A complex camera does have a complex menu. As clear as day.
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How complicated is the Em-1 ii menu system?
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phil from seattle
Senior Member
I own 3 Olys.
Is the menu system complicated? Yes, definitely.
Does the complexity detract from the shooting experience? Perhaps in the first couple of days but after that, not really. The learning curve is steep initially but flattens out pretty quickly.
How often do I use the menus? Not very much once set up.
To be clear, vast majority of what you need to do while shooting (adjust f-stop, exposure, EV compensation, ISO, etc) can be done from buttons or the super control panel (SCP). The SCP is actually really good - in a very compact presentation, you can see how the camera is set up and quickly modify it if needed. You can even change things like AF targets, AE methods, jpeg settings, file options (jpg vs raw, size) and so on. While on a shoot, I seldom use the menu system. The exceptions are if you are doing things like stacking, focus bracketing, etc.
The menu system is complex but has a logic to it (though somewhat tortured logic). Probably the biggest problem I faced initially is Olympus terminology being different from other camera makers. I would wonder what a specific item does. The manuals are not that good - kind of a treasure hunt to actually figure out what a given item actually does. Once past those hurdles the menu system is reasonably easy to use.
Is the menu system complicated? Yes, definitely.
Does the complexity detract from the shooting experience? Perhaps in the first couple of days but after that, not really. The learning curve is steep initially but flattens out pretty quickly.
How often do I use the menus? Not very much once set up.
To be clear, vast majority of what you need to do while shooting (adjust f-stop, exposure, EV compensation, ISO, etc) can be done from buttons or the super control panel (SCP). The SCP is actually really good - in a very compact presentation, you can see how the camera is set up and quickly modify it if needed. You can even change things like AF targets, AE methods, jpeg settings, file options (jpg vs raw, size) and so on. While on a shoot, I seldom use the menu system. The exceptions are if you are doing things like stacking, focus bracketing, etc.
The menu system is complex but has a logic to it (though somewhat tortured logic). Probably the biggest problem I faced initially is Olympus terminology being different from other camera makers. I would wonder what a specific item does. The manuals are not that good - kind of a treasure hunt to actually figure out what a given item actually does. Once past those hurdles the menu system is reasonably easy to use.
It was very easy to do.Wow it must have taken you along time to assemble that list
I don't think it has a lot to do with that background since I share it.
daleeight
Senior Member
It isn't "complicated" to me. The camera has a lot of features, and where do people want them to be? Rather have 50 buttons on the body? Probably not, but can the menu be rearranged and categorized differently? Probably. But it would still be "complicated" to some users/reviewers. They have categories of various functions. if you know what you are wondering about, you can find it pretty easily, or at least I can. Doesn't take a month of just menu searching to learn it. Scroll through the initial sub-menus and you get close, then fine tune once there. Easy? No. Complicated? No (at least to me). For dumb people who review it after playing with a 4 feature camera for 4 years, probably like reading A Tale of Two Cities....
gary0319
Forum Pro
Good insight, IMO. Too often, it seems, folks that are new to the mirrorless technology/concept, and Olympus in particular, try to set up the camera and shoot it like it's a DSLR. I think most of these folks will be disappointed in their results. Take a little time to research what shooting mirrorless is all about and the menu options become more clear. This takes nothing more than an investment of time, and a little trial and error to get the results YOU want.so long as you don't try to use it as if its another make of camera
My biggest problem to start with (and I'm guessing that of most who complain) is that I tried to use my EMs as if they were my canons - they aren't the same
Read the manual and work though it with the camera alongside and it makes complete sense and you will have the camera under control in about 15 minute
Don't read the manual and try to set it up "Like my other camera" and you will curse and swear for a week
--
So much to learn, so little time left to do it!
Anyone that can put together a 7 piece birdhouse kit, can master any Olympus menu scheme.
Looking at my GM5..
1) ISO button
2) WB button
3) Button where you can select single shot, burst mode, HDR mode
4) Lever for S-AF, C-AF and MF
5) Dial for exposure compensation, push it and now you can change aperature.
So ont eh diminuitive GM5 I have more direct access to the most used basic features.
My GH4 has more space and has a wheel for SS, Burst, 2 and 10 s delay and timelapse.
So you do not have to menudive, you can just look at the cam and chose whatever you like. You also have 4 Fn buttons on the cam and 6 additional ones on the screen.
The menusystem...is a lot to write down. But if Oly had far more direct access to much used settings you have not to remember that would help a lot I think.
1) ISO button
2) WB button
3) Button where you can select single shot, burst mode, HDR mode
4) Lever for S-AF, C-AF and MF
5) Dial for exposure compensation, push it and now you can change aperature.
So ont eh diminuitive GM5 I have more direct access to the most used basic features.
My GH4 has more space and has a wheel for SS, Burst, 2 and 10 s delay and timelapse.
So you do not have to menudive, you can just look at the cam and chose whatever you like. You also have 4 Fn buttons on the cam and 6 additional ones on the screen.
The menusystem...is a lot to write down. But if Oly had far more direct access to much used settings you have not to remember that would help a lot I think.
d3xmeister
Senior Member
Olympus have the worst menus in my opinion, for people not used to the system.
But, after a few years of using their cameras, there is no problem, I can find my way to anywhere quickly, and everyhting seems logical.
The short answer is: it doesn't matter at all after you get used to the system. The price you pay is a bit steep learning curve for the menus.
But, after a few years of using their cameras, there is no problem, I can find my way to anywhere quickly, and everyhting seems logical.
The short answer is: it doesn't matter at all after you get used to the system. The price you pay is a bit steep learning curve for the menus.
rsmithgi
Senior Member
Looking at my E-P5:
1. Button for digital Tele-converter
2. Arrow button where you can select single shot, burst mode, timer, timer + burst mode
4. Arrow button for flash mode
5. Arrow button for setting the aperture/shutter speed and exposure comp with the arrows
6. Lever for selecting AF mode
7. Dial for aperture setting (or shutter setting)
8. Dial for exposure compensation
9. Button for AEL
The E-M1 adds more buttons.
The super control panel adds the ability to both set and EASILY REVIEW numerous other settings including ISO, WB, WB tuning, metering mode, focus points, flash mode, flash comp, IBIS mode, focus mode, image type/quality, aspect ratio, face detection, picture mode, sharpness, saturation, contrast, tone curve, and color space.
IMO, the part that gets skimmed over is the use of the SCP to review settings at glance.
third son
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Naw I wasn't inferring that
I just didn't want to scare others off from this amazing camera system. Peace.... ;-)--
-Paul
Last edited:
unly this few buttons? My EM 1 II has following direct excess: Iso, apparture, shutter speed, AE-Look, flash-modes, MF/S-AF/C-AF/silent shutter/ ...../high speed burst/low speed/burst ... /AF-tracking/pro-mode, focus-point, HDR-modes, light-meetering-adjustments, exposure-compensation, graduation-curve, milestone-correction. By pressing only one button (realy, every mentioned funcion has an own button!) you can adjust all this things.
And by pressing "ok" you get the controll paneel where you can adjust in 28 areas a lot of things by touch-screen.... or wheel
I have never seen a camera with more direct-access without using the menue. So the menue is needed only for specific features (like remote-controll of several flashes.....) or to configurate the whole system to your needs...
Naw I wasn't inferring that
JaKing
Veteran Member
Sorry Jorge, but that's simply not true.
Almost all shooting parameters can be accessed directly from the SCP.
RSSrsvp
Senior Member
I agree, the SCP is user friendly and makes life easy for you whether you are a newbie or an advanced shooter.
john isaacs
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The Olympus menus are similar to Nikon menus; I can move between them pretty easily. I have more trouble with Panasonic menus; they have little organization and I always have to flip through a lot of pages to find settings. My only issue is remembering whats on the high level pages, and what's in the COGS.
But, Nikon has MyMenu which will collect frequently used menu items into a single page. And Panasonic has the Quick Menu, which provides some customization (but there's always a couple of menu items I wish could be added that cannot).
I did use the Olympus MySets quite a bit; takes some strategizing to figure out how to use them. But the EM-1.2 crippled (in my opinion) that feature. I'm pretty sure they did not talk to someone that used MySets a lot, or they would never have changed the way they did; it's more like Nikon and Pansonic now (and those are not very good).
The biggest help with Olympus menus is the spreadsheets from biofos.com. Great for recording what changes you want to make; lets you get familiar with the menus, and is a good reference if you fubar your menus.
Martin.au
Forum Pro
I use mysets a lot and like the ones on the E-M1 II.
I'd like the option to assign them to a key though - even if they have to stay on the dial as well.
I do have one comment on Olympus menus in addition to my previous post. On occasion you'll find a setting that overrides/interferes with other settings. This is annoying, but doesn't happen that often.
On the E-M1 it used to be various settings like peaking disabling high frame rate in the OVF.
On the E-M1 II there's only one that stands out, and that's the ability to set the lever mode differently in video mode, than in stills mode. This can result in a confusing situation where you can't change focus during video when video is activated from a stills mode. Can't remember the complete problem but it's solved by checking your lever settings for both stills and video.
I'd like the option to assign them to a key though - even if they have to stay on the dial as well.
I do have one comment on Olympus menus in addition to my previous post. On occasion you'll find a setting that overrides/interferes with other settings. This is annoying, but doesn't happen that often.
On the E-M1 it used to be various settings like peaking disabling high frame rate in the OVF.
On the E-M1 II there's only one that stands out, and that's the ability to set the lever mode differently in video mode, than in stills mode. This can result in a confusing situation where you can't change focus during video when video is activated from a stills mode. Can't remember the complete problem but it's solved by checking your lever settings for both stills and video.
Corkcampbell
Forum Pro
Sigh...not this again. I think people who can't read, are lazy, or buy their cameras four hours before leaving for an important shoot, started and maintained this rumor. Olympus should be admired for making their cameras so customizable, and not feared because of an extensive menu system, especially by people who do not own one.
I heard the same nonsense when I bought my E-M5II, and spent about two hours in a hotel room and set it up easily. I've had three Olympus cameras. Rockynook usually has very comprehensive, quality books on Olympus cameras. But, of course, one has to read it.
I think I had more trouble learning how to use my new microwave...
I heard the same nonsense when I bought my E-M5II, and spent about two hours in a hotel room and set it up easily. I've had three Olympus cameras. Rockynook usually has very comprehensive, quality books on Olympus cameras. But, of course, one has to read it.
I think I had more trouble learning how to use my new microwave...
Corkcampbell
Forum Pro
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JerryGNYC
Well-known member
[snip]
And I just found one of these issues in the latest firmware (and I don't even have the camera for a week, lol...).
Setting S-AF to mode 3 (back-button-focus) disables zooming in on the focused point that was used (during image playback). Changing the BBF button to another like Fn2 doesn't help. The focus point doesn't display (probably not recorded). I'll be calling Olympus tomorrow...
Martin Muehlemann
Senior Member
Messier Object
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so should we expect to find the SD card configuration items all within the same submenu ?
or shoud we intuitively expect that to format an SD card we don't go to the submenu with all of the other SD card options.
And Rec View. Should we expect to find it with all of the other display options and settings? Because according to the Olympus menu logic, setting the number of seconds for reviewing the just taken image is completely different to seeing info overlays on the just taken image.
After a lot of use we get to remember these little quirks.
I've been shooting Olympus DSLRs since 2005 and I can see that Oly has copied a lot of stuff from those early Menus, and kept a lot of it just where it was, and added a whole lot of new stuff for the mirrorless settings, in new submenus. kind if lazy in my opinion. And they didnt bother to implement a touchscreen interface. So the criticim they get on this topic is well deserved
Peter
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