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E-P3 becomes unresponsive with VF-2?

Discussion in 'Olympus Cameras' started by thearne3, Jul 27, 2011.

Top Rated
  1. thearne3

    thearne3 Mu-43 Top Veteran

    807
    Jan 28, 2010
    Redding, CT USA
    I just posted this experience over at DPR, because I thought I had seen a reference to a similar experience there. Just in case anyone here can offer some insight...

    I've noticed that sometimes my E-P3 becomes partially unresponsive. Some buttons work, some don't. Turning off/on doesn't help. Removing, reinserting battery doesn't help. The only thing that consistently cures the problem is removing the VF-2 (It's hard to use the word 'consistently' when it has happened so infrequently!)

    In the week I've had it, the problem has only come up 3 times. At first I just thought I had accidentally put it in a mode where it was expecting me to do something, but I'm now convinced that isn't the case: there just aren't any such 'modes' that can't be cleared with power down/up.

    I haven't found any way to repeat the problem - it just happens sometimes.
    Anyone else had this issue?

    Maybe it's my unit - or my VF-2. Or a FW bug.:confused: 
     
    thearne3, Jul 27, 2011
    #1
    • Like Like x 1
  2. WT21

    WT21 Super Moderator Subscribing Member

    6,119
    Feb 19, 2010
    Boston
    Did you file the same issue with Oly? Might be a bug.

    Thanks for letting us know.
     
    WT21, Jul 27, 2011
    #2
  3. thearne3

    thearne3 Mu-43 Top Veteran

    807
    Jan 28, 2010
    Redding, CT USA
    Mystery Solved...it is a FW bug.

    Got the following response from Andy Westlake at DPR:

    "The E-P3 has a bug when using the VF-2 which is related to the touchscreen - if you touch the screen while shooting with the EVF, the buttons won't respond (despite the display itself being turned off). The reason why it manifests as strangely intermittant is because the contact is usually with your nose, and therefore depends entirely on how you're holding the camera and what control you're using.
    Once you know this, it's easy enough to 'unlock' the camera by moving it away from your nose. If you want to prevent it completely, you can disable the touch screen (Custom J menu, 'Touch Screen Settings' to 'Off'), and perhaps store this as a MyMode for EVF use. (Note this isn't the same thing as turning touch focus and shutter off using the little touch button, which won't work.)
    The good news is that Olympus are fully aware of this bug, so hopefully it willl be fixed via a FW update soon."

    A big relief! Mystery solved. :2thumbs:
     
    thearne3, Jul 27, 2011
    #3
    • Like Like x 2
  4. Ulfric M Douglas

    Ulfric M Douglas Mu-43 Hall of Famer

    3,670
    Mar 6, 2010
    Northumberland
    So that's Olympus' way of telling you you've got a big nose! :eek: 
     
    Ulfric M Douglas, Jul 27, 2011
    #4
    • Like Like x 4
  5. Ray Sachs

    Ray Sachs Super Moderator Subscribing Member

    2,704
    Apr 17, 2010
    Near Philadephila
    I actually noticed the same thing yesterday, but it didn't occur to me that it was related to the touch-screen. I just tried it by just turning off the touchscreen AF or AF/shutter but that doesn't solve the problem - I guess you have to fully disable the touchscreen in the menu, which would be a minor PIA every time you want to use the VF2. I would think this should be a very simple FW fix so that anytime the VF2 is turned on, the touchscreen would be automatically disabled (perhaps except in review mode, which is where the picture shows up anyway). In any case, thanks for the explanation. I may take the camera to the baseball game tonight and I'd be using a telephoto and the VF2, so I'd probably have gotten very frustrated with it in that situation. I'm not using the touchscreen that much anyway, so I think I'll just disable it for a while.

    -Ray
     
    Ray Sachs, Jul 27, 2011
    #5
  6. Art

    Art Mu-43 All-Pro

    1,385
    Mar 13, 2011
    San Francisco, CA
    Why isn't it possible to have both VF-2 and LCD screen turn on at the same time?
     
    Art, Jul 27, 2011
    #6
  7. thearne3

    thearne3 Mu-43 Top Veteran

    807
    Jan 28, 2010
    Redding, CT USA
    Good question, Art. Not sure why not. Obviously there'd be a hit to batter life, but the question remains. Not been a problem for me, as I'm happy with a simple press of the VF-2 button to switch. The GH2 solution is the most elegant: eye sensor.
     
    thearne3, Jul 27, 2011
    #7
  8. mach330

    mach330 Mu-43 Veteran

    240
    Mar 19, 2011
    The OC
    that sux. hopefully they fix that before my e-p3 arrives.
     
    mach330, Jul 27, 2011
    #8
  9. rex87

    rex87 Mu-43 Regular

    193
    Jun 21, 2011
    winnipeg, mb
    they just anounced the VF3 yesterday..way cheaper than VF2..
     
    rex87, Jul 28, 2011
    #9
  10. jonoslack

    jonoslack Mu-43 Regular Subscribing Member

    33
    Aug 2, 2011
    Wow, Thank you Tom
    I'd already got the dealer to send a returns package - I though it must be an issue with the VF2 - it was happening to me all the time - every time I used the VF2 . . . . . and I've only a small (but perfectly formed) nose!

    all the best
     
    jonoslack, Aug 3, 2011
    #10
    • Like Like x 1
  11. Ned

    Ned Mu-43 Legend

    5,538
    Jul 18, 2010
    Alberta, Canada
    lol. EVF + Touchscreen = Conflict. It's obvious when you realize it, but that's not something I would have thought of!

    I guess this is good incentive for Olympus to implement the automatic sensor to switch between EVF and OLED screen, like the Panasonics used to have.
     
    Ned, Aug 3, 2011
    #11
  12. jonoslack

    jonoslack Mu-43 Regular Subscribing Member

    33
    Aug 2, 2011
    Now I know it's so totally obvious - nose touching screen and thumb dial doesn't work - take nose off screen and it does - it doesn't really need turning off in the menus once you're aware of the parameters.
     
    jonoslack, Aug 4, 2011
    #12
  13. Pan Korop

    Pan Korop Mu-43 Veteran

    479
    Mar 31, 2011
    Phare Ouest
    Or that you lie?
     
    Pan Korop, Aug 4, 2011
    #13
    • Like Like x 1
  14. thearne3

    thearne3 Mu-43 Top Veteran

    807
    Jan 28, 2010
    Redding, CT USA
    No Pinnochio's here, I trust! :cool: 
     
    thearne3, Aug 4, 2011
    #14
    • Like Like x 1
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