Thanks, I'll switch to mode 3 and map to a button. I don't really want to lock exposure, just focus. I'm shooting M anyway so exposure is already set. Obviously, in Av, etc, not the case so it could be handy there. What I want is to be able to lock focus and recompose if needed (I know, I know, but sometimes it helps). When its on the same button its harder to do that IMO. I do have face detect off but have never been able to do anything with the touch screen focusing. Mine does not operate correctly. I'll just be sure its turned off which I believe I've done after unsuccessfully trying to make it work (I don't see using that anyway so its no big deal).
Thank you, you have not only discovered the answer to your problem but also understand the huge advantage of back-button autofocus which I would have suggested to you in your situation if you weren't already aware of it.
Here is a more concise description on how to set it up on Olympus cameras... this is for all Oly cameras from DSLR to Pen to OM-D, so there might be a bit of extra info beyond what your model needs:
Go to
Menu => Sprocket => Button/Dial => AEL/AFL. There you can set Single AF, C-AF, and MF modes.
Mode 3 is the one that assigns any of those AF types to the back-button. If you set MF to Mode 3, then that will still give you MF capabilities with the focus ring, but will add S-AF capabilities to the back-button. If you set C-AF to Mode 3, that will give you continuous AF as long as you hold down the back-button. You can also set S-AF to Mode 3, but in my opinion this is redundant if you have MF set to to Mode 3. You get S-AF + MF by using MF Mode 3 anyways. I just leave S-AF to the default Mode 1 just in case I ever for whatever crazy reason want to switch to shutter-focus. But I never do.
Next, after you have your AF modes set, all you need to do is assign the
AEL function to a button, which will become your back focus button. On the PEN cameras this is in
Menu => Sprocket => Button/Dial => Button Function, but this is the one part that can vary between models. For instance, on my old E-System cameras there was only one AEL button but it could be swapped to the Fn button so you had two choices instead (if I remember, I think the E-P1 was the same). With the newer PEN cameras your possibilities are much more expandable, and the OM-D has the most customizable buttons yet, allowing you to use the Fn1, Fn2, or Record buttons which are right by your right fingers for easy access. I would also suggest setting one of these to ISO.
Of course, you then need to go through your regular control panel to set your camera to use one of the AF types that you have set to Mode 3, or use
Menu => Sprocket => AF/MF => AF Mode to do that.
PS, this is a different topic but if you don't know how to do it yet then this will also help you with easy access to all your shooting options from a single one-screen active menu system: Go to
Setup => Sprockets => Disp/PC => Control Settings and for every mode turn
Live Guide and
Live Control to
OFF, then turn
SCP (Super Control Panel) to
ON in every mode.
When you return to shooting, you will then be able to press
OK and get a one-screen quick menu of all your essential shooting options. If another menu pops up (ie, like Remote Commander, Art, or Scene menus) then just press
INFO and it'll cycle you back to SCP.
Of course this is somewhat related since turning on the SCP will make it easy for you to switch those focus modes, set those focus points, or anything else you need.
