Among my list of many outstandings is a plan to write a review on my M43 site, covering the tracking focus ability of the E-M1.
Micro Four Thirds cameras have always been quick and accurate to focus on static objects, but completely rubbish at tracking focus on moving objects. The E-M1 starts to change that by including PDAF receptors on the sensor. This has mainly been done to allow a reasonable focus speed for Four Thirds lenses (distinct from Micro Four Thirds); but also allows a degree of tracking to be done with any lens.
The conclusion of my review will be that it works. My conclusion will also be that it doesn’t work; and that it both works and doesn’t works during a single burst of images. In short, it’s not that great and certainly not up to the standard of my previous Canon 1D and could not be used for commercial action photography. But, if all you wanted was a few shots from an action oriented event you attended; well then it will serve you well enough.
To test that claim I will be taking it to shoot things that are moving whenever I can, and today I went to the Pattaya Watersports Festival and shot some racing boats. The conditions were appalling for photography, shooting straight into the sun with light bouncing off the sea into the lens. Even so, I captured plenty of in-focus shots; here are a few of them:
* Olympus E-M1 with Panasonic 100-300mm*
Comments 🔗
2013-11-30| Ron saysPerhaps we need to abandon the auto focus and practice manual focus. We do get too dependent on the equipment and forget that there are some old time skills that might serve us better..
2013-12-01| Clive saysThat’s a lofty goal, but I’m not sure it’s always practical… I like to shoot wildlife… I am not sure I could focus-track a peregrine falcon in a 170mph stoop well enough to get a good shot. I also visit Thailand to dive: my waterproof camera housing doesn’t externalise focus controls as that would be too fiddly…
Where MF really works is static shooting: architecture, landscape, macro and still life, and for these subjects I would agree with you.
2013-12-01| Spike saysI think the E-M1 would struggle with your peregrine falcon; unless you could stun it first and snap it while it was recovering.
2013-12-01| Clive saysFor snapping falcons …
http://www.yteneweb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/W1920-Falcon-Diving-001.jpg
my experience is that you need a reasonable lens (this was the 70-200mm f2.8L), the right combination of ISO and aperture (to balance DoF with shutter speed), and a whole lot of luck.
Took this with my Canon EOS 7D in March this year. Sadly the 7D has a worse AF system than probably the EM-1… coupled with the fact that the 7 struggles to drive the big L lenses at a reasonable speed, and this induces AF lag… I am very keen to experiment with a more capable M43 system, so am hoping that there will be sufficient funds in the bonus to stretch to a new camera and lenses…
Aiming to start with the EM-1 and then add glass as I can afford it. Camera and the 12-40mm f2.8L comes in at circa £2000 in the UK [so not cheap at circa THB105,000]. But, on the plus side, I’ll save in chiropractor fees, since the lighter kit will not be so hostile to my back [not to mention the lighter wallet…]
2013-12-02| Spike saysCurrent price here is 69k, and you would get the tax back… Still the E-M1 would struggle with flying birds; but it is a wonderful camera, especially with the 12-40mm stuck on the front.