...I've been slowly working my way through the manual and taking notes for those things I don't know what they are. It's very frustrating....they describe what a button does, or can do, or will let you do but doesn't give explicit instructions on how to make it do it...
I'm liking this camera. But I really need to set it up so the functions I often need are one touch. Maybe a couple of My Modes, one macro with flash, one other for subjects about a meter away, something like that. And single button access to custom white balance, perhaps, or something else useful. Quick setups that I can do to catch the moment, because sometimes the opportunity is fleeting.
I was reading a Preview on DpReview:
Olympus E-PL1 Preview: 4. What's New: Digital Photography Review
I stumbled on this:
The custom settings menu is hidden by default (and isn't for the faint-hearted), but can be accessed by switching it on in the setup menu [Wrench symbol, then MENU DISPLAY ON. Yes!!!] Once engaged an additional 62 options become available, arranged in 10 groups. These allow customization of just about every aspect of the camera's behavior.
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/olympusepl1/Images/screens/menushow.jpg
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/olympusepl1/Images/screens/custommenu.gif
I walked through all of those 62 options with delight (see thumbnails below). I quickly figured out how to assign the Fn button to Custom White Balance, and did. The option to reassign the circle button was there, for now I left it as Video Start. Then I set up my two MyModes (it only has 2 MyMode setups). It's almost as good as my C5050 now (which had 4 MyModes).
![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Happy camper here!
But wait, there's more! You can change the default simplified display of camera settings to be richer. You set the display to SCP (it's under Menu D, INFO, CONTROL SETTING, and change everything to SCP), which upgrades the simple Control Panel to the Super Control Panel familiar from Olympus DSLRs. Then when you press START, instead of the iAUTO stuff, you get the screen below with camera state shown. You can walk the display with the 4 buttons around the START button, and change almost everything without going to menus. It's much faster.
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/olympusepl1/Images/screens/control1.jpg
On an unrelated note, what about that issue of the shade ring to block flash from causing lens flare? Sea&Sea says flat out that you can't use DS-TTL with this housing because of internal reflections of flash (is that true?). They recommend manual camera, 1/64 flash, and manual strobe and say DS-TTL is "impossible".
The problem seems to be stray light from the flash reflecting into the lens. This is apparently only an issue with Olympus PT-E series housings, due to the housing design. It would seem to apply to any strobe, including Olympus' own strobes.
Is this a problem people have noticed? Has anyone tried to make a shroud to channel the light to the light ports, or some other fix? I am aware that Olympus is offering a "shading ring" for their PT-EP01 housing to resolve this issue. You need one for each different lens. :depressed:
Here is a specification for the Olympus POSR-EP01 Shading Ring for M43 ED14-42mm + PT-EP01:
Features:
* Shading Ring for Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 L Standard Zoom Lens when used with OLYMPUS PEN Lite E-PL1 and PT-EP01 Underwater Case enables to prevent lens flare
Compatible with the following models:
* Olympus EZ-M1442 M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 L Standard Zoom Lens
Here is a reference to the shading ring in the Olympus PT-EP01 launch news release:
OLYMPUS | News Release: Olympus announces the PT-EP01 Underwater case for the OLYMPUS PEN E-PL1
I recall Dee posted a request for info on this shading ring, and Jack posted a reply that he would try to get some in stock. I wonder who has stock on this shading ring?
I don't like that you need a different shade ring for each lens. I think I will try to make a shroud for the flash, to guide light to the fiber ports, but block it elsewhere. I'll just stick it on with Velcro and see how that works.