7 Tips On Manual Focus Using Olympus OM-D Cameras 

In case you have missed out my previous video on 7 Tips Optimizing AutoFocus on Olympus OM-D, here it is: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KPKmgA99JWY.html

Nice video, I was looking for how to activate the manual focus on my OM-D Mk III, Thanks a lot

Thanks Robin - really useful.

Thank you for all of your videos, I appreciate your positive attitude and delivery, as well as the tips themselves.

Very very helpful demonstration. Thank you!

using the fn-lever function for toggling between manal focus and auto focus is a great idea! thanks for that.

Your videos are really amazingly helpful, Thank you!

6:34 MAGNIFY function FOR M-Focusing critical adjustment. You have saved my life, again and again. Thanks my friend. 🙏🙏🙏🌺

Love your videos. You explain things so well that even I can understand. Just bought my om5 mk2, and I’m like a kid with a new toy. I refer to you all the time, so many thanks and good luck from NZ

Your videos are the best. I always learn something new.

Thank you for sharing such awesome information Robin. For a visual learner, you are the MAN. Between you and Rob Trek, I have learned so much about my Olympus camera and made my time taking pictures so much more enjoyable( And better!). Thanks again Robin.

Dear Robin, you are really inspiring me to get out of my comfort zone in photography and try new things. I am so grateful to you for all your tips and I look forward to your latest video all the time.

Thank you Robin, you are a great teacher.

You make everything so easy to understand. Thank you so much you are the 'go to' person for anything Olympus.

11:05 Now THAT'S what disappeared when I reset the camera. It's very useful indeed! Especially the magnify. With legacy manual focus lenses, I use the x2 teleconverter to see more clearly to focus with the 2x teleconverter assigned to the Fn2 button on an EM10 Mark ii.

Great video Robin. Learnt some very useful tips.Thanks 🙂

Needed a quick refresher before starting a big macro project. This did the job perfectly. Many thanks.

Dude, you certainly put out a lot of interesting content.

Thanks so much so this video, Robin! I’ve owned my camera for over a year and wasn’t aware of these awesome features.

Thank you Robin! The magnify function always confused me ... Until now. I did not know about the preMF function ... Until now. Super-useful vlog. Very much appreciated.

Going to shoot the Eclipse on 4/8 and needed to easily set my camera up for Manual Focus. Setting the FN1 button did the trick for me. Thanks Robin !

Awesome video thanks. I was looking for how to do manual focus magnify. It works a treat

You are the man, keep up the good work.

Robin, you, sir, are a flippin’ genius! Your advice is detailed, yet simple to follow along with. A rare combination, my friend. I will definitely buy you a coffee😎. Cheers

Thank you very much Robin I received my new OM-D E-M1 mark III and your videos are very useful and understandable 👍👏

thanks for this video, it was so helpful to me that I used manual lenses.

Thanks Robin. Very useful tips.

Thank you Robin, this was again an awsome Video. Corona made me buy the 60 mm macro lens and now i am into macro. Also saw your macro video, which convinced me to go for it. I learned a whole lot from you, especially from your great blogs back then. Keep safe and productive. Omy

THANKS FOR THESE NICE TIPS!!!! *-* You just made my photography-life so much richer :D

Thanks to your videos, returning to Olympus after a long hiatus - got a great deal on a used OM-D E-M5 with IBIS. Gonna get some old vintage lenses I've owned in the past to use on it (Pentax K and Nikon AI!)...Can't wait to get it... Ordering adapters right now... :)

I love using autofocus with my OMD-EM5...thanks sharing this useful tips. Happy Chinese New Year. Gong Xi Fa Cai. Greeting from Singapore .

Thanks Robin I’m going to buy the 17mmm1.8 & had read that when using the clutch it was impossible to activate peaking. Your video has shown me this won’t be a problem if I apply your tips. Thankyou so much for your wonderful videos and beautiful images.😃🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Thanks Robin, more great tips.

Great tips great video thanks again Robin.

So many options with our OM-D's! It can be a bit overwhelming, right? If I may, how about a series where you pick the best or most useful functions & tips for a specific shooting assignment.. Such as weddings, street, landscape, portrait, etc.. Each combination of selected functions, taken from your "Tips" series, could then be assigned to one of the Custom Modes.. I believe this would help many of us in selecting which features would best serve our particular (main) shooting style.. That would be one new video for each category of photography.. What do you think?

Thanks a lot for the tips. Useful as always...

Awesome tips, Robin.

Very useful tips, thank you!

Great tips!!

Super useful tips, thanks 💯

Hey Robin Wong! More videos on manual/vintage lenses on O-MD's plz!!! Much love for your content ❤️❤️❤️

Thanks, Robin! I like the tip about using the lever. Reformatting the buttons never quite works for me.

Thanks for the tips on manual magnification. I had my camera (EM1 MkII) set to automatically magnify when the focusing ring was turned and found it very annoying. The manual activation will be much more useful.

Finally got how to use manual focus 😅 Thank you

Many Thanks

Thanks you so much 👍

Hi Robin....enjoy your videos very much..learned useful tips again...love to see photos of KL and Kuantan...I spent 2 years working from Kuantan in the 70's - at Rompin....is it still there? All the best ..because of you and the rest of the secret U-Tube alliance, I enjoy my camera much more ...thank you ...from Canada ..also hunkered down.

Nice tips. I'm used to manual lenses in my Sony a6000 used almost over 3 years for most of my work weddings portraits and events. Got recently em1mark2, and there are some nice things (stabilization which make tele lens focusing really easy) and few that's really slows down manual work. First focus peaking only in probably ovf simulation. I wish o could use it in monochrome style, and I was really surprised I could not do it (or maybe I can?) Olympus could make ovf monochrome simulation that will not affect JPGs, and will work with focus peaking? Magnification is great, but it could use one more mode like in Panasonic or xt+ series of fuji. I mean picture in picture. This is great option for fast precise focusing. As Olympus ambassador you could whisper to Olympus for some software update ;) because m43 world is full of manual lenses ;)

Hi Robin, I home you're managing to retain your sanity in the latest edition of Covid lock-down an look forward to you being able to post new videos again. I purchased an EM5 Mk3 last summer and found that there was no option to set any button to switch between MF and AF, something that I've done on all my previous Olympus cameras so, sadly, Tip 2 doesn't work for me. Tip 3 hasn't been available since the last firmware upgrade which seems to render the Fn lever obsolete; leastways, I cannot find a use for it. As always, thanks for posting such a useful video.

Grazie mille! Very very nice Tips. Thank you so much. One question: the pre manul function could be used to set a hyperfocal distance? For example: I know that at f 11 and with 4/3 sensor, the hyperfocal distance is 1,5 meters. In the A4 menu (Preset MF distance) I can set 1,5. The pre manual will focus at 1,5 every time is called up. An then I will have focus from 1,5 meters to infinity (or almost).

I am new to Olympus and have a new M5-MK III. I tried to reassign my fn Mode2 to manual focus. Thought I followed all your directions. Seems to have no effect. Using 60mm Macro. Love all your videos and info.

Hi Robin, thanks for your videos. I don't have the option (not present) to assign MF to a button (3:02), there isn't such a choice. E-M1 Mk2 with latest firmware, Olympus Pro lenses. Any idea is much appreciated!

Good one. I don't have the later E-M1 models so it's interesting that there is this PreMF feature one day when I add a new body. I also often use non electronic legacy lenses so the focus ring will not activate magnify/focus peaking so I can't use that auto assist method with those lenses. Additional techniques I use: 1. Using the 2x2 lever to switch focus mode from S-AF shutter button focus to C-AF back button focus. When I use C-AF back button focus, I hold in the back button to AF and then release it and it won't autofocus until I next press the back button. 2. I used to use S-AF-M : that means half press the shutter release to S-AF then hold the half press and rotate the focus ring - I can adjust final focus as long as I hold the half press. 3. If I don't want to assign Magnify to a dedicated button and I don't want to use touch screen, one of the Fn buttons on my E-M1 original is Multi-Function - it can do one of 4 functions - one of them is magnify. 4. I tend to assign the focus peaking feature to one of the front panel buttons, I think that is the sweetest button for me. The other front panel button I assign to hold DOF preview. Focus peaking is not visual enough to fully display correct focus for a subject without edges or with very shallow depth of field. However, it is faster to use and for deeper DOF scenes, gives you an indicator of the focus zone

Hi Robin great video as always, any news on OMD E M1 Mk3 for launch in Feb 2020, regards, Colin.

Hi Robin, great features video for the OM-D camera. Does the automatic focus peaking and magnify work for manual lenses?

You can combine your #2 tip, AF shortcut fn button, with PreMF. I sometimes do this in situations where I get a bit of hunting. Set the PreMF to more or less the right distance, when you get hunting, just hit the button to get focus in the right ballpark, then hit it again to get back to whatever autofocus setting you are using. Unfortunately it can't be assigned to a button in Video mode, here you have to use a version of your #3 tip, using FN lever switch to toggle between focus modes. With this set you can do instant (controlled) focus pulls, by toggling the lever switch back and forth!

Hi Robin another good video. Peter Forsgard on his macro video said the 12-50 EZ kit lens is no longer being produced by Oly. I have this lens and think it is an excellent kit lens partly because of its Macro ability but also as an all round splashproof lens for photos and video. Is it true & do you any idea why Oly have taken this decision?

Great tips, thanks again Robin!! Om my E-M1 Ive set up to lever to switch between AF-S+M and AF-C quickly. Im using the former for perched berds when there's too many twigs around and camera struggles, so I adjust manually (and have set up the front FN buttons for peaking and magnification). There are 2 problems. I wish third press of the magnification Fn button would deactivate it completely! Instead I have to take my eye off the EVF and cancel on the touchscreen or am unable to use the back wheel for exposure compensation (shutter speed for my shooting style). With peaking it's frustrating that it disappears in the AF-S + M mode when I turn the lens ring. It peaks when AF is acquired, but disappears after I adjuat the focus :( anyone has a workaround for either?

I use manual focus for video a lot. I appreciate a focus ring with some "resistance" ;-)

On my em10 m3 , it does not have the clutch activation option. I need to activate the manual focus on the camera itself when I used the Oly 17 mm.

I have learn something in my em5 mkIII, nice feature, I never understand it !! Thanks !!!

Hello Robin, great video! I have a question relative to mf. When i change from mf to af i lose the ael i previously have done. Is there a setting that deals with it? Thank

I canot not see how to assign a button to MF on my EM5 MIII as I could on my EM10 Mii. Olympus seem to have removed the option or hidden it somewhere else. I can however use the lever in mode 2 to switch between different focus settings. I really like being able automatically to use back button autofocus when in MF using AEL button , the best of both MF and AF.

Hi, is possible use focus peacking with vintage lenses on my omd em5 mark iii? Best regards!

AF-MF mode is what I use. I use back button focus on my E-M10, disabling AF on the 1/2 press of the shutter. AF-MF mode allows me to manually focus without pressing a function button for MF. I can reach my focus ring, dial in my focus and hit the shutter button without disturbing where I set the lens at. For low contrast and macro Photography this works great. When working with my 60mm using that nice 1:1 short cut on the focus limiter, I can either move myself back and forth or turn the focus ring with confidence that hitting the shutter button won't cause the camera to auto focus. It helps avoid the "oh shoot, I forgot to toggle the camera into MF" moments. Or avoid the situation of forgetting to put the AF back on if I have to grab my camera real quick. My muscle memory just knows when to go for the back button focus and when not to.

Thanks from Brussels ! - L u c

Robin, great video. I'm using a EM1ii. Is there a way to AF first, and then use MF to get the focus dead on?

My preferred mode on my Pen F is "S-AF + MF" (single autofocus with the ability to correct focus using the focus ring) - is it still there in the newer cameras/firmwares and just put somewhere else (it looks as if PreMF did replace it)? And thanks for the tip of automatic focus peaking - I knew about it, but forgot it (because I don't like it in general); but having it automatically switched on when manually focusing in S-AF+MF mode is nice (and it works very well with having the magnification feature on the record button)!

Hi Robin. I have the original E-M1 mki, is it possible to manual focus when using a lens that does not have a focusing ring.

Please do a video about the olympus 75-300 lens. There seems to be so many misconception about this lens.

Good tips Robin, thanks for sharing. What is the best MFT lens for astrophotography, in your opinion please?

I always use manual focus on my 12-40. Love that clutch very much.

I guess the auto magnification and peaking only works with Pro lenses, not with Zuiko lenses? My new 17 mm 1.8 Zuiko doesn't switch automatically into magnification, when I pull the clutch. All menu settings are set correctly.

How does it work fast in street photography when people move?

I'm surprised that no one mentioned back button focus. I also use saf+mf. This way whatever I do in manual focus is never over ridden by the shutter

The olympus omd camera doesn't have beeping sound when you manual focus the subject successfully like canon？

Thanks Robin for a very helpful video. But my EM5 mkii doesn't seem to have a 'pre manual focus' button. Is that right? or am I missing something obvious?

hi sir, is the focus peaking available on viewfinder?

Unless I'm more than satisfied with the autofocus of olympus, I've never been succesful with the my own tests and use of focus peaking, at least for portraits (my main use of camera), always I have some disagree with the results in sort of "this is not where I spected to focus" (mainly a selected eye). Please, some advice.

Hi Robin, I can change the colour of the MF Peaking on my EM 1. Does it work on other bodies?

I can not assign a button for MF in my M5 Markiii ...... What is wrong ?

MF assist works fine when MF is activated with the clutch in the 12-100 Pro lens. BUT it does not happen when using the clutch with the 17mm f1.8. With the later I have to put MF within the SCP or with mode assigned to the FN lever for MF assist activation. Is that so?

Point no. 6. Automatically activate peaking, I cant activate that automatically even has turn on in setting. Anyone can help. I'm using EM10 mIII.

Hi Robin, did you know that the focus peaking and magnified function will not work by the MF clutch.

Robin, why does the camera not show the magnification and focus peaking when I use the manual focus clutch? Without the clutch engaged and the camera set to MF then when the focus ring is turned both magnificent and peaking come on automatically. Seems strange they don’t show when I switch to MF via the lens focus ring clutch.

My configuration for simultaneus focus C·AF+MF allow me to use the focus ring while in AF clutch. The settings: Menu A1, AF+MF, On. For magnification and peaking. Pushing twice the Fn2 button it takes me to a preset magnification. Pushing the OK button takes me back to the shooting "normal". To set this adjustment: While pushing the Fn2 button turn the back wheel. Look at the new menu appearing at the bottom of the screen. Go on turning the back wheel to select the magnifier lens icon. It's done!! After that, just by pushing twice the Fn2 button gets you to a preset magnification, you can focus with the focus ring or you can modify magnification with the front wheel. When ready push OK button to get back to the shooting "normal".

Adjusting focus through a menu? (pre manual focus) That's not acceptable !