Olympus OM-D E-M5 II opinions?

[Titatom]

I just read a great article from wetpixel with some settings for the OMD EM5 Mark II for use underwater (Underwater settings for the Olympus OM-D E-M5 - Digital SLRs/Housings). In particular look at this section:

Improving Focus Point Selection:
You can obtain a smaller focus point to more accurately target what you want in focus using the magnify mode. Tap the F2 Button to switch into Magnify mode. In this mode a single focus point is shown. If this is the first time you've done this, then tap the F2 button again to magnify the image (you will not normally ever enter magnify mode underwater), turn the dial until you see 14x. Now tap the F2 button a third time. You'll return to the single focus point mode, but now the focus point will be small. You can move this focus point around using the arrow keys (note that the magnify focus point is independent of the main focus point(s) position.) To cancel the magnify focus point, hold the F2 button down for 0.5 seconds or longer.

I haven't tried it underwater yet but I have experimented with it on land with my 60mm and it does seem to help with focus.

Dear Scheckman, thank you very much for the info! I'll check wet pixel. Thank you all for the suggestions. It's been very helpful

 

[timz]

Yes have tray and handles, the Nauticam housing is designed that way - the video activated by a lever. I also have the shutter release extension which helps, index finger on the extension and the video trigger is nicely placed for the thumb. This image shows the arrangement:

View attachment 449995

Hi Chris, how much did it actually help by assigning the back button focus..? Both in Wide angle and macro...

In your opinion...

 

[Chris Ross]

I've been sold on it for many years starting with terrestrial photos, my Canon DSLR stays in C-AF all the time and I use back button focusing for all my photography so it was a natural progression to use it under water. SO it's difficult to say how much it improved things as I've only ever shot that way.. Once you get used to it you can quickly focus and recompose so you don't need to get into moving AF points. You need to be a little more careful in macro due to the shallow DOF so you don't change distance as you recompose. And there's no feeling for the half press on the main shutter button.

 

[timz]

I've been sold on it for many years starting with terrestrial photos, my Canon DSLR stays in C-AF all the time and I use back button focusing for all my photography so it was a natural progression to use it under water. SO it's difficult to say how much it improved things as I've only ever shot that way.. Once you get used to it you can quickly focus and recompose so you don't need to get into moving AF points. You need to be a little more careful in macro due to the shallow DOF so you don't change distance as you recompose. And there's no feeling for the half press on the main shutter button.

Thanks.... Appreciate your opinion.