Olympus menu button...very frustrating since they moved it.

[john isaacs]

My frustration with the move of the menu button to the left side (E-M1X, E-M1mk III) continues unabated.

Holding a heavy telephoto lens, but needing to do some menu diving, is difficult when using the EVF. I cannot access the menu button while holding the camera up to my eye. If I take it down and press the menu button, I see the menu pop up in the EVF. But if the Eye Sensor is enabled, bringing the camera back up to my eye results in the menu being closed.

The only way to work this is to turn off the Eye Sensor. Which will result in increased battery use.

 

[Denjw]

My frustration with the move of the menu button to the left side (E-M1X, E-M1mk III) continues unabated.

Holding a heavy telephoto lens, but needing to do some menu diving, is difficult when using the EVF. I cannot access the menu button while holding the camera up to my eye. If I take it down and press the menu button, I see the menu pop up in the EVF. But if the Eye Sensor is enabled, bringing the camera back up to my eye results in the menu being closed.

The only way to work this is to turn off the Eye Sensor. Which will result in increased battery use.

Yep I share your frustration. My No 1 gripe with E-M1X.

I access the SCP in EVF by pressing Ok button which helps to a degree.

It would be nice if the menu button could be remapped to another button on the right hand side. Or at least you could use the Ok button /or arrow pad to bring up the menu.

Maybe even having quick access to the My Menu in the EVF would be a good option.

 

[Henry Richardson]

My frustration with the move of the menu button to the left side (E-M1X, E-M1mk III) continues unabated.

Holding a heavy telephoto lens, but needing to do some menu diving, is difficult when using the EVF. I cannot access the menu button while holding the camera up to my eye. If I take it down and press the menu button, I see the menu pop up in the EVF. But if the Eye Sensor is enabled, bringing the camera back up to my eye results in the menu being closed.

The only way to work this is to turn off the Eye Sensor. Which will result in increased battery use.

I have to admit a small chuckle about this. I am left-handed and left-eyed so the difficulties of using almost all cameras that have a viewfinder are well known by me for decades. You are getting the very smallest, tiny taste of what it is like when controls are somewhat hard to use while using the viewfinder.

And the difficulties are not just with cameras.

--
Henry Richardson
http://www.bakubo.com

 

[Digital Dick]

If you keep the rear screen closed and press the Menu button doesn't it show the Menu in the EVF?

****

 

[Jeff Wahaus]

My frustration with the move of the menu button to the left side (E-M1X, E-M1mk III) continues unabated.

I agree 100%. It now takes 2 hands to control the camera when before it used to only take one. The extra hand you had free was often used to support the lens.

Moving the Menu button was a huge mistake. It should be next to the okay button as before.

On the E-M10iv they've done something equally as dumb, you now have to hit a special button on the top left side of the camera to bring up the quick menu. Why not the OK button like every other OM camera?

Making random changes to new camera models does not improve them. I know they have to come up with something new but come on guys.

 

[Denjw]

If you keep the rear screen closed and press the Menu button doesn't it show the Menu in the EVF?

****

Yes that is right but the placement of the menu button is still the issue.

 

[john isaacs]

If you keep the rear screen closed and press the Menu button doesn't it show the Menu in the EVF?

****

Yes, it does. But if you take the camera away to press the Menu button, the menu is displayed until you move the camera back and the Eye Sensor causes the EVF to switch to Live View. You have to disable the Eye Sensor, and then the EVF runs longer and drains the battery.

If the Eye Sensor did not automatically switch to Live View, then this would not be a problem (except for the issue of placement of the menu button to begin with.

It's like shooting my Nikon DSLRs; everything runs on the LCD so having buttons on the left is not an issue.

I know they needed to move something because of the addition of the joystick.

I would have preferred that they move the playback button, but allow it to be mapped.

And it's really an issue with large lenses; with small lenses I can hit the menu button with my left hand.

 

[john isaacs]

My frustration with the move of the menu button to the left side (E-M1X, E-M1mk III) continues unabated.

Holding a heavy telephoto lens, but needing to do some menu diving, is difficult when using the EVF. I cannot access the menu button while holding the camera up to my eye. If I take it down and press the menu button, I see the menu pop up in the EVF. But if the Eye Sensor is enabled, bringing the camera back up to my eye results in the menu being closed.

The only way to work this is to turn off the Eye Sensor. Which will result in increased battery use.

I have to admit a small chuckle about this. I am left-handed and left-eyed so the difficulties of using almost all cameras that have a viewfinder are well known by me for decades. You are getting the very smallest, tiny taste of what it is like when controls are somewhat hard to use while using the viewfinder.

And the difficulties are not just with cameras.

I am ambidextrous. I can use my left hand to operate the camera, but it's usually holding the 300mm f4 lens. Or the 300mm f/2.8 lens back when I had it. Neither of which are convenient to hold up while accessing the Menu button with my left hand.

Operating a camera is not such a complicated function that it can't be done with the non-dominant hand.

 

[Henry Richardson]

My frustration with the move of the menu button to the left side (E-M1X, E-M1mk III) continues unabated.

Holding a heavy telephoto lens, but needing to do some menu diving, is difficult when using the EVF. I cannot access the menu button while holding the camera up to my eye. If I take it down and press the menu button, I see the menu pop up in the EVF. But if the Eye Sensor is enabled, bringing the camera back up to my eye results in the menu being closed.

The only way to work this is to turn off the Eye Sensor. Which will result in increased battery use.

I have to admit a small chuckle about this. I am left-handed and left-eyed so the difficulties of using almost all cameras that have a viewfinder are well known by me for decades. You are getting the very smallest, tiny taste of what it is like when controls are somewhat hard to use while using the viewfinder.

And the difficulties are not just with cameras.

I am ambidextrous. I can use my left hand to operate the camera, but it's usually holding the 300mm f4 lens. Or the 300mm f/2.8 lens back when I had it. Neither of which are convenient to hold up while accessing the Menu button with my left hand.

Operating a camera is not such a complicated function that it can't be done with the non-dominant hand.

Just switch to using your left eye then. Problem solved! Whenever anyone on these forums mentions anything about how cameras are sometimes awkward to use for people who are left eye dominant there are always a few people who will helpfully recommend switching to the right eye.

--
Henry Richardson
http://www.bakubo.com

 

[Peter Budd]

I don't have a problem with the Menu button move. probably because I came from Nikon and that is roughly the same place as their menu button.

 

[Messier Object]

And if you can manage to press the Menu button with your eye to the EVF the Menu will be displayed on the LCD if it’s open - which is weird because the camera knows you have your eye to the EVF.

Mostly when shooting I have the rear screen closed because I’m not wearing my glasses. But sometimes I leave it open and it annoys me that I have to close it before I can view the Menu in the EVF.

IMO, pressing the Menu button should tell the camera to display the Menu and keep it displayed until either the Menu button is again pressed, the LiveView button is pressed or the Menu Display timer expires.

The only control the EVF eye detect should have over the Menu is on which screen the a Menu is displayed.

Peter

 

[Albert Valentino]

My frustration with the move of the menu button to the left side (E-M1X, E-M1mk III) continues unabated.

I agree 100%. It now takes 2 hands to control the camera when before it used to only take one. The extra hand you had free was often used to support the lens.

Moving the Menu button was a huge mistake. It should be next to the okay button as before.

Yes, and yes

 

[john isaacs]

My frustration with the move of the menu button to the left side (E-M1X, E-M1mk III) continues unabated.

Holding a heavy telephoto lens, but needing to do some menu diving, is difficult when using the EVF. I cannot access the menu button while holding the camera up to my eye. If I take it down and press the menu button, I see the menu pop up in the EVF. But if the Eye Sensor is enabled, bringing the camera back up to my eye results in the menu being closed.

The only way to work this is to turn off the Eye Sensor. Which will result in increased battery use.

I have to admit a small chuckle about this. I am left-handed and left-eyed so the difficulties of using almost all cameras that have a viewfinder are well known by me for decades. You are getting the very smallest, tiny taste of what it is like when controls are somewhat hard to use while using the viewfinder.

And the difficulties are not just with cameras.

I am ambidextrous. I can use my left hand to operate the camera, but it's usually holding the 300mm f4 lens. Or the 300mm f/2.8 lens back when I had it. Neither of which are convenient to hold up while accessing the Menu button with my left hand.

Operating a camera is not such a complicated function that it can't be done with the non-dominant hand.

Just switch to using your left eye then. Problem solved! Whenever anyone on these forums mentions anything about how cameras are sometimes awkward to use for people who are left eye dominant there are always a few people who will helpfully recommend switching to the right eye.

Right hand on camera and shutter button and most of the controls. Left hand supporting the lens. Doesn't matter where my eye goes; I have to move my left hand to operate the menu button but it's busy holding up a heavy lens.

Or, switch hands to operate the menu button and forget about the right side controls (like the shutter button).

Too bad about your left eye dominant issues, but it has nothing to do with the misplaced Menu button.

 

[john isaacs]

I don't have a problem with the Menu button move. probably because I came from Nikon and that is roughly the same place as their menu button.

On DSLRs, where you wouldn't use the EVF for the menu anyways. But Nikon put the menu button on the right on the Z cameras.

Of course, they screwed it up anyways with the playback button on the left.

 

[Messier Object]

I’d like Menu on the E-M1 III mappable to one of the Arrow Pad buttons.

Under B1 Button Function, assign Arrow Pad to Direct function . . . the on-screen Info says:

“Each arrow pad button can be assigned a direct function when they are pressed while shooting”

But that’s incorrect. Only the Right and Down Arrow Pads can be assigned a function

I have the Right and Down buttons assigned. I have no idea why we can’t reassign the Left and Up buttons.

Peter

 

[MarkDavo]

My frustration with the move of the menu button to the left side (E-M1X, E-M1mk III) continues unabated.

Holding a heavy telephoto lens, but needing to do some menu diving, is difficult when using the EVF. I cannot access the menu button while holding the camera up to my eye. If I take it down and press the menu button, I see the menu pop up in the EVF. But if the Eye Sensor is enabled, bringing the camera back up to my eye results in the menu being closed.

The only way to work this is to turn off the Eye Sensor. Which will result in increased battery use.

Hi John,

I wonder what you are shooting that you need to dive into the menu when there are so many Fn buttons, and Dials, readily accessible with the Right hand, that can be customised to open a whole host of menu items and allow rapid changes with the camera still up at the eye?

For instance I have the AEL/AFL button programmed to bring up the ISO which I then change using the rear Dial. All with my right thumb.

AEL/AFL button programmed to bring up the ISO

On my E-M1X I can bring up the settings assigned to C1-C3 without having to rotate the Mode dial by pressing the three top Buttons, left to right, respectively as shown below. Denjw provided his method of super simple customising which I use all the time now. C4 is engaged by pressing the LFn button on the 150-400.

E-M1X I can bring up the settings assigned to C1-C3

I hope this helps.

--
Cheers, Mark
Wouldn't be dead for quids

 

[kohinoor]

I’d like Menu on the E-M1 III mappable to one of the Arrow Pad buttons.

Under B1 Button Function, assign Arrow Pad to Direct function . . . the on-screen Info says:

“Each arrow pad button can be assigned a direct function when they are pressed while shooting”

But that’s incorrect. Only the Right and Down Arrow Pads can be assigned a function

I have the Right and Down buttons assigned. I have no idea why we can’t reassign the Left and Up buttons.

I was just about to ask about that for the EM1.2 where it is the same for the arrow pad. -Thanks for answering that!
This menu system drives me nuts.
I'm happy to have the menu on the right side on the EM1.2 because on my G9 they also put the menu-button to the left of the VF but luckily it is possible to assign it to any Fn-button.

K.

 

[Messier Object]

I’d like Menu on the E-M1 III mappable to one of the Arrow Pad buttons.

Under B1 Button Function, assign Arrow Pad to Direct function . . . the on-screen Info says:

“Each arrow pad button can be assigned a direct function when they are pressed while shooting”

But that’s incorrect. Only the Right and Down Arrow Pads can be assigned a function

I have the Right and Down buttons assigned. I have no idea why we can’t reassign the Left and Up buttons.

I was just about to ask about that for the EM1.2 where it is the same for the arrow pad. -Thanks for answering that!
This menu system drives me nuts.
I'm happy to have the menu on the right side on the EM1.2 because on my G9 they also put the menu-button to the left of the VF but luckily it is possible to assign it to any Fn-button.

K.

With respect to assignment of the Arrow Pad buttons the E-M1 II has a little more functionality than the E-M1 III.

On the Mk II you can have the Right Arrow set to access ISO and WB as a pair of functions - changeable with the front and rear dials.

With the Mk III however you can only assign one function to the Right Arrow - I chose ISO

Peter

 

[Aberaeron]

I seldom menu dive while shooting but one thing that might be useful to conserve the battery while out and about is to switch the EVF to manual and set the ECO to work. This puts the camera to sleep at a selected interval. I set it to 3 seconds inactivity or longer if taking my time to compose. The beauty of this setting is that it sleeps and isn’t interrupted by the eye sensor sensing your chest or hip and therefore keeping the camera awake. I often use this setting when out and about.

Any setting I require during a shoot is either in the super-select quick menu or allocated to a Fn button or Custom Menu memory or in the alternative lever position setting. Almost never in the main Menu.

 

[john isaacs]

My frustration with the move of the menu button to the left side (E-M1X, E-M1mk III) continues unabated.

Holding a heavy telephoto lens, but needing to do some menu diving, is difficult when using the EVF. I cannot access the menu button while holding the camera up to my eye. If I take it down and press the menu button, I see the menu pop up in the EVF. But if the Eye Sensor is enabled, bringing the camera back up to my eye results in the menu being closed.

The only way to work this is to turn off the Eye Sensor. Which will result in increased battery use.

Hi John,

I wonder what you are shooting that you need to dive into the menu when there are so many Fn buttons, and Dials, readily accessible with the Right hand, that can be customised to open a whole host of menu items and allow rapid changes with the camera still up at the eye?

For instance I have the AEL/AFL button programmed to bring up the ISO which I then change using the rear Dial. All with my right thumb.

AEL/AFL button programmed to bring up the ISO

On my E-M1X I can bring up the settings assigned to C1-C3 without having to rotate the Mode dial by pressing the three top Buttons, left to right, respectively as shown below. Denjw provided his method of super simple customising which I use all the time now. C4 is engaged by pressing the LFn button on the 150-400.

E-M1X I can bring up the settings assigned to C1-C3

I hope this helps.

As a simple example, if you want to make a change to any of your custom modes for any reason, and have them stay when you switch modes, you need to use the menu button to save the changes. Of course, the E-M1 III allows you to set the custom mode to "HOLD", but not the E-M1X.

I am fiddling with menus more often when shooting birds. If I need to adjust AF sensitivity, or adjust AF Limit distance, or adjust Auto ISO shutter speed, I need to use the Menu button.

In fact, I have all of the menu items I tend to update assigned to MyMenu. But still have to menu dive.