99 Frame EPL6 Time Lapse Function - Surely Olympus are having a laugh!

I've been looking for an inexpensive m43 body to use as a second time lapse camera to my GH3. The EPL6 looked like a decent option with its' time lapse facility and slightly better dynamic range than the GH3, so I picked one up on Ebay at a price which made shutter wear less of a concern.

To my dismay, I have now discovered that this otherwise neat little camera, has its' time lapse crippled by a maximum of 99 frames! What were Olympus thinking of in doing this and then touting it as a selling point over the EPL5? That's barely 4 secs of PAL video which hardly constitutes a time lapse. Time lapse shots need to be much longer than conventional video shots, and I typically shoot upwards of 300 frames per shot, and even that is quite modest.

Perhaps they missed a 9 off the max frames setting when creating the firmware!

I doubt this will ever get addressed but what are Olympus like at firmware updates?

Plan B is to try the EPL6 with a remote release cable on my Dynamic Perception MX3 time lapse controller.

There was a work-around, if I recall correctly, for the E-PM1, which had no time-lapse function built in. I believe it would also work for the E-PL6, though you don't need it as you have an intervalometer.

The work-around was to use a locking remote shutter release, the anti-shake setting, and drive mode. The time interval between shots was set by the anti-shake setting. Shoot as many frames as you like, until the card is full. Intervals available are 30s, 15s, 8s, 4s, 2s, 1s, 1/2s, 1/4s, and 1/8s; so perhaps not as flexible as an intervalometer, but it was fun to play with.

Yeah you are right, I think they realised that without an electronic shutter, the shutter would break within warranty if people would use that option a lot . In theory you could only do 50 1000 shot time-lapses before failure....and maybe shorter as the contentious shooting does put serious strain on a live view shutter (close-open-close-open). Pana bodies use the electronic shutter AFAIK.

dave rogers wrote:

There was a work-around, if I recall correctly, for the E-PM1, which had no time-lapse function built in. I believe it would also work for the E-PL6, though you don't need it as you have an intervalometer.

The work-around was to use a locking remote shutter release, the anti-shake setting, and drive mode. The time interval between shots was set by the anti-shake setting. Shoot as many frames as you like, until the card is full. Intervals available are 30s, 15s, 8s, 4s, 2s, 1s, 1/2s, 1/4s, and 1/8s; so perhaps not as flexible as an intervalometer, but it was fun to play with.

Thanks. Might be useful.

secretworld wrote:

Yeah you are right, I think they realised that without an electronic shutter, the shutter would break within warranty if people would use that option a lot . In theory you could only do 50 1000 shot time-lapses before failure....and maybe shorter as the contentious shooting does put serious strain on a live view shutter (close-open-close-open). Pana bodies use the electronic shutter AFAIK.

(A little late but) no, my GX7 can use either the mechanical or e-shutter for time lapse. I understand why most people would want to use the e-shutter in most cases to preserve the mechanical shutter's life, but ... With all the time lapse I've done on my Nikon D5100, it's about 140k on its 100k rated shutter and still working.

OP, now that my GX7 has 9999 max frames per time lapse, my D5100's 999 seems low. Not that go over 2500 often, and 1000 is usually enough, but still, I now usually use an intervalometer on my D5100 so I can go that high. When I first saw 99 frames on a camera (might have been the E-PL6, there is another with the same 99 frames IIRC) a year or two ago, I just shook my head. But if the shutter is only rated for 50000, it won't last too long with lots of time lapse. Even if it lasts 40% longer than its rating like my D5100 has so far.

uRebel Rob wrote:

secretworld wrote:

Yeah you are right, I think they realised that without an electronic shutter, the shutter would break within warranty if people would use that option a lot . In theory you could only do 50 1000 shot time-lapses before failure....and maybe shorter as the contentious shooting does put serious strain on a live view shutter (close-open-close-open). Pana bodies use the electronic shutter AFAIK.

(A little late but) no, my GX7 can use either the mechanical or e-shutter for time lapse. I understand why most people would want to use the e-shutter in most cases to preserve the mechanical shutter's life, but ... With all the time lapse I've done on my Nikon D5100, it's about 140k on its 100k rated shutter and still working.

OP, now that my GX7 has 9999 max frames per time lapse, my D5100's 999 seems low. Not that go over 2500 often, and 1000 is usually enough, but still, I now usually use an intervalometer on my D5100 so I can go that high. When I first saw 99 frames on a camera (might have been the E-PL6, there is another with the same 99 frames IIRC) a year or two ago, I just shook my head. But if the shutter is only rated for 50000, it won't last too long with lots of time lapse. Even if it lasts 40% longer than its rating like my D5100 has so far.

140k is pretty impressive. I wonder what various makes of camera generally keel over at?

I've been using my GH3 for time lapse with electronic shutter, but I wanted an inexpensive second m43 to run alongside it. Picked up a remote cable which triggers the EPL6 from the MX3 controller, so I'll probably use the Olympus on my motorised slider while the GH3 runs static on a tripod.

I did consider the GX7, but I was tempted by the slightly better dynamic range and price of the EPL6. Looking forward to getting a VF-4 viewfinder for the Olympus so I can actually see what I'm shooting! I think the ability to adjust the angle of the EVF like on your GX7, the VF-4 and Samsung NX30 is a really useful feature. I'm surprised more cameras don't include this. Being able to adjust the angle of the live view screen is helpful, but you invariable just capture even more sunlight reflecting from it!

andy4nothin wrote:

140k is pretty impressive. I wonder what various makes of camera generally keel over at?

I've read of shutters lasting over 230k (from time lapse forums), and shutters dieing at 23k, both rated for 100,000 frames. I've never heard of a shutter lasting exactly its rated number, though. If that 100k rating means 95% (90%?, 50%?) of shutters will last at least that long, that 140k I have on mine means it could die tomorrow or last for another 100k. [shrug] I'm hoping it'll last another year or so, as I really like having two cameras: one for time lapse only (now D5100), the other for normal photography and time lapse (GX7). But nothing out there right now is grabbing my attention. In a year, maybe.

One of the people here got a GH3 and GX7 for time lapse and their e-shutters, as she was tired of having her pentax shutters replaced, but I don't think she posted the counts they were lasting.

I've been using my GH3 for time lapse with electronic shutter, but I wanted an inexpensive second m43 to run alongside it. Picked up a remote cable which triggers the EPL6 from the MX3 controller, so I'll probably use the Olympus on my motorised slider while the GH3 runs static on a tripod.

I've been looking at the Dynamic Perceptions sliders since they first came out, but never pulled the trigger. But, yeah, if got one and the controller/intervelometer, and need to use the intervelometer features on the E-PL6, might as well use the slider, too!

secretworld wrote:

Yeah you are right, I think they realised that without an electronic shutter, the shutter would break within warranty if people would use that option a lot . In theory you could only do 50 1000 shot time-lapses before failure....and maybe shorter as the contentious shooting does put serious strain on a live view shutter (close-open-close-open). Pana bodies use the electronic shutter AFAIK.

I've used the 'miniature' effect to make time lapse movies on the GX1.
The interval is fixed at 1/10, a 10 min movie plays back in 1 min.
There's the annoying blurred top and bottom edges (the miniature effect).

But there's no shutter action once you start the recording.
It's a movie not a series of stills.

I believe my compact LX5 has the same capability.

I haven't tried the time-lapse on the E-P5 yet, but if it's the same as described here I am prepared to be a bit disappointed ... thanks 8-(

rd

uRebel Rob wrote:

I've been looking at the Dynamic Perceptions sliders since they first came out, but never pulled the trigger. But, yeah, if got one and the controller/intervelometer, and need to use the intervelometer features on the E-PL6, might as well use the slider, too!

I bought a Dynamic Perception Omnislider Servo 1m a couple of years ago and it is a superb time lapse and video slider. Unfortunately, I should have considered the weight of the unit a little more. Last year I built a much lighter unit from Openbuilds V-slot that mounts on a single tripod and works in a similar style to Edelkrone units. It also has a panning action. You can see it here: http://uktripper.com/visits/diy-time-lapse-and-video-camera-slider/