E-M1 Mk3 v1.5 Firmware update “precision of focus”

[BDennis]

The firmware notes say “Improved precision of focus when using single-focal-length lenses”. It is not really clear what this is and why for just single focal length lenses.

I had often had problems where I put a single AF point on the birds eye or some feathers and the camera still decided to focus on a nearby twig or branch which I found really frustrating.

I did the update on my Mk3 to version 1.5 and went out yesterday to try it on some birds in bushes with the 300mm f4 and MC-14. So did this update make any difference to that?

Well, I didn’t do a scientific test because:

• I don’t have a radio controlled bird to place in the same position every time
• I cannot switch the firmware change on / off
• Too lazy to set up a test scenario with something before I did the update

But I did get the feeling that I was getting more in focus shots like these below in this scenario and focus was grabbing on more often focusing through branches. The Jay has some high contrast feathers to focus on so maybe that helped anyway. The Dunnock is a pretty low contrast bird - it sat in this bush preening for ages and pretty much all of the shots were in focus. I probably should check these shots in OM Workspace to see where the focus point was.

So I cannot be 100% certain but I got the feeling things might have improved. It might just be my imagination though and perhaps knowing there is an update makes you do it right. Who knows…


Dunnock in a bush by Bill Dennis, on Flickr


Jay by Bill Dennis, on Flickr


Jay by Bill Dennis, on Flickr

[pdk42]

If only these pesky birds didn't go hiding behind branches! Lovely shots in any case.

[BDennis]

If only these pesky birds didn't go hiding behind branches! Lovely shots in any case.

Haha thanks! Of course I should really be patiently waiting 4-5 hours in the hide until they come out on to a perch for a clear shot and some nice bokeh behind them (or creating one of those setups for that).

[IainMacD]

That 2nd Jay shot is a pretty impressive demonstration of focus precision Bill.

[MJ224]

I had to manual focus this one, single focus point ..