OMD EM5 book?

[ozfoz]

I realise it isn't a novel, and it wasn't written over several years, but:

- it was the author's decision to rush it into print, I assume to cash in on demand. He could have taken more time;

- it's a technical book and technical books are supposed to be accurate. A technical book with inaccuracies is a bad book.

- if you're lifting text from a book on the E-5, for example, it's pretty damn easy to run a global find and replace to replace "E-5" with "E-M5". The errors I've found aren't difficult to pick up on, they're due to simple carelessness and laziness, and a simple lack of proof reading, something that should be basic to the production schedule for any technical book.

There's an old line about "all care and no responsibility" which is really a cop out but these errors are a case of "no care". The author picks what text he wants to copy from his earlier book, and I have no problems with him doing that, but he should at least make sure that it applies to the camera the new book is about. In some cases that's as simple as ensuring that the text is changed so the references are to the camera model the book is about. In other cases it requires taking some new photos where there are changes such as in the layout of the SCP.

In my view the author owes his readers that much as a bare minimum.

As for a review on Amazon (I did buy from them), I'll probably get around to it but at present I'm without a computer (it died last week) and waiting on a new one. At present I'm doing thinks like this by using a Bluetooth keyboard with my iPad, not a brilliant way to work. Hopefully the new computer will be delivered on Friday and once I've got everything transferred over I'll probably get around to posting a review on Amazon, but I want to finish the book first and I keep getting waylaid by other things, like starting a cardio rehabilitation program this week because I've just been given a cardiomyopathy diagnosis. Plus I've got some cooking and Christmas stuff to get out of the way as well. This is not my favourite time of year and it's become a particularly messy time for me this year.

David, sorry to hear about your diagnosis. That's tough stuff to deal with. If you're in Brisbane and you want to borrow a computer, I can lend you one. You'd have to use the guest login because I've still got a lot of stuff on it, but I've just switched to a new computer and don't need to access the old one much happy for you to have it for a week or two if it helps. It has office and photoshop on board. Pm me to arrange. David F

 

[savvy]

David, sorry to hear about your diagnosis. That's tough stuff to deal with. If you're in Brisbane and you want to borrow a computer, I can lend you one. You'd have to use the guest login because I've still got a lot of stuff on it, but I've just switched to a new computer and don't need to access the old one much happy for you to have it for a week or two if it helps. It has office and photoshop on board. Pm me to arrange. David F

What a generous offer

 

[macfish]

I got my copy from Amazon in the US 3 days ago and I'm still in the process of reading it. At this stage I would only make 3 comments:

1) the screen shot of the Super Control Panel is taken from a different Olympus camera (Figure 2.3). It's not the E-M5 and it isn't the E-P3. It has a slightly different layout to both. From one of the 4/3 cameras? It also shows an ISO setting of 100 which definitely isn't available on my E-M5 pr E-P3.

2)There's a bank of 5 images illustrating the information displays available while shooting (Figure 3.7). The second image is supposed to illustrate the level gauge and the third the standard information display. Both are identical and show the information display. The level gauge photo is missing in action.

3) I've just started into the section on the menus. I've picked up a couple of things I didn't know but also felt on occasion that it doesn't provide the sort of information on some things that I was hoping for. As I said, I've just started into this chapter so I'm not in a position to make a final assessment. It does look like I will find some useful things but perhaps not as much as I would have liked.

I think my first 2 points above illustrate that there are some accuracy problems with the book, probably due to poor proof reading. I don't know whether Busch or his co-author took the photos for the images or whether they were taken and added to the text by someone else on the editing side but I'm doing a fast skim through on my first read and I'm finding errors. For a technical book writer I think that's poor work.

As I said, I'm picking up some things I didn't know and that is useful. This also seems to be the only English language book available at present and I did want something that gave me a bit more information on some things than the manual does. It certainly does that but it's not the book I was hoping for and it's poor production issues that are partly to blame. At this stage I'd give it a very qualified recommendation.

I agree completely. Hashing together repurposed/inaccurate content is not professional. I have helped proofread a couple of ebooks from Thom Hogan, and can testify that it can be a painstaking job. But it has to/should be done. I've seen some authors/publishers put an "errata" page on their web site, but IMHO that should only be used for printer errors, not primary content. He does respond on DPReview and has a couple web sites, perhaps direct your comments there as well. I'll apparently be joining you as soon as I get the book.

 

[David A]

Fmrvette & ozfoz,

Thanks for the kind thoughts. My cardiomyopathy isn't bad, at least at this stage, and I hope I can keep it from getting there. I really didn't have any symptoms I was aware of but my blood pressure was playing up and the specialist I was referred to started doing a very extensive set of tests to see if he could identify a cause for that. He didn't find a cause for the hypertension but he did find something else, the cardiomyopathy. In the long term I'll probably think it was extremely fortunate to discover it early but just at this moment it's one more issue to deal with that complicates things. I've had to rearrange my diet before and I can do it again but at Christmas? I can also change my normal exercise/activity regime but until I get to the end of the formal rehab program I'm stuck with it's times rather than doing things at a time that's more suitable to me. It's the small things like that which grate the most.

Ozfoz, I am in Brisbane and many thanks for the extremely kind offer. It looks like I'll have the new machine on Friday so I really only have to keep making do for the next couple of days so I won't take you up on it. What I should do is try to put some of that time to good use by finishing off the book and getting my thoughts in order so I can post a review on Amazon.

 

[lfmerrell]

I heard David Busch is writing one up but no detail as to when that goes out, for now there are plenty of links to help you get started [see post below].

Useful links to set up your OM-D E-M5 : share them !: Micro Four Thirds Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Just got my copy today, open and the first few pages fell out. The book itself seems well written. I stopped because each page I turned detached.

 

[ozfoz]

Fmrvette & ozfoz,

Thanks for the kind thoughts. My cardiomyopathy isn't bad, at least at this stage, and I hope I can keep it from getting there. I really didn't have any symptoms I was aware of but my blood pressure was playing up and the specialist I was referred to started doing a very extensive set of tests to see if he could identify a cause for that. He didn't find a cause for the hypertension but he did find something else, the cardiomyopathy. In the long term I'll probably think it was extremely fortunate to discover it early but just at this moment it's one more issue to deal with that complicates things. I've had to rearrange my diet before and I can do it again but at Christmas? I can also change my normal exercise/activity regime but until I get to the end of the formal rehab program I'm stuck with it's times rather than doing things at a time that's more suitable to me. It's the small things like that which grate the most.

Ozfoz, I am in Brisbane and many thanks for the extremely kind offer. It looks like I'll have the new machine on Friday so I really only have to keep making do for the next couple of days so I won't take you up on it. What I should do is try to put some of that time to good use by finishing off the book and getting my thoughts in order so I can post a review on Amazon.

No worries. Good luck with the rehab. Stay well.

 

[digitaldan1]

Sadly there are often tradeoffs in the publishing industry that make producing the "perfect" book difficult. In this case there's the problem of trying to get the book to market as quickly as possible and also the finite page count imposed on what we can cover.

The E-M5 book was particularly challenging because of the complexity of the camera. My favorite example is the 3x3 AF target issue. I've dealt with questions about this on several forums and also from people who've bought the book. The problem is you get this because the camera's Digital Tele-converter is turned on and not because of any setting you've made via the custom menu.

This means several different parts of the camera are affected (LCD, EVF) without the user having any idea why things changed. The intuitive approach is to cycle through the various Custom Menu options (a tedious and time consuming process) without ever having success. While I did post a warning in the book, it wasn't possible to try to anticipate every possible location the reader would go to looking for that information and because of space limitations, impossible to post the warning multiple times.

Regarding information on third party lenses and flash units. I believe I did include some of that information in the first draft. It may have been cut as part of the effort to meet the page count limitations. Please bear in mind though, we don't get to borrow gear from the equipment makers (we have a couple of companies that are very helpful such as Think Tank Photo and Lensbaby, but they're the exception). This means we have to buy the gear you see represented in the book. I do have a collection of Canon, Nikon, Lensbaby, Olympus and Panasonic lenses and try to cover adapters and lens options, but once again, space limitations can be a problem. I did use a Rokinon 8.5mm fisheye and am pretty sure there was at least an image of that in the book.

Regarding similar language on basic camera and photographic issues, it's hard to argue in favor of writing completely new material on that when doing so would delay publication of the book by a month or more. As the OP noted, there are only so many ways of explaining depth of field or selective focus anyway. A more biting question is are we making the best use of space by including this information? I have to defer to David and the publisher on this one. While I do often see comments from people who consider this information unnecessary, the reality is a lot of the people who buy these books are not as experienced or as educated in photography as the readers of these forums and need this information. It's certainly something we should look at from time to time as the dynamics of the publishing industry and its markets change.

I should also stress everything in this post is strictly my take on the OP's comments. David and the publisher may have a different viewpoint particularly since they know more about the publishing aspects of the book than I do.

 

[Fmrvette]

Hi Dan!

Thanks very much for responding to this thread - it's not often one gets the opportunity to get it "from the horse's mouth" .

Sadly there are often tradeoffs in the publishing industry that make producing the "perfect" book difficult...

I sympathize with the trade-off predicament ("I want the book NOW...and I want it PERFECT") and realize that you and Mr. Busch had a difficult task. (Did I mention I also want the book to be totally comprehensive? )

The E-M5 book was particularly challenging because of the complexity of the camera...

Yep - that's why I wanted the book; if the camera wasn't complex the book would be redundant.

Regarding information on third party lenses and flash units. I believe I did include some of that information in the first draft. It may have been cut as part of the effort to meet the page count limitations.

Understood. This begs the question - would the page count limitation have been removed if the book was presented in electronic format rather than hard copy? (I realize that such a move wouldn't help with the tight scheduling, and that some readers much prefer hard copies). As I noted in my original (partial) review Victoria Bampton (aka "The LightRoom Queen") creates her books in .PDF format and are available in various formats for electronic readers as well as a (black-and-white) printed copy. I shouldn't think that page counts would matter in an electronic book...

Please bear in mind though, we don't get to borrow gear from the equipment makers...

Well now there's your problem .

You do mention (page 186) Sigma, Samyang, and Pro-Optic (as well as Lens Baby elsewhere). However in the sentence immediately following you state:

"If you're buying into the E-M5 system, you're better off sticking with Olympus and other Four Thirds manufacturer lenses."

Having used Sigma and Rokinon lenses with the EM-5 I would disagree with that statement - especially since there are no proofs presented in the book to back up the statement. Of course it's your book and you may present whatever opinions you think appropriate, but to write off third party providers without a stated reason seems a bit arbitrary.

I realize that the demographics may be geared more to the beginner than to the experienced photographer and that recommending OEM equipment is probably a safe call when addressing neophytes. However one does have to question the premise - how many neophytes are going to purchase a $1500 :43: system?

(Not to be argumentative - I just want to show where my thoughts are coming from.)

Regarding similar language on basic camera and photographic issues...are we making the best use of space by including this information?

My preference (if you're keeping score ) would be to acknowledge the basics and refer neophyte readers to other sources, leaving the available space for information specific to the EM-5.

...the reality is a lot of the people who buy these books are not as experienced or as educated in photography as the readers of these forums and need this information...

I concur - however there are other resources for this information (you could double your sales, referring the new photographers to your 'basic digital photography' book ). Let the EM-5 book be about the EM-5.

I should also stress everything in this post is strictly my take on the OP's comments. David and the publisher may have a different viewpoint particularly since they know more about the publishing aspects of the book than I do.

Understood - and again I compliment you for giving your take on the thread.

Although, of course, it's still totally your fault for not reading my mind and presenting answers in the book to questions I have on the EM-5, preferably in their order of importance. And for not answering questions I haven't thought of yet. And for not having the book available the day I bought the camera.

The book does still seem to be a bit thin on the EM-5 - as you note it is a complex camera and I had expected more information on explaining the complexities and options and not quite as much on basic photography. If you had had the luxury of another one hundred pages (and another month to get the book onto the presses) I imagine that you could have added more EM-5 hints and tips and kept the basic information as well.

Best regards (and thanks again for responding!!!)

Jim

 

[digitaldan1]

Hi Jim,

Of course I take full responsibility for not reading your mind or producing a perfect book <grin> that is the goal after all.

Just a couple of quick responses. 1. I'm not asking for sympathy regarding the lack of help from equipment makers, that goes with the territory.

2. I'm also sorry if I gave the impression readers shouldn't use third party lenses, however, based on my experience with Canon dSLRs, third party lenses and legacy gear issues, I can't in good conscience recommend them unless they're not electronic connection dependent. (I have a collection of old Sigma lenses that worked on my earlier Canon bodies but no longer work on any recent ones). I do have a third party 8.5 fisheye that works well on the E-M5 as do the Lensbaby optics I have. I have no trouble recommending these since it's doubtful they'll become obsolete the next time Olympus upgrades.

3. I'll pass your concerns on regarding commonality issues. I'm not a decision maker on things like that, but I can certainly understand where you and others are coming from on that issue.

Thanks for your comments. I do try to frequent the forums and answer questions when I can. I'm a big fan of the E-M5 and am keeping mine. (I still have my E-P2 and E-5 as well.) Enjoy your photography!

Dan

 

[Fmrvette]

Hi Jim...Just a couple of quick responses.

1. I'm not asking for sympathy regarding the lack of help from equipment makers, that goes with the territory.

Yeah, I know...and of course it helps with the integrity of the reviewer, in that the reviewer is not in debt to the OEMs. But still...in a perfect world it would be nice to have access to a full kit for review when putting out a book.

2. I'm also sorry if I gave the impression readers shouldn't use third party lenses, however, based on my experience with Canon dSLRs, third party lenses and legacy gear issues, I can't in good conscience recommend them unless they're not electronic connection dependent... \

Understood; but could you, perhaps, in future editions make a comment as to why you're recommending OEM gear? I think it would go a long way towards credibility...of course that's just my opinion.

3. I'll pass your concerns on regarding commonality issues. I'm not a decision maker on things like that, but I can certainly understand where you and others are coming from on that issue. \

Thank you.

Thanks for your comments. I do try to frequent the forums and answer questions when I can...

Dan

Dan, it's wonderful to have some interaction on the EM-5 book. Your responses have been greatly appreciated, and I think they give insight into the problems of writing such a book and the compromises required to get it into print in a timely manner.

Best regards,

Jim

 

[digitaldan1]

I usually do try to provide information about third party gear (I use a lot of it myself.) In this case we had a page count limitation that made it impossible to include everything I wanted to.

I do enjoy talking about stuff like that though, so if you have any specific questions or want to compare notes, I'd be happy to continue the discussion. I have a number of accessories and lenses I work with (one of the really fun things about MFT) and find some of them provide truly outstanding capabilities.

I have a gig tube kit that lets me operate the E-P2 or E-M5 remotely while being able to view what the camera sees via a wireless LCD screen. It's pretty cool and often very useful. I also have the trigger trap kit and app so I can control the camera from my iPhone or iPad mini. It's been very useful combined with the E-M5's ability to update the LCD image during long exposures. (And the whole package was about half the price of the On One software/hardware kit.)

Other useful accessories I've used include a couple of Interfit E-flash panels (very nice for macro photography), a slew of Lensbaby products and more. The E-flash panels are the only third party flash units I've tried and I only use them off camera. I do have a Panasonic shoe mount flash (bought with the GF1 I used to have) and that does work on the Olympus cameras reasonably well. You still get E-TTL but one thing I've noticed is the Panasonic flash is very difficult to remove from the Olympus hotshot, so I stopped trying to use it on camera. I don't remember off hand if it worked with the Olympus wireless flash system, but I doubt it.

Dan

 

[lfmerrell]

Just got my copy today, open and the first few pages fell out. The book itself seems well written. I stopped because each page I turned detached.

Emailed this problem, they immediately sent out a replacement overnight mail and I received it the next day. Returned the 1st copy that day.

Currently restarted at the first page. This copies pages are well bound.

 

[drcolby]

Greatly helpful

I heard David Busch is writing one up but no detail as to when that goes out, for now there are plenty of links to help you get started [see post below].

Useful links to set up your OM-D E-M5 : share them !: Micro Four Thirds Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

After spending days reading the Olympus guide and Busch's book, I declared myself the village idiot for not being able to access theSuper Pannel. It took a minute to straighten this idiot our with the the link you furniashed

Much thanks,
Dave

 

[CRANSTALL]

OM_D manual

Hi i got mine from the author a fortnight ago and have found it very use,full and I will be take,ing it with me on holiday when i go next week. I had preorderd from Amazon UK but kept getting emails putting the date back so in desperation emailed David Busch and he very kindly sent one to me by airmail so i would have it for the trip .:smile::smile:

 

[markl9]

I see Amazon UK are showing it as in stock now, £16.14 inc delivery.

 

[tomas]

Relax, The Book Is Gives Good Info

Studied the book last week. (By the way, my book didn't fall apart.) The chapters on the various settings were just what I needed. Sure, the book was rushed. Sure, there are some errors, as have been delineated ad nauseum. Strict editing is fine but the book gave me the info I needed.

I was an English professor. I like to see things written well. I like good editing. But even more I like my information needs met ASAP. I'm just happy that someone has finally written a book on the Olympus em5 which helps me a lot.

 

[runner girl]

I picked up my new OMD on Monday and dutifully read the manual. Compared to others I don't think it was that bad. I also ordered the book and received it Wednesday. I found it an easy read and it did contain helpful info. However, there are errors - notably the options for customizing the arrow buttons - not all noted in the book are possible. I also would have found additional info on the menu choices very helpful. Generally the authors just say you can do this - or that. I would have liked more depth here as in "if you want to achieve X result do this" or this is what will happen if you do that or this is why you might choose to do this or that. This would have been particularly helpful in the HDR and bracketing section.

All in all I think the book was worth the $$ and my time. I also have several articles, including the DPreview, that I will dig into next.

The camera was a retirement gift to myself and Christmas/birthday gift from my partner - a great choice. I have and will keep my G3...

 

[markl9]

Just opened my book for the first time and the the first three pages came away in my hand and looking at the binding the rest will follow, back to Amazon it goes.

 

[Wairoakid]

Just opened my book for the first time and the the first three pages came away in my hand and looking at the binding the rest will follow, back to Amazon it goes.

Just received mine day before Xmas.
First 5 pages came away after a day of use.
A long way to send back from New Zealand to USA and expensive.
I will see if they will send a replacement else I will glue pages back in.

However I find the content is good and very useful. Good chapter on focusing.
Glad I bought it

 

[David Busch]

As I said, I'm picking up some things I didn't know and that is useful. This also seems to be the only English language book available at present and I did want something that gave me a bit more information on some things than the manual does. It certainly does that but it's not the book I was hoping for and it's poor production issues that are partly to blame. At this stage I'd give it a very qualified recommendation.

Noting problems on individual forums is useful, but reaches only a relatively small number of people. A greater service to the Olympus community at large would be to use the link on page xvi of the book to notify the author of any typos or inaccuracies so they can be corrected in the next printing of the book and offered as errata on the web site.

Thanks!

David