The AF performance of the OM-1 has been, compared to its predecessor, dramatically improved. Why and which techology improvements are responsible for the improvement you can find in my blog post “OM System OM-1 AI detection AF“. However you are able to even improve your auto focus performance when us the AF customisation with the OM-1
Options for AF customisation with the OM-1
Depending on the subject your are shooting, four settings improve your AF performance.
The above mentioned point do have an influence in the auto focus performance. Therefore you should have a look on them. It is important to know, which settings is helpful in which situation.
Own AF field settings
Beside the default AF field settings the user is able to define his / her own presets. Beside size and form you can also define the step size. The step size influence how fast you are able to move the AF fields with in the image area. Therefore this value influences the speed how fast you can react while you are photographing. You can define your AF fields as follows.
1 Open the menu and navigate in the green AF menu to page 5 and select ” AF Target Mode Settings”
2 Press “OK” and select C1. Use the right key to open the settings menu.
3 Adjust the field size to your needs with the forefinger and thumb wheel. Changing the step size is possible by pressing the “Info” button.
4 Confirm with “OK” button. Press again the “OK” button to activate your settings.
Which settings are useful for the AF customisation with the OM-1?
How are those settings helpful to increase the AF performance? Quite simple, it helps the AF algorithm to find the focus when you are using only a part of the image area for focusing. For example when you are shooting birds in flights. Most properly in this case only the upper area is relevant for the AF. When you use in this case AF field which are covering the hole width but only half of the height, then you support the AF.
A second option, is to use only a single AF point. This is helpful when you are shooting small details, like you find in macro images. In addition a single AF point is also helpful when you capture birds in tries.
AF customisation with the OM-1 on YouTube
In case you would like to follow a step by step tutorial you also find this on my Youtube channel here:
Adjust C-AF sensitivity
If you use continuous auto focus you can define how sensitive the AF algorithm. In this case sensitivity means the reaction speed of the AF in case of changes in the image. Adjust the C-AF sensitivity as follows.
1 Open the menu and navigate in the green AF menu to page three. Select C-AF sensitivity.
2 Press “OK” and adjust the sensitivity between -2 and +2. Thereby shortens a high value and increases a low value the reaction time.
When do I use which sensitivity?
You use a high value of +1 or even +2 in case you are shooting object with fast changes. For example when you photograph a squirrel. Those small animals are moving quite fast and you never know what happens in the next second. Also the auto focus must be able to adapt fast in such kind of situation.
You use a low value of -1 or even -2 in case the auto focus should not be disturbed by changes. One example would be soccer. The camera should focus on the player you have selected, even though another player is running through your image. Same is true in case you are shooting birds in flight, which are partly covered by tries.
C-AF center priority
Especially when you use bigger AF fields the C-AF center priority is a topic. It defines which AF fields are used for focusing. Is the C-AF center priority activated the center AF field is prioritized. This means the camera use only other fields, if changes happens in more than one of the other fields. In case you would like to set AF center priority do following.
1 Open the menu and navigate in the green AF menu to page 3 and select “C-AF center priority”.
2 Confirm with “OK” and selcht select the AF preset which should use the C-AF center priority.
In which case is the C-AF center priority helpful?
The C-AF center priority helps to avoid that the algorithm uses the border fields to often. This helps you in case your are not sure that you are able to follow an object. Thus you are not able to keep it in the center of your chosen AF fields
AF home settings
In case you fast moving object speed is important. So you are able to react fast. In this case AF home settings is helpful. In case you would like to use the AF home settings do following.
1 Open the menu and navigate in the yellow gear menu to page 1. Select “Multi Selector Setting”
2 Press “OK” and select “Center Button”
3 Press “OK” again and select “HP” Confirm with “OK”.
Now the camera is coming back to the standard settings, once you press the multi selector button. In case you don’t like the standard settings you can change them as follows.
1 Open the menu and navigate in the green AF menu to page 5. Select “Set Home”
2 Press “OK” and define which AF field and which position you would like to have as home settings.
For all of you, who prefer to have a short move showing how to do the settings I also Lada a small movie on my YouTube channel.
E-M1 Mark III und E-M1X
You don’t have an OM-1 and would like to know how those settings are done for E-M1 Mark III or E-M1X? Then you find a small instruction in my blog post “Customise your AF points“