Olympus Custom Modes
In
the Olympus world the custom modes are variously called MyModes or
MySets or Resets. All bodies so far have 4 custom settings available,
the earlier bodies having 2 Resets and 2 MyModes, the later bodies
having 4 MySets.
Together
with the customer created Resets/MyModes/MySets there is the normal
Reset to get back to factory defaults. Early cameras having one Menu
Reset, later ones having two Menu Resets to bring the camera back to
two different levels of factory defaults. As well as that the
"ultimate" reset is to leave the battery out for more than 24 hours and
even the date and time reset. Apart from that there is a Service Menu
Reset available but that is reserved for the service technician's use.
The
normal way to use a custom MyMode/MySet advocated in the manuals seems
to be assigning a MyMode/MySet to the Fn (or Rec) button and holding
the button down to invoke the custom setting. This is an awkward way to
use any camera and also ties up a button for a possibly little used
option.
Better is to have the Custom modes in the Resets/MySets
and learn to quickly menu dive to change to the Reset/MySet needed.
Early cameras of course have 2 Resets and later cameras have 4 MySets.
The MyModes being ignored by me in the early cameras as they are too
awkwardly buried in the Custom Menu.
New in the E-PL5
is the ability to map up to 4 MySets to any 4 of the Mode dial
positions. Turning on the camera or moving the dial to the MySet
customised spot causes the stored MySet to be used. The suggestion is
to use the possibly unused Mode dial spots such as iAuto or Scene
or Art. But to me it would be more useful to assign my favourite P, A,
S, M settings as MySets to the P, A, S, M spots on the dial.
Comment:
Olympus needs to study a few other brands of camera to see how to do
custom modes better, my suggestion is to follow the Casio way. There
the custom modes just add to the Scene Modes (called Best Shots by
Casio, but now with ZR1000 a new spot on the Mode dial) and third party software allows manipulation of those custom
Best Shots and transfer between camera and computer, and also
translation between many Casio camera models. Learn more about that by
reading the third party software site.
Here to begin with I'm extracting some text from
each Pen and OM-D body manual to get an idea on which body has what
custom modes available. How to manage the modes will follow below. The
page numbers are from the manuals I downloaded from the Japan manuals page.
Notes for........ E-P1 E-P2 E-P3 E-PL1 E-PL2 E-PL3 E-PL5 E-PM1 E-PM2 E-M5
E-P1
Manual text on page 96....
To
reset the camera to the factory default settings, set [RESET]. You can
register settings in advance to [RESET1] and [RESET2]. The camera
settings at that time are registered in [RESET1] and [RESET2].
Manual text on page 101....
You can store two frequently used settings as My Mode. You can select which My Mode
setting to use in advance by following the steps under “Executing” below. To use My Mode,
set Fn button to [MY MODE] and hold down the Fn button while shooting.
There
effectively are 4 custom sets available but awkwardly separated in
function and usage Between Reset 1/2 and MyMode 1/2. Page 141 of the manual shows which camera settings can be stored in Resets and MyModes.
E-P2
Manual text on page 92....
If
settings after a reset are pre-registered to [RESET1]/[RESET2], the
camera can be reset to the factory default settings, by executing
[RESET1]/[RESET2].
Manual text on page 98.....
You can store two frequently used settings as My Mode. You can select which My Mode
setting to use in advance by following the steps under “Executing” below [p 98 of the manual]. To use My Mode,
set Fn button to [MY MODE] and hold down the Fn button while shooting.
There effectively are 4 custom sets available
but awkwardly separated in function and usage Between Reset 1/2 and
MyMode 1/2. Page 138 of the manual shows which camera settings can be stored in Resets and MyModes.
E-P3
Manual text on page 35....
Reset: Restore default settings.
Myset:
Restore preselected settings for P, A, S, or M mode. The shooting mode
does not change. Up to four sets of preselected settings can be stored.
Quick Myset: Stored settings take effect while the Fn1 or Red button is pressed. Shooting mode is adjusted to the preset settings
This
seems to be the current method (in 2012) where there can be 4 stored
Mysets plus the usual Reset to factory defaults. The Red button being
the Video button and the Myset needs to be mapped to the desired button
via the custom menu. Pages 107 to 110 show what can be stored in MySets and what effect the two reset options have.
E-PL1
Manual text on page 70....
In
P, A, S, or M mode, current camera settings (including any changes you
have made) are retained when the power is turned off. To reset the
camera to the factory default settings, set [RESET]. You can register
settings in advance to [RESET1] and [RESET2]. The camera settings at
that time are registered in [RESET1] and [RESET2].
Manual text in chart on page 73.....
When [MY MODE] (P. 80) is assigned to the Fn button, frequently-used settings can be recalled by pressing the Fn button. [they missed saying that MyMode can be assigned to the Rec button]
Ver. 1.42 December 1, 2012
* The problem that some parameters could not be set correctly in RAW development processing has been fixed.
There effectively are 4 custom sets available
but awkwardly separated in function and usage Between Reset 1/2 and
MyMode 1/2. Page 104 of the manual shows which camera settings can be stored in Resets and MyModes.
E-PL2
Manual text on page 33....
Camera settings can be easily restored to one of three presets.
RESET ([RESET/MYSET] > [RESET]) Restore default settings.
MYSET ([RESET/MYSET] > [MYSET1] – [MYSET4])
Restore preselected settings for P, A, S, or M mode. The shooting mode
does not change. Up to four sets of preselected settings can be stored.
Quick MYSET Preset settings are used only while the Fn button is pressed. Shooting mode is adjusted to the preset settings.
Maybe
confusing but this is the first camera where the four Myset
possibilities appeared before they showed up on the E-P3. Ideas are
always tried out on the PL series cameras before they appear on the P
series. Page 106 shows what settings can be stored in MySets. Help file for E-PL2 here.
E-PL3
Manual text on page 35....
Reset: Restore default settings.
Myset:
Restore preselected settings for P, A, S, or M mode. The shooting mode
does not change. Up to four sets of preselected settings can be stored.
Quick Myset: Preset settings are used only while the Fn1 or Red button is pressed. Shooting mode is adjusted to the preset settings
Again
it has settled down to the four custom set possibilities plus the
factory default reset. The Red button being the Video button and the
Myset needs to be mapped to the desired button via the custom menu. Pages 107 to 110 show what can be stored in MySets and what effect the two reset options have.
E-PL5
See pages 59-60 in the manual.
New in the E-PL5 is the ability to map the 4 MySets to any 4 positions
of the Mode dial, mentioned in the manual menu list but no details
explained in the manual. Better details on my page here - use the Browser 'Back' to get back to this page.
E-PM1
Manual text on page 35....
Reset: Restore default settings.
Myset:
Restore preselected settings for P, A, S, or M mode. The shooting mode
does not change. Up to four sets of preselected settings can be stored.
Quick Myset: Preset settings are used only while the Red button is pressed. Shooting mode is adjusted to the preset settings
The
now current four Mysets plus factory reset available. The Red button
being the video button and the Myset needs to be mapped to the video
button via the custom menu. Pages 107 to 110 show what can be stored in MySets and what effect the two reset options have.
E-PM2
Page 58-59 in the manual. Same as E-PM1 but more buttons available for customisation.
E-M5
Manual text on page 42....
Reset: Restore default settings.
Myset:
Restore preselected settings for P, A, S, or M mode. The shooting mode
does not change. Up to four sets of preselected settings can be stored.
Quick Myset: Stored settings take effect while the Fn1 or Red button is pressed. Shooting mode is adjusted to the preset settings.
Again
the same four Mysets are in the OM-D line. The Red button being the
Video button and the Myset needs to be mapped to the desired button via
the custom menu. Pages 111 to 115 show what can be stored in MySets and what effect the two reset options have.
What is MYSET
MYSET is the ability to save frequently (or infrequently) used settings
in the camera in a bank of SETS - invoking the numbered MYSET will bring
all the settings you saved back instantly. My own E-PL2 has four
MYSETS; other bodies may have more or less.
How to start using MYSET
The best and easiest way is as follows - set the camera to your normal
shooting settings; whatever you most commonly use, and this will be
saved as MYSET1.....assuming you have now set your normal settings,
follow the screenshots and text below:
Press the Menu button > Use the arrow/dial and OK button to enter the RESET/MYSET menu as shown below.
Now navigate to MYSET1
Now arrow/button RIGHT and you will see the screen below
Now press the OK button - your normal shooting settings are now saved as MYSET1.
It's very good practice to always go into the menu and activate MYSET1
each time you turn the camera on - this can save a bit of a disaster as
you could have changed settings previously that you have forgotten about
and still be shooting with them. With a bit of practice it takes about
three seconds to do this.
How to add further MYSETS
Set your camera to your now saved MYSET1 (see below for how to do this);
now change whatever you like; Bracketing; Auto ISO; Flash settings;
anything. Now follow the steps above to enter the MYSET menu once more.
Now navigate to MYSET2 > Arrow/Button right > Press OK button.
Done. You now have a totally different set of camera settings in MYSET2.
Any further MYSETS are set in the same way.
How to apply previously saved MYSETS
Highlight the MYSET you wish to invoke and press the OK button. You will
see the screenshot below: Arrow up to 'Yes', then press OK again, and
the MYSET is now invoked and active.
There seems to be some confusion regarding the difference between saving
settings as MYSETS and invoking previously saved MYSETS. If you are in
the main MYSET menu shown below, the easy way to remember what does what
is this.
Pressing 'OK' on any of the four mysets will invoke this previously
saved MYSET; makes the saved settings active. If you arrow/button right
in this menu, it means you are going to save the current camera settings
as the highlighted MYSET number. DON'T arrow right if you don't want to
save. If you save three MYSETS as shown above and are happy with them,
you NEVER need to arrow/button right again unless you want to save a
change in settings.
A Few Points To Note:
MYSETS only apply to PASM modes
Stating the obvious: If you set your MYSET in 'A' mode, and are not in
'A' mode when you invoke it, the camera obviously can't physically
change the mode dial on your camera, but..... if you assign a MYSET to a
custom function button, the camera can/will override the dial PASM
setting while the Fn (or other custom assigned) button is depressed.
If you change settings while in a MYSET and turn the camera off, the
changed settings will be retained upon switching it on again - get in
the habit of invoking MYSET1 on turning the camera on and you won't be
caught out with this.
You can save virtually any settings in a MYSET - very few settings are
global, and really none that will effect you for photography (there are a
list of these settings in your user manual).
A few things that would be very useful but aren't available:
♦ The ability to rename the MYSETS.
♦ The currently in use MYSET (name)/number to be shown on screen somewhere.
♦ The ability to export MYSETS to your memory card or computer and import them again.
♦ The ability to optionally invoke a selected MYSET automatically at camera turn-on.
I'm sure a lot of you know all the above anyway, but spare a thought for those who are unsure or new to Olympus cameras.
P.S. Sorry about the rubbish screenshots..... (Nikon Coolpix).
Settings help file supplied by Derek Hogan (DekHog in forums) and slightly edited and added to, thank you Derek.
Set and Reset for E-PL1 and presumably E-P1/P2
The
earlier Pens have no MySets as such, they just have the ability to
Reset, Reset 1 and Reset 2 where the plain Reset goes back to factory
defaults and Reset 1 & 2 are the two user customisable sets.
Firstly, let us say that my camera has these settings when in A mode and viewed when pressing OK with the SCP available.
And
I want to preserve those settings so they can be accessed again at any
time, particularly after changing settings for some different situation.
Press Menu to get this...
Then Right and Down to get to this...
Then Right to get this....
The
above shows what is seen if only Reset 1 has been loaded with some
configuration, it also shows Reset 2 as having nothing loaded, which is
the case straight of of the box where both Reset 1 & 2 would show
"No Data".
Go Down to Reset 1....
The
bottom line of the above screen shows the possibilities, Menu
button to escape back out of this, Right to make a change to Reset 1,
OK to load the data contained in Reset 1 into the current camera setup
and use it.
Let's go with the Right button and see what happens...
The
above screen now allows me to set the current camera settings into
Reset 1 for later access if I choose Set. If I choose Reset and press
OK then the data in Reset 1 is wiped and we end up with this screen....
Ooops, maybe not what we wanted, we have wiped out Reset 1 and sent it back to out of the box No Data situation.
Let us press Right and try again to get something that matters into Reset 1....
Now press OK when Set is selected to set the current camera setup into Reset 1 storage.
After that we do have something in Reset 1 to use later when we can do the sequence again like this.
Using a stored custom Reset
Press Menu...
Then press Right and then Down to get here....
Then press Right to get here.....
Then press Down to get here....
The press OK to get to where we need to be to recover the settings from Reset 1 into the camera.....
Select
Yes and press OK and the settings that are stored in Reset 1 are copied
to current camera setup, over-riding any temporary changes that may
have occurred. Use the Menu button to back out to shooting mode or half
press the shutter to do the same.
Of
course there are also 2 MyModes available from deep in the Custom menu.
Only the MyModes can be mapped to the Fn (or Rec button where
available) and the Resets cannot be mapped to the buttons, but are
somewhat easier to access in the menu tree. The MyModes are less
capable than the Resets for containing settings, see the charts at E-P1
page 141, E-P2 page 138, E-PL1 page 104.
The help for using
MyModes will follow later, there is some concern about how they work
that needs to be resolved by me before I make the help notes.
