OlympusE1 Exposimeter and OM4 - multispot functions

[matteo]

Hi
reading the posts of the Olympus E-1/E-300 Users i notate that

More of the new Users are Olympus Om4 Om3 Users
I also have this camera and 7 OM zuiko Lens ( 21.mm F2.0, 28f3.5 85.f.2 180 f2.8 and 300 f.4.5 ....)
I use the multispot metering system in OM4 and i think is the best manual method to measure light in a reflex camera.


I pose a question at Olympus (15 days ago) I requested if is possible to introduce( with a simple firmware modification involving the AEL button )
the multispot functionality in E-1 and E-300 Cameras
For the moment i did not received responses from Olympus

Now I pose the same question to You

1) Are you interested to have the same multispot functionality in E series like the OM models ?
2) Is the multispot measurement of light functionality interesting also in digital photography ?


Best reg

Matteo

P.S. Sorry for my English

[Paul Shields]

Originally Posted by matteo

Now I pose the same question to You

1) Are you interested to have the same multispot functionality in E series like the OM models ?
2) Is the multispot measurement of light functionality interesting also in digital photography ?

1) Yes!

2) I think anything that lets you have the control over exposure like with the OM multispot functionality is welcome. I don't know if Olympus will ever offer this in their digital range though. I have an OM4ti and find it's metering system to be extremely good (I shoot mostly slide through this camera, so need good exposure control).

I do find that I can mostly recover the exposure with shots taken through the E-1 (in raw mode), so maybe Olympus may argue that it isn't so critical now, but I would still love a multispot option in any new camera they come up with.

[jan56]

Hi, I also agree with Paul - I still have 2 OM 4Ti bodies but didnt use them much since having my E1. I can control the exposure on the E1 very good and in case it's possible to adjust on the PC much better than slides without loosing quality. So, multispot would be nice but I don't miss it that much... I'm very happy with the E1
Jan

[Paul Shields]

Yes, the E-1 is fantasic. All of these weaknesses that are supposed to be there I've yet to encounter. ISO800+ can be a bit too noisy in bad light, but that's a scenario where I would hardly ever take photos. In average to good light it's an exceptional ergonomic tool - and currently quite a bargain (Still looking forward to the replacement model announcement though ).

[matteo]

Hi Paul also for me E-1 is fantastic camera ... but i want a super camera*
and with the multi spot olympus E system will be unique !
Now Is possible to shift the exposition modifying* RAW images or*using the bracketing.
But with selective spot measurement you can mean values and center the exposition and choose
immediately* better result.

Big part of Olympus Users* buy-ed om4 an om3 models also for the multispot metering system
and Olympus discontinued this original light metering system with the E model
introducing the ESP metering system typical of the low cost model (OM 40 for example)
The ESP metering system like the Canon ESP or the Matrix method on Nikon system are OK in the about 80%
of the use of the camera for non professional users.
For the rest of pictures we need a manual spot metering system or the multispot system*

Matteo

[TimB]

I believe Hasselblad eventually came up with a metering system that "beat" the OM-4 (became a 'true' zone-system meter) but IMO the OM-4's meter was the best 35mm system ever offered.* It's more than just multi-spot though, and I wish Oly would add the equivalent metering system to it's next E body.

1) OTF (would it now be called "OTS"?).* This eliminated the need for an eyepiece shutter, dealt with changing light conditions *during* the exposure, and allowed for extremely powerful flash or mixed flash/ambient metering capability.

2) Highlight/Shadow.* This allowed for easy handling of scenes that didn't fall into the 18% gray norm, and shifted the exposure 2.5 stops one way or the other.* This was a approximation that worked with a wide range of emulsions.* With a single fixed sensor to deal with, an E-3 version could be designed to work very closely with the exact characteristics of the sensor.* Imagine being able to take a spot reading of a bright area and being able to tell the camera that area is the brightest hightlight I need to not 'blow-out', and let the rest of the scene fall where it may.

3) Low EV.* The new meters are not as low light sensitive as the OMs.* The accuracy of the OM4 meter suffered a litle under extremely low light conditions at the far end of it's rated range, but it still reached further than nearly any other built-in meter.

4) ...and of course, the multi-spot handling, a great feature as well.

IMO Oly would be well served to re-discover some of the OM bodies in their archives and study them for some of the great old ideas they once had.

[richsimp1]

Don't foget that the Olympus 8080 has multi-spot metering.
It functions exactly as the OM-4.

In addition the 8080 has a live histogram in both viewfinder and on LCD, so you have constant readout of exposure and the effect of EV compensation.
The EVF & LCD also darkens and lightens in response to exposure changes.

Maybe one day some of these features will find their way into the DSLR's

[matteo]

Hi Rich
Probably the 8080 project is newer than the E-1 model project
and the Multispot program is for Olympus a "Non Professional Feature"
The LCD darkens and lightens normally because the LCD is ON also before you shot.
In E-1 model you can see the image before the shot only in the viewfinder.
This choice is for decrease the battery consumption.

This option i repeat for personal experience on firmware is only a software modification
and i hope will be inserted in a future revision of the firmware for example 1.5 or 1.6

bye

[matteo]

Hi Rich hi Paul
I think to know all about oldest Olympus products (OM series ) and about Maitani. Think but i Ignored all about recent Olympus products

I downloaded the 7070 and 8080 models reference manuals...
and surprised I noted for the first time that* Olympus use AEL button to memorize* multispot metering in 7070 and 8080 models !!!
The same AEL button is present in E1 and E 300 cameras.
I think is simple to translate this firmware to E1 and E 300 and also I think to suggest* that.
Is not interesting to show the position of the singles values* *(with a dot in the viewfinder).
Is important only to show if the minimum and maximum values differ more than 5 EV
5 EV stop* is the maximum range which we can show in a photo print. (Ansel Adams teach)*

bye