AF area too large (E-PL1)?

[Starred]

Your supposed to focus on the eyes to get good portraits, but how can I do that with my E-PL1? The AF area seems to be too large, so how do I know if I'm focussing on nose, hair of eyes?

 

[Streetshooter]

You hit on one of the sorest subjects for the Pen cameras.
You can't adjust the size of the AF target point.
So, set the camera to do Face Detect and then the face will be in focus... That's about as good as it gets....

 

[phigmov]

I'm guessing Face Detect should take care of that.

Otherwise you can alter the AF behavior to either a single point (eg the center) or a different scan pattern.

 

[jalex]

Actually there is a way to make the large box smaller which is what I do to focus in on the eyes. It's a rather hidden feature and a poster on another forum gave a detailed description on how to do it.
Is it OK for me to post the link?
If not It is a "sticky" at steve's digicams forum. Just go to the Olympus Micro four thirds forum and look for the sticky about how to change the size of the focus box in the EPL1. It really really helps make the focus more accurate!
jane

 

[sblehm]

I just went and found the instructions. It worked perfectly Thank you Jalex! This made my day!

 

[Streetshooter]

Jane,
Post the link.... It's cool with me.....

 

[isabel95]

How do I get the focus box to move location...

I know last night when I first starting playing with the camera, shortly after it arrived, I got a screen with several boxes on it and I could cursor to different areas of the screen, but I haven't been able to find that option again.

Isabel

 

[DDG]

Isabel, if you're talking about bringing up a grid that you move the AF box around on, that's just a matter of pushing the left directional button- the one labeled "[...]".

 

[isabel95]

That's exactly waht I was talking about!....

Thanks so much!
Isabel

Isabel, if you're talking about bringing up a grid that you move the AF box around on, that's just a matter of pushing the left directional button- the one labeled "[...]".

 

[Starred]

here is the trick (from Steve's Digicam)

1. from the normal shooting screen, press the "zoom" button once.
2. press the "info" button once. 7x will be displayed in the bottom left corner.
3. press the "up"(exp. comp.) button once you get to 10x & the autofocus box gets smaller, press again you get 14x the auto focus box gets even smaller.
4. press "ok" Just Once now you can move the smaller box around using the keypad.
5. to go back to full size box just press the "ok" button once more.
6. The neat thing is that once you intially set your desired autofocus box size, it can be easily recalled just by hitting the zoom button once.

unless you press ok a second time the smaller autofocus point remains from shot to shot, when the camera is powered down the box resets to full size, just simply hit the zoom button once when you power it up & your back to the smaller autofocus point.

It is also confirmed that the autofocus speed is significantly increased due to less hunting

 

[jalex]

I was going to post the link but see Starred beat me to it by posting the instructions!Cool.

 

[Rider]

Very cool! I will have to try it. I was reading the review at imaging-resource.com and they mention there is a super secret way to do this but don't divulge what it is!

Basically, you can tell the camera to focus anywhere and at a custom size. I winder how it works shot to shot with a moving object.

Alas, it probably does not work with video.

 

[alessandro]

Uh? Secret trick???
That's the way to make the magnification box smaller (to have the increased magnification), it's not a focus area.
Ehm... Sorry for being harsh... The first time I found that I was excited as you are, bur that's the magnification screen, that area just indicates the area that is going to be enlarged. The focus area is in the other screen, and it remains unchanged. And yes, it's too large...
The trick is somewhat similar in the panny, but in those cameras you actually reduce the focus area. Sorry. Oly has IS and better colour, quickness and precise focus (I mean area) are panny stuff for the moment.
The first one to have an oly and a panny couple will win a big prize.

 

[Djarum]

Does this work for the E-P1/P2?

 

[alessandro]

Does this work for the E-P1/P2?

Yes, it's the same. The enlargement area can be modified. The focusing area, no.

 

[Djarum]

Yes, it's the same. The enlargement area can be modified. The focusing area, no.

Thats what I thought. I didn't think it could change. Or am I losing my mind?

 

[shoturtle]

the focus point can be decrease if you follow the steve digicam. I have used it and the af point is much smaller and you can move it all around the frame. And AF speed is increased. You are not changing the enlargement area. The AF point is smaller in the same size frame. So you can isolate what you want to focus on better.

 

[Rider]

It seems to me that the focus point is being made smaller, and you can position it just about any where.

 

[Streetshooter]

The focus point looks smaller but in use it reads the large box....
Brian Mosley posted about this on the forum someplace.
This is the biggest single reason I switched to the GF1.
I love the Pens but can't deal with the AF system.

 

[shoturtle]

I have been using the smaller AF point, and for my personal experience. I get much more accurate focus. But it really comes down to each person an their preference. It works for some and not for others.