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Setting Up the OM-D EM-1
The EM-1 has more option than you can shake a stick at. As I
was getting to know the camera, I noticed how easy it would
to duplicate functions let alone making it complicated to reset
everything when needed. And there are unintended
consequences when making many customizations - changing
one function may not allow something else to work as
designed.
Products that can be configured to user preferences are nice,
but they are a double edged sword.
If someone else uses your product or you need assistance with figuring out a situation, can they
figure out your set-up without hindrance.
If you make many customizations, can you remember what is assigned to do your customized
functions.
If you have to do a reset (which happens all too often with software/computers), how easily can
you make all of the customized changes so you can get back to operate the product as you
desired, or can you adjust to the default settings if needed?
For these reasons - I'm more inclined to learn how the designers originally set-up the product and use
the product this way, while only making minimal changes.
Any or all of these changes are all subjective to the individual user, so any discussion about right, wrong,
my way or the highway, or my way is better than yours really doesn't apply. I'm not only showing you
some the change I've made but why I chose to implement some of the way I did.
The DP Review's "USER Guide: Getting the most out of the Olympus EM-5" is mostly applicable to the
EM-1 as well, so it is very good place to start. My write-up here is complimentary and doesn't replace
what they've done. I have reiterated the Super Control Panel as I still often use it. A couple of caveats
about their user guide, the buttons and dials are a little different on the EM-1 (and covered pretty much
here), the Faster Viewfinder is not applicable to the EM-1.
Super Control Panel (SCP)
A great thing about Olympus digital cameras
is the Super Control Panel (SCP) - from this
panel menu you can quickly see current
settings and in a few clicks you change many
settings which is far better than scrolling
through menus. Settings include : ISO, Flash
mode, Flash intensity, sequential shooting,
white balance, picture modes, sharpness,
contrast, saturation, graduation, B&W filter,