Question about how best to execute manual focusing on m4/3rds, E-M5 specific

I have a few legacy lenses that I like to use on my m4/3rds camera.  Of course, they're all strictly manual focus.

Is there a way to more easily do manual focus on the m4/3rds cameras?  Right now I have fn1 on the E-M5 programmed for "zoom" and my steps are:

1.  Put eyepiece to eye.

2.  Wiggle finger up between cheek and camera to fn1.  Press fn1 twice.

3.  Focus

4.  Push shutter halfway to return view to normal for composition

5.  Take picture

It's kind of a pain, particularly #2.  Ideally, the camera would know I have a MF lens on it and would (just like with a real m4/3rds lens in manual) go into zoom mode automatically when the focus ring is turned.  Of course there are no electrical connections to tell the camera when the ring is being turned so an algorithm that detected a certain kind of contrast change in the image might do it, but I am not holding my breath.

The next best thing would be if pressing the shutter halfway automatically brought the camera into "zoom" mode -- just as it automatically triggers an autofocus when using autofocus -- when MF is selected and a legacy lens is attached.

Anyone have a better way?

i have magnify mode programmed on fn2 and it's much easier to use it.

--
my gear:
E-M5+45mm/1.8
E-520+12-60+14-42+70-300+Sigma 105 + FL-50R+EC20 + SRF-11
and good number of legacy lenses (list in profile)

Unfortunately, fn2 is already programmed for ISO on my camera.  Because fn1 can't be set to ISO.  WHY?  #*($&@ stupid Olympus menu system.

fn2 is by default programmed as multifunction button, and it has magnify on it. also i think video rec button can be assigned different function while shooting stills

--
my gear:
E-M5+45mm/1.8
E-520+12-60+14-42+70-300+Sigma 105 + FL-50R+EC20 + SRF-11
and good number of legacy lenses (list in profile)

I haven't tried it yet (my m42-m43 adapter is coming next week), but if you shoot RAW+JPeg you can set your art filter to "Pop Art" and it acts like a poor man's "focus peaking" like the Nex series have.  Then after you take your pictures, you discard the JPegs and process the raw files without the art filter on.

I don't believe you have to shoot RAW + JPG, rather on only need to have that picture style enabled if shooting RAW only.   The display and RAW thumbnail will show the picture style, but the RAW will be unaffected by it.

For me Fn2 is left at magnify, as it's easier for me to access it (Fn1 is set for DOF preview, which I use mainly when on a tripod.  Handheld I find Fn1 requires me to change the way I hold the camera, in a negative way.).

--
...Bob, NYC
http://www.bobtullis.com
"Well, sometimes the magic works. . . Sometimes, it doesn't." - Little Big Man
.

What function is on your REC button? If you put ISO there, and let FN2 go back to the multi-function, you can still reach those two buttons w/o looking.

Program FN1 for a MYSET that invokes line art viewing, and you have that as a backup for manual focus.

.

I set it to full time manual focusing. The minute I touch the focus ring, the viewfinder zooms in immediately and I tune focus the way I want. Let go and it turns back into the normal view and then I expose.

But this only works with a real [m]4/3rds lens, not legacy (non-electronic) lenses.

Why don't you put ISO where it is by default (one of the arrows on the arrow pad)?. ISO is additionally easily available via the SCP.

Already have the two arrows that are configurable on the arrow pad set to white balance / bracketing.

How do you set your camera up so this works? In particular, Step 4. On my camera, I am required to press the "Magnify" button (mine is set to Fn2, but Fn1 button works the same way) again to return to normal view for composition (and it still leaves the green focus box in the frame).

3. Focus

4. Push the Fn1 (or Fn2) button again to return to normal view with a green box in the frame.

4b. (optional) Push and hold Fn1/Fn2 to return to normal clear viewfinder.

5. Find shutter button again. Quick before the scene changes or someone moves! Compose

6. Take picture.

It would be a real blessing to eliminate the extra step(s) and be able to half-press the shutter to return to normal view. Little steps like this make all the difference when using manual focus in active situations.

Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. How do you make this work? Details, please.

OK. Then you have to make some concessions. Fn2 and the Rec button are the two most easily accessible buttons so it makes sense to have things you need very frequently, such as magnification assigned to one of those.

Im having a similar problem. If I press function Fn2 I can choose magnify by rotating the dial. It then says to release the button when desired function is selected. Like I say it chooses the magnify option. On page 22 of the manual it then says press the Fn2 button and it will bring up an optional selection to be displayed but I dont get the optional zoom af. Maybe I'm missing something but can't seem to get it set up. Shame as I have a few older Nikon lenses I'd like to use where I could use the magnify to get close in to make sure everything was in focus.
Anyone have suggestions on what I'm doing wrong please let me know.
Cheers

Howielenny, once you've chosen "magnify" for your fn2 button, pressing it should bring up a green box. You need to press it again to actually magnify. You can then use the rear dial to change the degreee of magnification. The you press it (fn2) again to get back to the green box, or press and hold fn2 to remove the green magnification box.

Unfortunately, when using AF lenses, ISO is probably my most-used function (hence its assignment to fn2)

A real nice, elegant, fix would be if a half-way shutter push went into zoom mode.  I could hold the camera and press the shutter with my right hand while focusing with the left.

I think point 4 is simply wrong or the OP has found some hidden feature that has hitherto escaped me. In order to return to normal view, you press the magnify button again. If you give it a long rather than a short press, it will take you back to normal mode, bypassing the zoom-frame mode (the mode where you can get the small focus box but without magnification).

On mine:

fn1 - once, brings up the green box (camera in MF mode)

fn1 - AGAIN, brings up the "magnified" view (of what was in the green box)

FOCUS

press shutter halfway -- returns to un-magnified view, albeit with the green focus box back

compose

press shutter fully, takes picture.

To get rid of the green box altogether, I have to press the "OK" button.

Any way you slice it, it's way too hard and too many steps.  And there's no reason for it to be that way.

Thanks very much for the help. Still took me a little while to get my head around it and only worked after I actually took a photo but for now at least, it's working perfectly. Many thanks for your help and explanation

Just checked it again, here is what happens (camera is in MF mode, if that makes a difference, also aperture priority):

1.  Turn on

2.  Put eyepiece to eye.

3.  Hit fn1 (in my case, the button assigned to "magnify").  Hit it again.

4.  Focus

5.  Press shutter halfway -- scene in EVF returns to un-magnified form

6.  Press shutter again, takes picture

Try it!