Things still missing in M1MarkII firmware3.0 and M1X

I am also using cameras like Panasonic GH4, GH5s and I am comparing them with M1 Mark II and M1X. The new firmware has lots of improvements, but there are still missing things that I want. These are some of the missing things and problems that I saw in Olympus M1 Mark II firmware3.0 and also M1X

1) Maximum Auto ISO is limited to 6400. Panasonic cameras go to 25600. I know that ISO over 6400 is extended ISO, but it eliminates the post-processing to brighten the photo afterwards.
2) When IS is disabled due to accidentally pushing the IS button on the lens, it is difficult to notice on the screen of M1 Mark II and M1X. The camera doesn't show any notification on the screen when IS is disabled. Panasonic cameras show a big red IS disabled warning so it is easy to notice and fix.
3) It is not possible to use the camera for a long time in a hot environment. The camera is closing itself. In the same hot environment a Panasonic GH4 camera continued working without any problems. Therefore I threw M1 Mark II back to my bag and did the photo session with Panasonic GH4.
4) Olympus share app is slow to access the photos in the camera. Scrolling is very slow in the app.
5) Although there is some improvement with this firmware, continuous AF under very low light is still worse than a good SLR. M1 Mark II could not acquire focus in very low light situations where an SLR acquired focus.
6) I could not find a way to enter the main menu when the shutter is in the bulb mode.
7) The live view looks soft on the screen, which makes it difficult to find out if the focus is correct or not. The screen of Panasonic cameras is sharper, so it is easier to identify sharp and blurry areas on the screen.
8) The mode dial has a slow response. It takes time to set the new mode after turning the dial.
9) In the index display mode (thumbnails) of the photo playback menu, there is no slider menu. It takes a long time move to a photo if there are thousands of photos between the requested photo and the currently displayed photo. Panasonic cameras have a touch slider menu in the playback menu, so it is easy to skip thousand of photos with a single touch to the slider.
10) Panasonic cameras show a "focus mode lever" for MF Assist on screen. However, M1 Mark II and M1X don't show a lever on the screen. When working in darkness at night with Panasonic cameras it is possible to follow the MF distance by looking at the lever on the screen while changing the MF distance. In Olympus cameras, it is necessary to look at the markings on the lens that is very difficult to see when working in a dark environment.
11) On page 46, the manual of M1 Mark II says "When you are using Sequential Low or Pro Capture Low, live view is displayed. When you are using Sequential High or Pro Capture High, the image shot immediately before is displayed". I would like to have an option to display "the image shot immediately before" when also using Sequential Low or Pro Capture Low. It is very useful for Flash photography, because the photo taken with flash is very different from what you see on live view, so it allows you to see the effect of flash in real time during a long sequential shot with flash. Panasonic GH4 has this functionality as it shows the "the image shot immediately before" in the sequential low mode.

Not firmware related but there are also some hardware related problems that I would like be fixed in the successor models:
1) The tripod hole under the camera is not at the center of the base. It is too close to the edge. Therefore, the camera is not so stable unless the tripod plate is big enough to cover the bottom of camera grip.
2) The screen quality like color display, black level is worse than Panasonic cameras. Even old Panasonic models like GH4 have better screen.

duncanmcl wrote:

I am also using cameras like Panasonic GH4, GH5s and I am comparing them with M1 Mark II and M1X. The new firmware has lots of improvements, but there are still missing things that I want. These are some of the missing things and problems that I saw in Olympus M1 Mark II firmware3.0 and also M1X

1) Maximum Auto ISO is limited to 6400. Panasonic cameras go to 25600. I know that ISO over 6400 is extended ISO, but it eliminates the post-processing to brighten the photo afterwards.
2) When IS is disabled due to accidentally pushing the IS button on the lens, it is difficult to notice on the screen of M1 Mark II and M1X. The camera doesn't show any notification on the screen when IS is disabled. Panasonic cameras show a big red IS disabled warning so it is easy to notice and fix.
3) It is not possible to use the camera for a long time in a hot environment. The camera is closing itself. In the same hot environment a Panasonic GH4 camera continued working without any problems. Therefore I threw M1 Mark II back to my bag and did the photo session with Panasonic GH4.
4) Olympus share app is slow to access the photos in the camera. Scrolling is very slow in the app.
5) Although there is some improvement with this firmware, continuous AF under very low light is still worse than a good SLR. M1 Mark II could not acquire focus in very low light situations where an SLR acquired focus.
6) I could not find a way to enter the main menu when the shutter is in the bulb mode.
7) The live view looks soft on the screen, which makes it difficult to find out if the focus is correct or not. The screen of Panasonic cameras is sharper, so it is easier to identify sharp and blurry areas on the screen.
8) The mode dial has a slow response. It takes time to set the new mode after turning the dial.
9) In the index display mode (thumbnails) of the photo playback menu, there is no slider menu. It takes a long time move to a photo if there are thousands of photos between the requested photo and the currently displayed photo. Panasonic cameras have a touch slider menu in the playback menu, so it is easy to skip thousand of photos with a single touch to the slider.
10) Panasonic cameras show a "focus mode lever" for MF Assist on screen. However, M1 Mark II and M1X don't show a lever on the screen. When working in darkness at night with Panasonic cameras it is possible to follow the MF distance by looking at the lever on the screen while changing the MF distance. In Olympus cameras, it is necessary to look at the markings on the lens that is very difficult to see when working in a dark environment.
11) On page 46, the manual of M1 Mark II says "When you are using Sequential Low or Pro Capture Low, live view is displayed. When you are using Sequential High or Pro Capture High, the image shot immediately before is displayed". I would like to have an option to display "the image shot immediately before" when also using Sequential Low or Pro Capture Low. It is very useful for Flash photography, because the photo taken with flash is very different from what you see on live view, so it allows you to see the effect of flash in real time during a long sequential shot with flash. Panasonic GH4 has this functionality as it shows the "the image shot immediately before" in the sequential low mode.

Not firmware related but there are also some hardware related problems that I would like be fixed in the successor models:
1) The tripod hole under the camera is not at the center of the base. It is too close to the edge. Therefore, the camera is not so stable unless the tripod plate is big enough to cover the bottom of camera grip.
2) The screen quality like color display, black level is worse than Panasonic cameras. Even old Panasonic models like GH4 have better screen.

Wow I didn't know my camera was SO BAD

Kinda sounds like you should be using Panasonic rather than Olympus as it has most of the things you want.

I happen not to have some of the requests that you do and am still getting used to 3.0.

Things that I really wish Olympus would add to the 1.2 or at the very least, EM1 Mark III is:

• Ability to tie face detection to focus point so I can select which face to focus on in a crowd.
• Ability to use the camera while connected to my phone
• Combine all Wi-Fi related settings to one menu location. Turning the wifi on and connecting is far apart in the menu and to save battery life I have to initiate both when I want to share something.
• Streamline the whole sharing process. It needs some work.

That doesn't take away from how happy I am with firmware 3.0. I feel in many ways like I have a new camera. The drastically improved video AF, ability to select multiple images much faster, EC in manual mode, improved AF-C... These are practical improvements that will make my life easier on a daily basis.

duncanmcl wrote:

I am also using cameras like Panasonic GH4, GH5s and I am comparing them with M1 Mark II and M1X. The new firmware has lots of improvements, but there are still missing things that I want. These are some of the missing things and problems that I saw in Olympus M1 Mark II firmware3.0 and also M1X

3) It is not possible to use the camera for a long time in a hot environment. The camera is closing itself. In the same hot environment a Panasonic GH4 camera continued working without any problems. Therefore I threw M1 Mark II back to my bag and did the photo session with Panasonic GH4.

Really? You did mention this is about E-M1X. I just got finished doing a six-hour shoot. taking 23,000 pictures in mid 80ies with absolutely no problems.

No text.

I missed it when shooting NLCs….It is very strange but indeed my H4 shows both on screen what is sharp and what not when doing MF and it shows how close to infinity youare. Which is very nice for this kind of work. But the Oly...does not...

duncanmcl wrote:

brianric wrote:

duncanmcl wrote:

I am also using cameras like Panasonic GH4, GH5s and I am comparing them with M1 Mark II and M1X. The new firmware has lots of improvements, but there are still missing things that I want. These are some of the missing things and problems that I saw in Olympus M1 Mark II firmware3.0 and also M1X

3) It is not possible to use the camera for a long time in a hot environment. The camera is closing itself. In the same hot environment a Panasonic GH4 camera continued working without any problems. Therefore I threw M1 Mark II back to my bag and did the photo session with Panasonic GH4.

Really? You did mention this is about E-M1X. I just got finished doing a six-hour shoot. taking 23,000 pictures in mid 80ies with absolutely no problems.

Sorry, I forgot to write the model there. I saw the that problem with M1 Mark II. Therefore I said "I threw M1 Mark II back to my bag and did the photo session with Panasonic GH4". I didn't try M1X under hot weather.

If you saw my post two years ago  (https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/59696906) you would have known that. The main reason why I bought theE-M1X was due to the built in heat sink.

Get a G9, it's an E-M1 alternative option.

duncanmcl wrote:

I am also using cameras like Panasonic GH4, GH5s and I am comparing them with M1 Mark II and M1X. The new firmware has lots of improvements, but there are still missing things that I want. These are some of the missing things and problems that I saw in Olympus M1 Mark II firmware3.0 and also M1X

They are missing things I want, but honestly you say it further down that you use Oly cameras because the GH's are missing something essential for you so it's a bit rough to paint the picture you do.

1) Maximum Auto ISO is limited to 6400. Panasonic cameras go to 25600. I know that ISO over 6400 is extended ISO, but it eliminates the post-processing to brighten the photo afterwards.

Strange you talk about needing this for video later in your whine.... if you really need more than 6400 on a constant basis then you either have the wrong lenses or the wrong system, besides you can enable extended ISO up to 25600 anyway.

2) When IS is disabled due to accidentally pushing the IS button on the lens, it is difficult to notice on the screen of M1 Mark II and M1X. The camera doesn't show any notification on the screen when IS is disabled. Panasonic cameras show a big red IS disabled warning so it is easy to notice and fix.

how hard is it to check the button before you shot...... i don't need some big red IS disabled warning... you do realise people turn IS off for genuine reasons and don't want to be bugged by a warning symbol ....

3) It is not possible to use the camera for a long time in a hot environment. The camera is closing itself. In the same hot environment a Panasonic GH4 camera continued working without any problems. Therefore I threw M1 Mark II back to my bag and did the photo session with Panasonic GH4.

Even Brian half debunked this.... how hot? sun shining? how long? no qualifiers so the statement has no meaning. a mk2 will run for hours in ambients well over 40c but add some heating from the sun and drive the camera temp even higher then it will give you an over heat warning that still gives you a chance to cool it down, if you fail to do that then it will shutdown...

Bit different to your claimed experience

4) Olympus share app is slow to access the photos in the camera. Scrolling is very slow in the app.

Agreed it can be slow

5) Although there is some improvement with this firmware, continuous AF under very low light is still worse than a good SLR. M1 Mark II could not acquire focus in very low light situations where an SLR acquired focus.

Seriously..... this is just trolling... if you had even tried to relate it to your GH experience it might have been less so.

6) I could not find a way to enter the main menu when the shutter is in the bulb mode.

Others' say it can be so, haven't tried

7) The live view looks soft on the screen, which makes it difficult to find out if the focus is correct or not. The screen of Panasonic cameras is sharper, so it is easier to identify sharp and blurry areas on the screen.

Well good for them but that is hardware not software ... or is that confusing

8) The mode dial has a slow response. It takes time to set the new mode after turning the dial.

You switch modes so often and quickly that you need instant response? seriously dude this is at the picky picky stupid end of the spectrum. provide a valid use case

9) In the index display mode (thumbnails) of the photo playback menu, there is no slider menu. It takes a long time move to a photo if there are thousands of photos between the requested photo and the currently displayed photo. Panasonic cameras have a touch slider menu in the playback menu, so it is easy to skip thousand of photos with a single touch to the slider.

who, in their right mind, decides they need to go back thousands of images in camera. only the phone generation seems to want this sort of function.

10) Panasonic cameras show a "focus mode lever" for MF Assist on screen. However, M1 Mark II and M1X don't show a lever on the screen. When working in darkness at night with Panasonic cameras it is possible to follow the MF distance by looking at the lever on the screen while changing the MF distance. In Olympus cameras, it is necessary to look at the markings on the lens that is very difficult to see when working in a dark environment.

i can see a use for this, but i find focus peaking does the job really well so question how it is a benefit. maybe other Pany users can eleborate.

11) On page 46, the manual of M1 Mark II says "When you are using Sequential Low or Pro Capture Low, live view is displayed. When you are using Sequential High or Pro Capture High, the image shot immediately before is displayed". I would like to have an option to display "the image shot immediately before" when also using Sequential Low or Pro Capture Low. It is very useful for Flash photography, because the photo taken with flash is very different from what you see on live view, so it allows you to see the effect of flash in real time during a long sequential shot with flash. Panasonic GH4 has this functionality as it shows the "the image shot immediately before" in the sequential low mode.

Don't want this at all, keep it, SeqL is like it is so you can follow the action effectively. I would expect and hope that as an expert in using flash with Seq shooting that you already have the exposure correct and don't need to check it every frame......

Not firmware related but there are also some hardware related problems that I would like be fixed in the successor models:
1) The tripod hole under the camera is not at the center of the base. It is too close to the edge. Therefore, the camera is not so stable unless the tripod plate is big enough to cover the bottom of camera grip.

really? i read your response about needing to use a small tripod... well that's your issue pretty damn stable on a standard QR plate.

2) The screen quality like color display, black level is worse than Panasonic cameras. Even old Panasonic models like GH4 have better screen.