Four Thirds User

No.9: Stabilise your photography

An important innovation in recent years is image stabilisation. First developed for video cameras, image stabilisation is now a common feature in all kinds of still cameras. Image stabilisation is designed to minimise the problem of motion blur in an image caused by the movement of the camera. In other words, the system uses gyro sensors to detect movement of the camera and compensates for that movement to prevent blurring of the subject being photographed....

No.8: What's the fuss about SWD?

SWD stands for SuperSonic Wave Drive. It's Olympus' own technology and is used in three areas across the company's camera body and lens products.

Olympus has developed and patented several technologies that centre around the transmission of mechanical energy through high frequency vibrations. These vibrations are at so-called 'supersonic' frequencies in excess of around 25KHz, and they project wave forms through otherwise solid media,...

No.7: Live view AF - going beyond the manual/user guide.

Note: This tip is aimed at users of Olympus E-System camera models including the E-420 and E-520 and later models.

The conventional way to move the AF point around the frame in live view mode while using Imager AF (contrast detect AF) is to select one of the 11 AF areas, as below:



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No.6: What makes Four Thirds special?

I'm often asked why I have a special interest in Four Thirds. I must emphasise that my fundamental interest is in taking pictures and photography in general, regardless of brand or system platform. But ever since Olympus introduced the OM system in the mid-1970s, I have marvelled at how Olympus has applied its engineering in a re-inventive way. That philosophy remains as true today as it has been over the last 50 years.

Although...

No.5: A quick look at some detail differences between Panasonic Leica and Olympus Zuiko Digital Four Thirds lenses.

Panasonic Leica lenses for Four Thirds bodies are not very common, but they are highly coveted. Designed and manufactured by Panasonic's own engineers, in Japan, Panasonic's Leica-branded lenses need to meet tight optical quality standards set by Leica in Germany.

Not all Panasonic lenses are branded Leica, indeed only one Micro Four Thirds Panasonic lens...