E-LP2 Focussing Options and Techniques
In this short article I want to show you a great focusing option or technique available with the E-PL2. I know the E-P1&2 well and have not seen the same function in those cameras. To my knowledge this function I am discuss in this article is only applicable to the E-PL2.
The E-PL2 has the option to reduce or enlarge the focus area in the image plus one can select to fill the LCD monitor of the camera with the focus area content. This should not be confused with the MF focus option one has on all the PEN cameras.
The E-PL2 has AF sensitivity build-in, similar to that of some E-Series SLR cameras from Olympus. AF sensitivity refers to the size of the AF sampling area. Typically Olympus SLR's offer a small or normal AF sensitivity area. On the E-PL2 you can produce a similar effect when composing shots on the Live View LCD monitor by adjusting the magnification ratio of the Zoom Frame AF function. When zoom frame AF is enabled, the square AF frame that would normally be displayed on the LCD to assist with focusing is replaced by a zoom frame. The zoom frame is smaller than the AF frame and has the aspect ratio of the LCD screen, not of the square AF frame. As the magnification factor increases, the zoom frame decreases in size. Only the data within the zoom frame is evaluated when the camera tries to acquire autofocus. Therefore, a smaller amount of image data will be evaluated by the camera when it tries to acquire autofocus.
This camera obtains autofocus by sampling a portion of the image data in the scene and searching within that area for the subject with the greatest contrast. This AF sampling area is indicated on the LCD screen by the AF frame (standard operation) or the zoom frame (when shooting using zoom frame AF).
The AF frame has fixed dimensions; however, the size of the zoom frame can be reduced by adjusting the magnification factor of the zoom frame AF function. As the magnification is increased, the size of the zoom frame decreases. Because the camera only considers the picture information within the zoom frame when it sets autofocus, the result is that the camera uses a smaller area of the scene to determine focus. This configuration makes the camera achieve autofocus with greater precision than when sampling using the AF frame.
To change the size of the AF sampling area, please do the following:
Press the Zoom button once. The zoom frame is displayed on the LCD screen. Notice that the zoom frame has the aspect ratio of the LCD screen, not of the square AF frame. The first time this function is used, the zoom frame is configured to use a magnification factor of 7x.
Press the INFO button once. The magnification factor will be displayed in the bottom left corner of the LCD screen.
Press the Up button on the circular keypad once to select a 10x magnification factor, or press it twice to select 14x. As the magnification factor increases, the zoom frame shrinks. Once the zoom frame reaches the desired size, press the [OK] button to register the setting. The area within the zoom frame becomes the new AF sampling area. Only the image data within the zoom frame will be considered when the camera sets autofocus.
To return to the default autofocus operation, press [OK] while the zoom frame is displayed.
When the camera is powered down, the size of the zoom frame and its accompanying magnification factor remain registered. Therefore, if you prefer to shoot with a minimal AF sampling area, you may register a smaller zoom frame and invoke it at any time by pressing the zoom button. Press [OK] to toggle back to standard autofocus.
Zoom AF settings are remembered even when the camera is powered off, but they are not default settings. Each time the camera is powered on, the camera will initially use the standard autofocus operation and the AF frame. To switch back to your registered zoom frame AF settings, simply press the zoom button.
Information source: Olympus
The next image shows what one of the above Zoom Frames would look like on the camera monitor when one press the Zoom Button. This is a really handy tool to help the user to accurately focus in the right place.
Where would one use this function. Focussing is one of thee most important aspects of photography. The complete look of an image is determined with how the focussing was done. With the Olympus PEN one can determine how the shutter button should operate. I set mine so that it only focus when pressed halfway and that it reads the exposure when the shutter is pressed all the way. I also like to use manual exposure. The first application is when accurate focussing is required. For example with portrait photography one like to focus on the eye of the model. The next application could be critical depth of field and the last application could be macro work.
I hope you find this short article helpful.