strong points rather than finding little quirky faults of this camera, your videos are great
Thank you very much!
I agree: Photographers like you and me actually want to get the shot, we do not want to make our tools fail on purpose.
Thank you so much. I'm not using OM-1. But your VDO shows me how to use every option of my camera to its best.
That is great to hear - thanks for the kind words!
Once again thanks so much for another well explained video.
My pleasure! Thanks for the kind feedback!
Easily the best series for information about Olympus/OM cameras! Your explanations are clear, detailed, and most helpful. I am still using the EM1 II. I assume that most of the information applies to that camera as well. Frankly, I haven't really seen anything that compels me "upgrade" to the OM-1. Most of my limitations are in my own ability to master the camera. Thanks for your videos - they are great.
Dear Ken! Thanks for the kind words - and I agree, most information can be applied to the predecessors as well.
The M1II is a great piece of equipment, capable of getting the job done!
Thanks again!
Finally usable mode!!! Thanks a lot 😊
Thank you very much!
Thank you so much in general for teaching us the technical backgrounds! I think understanding what you are doing has to be the basic for every profession! Please go on producing!
Thank you very much! The next video is already in the making 📸
Thanks for a very helpful video presentation! I'm mostly interested in wildlife photography, and AF+TR for birds in flight has always been a problem when I used Olympus EM-5 and EM-1 cameras. Now with your explanation, I want to give it another try using the OM-1, your recommended settings, and when the light permits a smaller aperture to get more depth of field.
Hey Nick! Yes, the tracking is much improved in the OM-1 and definitely worth trying. Let me know how it turned out - thanks for the kind words!
Excellent presentation!
Thank you very much!
Thanks! I will give CAF+TR another try.
Awesome!
Thanks, I've experimented with C-AF + Tracking on my Em1 Mk3 and have been very impressed, will definitely use it more!
Great to hear! The mark 3 is an awesome tool!
Thanks Thomas. Excellent explanation for using C-AF+TR. 😊
Most welcome and thank you very much for the comment!
Hey Ross, by coincidence, I found that you've shared this and other videos I produced - many thanks for the support, this means a lot.
The technical research, controlled testing and exchange with experts takes a lot of effort, and I appreciate your support by sharing and commenting. Just wanted to let you know. Best wishes from Vienna!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Thanks Thomas.
Thomas, your video is excellent. Help a lot. Thx!!!!
That is great to read!
Very interesting! I really wasn't happy with the CAF+track but now I've learned that it can be better! This is a great pleasure. Thank you for this very useful guide, knowing that I can learn about Om1 every week is great!
That is great to hear, Stefano!
Please share if your experiences after giving it a "second chance". Would love to hear about that!
Thanks for another great vid
Thank you Thomas. Very good information.
Thank you, most welcome!
Well explained ! Many thanks.
Most welcome!
I was searching for C-AF for videos (sometimes it is not the same in Video vs. serial images.B ut still this was a very very informative video and calmly explained. Well done Thomas, regards Thomas :)
Thanks a lot 😊
Hi Thomas, thank you very much for another excellent presentation. I have altered two of my customised BIF settings accordingly.
Fantastic! Let me know how it worked for you!
Also consider setting up a custom AF target instead of C-AF+TR for BIF - that should also work really well!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography. Update: Hi Thomas. I went out yesterday and took 351 shots of Canada Geese, Grey Lag Geese, Mallard, Crows, Magpies and Skylarks in flight. Unbelievably, every shot was in focus - even the eyes. I set up my OM1 CAF + TR as you recommended (0 sensitivity, etc.), with all AF points, 1/2500, f8, SH2 @ 50fps and auto ISO (my default settings for larger birds). Unbelievably, every shot was pin sharp, including the eyes. I find this result rather extraordinary, but I checked my images via LR Classic at 200% using a Samsung 4K 55" UHD TV, so I know it is fact. I normally have sensitivity at +2, but even set to 0, CAF + TR continued to track the Mallard, Crows and Magpies when they flew in front of a tree line. The other shots were against a clear, overcast sky. I intend to go out again tomorrow to a different location and continue the experiment but, as of right now, you have convinced me to use CAF + TR as a default. I will be using it on dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies in flight in the summer.
Wow! That is so great to read - I'm hyped, to be honest! Thank you very much for sharing the details, that is extremely valuable and encouraging.
thanks thomas
I trust you! So, even if my previous use of C-AF+TR on E-M1 m2 was not so useful, I'll try again with OM-1. I think it could be good this function with new 90mm macro lens using it without tripod. Bravo Thomas! Sergio from Milano Italy
Good evening Sergio!
Thank you very much for your trust and comment - I'd be very interested to hear how it worked for you!
You should also try the AF+TR for photojournalistic work with a wide angle lens - it really shines in those scenarios, I'd say!
Have a nice weekend, all the best, Thomas
Thank you Thomas! I'm going to give it a try for sure. Like you I tried it, didn't get impressed by it and after testing the ai and cf modes I left it aside...
Yes, I don't want to give the impression that it is the one mode that does it all - but it has its use cases and it is better than its reputation. I use it quite a bit.
I'm interested to hear more about your experiences with it after you gave it another try!
Perfect timing Thomas! I had just set this AF option to try tracking a Barn Owl in flight. I had the AF target set to All, assuming the birds movement would activate the tracking. Having watched your excellent video I think I will use a small target on the Owl to start/lock the tracking.
Thank you very much for these insights.
Awesome!
Quick clarification: The size of the target when you use C-AF+TR does not impact the tracking. It will automatically expand so it does work like you thought it would.
To track the Barn Owl, you can also use bird detection + C-AF (no tracking). In my video about the OM-1 Autofocus System I explain the subject detection modes and how the AF mode impacts them, it is not very straightforward, unfortunately.
In any case, you can also use bird + C-AF+TR, but then you will get an initial bird detection followed by C-AF+TR only.
Maybe I got your comment wrong, but I just wanted to make sure.
Cheers and happy "shooting"
@@ThomasEisl.Photography I have tried the Bird detection and Af-c but not had much luck with it yet. I think due to lack of experience shooting with a long/narrow lens. I did get some keepers tho. :0)
Interesting - thanks for sharing!
Just purchased an OM-1. Currently flooding my brain with all the information for it on TH-cam. I have been practicing on Sparrows in the back yard to get a feel for the camera. Tried subject detection then tracking, was blown away with how different the camera acts. Came across your video, it now makes perfect sense! Thank you Thomas! New subscriber! Can I be safe in saying tracking would be good for panning motorsports shots? Or the car subject detection works better? Cheers and greetings from Australia.
Welcome to the OM-1 club, I'd say you just bought one of the best cameras money can buy.
Thanks for the feedback regarding the videos and thanks for subscribing!
Personally, I'm using tracking a lot in reportage scenarios, so rather close up. Also, it works better with a more or less uniform background. I'd therefore recommend trying the vehicle detection first. It works really well in my experience. King of reliability is always manual AF target selection and placement, just as a side note.
Hope this helps, best Thomas 📸
@@ThomasEisl.Photography thank you for the advice. OM Systems have just released that there will be a firmware update for the OM-1 for improved auto focus, so I will be definitely downloading when it comes available. 👍🏻
Yes, that is pretty cool - I'm excited as well - I'm curious how they will improve the camera, as it is already very good. Best, Thomas 📸
Wie immer perfekt erklärt, bin begeistert 🤩
Vielen Dank!
Awesome fellow.😊
Thank you kindly
Thank you for your very informative video!
My pleasure!
I have taken your recommendations with the c-af with tracking and it turns out there are no miracles with a tweak with some of the settings, I do think the engineers at OM system know their product quite well and if the c-af with tracking feature has not improved if at all, if there is a huge improvement like the AI subject detection, they would have waved about it from the get go. We all have to realize OM system is now being restructured and is not a large company like Sony does. They have to prioritize what they need to improve first with limited resources so they chose to work on the AI subject detection first because OM-1 target market is outdoor adventure photographers and wildlife photographers and for that, OM-1 works like a flagship camera but for general purpose photography, it lacks far behind even a four year Canon RP in terms of its caf with tracking. I hope OM system will eventually address this and make it a more complete camera if not for this generation of cameras but at least for the next generation cameras so there clearly is a market for compact, weather seal and lightweight cameras.
Miracles don't exist - and if they do, they are definitely not found in a camera menu, I agree.
I'm sorry to hear that the tips did not work for you as well as they did for me.
Thanks for the comment!
You are absolutely right.
the c af tracking is not useful at all with subjects such as animals or children running in a schoolyard.
Have self tried out the first Sony a9 yourself. it has no subject recognition.
But the tracking is so super good that you don't need anything else. no single focus either. Olympus is really for people who want light gear.
The OM-1 really drops big stitches compared to Sony, Canon and Nikon
Hi Thomas,
Thanks a lot for you super videos!
I often use my OM1 with a Zuiko 40-150 mm f2.8 pro + 2.0 coverter or Zuiko 100-400mm for shooting surf.
Is it possible to set CAF + tracking with a smaller AF area?
No, it is really intended to track the whole subject more or less automatically - that makes it very reliable as it "sees" the subject, but comes at the cost of not being able to select a smaller AF area.
Very good explanation! Vielen Dank!
Most welcome - sehr gerne!
Thank you. Until this video, I never understood how to use the C-AF+Tr feature in my OM System OM-1 & OM-5 cameras properly. I have found all of your videos excellent and appreciate your attention to detail as I am an engineer by training as well as an amateur photographyer.
Thank you Matt, I appreciate that!
Cameras like the OM-1 are so sophisticated, they require attention to detail to make them perform at their best.
Excellent ,
Many thanks
Thank YOU !
Most welcome!
Hi & thank you for this video…I have just applied the AF Area Pointer on 2, turned on the Face & Eye detection, and have the C-AF Sensitivity set to zero. I am on video mode and what I film is people surfing. A tricky thing with this camera for an amateur. My video will find the subject (the person) but will occasion blur and record a wave breaking in front of my subject. I haven’t tried filming since I did these settings…is there anything I should change to capture these types of videos? Thank you for your time😊
Fantastic content! Thank you so much for this video! I'd like to know your impressions on the C-AF+TR of the OM-5 System, it is comparable to the OM-1 or not? I was recently given an OM-5 as a gift and I'm planning on using it for content creation as a video camera for a Film Photography blog I'm starting soon in which I'm planning to include video and pictures, I found the OM-5 a very convenient camera in terms of size and portability, what are your thoughts on this? Thank you in advance and keep up the good work!
Many thanks - the 5 is definitely the perfect camera for your purposes!
So yes, it is definitely comparable - the overall performance is bit different as the OM-1 has higher readout speeds and a faster CPU, but the algorithm is at least very similar. To be very precise, the OM-5 seems to use pretty much the same AF system design implemented in the E-M1III.
Hope this helps! Best, Thomas
Great video, Thomas ! Encouraged me to give tracking another chance.
By default I use bird-detection (for wildlife) which works very fine on OM-1. But this mode is not available in video, but I can use tracking there. Perhaps tracking works different in the video mode, I have to try.
Thank you very much!
My guess without testing is that tracking in video uses a similar or the same algorithm that it uses in stills mode - which should be suitable for shooting videos of birds. Otherwise, the single/small AF + C-AF should do the trick as well.
Looking forward to hear about your results!
Thank you, Thomas !
Excellent explanation. I’m learning so much from you. Question: I’m about to travel to India on a tiger safari and planning on taking the OM-1 and Nikon D850, the latter has the big lenses which I don’t have for the OM1. Do you have any similar advice for how to handle spot metering with the D850 with wildlife and continuous autofocus and tracking?
That is great to hear! I'll be publishing videos for exposure metering with tips applicable to all models and brands in the near future - the general principles shared in my OM videos can be applied to all cameras, also to your formidable D850.
Also, I'll follow up with Nikon DSLR specific content, it will take a while, however! Please stay tuned hehe 📸😁
Thanks!
Thank you for the super thanks! ☺️
Thomas,
Thank you for your time and effort with providing us these fantastic informative videos; it's really appreciated. I do have a question for your insight regarding eye-detection settings for portraits or slow moving people. Which collective settings would you suggest to use to accurately track eyes or faces with portraits or slow moving people; AF-Mode, AF-Target Mode and Metering Mode. I've observed eye or face detection cannot be enabled with some combinations of these settings and can be enabled with other combinations. Which combination of these collective settings would you recommend for the best eye or face tracking for slow moving people?
Thank you again for your time; your consideration is greatly appreciated.
Russell
Hey Russell - thanks for your kind words!
I would recommend:
C-AF // C-AF Sensitivity to 0 or +1 // Digial ESP metering or Manual Mode with manual exposure settings.
The AF Target does not impact face and eye detection, you can select any one of those.
I've got another potentially useful video about the OM-1's AF system that you might want to check out.
Let me know if I was able to help!
Best wishes, Thomas
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Thank you so much Thomas, I really appreciate your time and insight with this; your knowledge and videos are invaluable.
Thank you again,
Russell
Most welcome!
Hello, please, what mode of approach do you recommend for athletics races, not speed races, it is half-distance. What af c? With human tracking? What area of focus? In summary, what configuration of the OM1 Mark II do you recommend? I have seen that if I select the af c + tracking it does not let me select all the focus points "all". Thank you
Do you use the OI Share app? Might be an interesting topic for a video. Connecting to the camera has been a bit of a challenge, I have to say.
Hey there!
I'm a bit surprised to hear that - I use it quite a bit, so maybe I can help:
Tap the WiFi/Camera symbols at the bottom of the app screen, and then use "easy setup" - this is how I do it all the time. Let me know if this worked for you!
OI Share works flawless on my tablet, but my phone is very stubborn. Simply refuses to connect to the camera. Not in the app, not without the app. Seems to be more of a phone issue than an app issue. Frustrating. Already spent hours trying to get it to work.
Can we use C-Af+TR+Procapsh2? Thank you!
Yes!
Hallo Thomas
Tolle Erklärung...ich habe im letzten Urlaub viele Vögel im Flug fotografiert..bin mit der ausbeute nicht wirklich zufrieden. Jetzt hat mir jemand gesagt bei caf und tracking muss der Stabilisator aus sein....was ist deine meinung dazu 😮 herzlichen dank
Vielen Dank!
Tatsächlich sollte man sollte den Stabilisator nicht deaktivieren, und das kann man technisch begründen: ohne Stabilisator "wackelt" das Bild mehr. Dadurch ist für die Kamera das Bild noch mehr in Bewegung, die Verfolgung des Motivs wird dadurch erschwert. Theoretisch kann man eine Achse des IS deaktivieren, wenn man zum Beispiel horizontal oder vertikal nachführt. Aber das hat keine wirklichen Auswirkungen auf den AF.
Danke für die Frage und den Kommentar!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Dankeschön
Das ist eine klare Aussage..dann liegt es wohl klar an mir und meinem "wackeln"... ich hätte noch einen Wunsch für ein weiteres Tutorium...Zusammenhang zwischen Brennweite, blendenöffnung und Schärfe...verhält sich die om anders als meine canon? Ich denke ja aufgrund der sensor Größe
Liebe Grüße aus Bayern...
@dorisniklas5633 Gerne! Doris, tatsächlich ist kein echter Unterschied. Wenn Du möchtest, ich biete Einzelgespräche an in denen ich effizient und detailliert alle Fragen beantworten kann. Schick mir einfach ein E-Mail wenn das für dich von Interesse ist. Viele Grüße aus Wien! 📸
Very clear video but unfortunately I still have serious issues using it.
I selected an area 3x3 but it focuses outside of that area.
I'm using the 17mm 1.8.
After several attempts I was not able to make it. The AF was not starting in the area I've selected but always outside. Tested with 3x3, 5x5, cross, nothing to do the AF refused to lock the subject in the area but others outside.
Hmmm, that is very strange! I'm sorry to hear that.
I recommend using a single AF point so you can tell the OM-1 more precisely where to start looking for a subject!
Hope this helps!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography thanks
Tolles Video, hat OM-System dich eigentlich schon als Ambassador auf den Schirm?
Vielen Dank Bernd!
Sollte dem so sein, dann weiß ich zumindest noch nichts davon haha.
Is it caf + tracking is available for the car panning shot / moving car shooting on the road ? I use the subject mode with caf , the successful hitting rate is not good . Thx for help
You can combine C-AF+TR with any subject detection mode!
Best wishes
Do you think these tips apply to the M1 Mark III as well?
To my knowledge yes! You should definitely give it a try.
I think it’s great to make the best of C-TR of the OM-1, but we shouldn’t be complacent and not demand OM Systems improves on it becuase the truth is, it’s indeed subpar to the competition. I have not seen a single Olympus camera to date to do this well, the OM-1 must be improved, but obviously there are issues as this is one of the vaunted OM-1 MKII improvements.
So the tips and particularly the explanations are very welcome, but let’s not pretend the current state is all good because it really isn’t in todays market and we should let OM Systems clearly this is an area that they need to catch up. Ditto then for the OM-5 and E-P7. I really think Olympus/OM have made this mode plus doing the all points feedback more complicated than it should be - they should just show the little grid of dots in a region you specify (all screen view or smaller square), and show them in a very fast feedback fashion.
This is what Sony /Canon have done for years, Fuji also shows these dots though not as fast as the Sony/Canon feedback, and Nikon is pretty good too. It really makes a difference when using the tool in knowing what exactly the camera is “thinking” on where to focus.
Thanks again for explaining the nuances of the settings.
Thanks for the tips Thomas. Useful as usual. I do have one question. I know you use Nikon SLRs. Do you use the tracking with those cameras, and if so how does it compare? I ask this, because it seems to me that many of the criticisms of the OM1 are based on people comparing it to say the Z9 or the high end Sony cameras, or the high end SLRs of yesteryear.
Even if you compare the OM1 with a Z9/Sony A1/ CanonR3, the camera doesn`t need to hide. If you look at the price for me there is a clear winner!
@@richardfink7666 Agreed. But it would certainly help OM if they can meet industry standards. They are supposed to be king of computational after all. I realize there is a big price difference. Perhaps processing power is a hardware limitation, or maybe firmware improvements will improve things. It doesn't really matter to me personally. The Om-1 works fine for me, but if you are a sports shooter for example, you might actually prefer an SLR. I'm sure that Thomas is right. One needs to learn how to use the camera properly before judging its performance, and this will no doubt help a lot.
Hey Jon!
This is a very interesting question, one that is very difficult to answer.
One problem is that the different AF systems are programmed very differently, and it takes a long time to really learn how to make best use of them. Only then, a fair comparison would be possible. I mean, we see it with the OM-1: Right out of the box, it might even frustrate you. But when you train with it, you will get hit rates close to 100%.
One big "advantage" of the DSLRs I use compared to the OM-1 is that they are far less complex. They also use only phase detection and these systems behave more or less the same regardless of whether it is set to S-AF or C-AF.
The often highly acclaimed 3d tracking in Nikon DSLRs is really good, yes. But it also fails in some circumstances. It also loses the subject. Sony's tracking also loses subjects.
Regarding the Z cameras - I had a Z7II and had quite some issues with the AF behaviour. Is the AF bad? No, but you also have to learn it. The Z9 is said to be the best, some who used the OM-1 and the Z9 said that there is no difference in performance. You can see people switching systems left and right, and the opinions differ greatly.
I don't want to bore anyone with this monologue, but the issue is really big:
Most camera tests and experiences are hampered by very limited understanding of the system. And if someone really knows how to work with Nikon DSLRs, they might fail with Z cameras as they do not know anything about them initially. Same goes for the OM-1 and so on.
I am almost certain that most of the criticism of the OM-1 or any other camera is not very "objective" to say the least.
What is also important to state: It is very hard to "best" even a very old DSLR when it comes to basic autofocus performance. Many of them are practically infallible (thanks to the wide PDAF measuring base among other reasons), but not as convenient and configurable as today's mirrorless cameras.
Last but not least, I am absolutely confident to state that after about a year with the OM-1: It is definitely one of the best - if not the best - camera when it comes to AF that I have ever used. But it took time to learn. From my experience, with this tool, the sky's the limit.
Would any of these tips be relevant to other Olympus cameras released prior to the OM1?
I'd say yes - the mode was improved in the OM-1, but the overall principle stayed the same, according to my knowledge. At least concerning the E-M1II and III, this should be the case!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography Thankyou Thomas for your reply. I have the OMD EM1X so I'll certainly give your tips a try 👍
Yes, absolutely! The X is a beast, great tool 💪
Grundsätzlich ein gut gemachtes Video. Jedoch das Beispiel aus der "Praxis" finde ich dann doch etwas dürftig, da Du das Objekt in der Fokuseben langsam bewegst. Für Tiere (Vögel) in Action taugt nach meinen praktischen Wildlife-Erfahrungen des letzten Jahres taugt CAF+Tracking überhaupt nicht, da einfach viel zu langsam.
Vielen Dank für dein Feedback!
Ich denke auch, dass Tracking für diese Motive nicht die erste Wahl ist - Subject detection und C-AF oder C-AF Point ist die erste Wahl für diese Bereiche.
C-AF+TR ist vor allem für die genannten Szenarien gut - ich liebe es für Events, Red carpet usw., auch bei Walks im Studio wirklich gut.
Danke fürs teilen deiner Erfahrungen!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography ja das stimmt für schnelle Bewegungen ist das nix, da sind leider die anderen Hersteller deutlich weiter.
Ich würde sagen, die Funktion ist einfach wirklich für andere, spezielle Szenarien gedacht - da verhält sie sich teilweise sogar besser finde ich. Man muss wirklich probieren um für sich eine gute Technik damit zu entwickeln.
Aber ja, es gibt ein gewisses Frustrationspotential bis dahin - hab C-AF+TR auch lange nicht verwendet aus diesem Grund.
Hallo, ich hab` jetzt 2 Tage lang C-AF+TR ausgiebig getestet. Und ich komme zu dem Schluss, dass sich das Tracking für sich eher langsam bewegende Objekte durchaus eignen kann, aber für meine Zwecke (Wildlife) ist es doch zu träge. Zum Schluss hätte ich noch eine Anregung für ein weiteres Thema: Gesichts-und Augenerkennung. Das hat irgendwie bei meiner Nikon Z6II und der Olympus OMD-E-1 Mark III besser funktioniert.
Hallo Richard! Ja, schnell bewegende Objekte sind besser mit einem custom AF target zu erfassen.
Gesichts- und Augenerkennung: Werde ich beobachten in den nächsten Wochen. Bislang war ich zufrieden, ich werde sehen ob ich etwas bemerke. Hab aber auch derzeit keine Mark III und die Z7II ist auch schon länger nicht mehr bei mir in der Tasche zum direkten Vergleich.
Danke für die Anregung! "Much appreciated" hehe
Hallo, für Wildlife würde ich es auch nicht unbedingt benutzen. Dafür sind die Erkennungsmodi viel besser geeignet. Ein Custom AF Feld, ich habe z.B. ein "Kinolweinwand" für BIF, Birdtracking und SH2, das funktioniert für mich super.
wie kann ich denn mit dem Finger ( Kamera am Auge ) den AF Punkt schnell ansteuern/verschieben. Bei mir geht das AF verschieben es nur mit dem joystick .Kamera nicht mehr am Auge: mit dem Finger kann ich auslösen ( was ich auch gerne abstellen würde )...2 Probleme also
Danke für die Frage!
Dazu empfehle ich die entsprechenden Kapitel in der Bedienungsanleitung - hauptsächlich Touch AF. Gerne helfe ich auch persönlich bei der Konfiguration und den Problemen per Videocall oder Workshop. Viele Grüße, Thomas 📸
Some photographers (like me) who try to push a long lens to its limits lose a bird because it occupies too few pixels in the frame. Focusing is not reliable on the shutter half-press, and tracking is a hit or miss proposition on subsequent shots in ProCap. Poor panning technique exacerbates the problem. I think this behavior can be tested with birds that are 50 x 50 pixels, or 100 x 100 pixels, etc., to determine the precise breaking point. An artificial bird on a wire can be used as the experimental subject.
Yes, for those situations, I don't think C-AF+TR is the best mode. I would rather use the single/small AF target and maybe even consider turning subject detection off.
For shooting birds-in-flight, would you say it's best to use the added tracking, or not?
I'd recommend bird detection + C-AF. There is more info on the AF system here, might be useful:
th-cam.com/video/qo9xAAjOffA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=0PAQu6Us-Ujo3BAK
A pro not a vlogger !
😃📸
A guy posted this video in which C-AF+TR fails to stay on a background focussed with green box, because camera change focus on other parts of frame, Aldo with every recognition off.
How to solve?
th-cam.com/video/SS55IAHsnZ8/w-d-xo.html
And if i want photos of my dog running to me (distance is less at every shorts) what are the best settings? thanks Thomas
Hey Marco, I've only glanced at the video - I don't know what he is doing to be honest and what he is trying to achieve. Might be the language barrier.
To answer your questions:
My three videos on the OM System AF system contain exactly what you are looking for. You can find them in the dedicated OM-1 Playlist on my channel!
Best wishes and thanks for asking!
@@ThomasEisl.Photography i've wathced every single video of your Channel, or almost ahahah :D i tries to replicate the scenario but It worked for me on firmware 1.5. don't know of It Is the firmware or using ESP spot, but worked Better, not flawlessy. Having Better results with C-AF and touch focus+recognition for video selfie, but also a simple tracking worked with C-AF+TR. Of course, It would be nice of Om-1 sistem improves too :)
@@ThomasEisl.Photography PS i used Little green boxes as you said, but could really makes difference Little box against big Square?!
Ah! OK
So what I would try is C-AF, sensitivity+2 and AF target "small". Subject recognition on/off - well, you have to try, really! I leave it off almost always, but that's my style.
Should get you great hit rate with the dog 🐶
It’s doesn’t works as most of people expected, that’s why most of people don’t recommend to use.
It’s like driving manual car with auto-clutch when other manufacturers already have auto-transmission.😅
It’s useful only because there is nothing better in MTF ecosystem. 😂
Touchy subject 😂 you know what what we Europeans think of auto clutch drivers haha - they can't actually figure out how to operate a real car 😂 some might argue that this is not even driving 😂
@@ThomasEisl.Photography we Asian loves auto transmission since here are too crowded. Manual shifting too frequently will make you have cramp in the middle of traffic. 🤪
Haha granted 😂 just wanted to share this running gag 🤣
As much as I like Olympus and now OM cameras, I have to admit that tracking C-AF is still not on par with with Canon, Sony and even Nikon. More work is needed there. It is still not very reliable.
Yes, the tracking is very specific and only for suitable special scenarios.
Thanks! Terrific explanation!
Thank you very much for your support!
Thanks!
Thank you very much for your support!