Custom Functions / settings
The E-M5's high-end status isn't simply a function of its build quality and degree of external control. As has become common with Olympus cameras, it also features a quite astounding level of customization. A lot of these settings are set-and-forget - you'll want to set them to suit the way you want to work, then leave them alone. If this is the case, you can use an option in the Setup menu tab to hide the Custom tab. However, to get the best out of the E-M5, we'd recommend looking through the options available to you, because the E-M5's behavior can be very precisely tailored to your needs.
Custom menu
This is where all of the key fine-tuning options for the camera live. The options are fairly logically organised into 11 groups (labelled 'A' to 'K'). Once you enter any of these sub-tabs, you essentially find yourself in a 16-page, 86-option list (some of which have multiple sub-options). At any point you can push the left-hand arrow to go back up to the A-K list that shows you the section headings. There's also the option of pressing 'Info' at any point, to provide a short explanation of the currently-selected function.
A: AF/MF
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Values / Actions | Notes |
| AF mode | • Still Picture S-AFC-AFMFS-AF + MF  C-AF + TR• Movie S-AFC-AFMFS-AF + MF C-AF + TR |
TR = Tracking mode |
| Full-time AF | • Off • On |
|
| AEL/AFL | • S-AFMode 1Mode 2Mode 3 • C-AF Mode 1Mode 2Mode 3Mode 4• MF Mode 1Mode 2Mode 3 |
Allows you to choose the behavior of the shutter button, half-press and AEL/AFL button (if assigned to a button in section B). Includes the option to apply AF acquire to the AEL/AFL button in MF mode. (Described at the bottom of the page. Click on the focus type to jump to the correct table) |
| Reset lens | • Off • On |
Refocuses to infinity when the camera shuts down. |
| BULB/TIME focusing | • Off • On |
Defines whether focus can be altered during exposure in bulb mode. |
| Focus ring | • Counter clockwise • Clockwise |
Defines the direction in which the manual focus ring operates. |
| MF Assist | • On • Off |
Automatically magnifies the preview image as soon as the manual focus ring is moved. |
| [...] Set Home | • All points • Single point • Large area |
Lets you define the 'home' AF point |
| AF Illuminat. | • Off • On |
|
| Face Priority | • Off • Focus on detected face • Focus on closer eye • Focus on right-side eye • Focus on left side eye |
Sets whether the camera prioritises faces when it focuses and, if it can identify eyes, which one it attempts to focus on. |
B: Button/Dial
C: Release/Continuous
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Values / Actions | Notes |
| RLS Priority S | • Off • On |
Chooses whether camera waits for focus before shooting in S-AF mode. |
| RLS Priority C | • Off • On |
Chooses whether camera waits for focus before shooting in C-AF mode. |
| RLS Priority C | • Off • On |
Chooses whether camera waits for focus before shooting in C-AF mode. |
| Cont. L fps | • 1fps • 2fps • 3fps • 3.5fps • 4fps |
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| Cont. H fps | • 5fps • 6fps • 7fps • 8fps • 9fps |
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| Cont + IS Off | • On • Off |
'On' disengages IS during continuous shooting |
| Half Way RLS With IS | • Off • On |
Starts IS when the shutter is half-pressed |
D: Disp/Beep/PC
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Values / Actions | Notes |
| HDMI | • HDMI Out1080i720p480p / 576p • HDMI Control OffOn |
Set the HDTV output resolution |
| Video out | • NTSC • PAL |
|
| Camera Control Settings | • iAutoLive Guide – Off/OnLive Control – Off/OnLive SCP – Off/On • PASM Live Control – Off/OnLive SCP – Off/On• Art Art Menu – Off/OnLive Control – Off/OnLive SCP – Off/On• SCN Scene Menu – Off/OnLive Control – Off/OnLive SCP – Off/On |
Allows various control options (including the Live Super Control Panel, Live SCP) to be turned on or off in different exposure modes When in shooting mode, these control options are accessed by pressing 'OK' - pressing INFO then cycles through whichever options you've engaged in this menu. |
| Info setting | • Play InfoImage Only – Off/OnOverall – Off/OnHistogram – Off/OnHighlights & Shadow – Off/OnLightbox – Off/On • LV Info Histogram – Off/OnHighlight & Shadow – Off/OnLevel Gauge – Off/OnImage only – Off/On• Thumbnail settings 4 – Off/On9 – Off/On25 – Off/On100 – Off/OnCalender – Off/On |
Enables/Disables the different playback and Live view screen modes that are found by pressing the 'INFO' button. |
| Display Grid | • Off • 6x4 grid • 3x3 grid • Crosshair grid • Diagonal grid • 16:9 (movie shooting) guides |
Allows various grid options to be overlaid on all live view screens |
| Picture Mode Settings | • i-Enhance – Off/On • Vivid – Off/On • Muted – Off/On • Portrait – Off/On • Monotone – Off/On • Custom – Off/On • Soft Focus – Off/On • Pale & Light Color – Off/On • Light Tone – Off/On • Grainy Film – Off/On • Pin Hole – Off/On • Diorama – Off/On • Cross Process – Off/On • Gentle Sepia – Off/On • Dramatic Tone – Off/On • Key Line – Off/On |
Allows each of the Picture Modes and Art Filters to be individually turned on or off. |
| Histogram Settings | • Highlight245 – 255 • Shadow 0 – 10 |
Allows setting of the levels at which highlight and shadow clipping warnings will be displayed |
| Mode Guide | • Off • On |
|
| Live View boost | • Off • On |
On brightens screen for visibility, Off mimics brightness of exposure. |
| Art LV Mode | • Mode 1 • Mode 2 |
Optimizes Art Filter preview for accuracy or refresh rate |
| LV Play Close-up Mode | • Mode 1 • Mode 2 |
Mode 2 retains magnification when shutter is half-pressed |
| Info Off | • 10 sec • Hold |
|
| Backlit LCD | • 8 sec • 30 sec • 1 Min • Hold |
|
| Sleep | • 1 Min • 3 Min • 5 Min |
Sets the period of inactivity before sleep mode is engaged. |
| Auto Power Off | • Off • 5min • 30min • 1h • 4h |
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| Sounds | • Off • On |
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| USB Mode | • Auto • Storage • MTP |
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E: Exposure/Metering/ISO
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Values / Actions | Notes |
| Ev step | • 1/3 EV • 1/2 EV • 1 EV |
Sets incremental steps used for exposure |
| Metering mode | • ESP • Center Weighted Average • Spot • Highlight based spot • Shadow based spot |
|
| AEL Metering | • Auto • Center weighted • Spot • Spot (Highlights) • Spot (Shadows) |
Selects the metering mode used when the AEL button is pressed. Auto meters using the mode currently selected. |
| ISO | • Auto • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 • ISO 6400 • ISO 12800 • ISO 25600 |
(1 EV steps shown here - 1/3 EV steps also available). |
| ISO step | • 1/3 EV • 1 EV |
Sets incremental steps used for sensitivity. |
| ISO-Auto set | • High limitISO 200 - 25600 • Default ISO 200 - 25600 |
Sets the upper limit and default value used by Auto ISO mode. |
| ISO-Auto | • P/A/S • All |
Selects which modes ISO-Auto is active in. All includes Manual mode. |
| BULB/TIME Timer | • 30 Min • 25 Min • 20 Min • 15 Min • 8 Min • 4 Min • 2 Min • 1 Min |
Sets maximum exposure in Bulb or Time mode. |
| Live BULB | • Off • 60 sec • 30 sec • 15 sec • 8 sec • 4 sec • 2 sec • 1 sec • 0.5 sec |
Defines how often the preview image is refreshed during BULB capture. (Number of updates is ISO limited - up to about 24 updates at ISO 200, only 9 at ISO 1600) |
| Live TIME | • Off • 60 sec • 30 sec • 15 sec • 8 sec • 4 sec • 2 sec • 1 sec • 0.5 sec |
Defines how often the preview image is refreshed during TIME capture (Number of updates is ISO limited - up to about 24 updates at ISO 200, only 9 at ISO 1600) |
| Anti-Shock | • Off • On: 1/8 - 30 sec |
Equivalent to 'mirror lock up' on a conventional SLR. |
F: Flash Custom
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Values / Actions | Notes |
| Flash X-Sync | • 1/60 - 1/250 | Sync speed of flash |
| Flash slow limit | • 30 secs - 1/250 | Lowest shutter allowed with flash |
| Flash + EV comp | • Off • On |
Links AE compensation and flash exposure compensation |
G: Image Quality/Color/WB
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Values / Actions | Notes |
| Noise reduction | • Off • On • Auto |
Enable or disable long exposure noise reduction. |
| Noise Filter | • Off • Low • Standard • High |
Changes the noise processing level. High is recommended for high ISO images. |
| White Balance | • Auto • 5300 K (Daylight) • 7500 K (Shade) • 6000 K (Cloudy) • 3000 K (Incandescent) • 4000 K (Fluorescent) • Underwater • 5500 K (Flash) • Custom 1 • Custom 2 • Kelvin (2000 - 14000 K) |
- Fine tune Amber / Green (15 steps) -  "- "- "- "- "- "- "- "- " |
| All WB comp | • All SetAmber (15 steps)Green (15 steps) • All Reset YesNo |
Applies a correction to all WB presets. Or resets that correction. |
| Auto WB Keep Warm Color | • Off • On |
Maintains warm colours under candlelight etc. |
| Flash + WB | • Off • WB Auto • Flash WB |
Automatically changes WB mode when shooting with flash |
| Color space | • sRGB • Adobe RGB |
Sets the color space used in JPEGs. |
| Shading comp | • Off • On |
Automatically corrects light fall-off at image corners (Vignetting) |
| Compression set | • JPEG size/quality 1 setLarge / CompressionMedium / CompressionSmall / Compression • JPEG size/quality 2 set Large / CompressionMedium / CompressionSmall / Compression• JPEG size/quality 3 set Large / CompressionMedium / CompressionSmall / Compression• JPEG size/quality 4 set Large / CompressionMedium / CompressionSmall / Compression |
Selects the image size (Large/Middle/Small) and compression settings (SuperFine/Fine/Normal/Basic), that the camera uses for shooting JPEGS. |
| Pixel count | • Middle3200 x 24002560 x 19201920 x 14401600 x 1200 • Small 1280 x 9601024 x 768640 x 480 |
Defines the sizes of 'Middle' and 'Small' JPEGs. The actual pixel values produced are dictated by the Image aspect option (Selected in Shooting Menu 1). |
H: Record/Erase
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Values / Actions | Notes |
| Quick erase | • Off • On |
Defines whether a confirmation screen appears before deletion. |
| RAW + JPEG erase | • JPEG • RAW • RAW + JPEG |
Dictates which components of a RAW + JPEG shot are deleted when deleting images individually. |
| File name | • Auto • Reset |
Auto continues numbering onto new cards Reset starts again. |
| Edit Filename | Add up to a 4-digit prefix to image names. One preset per color space. | |
| Priority set | • No • Yes |
Sets default answer on delete and format confirmation screens. |
| dpi settings | • 0 - 9999dpi | Applies print resolution based on image size or a chosen output res. |
| Copyright settings | • Copyright InfoOff On • Artist (Set Name)• Copyright Name (Set Name) |
Allows copyright information to be incorporated into image EXIF data |
I: Movie
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Values / Actions | Notes |
| Record Mode | • P • A • S • M • Art 1 • Art 2 • Art 3 • Art 4 • Art 5 • Art 6 • Art 7 • Art 8 • Art 9 • Art 10 • Art 11 |
|
| Movie + Still | • Off • On |
Sets whether movies are interrupted upon hitting shutter button. |
| Movie Sound | • Off • On |
|
| Movie Effect | • Off • On |
Makes the video 'Echo' effects available |
| Wind Noise Reduction | • Off • Low • Standard • High |
|
| Recording Volume | • Low • Standard • High |
|
J: Built-In EVF
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Values / Actions | Notes |
| Built-In EVF Style | • Style 1 • Style 2 • Style 3 |
Selects between two modes with a status bar and a full-screen display with settings overlaid. |
| Info Settings | • Histogram – On/Off • Highlight & Shadow – On/Off • Level Gauge – On/Off • Image Only – On/Off |
Chooses which settings screens are available in the EVF |
| Displayed Grid | • Off • 6x4 grid • 3x3 grid • Crosshair grid • Diagonal grid • 16:9 (movie shooting) guides |
Allows various grid options to be overlaid on all live view screens |
| EVF Auto Switch | • Off • On |
Chooses between eye sensor or EVF switch to select live view method |
| Frame Rate | • Normal • High |
Selects between 60Hz and 120Hz EVF refresh rate |
| EVF Adjust | • Brightness –7 to +7 • Color temp –7 to +7 |
Adjust brightness and color balance of internal EVF |
K: Utility
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Values / Actions | Notes |
| Pixel Mapping | • Start | Automatically senses 'dead pixels' and maps them out by averaging colour values from surrounding pixels. |
| Exposure shift | • ESP – ±1EV • Center weighted – ±1EV • Spot – ±1EV |
Each metering mode can be fine-tuned in 1/6 EV intervals between –1 and +1 EV. |
| Battery warning level | •+2 to –2 | Adjusts whether the battery warning lights up sooner or later than default |
| Battery Priority | • PBH Battery • Body Battery |
Chooses whether the internal or 'power battery holder' battery is used first |
| Level Adjust | • Reset | Allows you to recalibrate the level gauge |
| Touch Screen Settings | • Off • On |
Turns touchscreen functions on or off |
| Eye-Fi | • Off • On |
Enable use of Eye-Fi WiFi-enabled SD cards |
Accessory Port menu
The Accessory Port menu is short, dealing with the options available when using Olympus's PENPal image sharing device and the VF-2 clip-on EVF (which you can fit to the E-M5, but which shuts down the internal finder).
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Values / Actions | Notes |
| Olympus PenPal share | • Please Wait • Address Book • My Olympus PenPal • Picture Send Size Size 1: Small (640 x 480)Size 2: Large (1920 x 1440)Size 3: Medium (1280 x 960) |
|
| Olympus PenPal Album | • Copy All • Reset Protect • Album Mem. Usage • Album Mem. Setup • Picture Send Size Size 1: Large (Original size)Size 2: Medium (1920 x 1440) |
|
| Electronic Viewfinder | • Brightness –7 to +7 • Color temp –7 to +7 |
Adjust brightness and color balance of an external EVF |
Setup menu
The setup menu contains just six options, with one of them acting to simplify the menu structure by hiding or displaying the Custom and Accessory Port menus. It's an interesting idea (especially since it's unusual to have to regularly delve into the Custom menu, given that all key settings are directly accessible), that can make the Olympus menu system considerably less intimidating.
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|---|---|---|
| Option | Values / Actions | Notes |
| Date / Time | • Date • Time • Date Format |
|
| Language | Selects menu language. Varies depending on market. Additional languages can be added with Olympus Master software. | |
| LCD Adjust | • Brightness –2 to +2 • Color temp –3 to +3 |
Adjust brightness and color balance of the LCD |
| Record View | • Off • Auto playback • 0.3 – 20 sec |
Amount of time record review is displayed. Auto playback then moves to playback mode - allowing deletion. |
| Settings / Acc. Port menu display | • Settings Menu DisplayOffOn • Accessory Port Menu Display OffOn |
Hides or reveals the settings and accessory port menus, to simplify the menu structure. |
| Firmware | • Show | Displays lens and body firmware |
AEL/AFL button combinations
AEL/AFL modes (S-AF & MF)
| Mode | Shutter half-press | Shutter full-press | AEL/AFL button |
|---|---|---|---|
| mode 1 | AEL & S-AF | Exposure | AEL |
| mode 2 | S-AF | AEL & Exposure | AEL |
| mode 3 | AEL only | Exposure | S-AF* |
*In manual focus mode, single AF acquire (S-AF) is only available in Mode 3 - giving you the option to use the AEL/AFL button (if you've configured one of the Fn buttons to be AEL/AFL), to perform a one-off autofocus acquisition.
AEL/AFL modes (C-AF)
| Mode | Shutter half-press | Shutter full-press | AEL/AFL button |
|---|---|---|---|
| mode 1 | AEL & AF Start | AFL & Exposure | AEL |
| mode 2 | AF Start | AEL & AFL & Exposure | AEL |
| mode 3 | AEL only | AFL & Exposure | AF Start |
| mode 4 | No action | AEL & AFL & Exposure | AF Start |
