Why does OM1II lose focus during BIF sequences? FW Update?

David5833 said:

On p. 90 of the manual for OM-1i, FW 1.7, it does say that face and eye detection are turned off when in a subject detection mode. Presumably that refers to the legacy process that is separate from the AI-based subject detection. Notably, on p. 91 it describes how you have the option to turn on or off an eye detection box when in subject detection mode. It also says that the OM-1i will select the eye of a bird (or animal) if it detects the eye. Enabling or disabling the displayed eye detection box seems to make no difference, the algorithm tries to select an eye if it can whether or not the box is shown.

In any case, it is frustrating when focus seems to be unreliable.

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3dpan said:

mikero said:

3dpan said:

sherman_levine said:

3dpan said:

SteveNunez said:

Hey everyone,

I've noticed that the OM-1 II struggles with maintaining focus during bursts of birds in flight, often losing focus mid-sequence and producing blurry frames. Given that this camera is popular among nature photographers, why hasn't OM System improved the 'subject detection' tracking for birds in flight? This issue is well known but doesn't get much attention on YouTube, yet it’s a major frustration for OM-1 II users.

The OM-1 is often praised for its speed and autofocus, but it's incredibly frustrating to see it lose focus mid-burst, only to reacquire it a few frames later—making it unpredictable. I've attached a screenshot showing only 3 frames in focus in this particular set.

At this point, I’m on the verge of giving up on the OM-1 II and the OM 150-600mm. I simply can't get full sequences in focus. This isn’t user error—the focus jumps from sharp to soft at SH2, 20FPS, resulting in nearly as many throwaway shots as keepers.

Hoping for a firmware update to make the OM-1 the best it can be!

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Do you have eye detect selected as well as bird subject ?

Using 20fps, SH2, I find that if the bird turns its head then I lose eye detect and also lose focus. It seems the tracking doesn't automatically revert to bird subject.

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For model ii I think there’s no separate eye detect toggle. Have I missed it?

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I have an OM-1 II, and have both selected.

See SCP for subject detection, select birds.
and see menu AF, page 2, scroll down to eye detection.

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I don't know about the OM1.2, but for the OM-1.1, Eye Detection is automatically set to OFF when Subject Detection (eg Birds, Cars, etc) is engaged. Page 90 of OM-1.1 manual.

Mike

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The OP specifically asked about OM-1 II.

Tracking for the OM-1 II is different from the OM-1 I.

Eye detection frame can be switched on/off independent of subject selected.
I quoted the menu item in my post above.

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3dpan said:

David5833 said:

On p. 90 of the manual for OM-1i, FW 1.7, it does say that face and eye detection are turned off when in a subject detection mode. Presumably that refers to the legacy process that is separate from the AI-based subject detection. Notably, on p. 91 it describes how you have the option to turn on or off an eye detection box when in subject detection mode. It also says that the OM-1i will select the eye of a bird (or animal) if it detects the eye. Enabling or disabling the displayed eye detection box seems to make no difference, the algorithm tries to select an eye if it can whether or not the box is shown.

In any case, it is frustrating when focus seems to be unreliable.

Click to expand...

BUT, the OP is not asking about the OM-1 I

Click to expand...

sherman_levine said:

3dpan said:

mikero said:

3dpan said:

sherman_levine said:

3dpan said:

SteveNunez said:

Hey everyone,

I've noticed that the OM-1 II struggles with maintaining focus during bursts of birds in flight, often losing focus mid-sequence and producing blurry frames. Given that this camera is popular among nature photographers, why hasn't OM System improved the 'subject detection' tracking for birds in flight? This issue is well known but doesn't get much attention on YouTube, yet it’s a major frustration for OM-1 II users.

The OM-1 is often praised for its speed and autofocus, but it's incredibly frustrating to see it lose focus mid-burst, only to reacquire it a few frames later—making it unpredictable. I've attached a screenshot showing only 3 frames in focus in this particular set.

At this point, I’m on the verge of giving up on the OM-1 II and the OM 150-600mm. I simply can't get full sequences in focus. This isn’t user error—the focus jumps from sharp to soft at SH2, 20FPS, resulting in nearly as many throwaway shots as keepers.

Hoping for a firmware update to make the OM-1 the best it can be!

Click to expand...

Do you have eye detect selected as well as bird subject ?

Using 20fps, SH2, I find that if the bird turns its head then I lose eye detect and also lose focus. It seems the tracking doesn't automatically revert to bird subject.

Click to expand...

For model ii I think there’s no separate eye detect toggle. Have I missed it?

Click to expand...

I have an OM-1 II, and have both selected.

See SCP for subject detection, select birds.
and see menu AF, page 2, scroll down to eye detection.

Click to expand...

I don't know about the OM1.2, but for the OM-1.1, Eye Detection is automatically set to OFF when Subject Detection (eg Birds, Cars, etc) is engaged. Page 90 of OM-1.1 manual.

Mike

Click to expand...

The OP specifically asked about OM-1 II.

Tracking for the OM-1 II is different from the OM-1 I.

Eye detection frame can be switched on/off independent of subject selected.
I quoted the menu item in my post above.

Click to expand...

I have the eye detection frame for my camera (OM-1 II) set to "on" because "more is better", however I'm pretty sure the setting refers only to the display of the frame and not to any change in the focus algorithm.

Click to expand...

David5833 said:

3dpan said:

David5833 said:

On p. 90 of the manual for OM-1i, FW 1.7, it does say that face and eye detection are turned off when in a subject detection mode. Presumably that refers to the legacy process that is separate from the AI-based subject detection. Notably, on p. 91 it describes how you have the option to turn on or off an eye detection box when in subject detection mode. It also says that the OM-1i will select the eye of a bird (or animal) if it detects the eye. Enabling or disabling the displayed eye detection box seems to make no difference, the algorithm tries to select an eye if it can whether or not the box is shown.

In any case, it is frustrating when focus seems to be unreliable.

Click to expand...

BUT, the OP is not asking about the OM-1 I

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I was replying to Mikero, not the OP. Aside from the human subject detection feature, do you know if the AF performance of the OM-1ii is any different from the OM-1i with FW 1.7?

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gary0319 said:

I’m using the PL100-400 with my OM-1 II. If I select all 1052 focus points active, I rarely have an issue with OOF throughout the sequence even with bursts of 50 or more images. With less than all focus points selected I have more problems. Also , if I don’t get the initial green box confirming focus lock at the very beginning… all is lost.

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3dpan said:

gary0319 said:

I’m using the PL100-400 with my OM-1 II. If I select all 1052 focus points active, I rarely have an issue with OOF throughout the sequence even with bursts of 50 or more images. With less than all focus points selected I have more problems. Also , if I don’t get the initial green box confirming focus lock at the very beginning… all is lost.

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Agreed.

I am finding all focus points preferable for my Oly 100-400mm, and also my Oly 75/1.8.

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mikero said:

epozar said:

My recommendations.. use IS-2 (vertical IS only), set the camera to shot even if not in focus, focus sensitivity to the default (0) position

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Yes, Release Priority set to ON is the default when C-AF is selected, and what I would choose. Why change OMDS's recommendation?

I believe I read somewhere (but I can't say for sure) that with Release Priority set to OFF (where it will check focus) that only applies to the first frame in a burst. So it wouldn't help stop odd frames in a burst being out of focus.

I've not found sensitivity makes much difference when using Subject Detection, so I leave it set to zero.

Mike

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MEDISN said:

...I also have a R5 and A1 but much prefer the OM1's for birds and wildlife.

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SteveNunez said:

I too would like to know why someone would choose an OM1ii over an A1, R5 or Z8? I’m aware of the size/heft penalties of using full frame but the benefits are very compelling: please tell!

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SteveNunez said:

I too would like to know why someone would choose an OM1ii over an A1, R5 or Z8? I’m aware of the size/heft penalties of using full frame but the benefits are very compelling: please tell!

--
Steve Nunez~South Florida Artist
www.stevenunez.com
OM System OM1II

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• Faster focus acquisition (might be related to lower f stop of the M43 lens versus full frame equivalent)
• Pre-capture raw
• Low minimum focus distance of the 150-400: The best photos are often opportunistic ones when the birds get really close
• PF lenses are temperamental--they lose contrast with light in the frame, so I personally think of them as lighter lenses for when you already have good lighting
• Lighter lenses allow better panning; I was dead the one day I tried panning the whole day on the 800 PF
• ISO advantage mitigated by IBIS

vcxz

vcxz.myportfolio.com

SteveNunez said:

I too would like to know why someone would choose an OM1ii over an A1, R5 or Z8? I’m aware of the size/heft penalties of using full frame but the benefits are very compelling: please tell!

Click to expand...

sherman_levine said:

3dpan said:

gary0319 said:

I’m using the PL100-400 with my OM-1 II. If I select all 1052 focus points active, I rarely have an issue with OOF throughout the sequence even with bursts of 50 or more images. With less than all focus points selected I have more problems. Also , if I don’t get the initial green box confirming focus lock at the very beginning… all is lost.

Click to expand...

Agreed.

I am finding all focus points preferable for my Oly 100-400mm, and also my Oly 75/1.8.

Click to expand...

I think there are two parts to the process

a. The focus area for the initial focus acquisition

b. The focus area for subsequent shots in the burst - That can be set to either the initial focus area or the full sensor, based on the menu entry AF2/C-AF. That seems to be the equivalent of a Tracking on/off toggle.

Currently, I use Mid or Large for the initial area, and Full Sensor for the subsequent area.

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