I just watched this video explaining the in camera focus limiter. I think it might be handy for shooting birds at feeders or on fences, in a constant distance range. I wonder if anyone here is already using it. Rich
https:/ /www. youtube.com/watch?v=14d1ONgARzw
I have used the focus limiter on the EM-1.II and found it very good when trying to photograph dragonflies in flight. Without it AF always locked onto the background.
I found it quite hard to switch to when I wanted it so I set up a dedicated button to toggle it. More annoying was selecting the focus range without fiddling with the menu for so long the subjects had moved on. I tried MF instead but although that worked it was too restrictive because it relied on DOF and subjects would dart in and out of focus.
Definitely worth learning to use, especially if the OM-1 setup is more user friendly.
Dicky.
Like DIcky I have tried that with the M1.2 with a similar experience .. After initial set up oe the camera I prefer to ignore the menu and only work with those items that show up on the SCP .... ProCap I continue to dive into the menu and hope to finally set up one of those custom settings in a more permanent way ..., I like the focus limiter on the 100-400mm lens! ... but I wish the low setting extended about 5-10m further
WhyNot
I use the focus limiter for BIF to stop the AF switching to the sky or background.
If I am shooting against the sky, I just set the maximum distance in the limiter to, say, 200m. If I am shooting against trees, I have to measure the "distance" to the trees first (see below) and set the maximum distance to that. I can then be certain that the focus will never switch to the sky or trees. It works very well for this.
You can use the camera to measure "distance" as follow:
- Use AF to focus on the point whose distance you want to measure
- Switch AF to PreMF and press the INFO button
- The distance will then be shown in the EVF. Use MF to change the focus if you wish.
- Press Menu to get out of the PreMF setup and set AF back to whichever mode you want to use
- In the Menu, set the far distance limit to the distance you have just measured.
As the other poster has said, this is very fiddly and is only useful when you are going use that distance for a considerable number of shots.
Note that the distance measurement is extremely inaccurate at longer distances with a fast lens like the 40-150mm f/2.8 and it moves very quickly to infinity. It is more usable with a slower lens like the PL100-400mm.
I was wondering how slow it is to use, Dicky. I am going to try it on a bird feeder. I have been using bird recognition auto focus and that works very well. First I have to catch the birds at the feeder. Thanks for your input. Rich
I will give it a try, WhyNot, but it looks like it isn't as good as bird recognition auto focus I'm currently using. Thanks for your experience with it. Rich
I appreciate this information, Chris. After I watched the video I thought it could be too fiddly to set up and use. I'm getting good results with bird recognition auto focus but I like to try the features of the camera which I haven't used yet. I'm going to give it a try and see which method I like better. Thanks for your input. Rich
I wasn't aware of that at all. Great tip! 👍
I have not bothered with it Rich as I use the focus limiters on the lenses I use for that purpose. It works well enough and I can use it with bird AF as well. All I have to do is remember to use it!
Andrew
I've worked with it in the last day, Andrew. It's too much fiddling. The bird recognition autofocus is much better. My conclusion is as yours. I will continue to use the lens focus limiter and the bird recognition auto focus. I'm still trying to find a place where I can perch comfortably and not trespass while waiting for songbirds. Rich
I just glanced through the video, but they features can be combined, I think?
Which features do you mean, Charlotte? Rich
I referred to your post above mine, the focus limiter and bird recognition.
OK, I figured out what you're talking about, Charlotte. I was referring to using the bird recognition auto focus along with the focus limiter switch on the lens, if your lens has one. My MZ 300mm f/4 and my Leica 100-400 both have the switch. I've been shooting hawks that way and I am going to stay with that method due to good results and it's much more simple than the in camera focus limiter.
Here's a picture of your namesake from before she flew the coop for the season. Rich
