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Auto-confirm OM to 4/3 adaptors

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completelynewtodp

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Having a number of old but good OM lenses from my OM1 days, from time to time I use them on my E-1, using cheap Chinese adaptors.

But I must confess that when I look at the results on screen they are often not as sharp as I would like, and I'm sure that because my ageing eyes find it difficult to manually focus these lenses (slightly shaky hands doesn't help either, but that will have to wait until I can afford an E-3 body).

I was therefore attracted to see this advertised on eBay: AF confirm OM adapter for Olympus E-3 E520 E420 E1 E510 (sold by photo-innovation). At £39.98 it is not over-expensive, but I wondered if anyone had any experience with these things:

Do they work?
If, so are there better or less good brands?

Many thanks for any advice
--
John
 
I bought one for my OM 50 1.4 from a HongKong seller. The chip or the focus system of my 510 is not very accurate, many times you will get pictures around but not right at focus. After I get used to it, now 70-80% of my pictures are well focused.
 
wow it looks pretty cool, nice to see it available to order from the uk too. I think the thing he is selling might incorporate what they call a dandelion. you usually have to install them yourself then program them , not sure how these ones work though, looks good though.
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Another very good shooter on this website, Justin (jfinite) shoots MF with OM lenses suggested to me that if the box is put into C-AF mode with continuous drive shooting, you can change the focus slightly while popping off a few burst shots so that hopefully you will get one or more shots of the same subject in focus. This was mainly meant for moving subjects, but I find that this works well as I don't entirely trust my eyes or the distance it is to the OVF.

Good luck
--

I'm technically not a 'qualified professional photographer', but I play one online.....
 
I use Oly's own adaptor - but when using manual focus I usually use Liveview, where my camera can enlarge the image on the monitor, which in my opinion makes manual focus very much easier.

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E-3, 14-54, 50-200 SWD, 35, 18-180; Sigma 30/1,4, Sigma 55-200; FL-36; HLD-4.

OM-10, OM-40, OMZ 50/1,8, OMZ 135/3,5, Elicar 35/2,8 OM, Cosina 35-70 f/3,5-4,5 OM, Vivitar 70-150 f/3,5 OM, Vivitar 2x converter OM, Olympus FM-1 OM/E-converter.
 
Yes, I think Liveview would solve my problem but of course my E-1 is too old to have it.

The burst mode idea sounds interesting - not something I'm familiar with. Do I understand that you have to set the camera to C-AF to use it, even though you are focussing manually?
--
John
 
completelynewtodp said:
Yes, I think Liveview would solve my problem but of course my E-1 is
too old to have it.

The burst mode idea sounds interesting - not something I'm familiar
with. Do I understand that you have to set the camera to C-AF to use
it, even though you are focussing manually?
--
John
Click to expand...
John, you don't have to use C-AF, but if the subject is moving - walking for instance, it is better so that the camera's metering is constantly making adjustments for say - somebody walking into a shadowed area or vice versa.

Lee
--

I'm technically not a 'qualified professional photographer', but I play one online.....
 
flarsson said:
I use Oly's own adaptor - but when using manual focus I usually use
Liveview, where my camera can enlarge the image on the monitor, which
in my opinion makes manual focus very much easier.
Click to expand...
Yes, in some situations LV is useful, but not always. You also lose composition if you enlarge the view.
--
http://www.olyflyer.blogspot.com/
 
newedb said:
I bought one for my OM 50 1.4 from a HongKong seller. The chip or the
focus system of my 510 is not very accurate, many times you will get
pictures around but not right at focus.
Click to expand...
Are you sure you are correct in blaming the adapter or the camera? I found the focus system of both the E-500 and the E-3 to be very accurate. I think it's you or your lens. The adapter only fools the camera to believe it is a digital lens. The 50/1.4 has very thin DOF and the slightest move will shift focus, so if you have confirmation and you are not pressing the shutter at the right moment you may pass the focus or shift your position before taking the image, moving the actual focus as well. I found the Nikkor 50/1.4 I have to be very tricky and sensitive but I know it is my fault if I fail.

Another possibility is that you twist the focus ring too fast, rock it back and forth but not long enough so when you take the image the focus is not exactly in the middle of the slight span the focus system allows.

One way to make sure focus is right is to set the Shutter prioryty S to off, press the release button fully when everyting is OOF and slowly turn the focus ring until the camera triggers. This gives a very high rate, but you have to be slow and careful and must compose prior to turning the ring.
--
http://www.olyflyer.blogspot.com/
 
...so far, I haven't been able to find focus confirm chip which works on E1 (or for that matter, L1 neither) - those commonly sold on ebay only work on later olympus cameras...
 
Yes I was wondering about that.

This article, retrieved from Wikipedia, about the Dandelion chip (which someone suggested was the heart of this adaptor) suggests it won't:

http://oly43club.ru/forum/index.php?act=Print&client=printer&f=39&t=229

On the other hand the seller includes E-1 amongst his list of cameras it will work with.

I was going to check with him but since it has been sold and seems to have been a one-off I shall not bother unless another on appears.

Thank you to all for your advice - I particularly liked the G1 suggestion but I fear it's beyond my budget!
--
John
 
OlyFlyer

Reference your suggestion "One way to make sure focus is right is to set the Shutter prioryty S to off, press the release button fully when everyting is OOF and slowly turn the focus ring until the camera triggers. This gives a very high rate, but you have to be slow and careful and must compose prior to turning the ring."

I have a Tak 50mm 1.4 on an e-510. Trying to understand this method, but it doesn't seem to be working for me. The shutter releases every time I press it, even when the priority is set off, in or out of focus. Can you explain the overall camera setup? What am I doing wrong? Thanks.
 
you might not be in AF?

--
  • enjoy your camera equipment -
 
You must be in S-AF mode and release priority must be off. It definitely works with my camera, but only if I use legacy lenses, not digital in manual focus mode.

Another thing comes to my mind, is your adapter recognized at all? Do you see the focal length in the EXIF? It only works if you have a chipped adapter which actually gives focus confirmation and fools the camera to believe it has a digital lens on it.
--
http://www.olyflyer.blogspot.com/
 
Ah..........my very grave misunderstanding. Sorry....... No, I'm using a non-chipped adapter. Looks as though my best bet is to stick with lv for focusing this combo. Even with lv its difficult in dark situations getting seeing when you are in focus. Thanks.
 
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