What features do you never use?

Our cameras all have more features than we'll probably ever make use of.

• What features have you never used (because you never got a chance to)?
• What features will you never use (by choice)?

I'll start:

Two features that I've never used, but want to, are Live Composite and Live Bulb. I admit I'm a bit intimidated by them, and also I've never got a chance to try them since I've never shot startrails, light painting, composite shots of lightning/fireworks etc.

On my E-M1ii I'd use AF limiter all the time, but I've never used it on my OM-1 because the AF is so excellent by default.

I have not used P mode or Auto mode on any camera in years.

Never used built-in color effects on my E-M1ii, OM-1 or E-PL6, but interestingly, I still use them on my PEN-9 which I use for casual photography at home. I only tried the Color Creator mode for the first time yesterday!

How about you?

The only one I do use is pro-capture. Not even AF.

All the best and some would use a lot more.

Danny.

faunagraphy wrote:

Our cameras all have more features than we'll probably ever make use of.

• What features have you never used (because you never got a chance to)?
• What features will you never use (by choice)?

Hmm, it would take hours to list what Idon’t use.

What ACTUALLY use makes more sense, especially since I use my camera as simply as possible.

M mode 95% of the time. Never A, S or P (which I never understood). iAuto when driving or on planes or trains. That’s when I shut off silent mode.

I adjust ISO manually. Available light only.

I use magnified view when shooting with manual lenses.

I use single point focus, smallest box. IBIS and OIS get used, too.

Sometimes I’ll do exposure bracketing for interior shots.

I like using the Panorama feature on the mode dial. (Panasonic)

That’s about it. The rest of the stuff crammed in the camera simply I don’t use

20% of the features will give you 80% of what you need.

One feature I thought I would use on the OM-1 is the joystick. After trying it out a few times, I went back to using the directional pad to move the AF point around. I do use the center joystick button to reset the AF point to the home position.

Actually, now that I think about it, it's the subject and face recognition AF modes that make this feasible now, versus the E-M1 II that was my first pro body. Back then, I needed to move the AF point a lot more for my main action subjects (birds and small humans).

jalywol wrote:

I do use mostly A, S, and once in a while M modes. Never auto, never P modes. Rarely if ever, auto ISO.

I mostly shoot in S (my custom modes are also set to S, just with different AF settings), but I can't imagine working with manual ISO. Mine's always set to auto and I take a few shots at a sufficiently fast shutter speed, then reduce shutter speed and change exposure to take some more shots at lower ISO. I only shoot in A mode if there's enough light and I want to get more fine detail by stopping down a bit or to increase DOF.

nzmacro wrote:

The only one I do use is pro-capture. Not even AF.

All the best and some would use a lot more.

Danny.

Do you think that shooting action would be easier for you if you used a rangefinder? (not that you need much help from your camera for MF).

UrbanHobbit wrote:

One feature I thought I would use on the OM-1 is the joystick. After trying it out a few times, I went back to using the directional pad to move the AF point around. I do use the center joystick button to reset the AF point to the home position.

Actually, now that I think about it, it's the subject and face recognition AF modes that make this feasible now, versus the E-M1 II that was my first pro body. Back then, I needed to move the AF point a lot more for my main action subjects (birds and small humans).

Same. I was excited about (finally) having a joystick - I used it on my D500s. Well, I've hardly ever used it on the OM-1. I use the arrow keys to scroll the menu or sometimes to move the Magnify area out of habit, since that's what I used on my E-M1ii. Not the camera's fault.

Never switch to SCN (except Panorama which is grouped under SCN on some model) on mode dial since I can use similar set of parameters for similar result. This is I can but intention or felt notl need to...

iA/iA+ too, including P, never use them under similar reason as SCN.

Never use Multiple Shot. It sounds interesting but except a few experiment on this feature, no chance to use it.

Also a few other video features like snapshot video, pull focus(?) etc...

UrbanHobbit wrote:

One feature I thought I would use on the OM-1 is the joystick. After trying it out a few times, I went back to using the directional pad to move the AF point around. I do use the center joystick button to reset the AF point to the home position.

im the same with my a74 i just like the 4 way pad better

Actually, now that I think about it, it's the subject and face recognition AF modes that make this feasible now, versus the E-M1 II that was my first pro body. Back then, I needed to move the AF point a lot more for my main action subjects (birds and small humans).

I only use A and M modes.

I don't shoot video, so that's half of all of my cameras wasted.

I don't use TTL flash. matrix or spot metering.

I don't use auto ISO either. Focusing is mostly manual other than birds or planes.

In fact, if someone could come up with a mirrorless Pentax ME Super with a 47mp sensor, that would cover 95% of my needs.

I never use the video button as a video button.

Nor do I use the Digital Tele Zoom. (Actually, I did use it once when I first got my EM5.2 just to see what happened.)

grsnovi wrote:

20% of the features will give you 80% of what you need.

That is exactly how I see it too. I just use the bare basics 99% of the time. Never tried A and I modes, never use video, never live composite, never HR.... The only thing I sometimes miss on my GM cameras is IBIS.

faunagraphy wrote:

nzmacro wrote:

The only one I do use is pro-capture. Not even AF.

All the best and some would use a lot more.

Danny.

Do you think that shooting action would be easier for you if you used a rangefinder? (not that you need much help from your camera for MF).

Not really, always shoot very close here and the EVF is excellent.

All the best your way and have a good one.

Danny.

I’ve not used the bulb and composite features ever.

Most of the other features I’ve only used as an experiment.

I’m sure that I never used Train subject detect.

Don’t use CustomModes.

Only shoot RAW, so don’t use jpeg settings.

Mostly use A, S or M.  ISO 200 or auto.  Auto WB or very rarely a custom UniWB.

The function I miss is an adjustable link between auto ISO and FL.

Andrew

I never use:

Video - well I did on one occasion.

Mechanical shutter - except when using flash.

Custom modes - because every situation is different, and I can't remember what I've set them to anyway.

Program modes - what's the point?

Live composite - not relevant to the type of photography I do.

High resolution modes - because I mostly take action shots, and standard resolution is ample anyway.

And many, many more.

Mike