Pen F autofocus vs. OM-D E-M1 (either version)

daddyo wrote:

James,

I can't speak to the Pen F, since I don't own one. However, I can say that I think your main problem is shooting at f2.8. My experience is that the DOF is often just too shallow (yes, to the dismay of all shallow DOF lovers).

If you are using face/eye detection with multiple subjects, they are rarely in the same focus plane, and at f/2.8 some are going to be OOF. I have much better success shooting at f/3.5-f/4, and find I have very few that are not in focus. Of course with larger groups I stop down even more to f/5.6-f/8.

I find that face/eye detection on my E-M1 is very accurate when shooting close up portraits (e.g. Head and Shoulders) -- the further you get away from subjects the more difficult it is to get perfect focus -- however, it is still generally very close.

Your percentage of OOF shots sounds very high to me, and I really think shooting at f/4 and ISO 3200 would have given you a much higher in-focus percentage.

Thanks, Greg. Your comments and Jim's are on the mark. The common thought seems to be shoot at ~f/5.6 and boost the ISO if necessary. I don't do this type of photography very much, so it's a learning experience. After 45 years of photography, I like to think I am in command of all aspects of my camera and lenses. This event tempered my hubris and will have me testing before the next event.

Jim Pilcher
Summit County, Colorado, USA
Life is good in the woods