...via display, for me, turns out to be nigh on impossible with the E-P1 and very difficult with the E-P3.
The focus doesnt suddenly "pop in" like with the SLRs of old, its more of a going-fore-and-back and fore-and-back trying to guess where it should be.
Is it only the combination of slow lenses (f 3.5) and my old eyes or am I missing something. What are your experiences?

In my experience using my Hexanons, the f1.7 & f1.8 are easier on to focus on my GF1 than my f3.5.......but I do find it all a bit hit and miss still. I'm sure the experts will be along soon. I'll be following this for any tips. I guess don't give up and just keep practicing, seen many great pictures taken with legacy glass using small apetures.

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Panasonic GF1, Panasonic 20mm f1.7, Panasonic 14-45mm, Hexanon 200mm f3.5, Hexanon 135mm f3.2, Hexanon 50mm f1.7, Hexanon 40mm f1.8, Hexanon 28mm f3.5, Quarry Optics 28mm f2.8 Macro

Manual focusing on m43 bodies can be a challenge. An EVF helps quite a lot but that's not available on the E-P1. MF assit helps in that it automatically zooms in the picture when you turn the focus ring on native lenses. You have to turn it on manually on legacy lenses. After two years of trying I gave up and bought a NEX for manual focus stuff and only use native lenses on my m43 bodies. There is a technique that sometimes works. On the various Olympus bodies I have I notice there is a slight shimmer when the image is in focus.

I suppose you could always try zone focusing.

I tried and gave up using MF lenses with my E-P1. It was too frustrating. I switched over to NEX for MF. It went from frustration to joy.

While many users in this forum claimed to have great success with MF without using magnification assist, I don't have as much success. I tried MF on both my E-P3 and my E-M5 using either the LCD display or the EVF without magnification, and I always find myself having to adjust back and forth like you and sort of guess whether it's in focus or not. Often time, I find myself missing focus by just a tiny bit... which is why as much as I love the build quality of the Voigtlander glasses, I couldn't pull the trigger because I am afraid they will be wasted in my hands...

This is the very reason why I wish Olympus would introduce focus peaking to its cameras...

Amen to that...NEX is far and away the best solution for manual focus lenses (which is good because NEX native lenses aren't all that awesome).

The manual focussing experience is greatly enhanced by an electronic viewfinder IMHO, which sadly the E-P1 is lacking. I'm fine with manual focussing on my GH2 and G1, but I need the enlarged image to critically focus. If I do that, my images are focussed spot-on each and every time.

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Best regards, Ad.

Pictures | Equipment | Minolta collection | All lenses

What makes NEX better for MF.....and why haven't Panasonic and Olympus cottoned on to this.......oh yes it might affect sales of native glass. Moi, cynical?

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Panasonic GF1, Panasonic 20mm f1.7, Panasonic 14-45mm, Hexanon 200mm f3.5, Hexanon 135mm f3.2, Hexanon 50mm f1.7, Hexanon 40mm f1.8, Hexanon 28mm f3.5, Quarry Optics 28mm f2.8 Macro

Today I borowed a friend`s VF-2 and will try it with the E-P3

+1

EVF + x7 magnified view (I have set the 'record' button as my magnified assist switch) makes it mostly easy for me to focus. I still need to practise muuch more though.

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Trying to 'see'...