Its a tool, if the way it works doesn't suit the way you want to use it, don't buy it (but in this case it is possible to reconfigure the camera so that the rear two-way switch works as an on-off switch)
Its a non-issue for me, I have owned and used a wide variety of makes of camera and not once have I found the switch position interfering with my ability to use the camera to capture the images I want
The fact that this is the same as my EM-1 is if anything, an added bonus
garyvot wrote:
The passion around the discussion of the on/off switch is interesting to me since I am considering an E-M1 II.
I'm still a mirrorless noob, so forgive the dumb question... But are people in the habit of turning off their cameras while shooting to preserve to battery life? If so, I guess the placement of the switch would become more important.
With my SLRs, I simply let them sleep until they go into a bag at the end of a shoot; otherwise they are on, often all day long. It sounds like that is not a normal practice with MILC...?
Question: Is it possible to turn off the rear display altogether on Olympus bodies and exclusively use the EVF? And does that reduce the need to constantly power down the cameras?
With my current cameras I am not in the habit of using the rear LCD for any purpose other than occasional chimping... ...Show more →
Mirrorless bodies with an EVF are about 1/1000 the efficiency of my, lets say, Nikon D2x, when left on. This revolves around the fact that no mirrorless body thus far has a sleep mode that differentiates the human eye, from, lets say, the camera hanging around my neck, and bouncing the eye sensor, keeping the EVF "on" (a proximity sensor activates when anything gets near the eyepiece).
Many ways are available to mitigate this behavior, but, if you are forgetful, or use multiple systems, you can see why mirrorless isn't quite yet a professional PJ's wet dream. Battery life is a real issue.
I estimate I got 4300+ shots over the course of once month on a single D2x battery charge. That could never happen with a mirrorless camera.
"Question: Is it possible to turn off the rear display altogether on Olympus bodies and exclusively use the EVF?"
Yes, that is my standard setting
"And does that reduce the need to constantly power down the cameras?"
no, but you can set the sleep / off time if you feel the need.
If I'm shooting "walk-about style" I switch off between stops as its a very rapid switch on to time and for my sport, action and wild-life shooting where I shoot sequential I leave it on and typically get around 1000+ images / charge (carrying 4 batteries but typically less than two needed for me to complete a full day's shoot with this style of shooting)
Great news for all of you who discussed their hatred for the on/off switch on the left side, it appears the 1/2 switch on the back can be reconfigured to be on/off.
TMaG82 wrote:
Great news for all of you who discussed their hatred for the on/off switch on the left side, it appears the 1/2 switch on the back can be reconfigured to be on/off.
That's good, but I use that switch as an AF/MF toggle already
Okay I'll say something good — the 1/2 switch, and particularly its configurability, is great. Sony needs to copy that for their AF/MF — AEL switch, which does nothing but toggle the effect of the [cheap feeling] button.
waterden wrote:
Personally I prefer the location of the on-off switch on these to ones next to shutter button. I find the right hand top side of many cameras, particularly Sony FE, to be over-crowded.
Same here. Although every other camera I previously used had it near the shutter button, it didn't take me any amount of time to get used to it on the left. It's not a big deal for me.
Heading over to Photo Plus tomorrow and just this week received an email stating that the E-M1 II will be on hand. Excited to get a feel for it and can't wait for preorders to be available.
Looking at the above video, the body with grip seems pretty substantial, so I think for the time being I'll pass on it (since it only adds one additional battery and no extra features) and maybe get one later on down the line second hand.
E-M1 II not yet available for the general public to touch, boo. All the new lenses are though, 25 1.2 feels great on a E-M1, it's basically the same size as the 12-40. 12-100 isn't as big as I thought as well, but extends more than desired. Photo Plus in general is a blast, ran into a few YouTube personalities and got to listen to a few talks.
Fuji GFX with glass is a tank, though with a MF sensor that's expected. What's more surprising to me
Is the attendees. Great to see a mix of demographics, and a surprising amount of seniors in attendance. I was expecting a huge 18-49 crowd but I see an equal amount of 50+ here.
TMaG82 wrote:
I was expecting a huge 18-49 crowd but I see an equal amount of 50+ here.
The last time I went to a photography seminar at the L.A. Convention Center, there were several hundred attendees, and I'd estimate that at least 80 percent were older than 50. The Baby Boom generation is retiring and many are taking up photography as a hobby. Which is one reason I believe M43 growth will accelerate. We geezers want quality gear that's small and light. :-)
RKTodd wrote:
Wish I could watch it, but it says it's "Private"
What I remember:
It was a visual once-over-lightly comparing the 2 to the 1. Nothing revelatory, but interesting for anyone seriously considering the 2.
He showed all six sides of the 2. He likes the new Mode Dial’s C1, C2, C3 setup. He praised the weather sealing around connection ports, and likes the beefier grip, larger battery, and dual SD slots with multiple options. He confirmed that the Lever can be configured as an On/Off switch.
He’s a bit disappointed to lose the tip-up LCD in favor of a fully articulating version, but thinks videographers will appreciate it.
He added a battery grip and showed the 2 standing taller than a 1(also gripped). He said he thinks most photographers will use the camera with a battery grip. (Is this true? Compact and lightweight being a main goal, and seldom shooting vertical, I’d rather just pocket an extra battery.)
He said he’s found the DR “much improved” – I think that was his phrase – and to his eye, ISO 6400 on the 2 is equivalent to 1600 on the 1; 1600 having been his ceiling for noise tolerance.
He said he’s not primarily an action photographer but had used the 2 shooting mountain bikers, and felt it tracked quite well. I believe he said he used C-AF + Tracking for that. He seemed (to me) a bit more restrained about the camera’s tracking ability than some other reviewers. But maybe I read him wrong. I’d have gone back for a second look if the video were still available.
He said that while he’s had the 2, his 1 has stayed mostly bagged.
Anyway, those are the high points I recall. If I’m misremembering or have left things out, maybe others who saw it would chime in.
It seems that if Olympus set the camera up that you have to do a back-flip while licking an ice cream cone - to turn the camera on ... fans would try to tell others that "once you get used to it - it's just fine". The only worse system ever designed was the Minolta SRT 201 way of putting a user through misery.
No. It is not fine. Olympus shows a certain stupidity here and there is no more a polite way to put it. Major fail. So is the menu system. Sorry fans.
Pavel wrote:
It seems that if Olympus set the camera up that you have to do a back-flip while licking an ice cream cone - to turn the camera on ... fans would try to tell others that "once you get used to it - it's just fine". The only worse system ever designed was the Minolta SRT 201 way of putting a user through misery.
No. It is not fine. Olympus shows a certain stupidity here and there is no more a polite way to put it. Major fail. So is the menu system. Sorry fans.
Having a power button on the left side is that big a deal? I guess all those Canon users must feel the same way. Again it seems like they made the 1/2 switch be programmable to act as on/off so it's now on your right side.
The menus are not the best, I'll give you that. It'll take you a while to adjust everything to your liking. Some want a camera that they can pickup and everything is set for them. Some like to be able to customize everything like the rotation to increase or decrease aperture. For me it takes a while to setup an Olympus camera. I wish menu was able to be adjusted by touch screen. Once I'm done setting it up I'm rarely needing to go back into the menu.
TMaG82 wrote:
Having a power button on the left side is that big a deal? I guess all those Canon users must feel the same way. Again it seems like they made the 1/2 switch be programmable to act as on/off so it's now on your right side.
Yes, to some of us it's a big deal because ever other camera we have has the power turned on either via the right hand thumb or right hand index finger. Muscle memory is hard to change when you now must use the other hand just to turn it on.
Plus, many times I'm holding on to something with my other hand - like a rope, or ski pole, a rock, etc. and I'd rather be able to turn the camera on/off without letting go with the other hand . . .
jhinkey wrote:
Yes, to some of us it's a big deal because ever other camera we have has the power turned on either via the right hand thumb or right hand index finger. Muscle memory is hard to change when you now must use the other hand just to turn it on.
Plus, many times I'm holding on to something with my other hand - like a rope, or ski pole, a rock, etc. and I'd rather be able to turn the camera on/off without letting go with the other hand . . .
Looks like the 1/2 acting as on/off will work out well the since its controlled by your thumb.
I like having the on/off around the shutter as well if it's executed right. Meaning it's not too loose like some Fujis are (especially those with threaded releases, those tend to be super loose to flick on/off). Also if it's around the shutter, then the front dial has to be ergonomically correct and responsive. Some Sony cameras have the front dial too plasticky and too recessed into the body. Nikon bodies for the most part have a great flush on/off and have a comfortable and tactile feel to their front dials. As mentioned before Fujis have a way too lose on/off where simply taking the camera in or putting it away in the bag can turn the camera on/off. One thing I like about Olympus not having on/off around the shutter and instead having the shutter dial also be the control dial is my index finger can naturally adjust the settings quickly instead of moving it off in a different location to find the dial.
Inevitably your left hand will come into use on most cameras. Whether it's to turn on/off like Olympus or Canon users. Or to enter image review or delete images like Fuji users.
