Better C-AF With CLUSTER AREA Shooting On Olympus OM-D

[@bradw7084]

It works for birds in flight & any other subject so long as the background is uncluttered. So, a clear blue (or grey) sky behind a bird is really easy for this system, but a mess of tree branches not so much. I've only ever used it for flying objects in a plain sky.

[@robinwong]

Thanks for the addition!

[@michaelhenderson9412]

Agree, and by the same token it works very well with aircraft. Great for air shows.

[@TriStateFans]

I've found the same to be true. Good explanation.

[@tordandreasson]

I use the cluster AF when photographing birds showing fast/unpredictable/erratic movement such as groups of swallows, or when the subjects are at a very close range since the feature increases the likelihood of getting one of the subjects in focus, however, risk is that the AF will not select *the* subject of your choice. For subjects with a more predictable motion pattern, I prefer to use 5 or 9 square box though, since it gives better control. Another very useful feature is to combine the cluster AF with the focus range limiter (the one that you set up in the menu), this eliminates the risk that the AF will lock on a busy background.

[@TomReicher]

I'm using Olympus cameras for 15 years now and thanks to you, Robin, I still learn new things. :-)

[@MEDIALORDTV]

Hy

[@bobb.9917]

This has been helpful. I was not aware of "exactly” how cluster area focus works in my OM-D cameras. (Note: Don't EVER ask Robin about birds-in-flight! 😬).

[@deenugent473]

😂👍

[@stevegallegos]

Hi Robin, your tip that we cannot use AF-C in hi-burst mode was key! I did not know that despite having watched other videos. And, as someone who LOVES shooting birds in flight (because...why not!!), this was a game changer for me. Thank you for saving me the frustration moving forward!

[@BekirSolo]

Robin is a man who knows himself. Makes him a good teacher. Thanks for the videos.

[@mattcom2]

Wonderful digression on birds in flight. Your skills as a presenter and the ability to bring about a personal connection with the viewer have matured beautifully. And quickly.

[@robinwong]

Thanks Michael, taking baby steps one at a time!

[@photonspark]

Thanks Robin, I saw this video by accident, a day before going to an airshow. Worked very well!

[@maureenmorrison4670]

Thank you! I had used the cluster focus for my son’s basketball games. I really liked how the pictures turned out. It somehow got turned off. Thanks to you, I’m back in business !

[@davethebarber3130]

Robin, I don’t know how I’d ever find some of these detailed hints without you. I don’t spend time with long-winded highly-technical review websites; I come right to your site and dial in exactly what I need, no fuss or muss. Now I have my new em5 mk iii and 12-40 f2.8 Pro zoom combo: I am ready to rock and roll with these kinds of hints. Keep up the great work, and enjoy the coffee!

[@alb41ful]

Robin, you never cease to amaze! I am grateful for your direct approach and great teaching skills. Thank you!

[@datachamp]

Thanks Robin, I never knew my EM1 MkII had cluster area focussing. I do try and shoot birds in flight, it’s tough and I normally use CAT + TR with the 9 point area mode. I’ll experiment with all focus points and cluster area..

[@Planedude60]

Cluster Area C-AF! Where have you been all my life!!!!

[@ipadista]

As always, you produce very inspiring videos! Regarding cluster-AF. In complex scenes it is not random what it selects to focus on. Depending on your C-AF center start and priority settings, it will first pick the subject closest to center it can identify. Once identified, it will focus on items at that distance so if you move the aim it will still track that item. It is not focus locked, so if this subject moves it will adjust. Typically the confusion happens when more than one thing is at the intended distance, and as the situation develops and they drift apart when it comes to distance, it will in most cases select to track the thing closest to center unless C-AF Center priority is disabled. In such cases it seems to be truly random wich item is tracked :)

[@JBHaber]

I always learn something new when I revisit your channel. Yes, this is new to me. I might have heard about it ages ago, but never used it before.

[@MDMiller60]

I was wondering where that non square/rectangle area mode was. I thought I could design my own shape. Now I understand. Learned something new again.

[@bonynge5]

That was very helpful. I haven’t tried cluster focus yet. Now I’ll give it a go.

[@havikhobbies]

Great video Robin, I had no idea you could configure the all area AF to function in this way! I never use the all area focus grid, but set up for "Cluster CAF" it is surprisingly useful in some circumstances. Better than CAF+Tr which doesn't seem as "sticky". Thanks for the tip mate!

[@mattwaller8959]

This is the first time I've heard about this; I wasn't clear on what "AF Area Pointer" did. For my birds-in-flight pics I've been using C-AF+TR, but I'll try this next time! Thanks!!

[@marshazangroniz9168]

Yes, Mr. Happy, this is the first time I have been made aware of this option. Thanks, Robin!

[@garys639]

Will give this a try this weekend when shooting horse showjumping. Generally use 40-150mm Pro, 1/1250th , f5.6 , auto ISO and C-Af Low and single AF point on my M1mkii. Keeper rate of around 99.5%. Most shots are panning up and over a jump whilst focused around the horse's shoulder or rider's knee. I use the EE-1 Dot Sight when shooting BIF with my 300mm Pro lens. Another great vid Robin,keep safe and well.

[@judithwinkler1553]

Thanks for clarifying this.Very clear, as usual. I have not used cluster area on purpose, but it sometimes annoyingly pops us (user error), Now I have another learning project, to use cluster on purpose and find situations where it might help me in my photography.

[@hundredpoundphotography]

You are a life saver, shot a wedding on the m1x and was really struggling with it focusing correctly. Loving your work

[@mandmf4180]

Hi Robin, Came across this tip via your recent OM-1 Bird photography video (and that via another photographers video where they spoke highly of your work) Old technique review - but still just as useful. I use an OM-1 and an E-M1 Mk3 and absolutely love the bird recognition on the OM-1. However I've struggled with continuous focus on the older E-M1 Mk3. This tip seems to solve the issue much of the time. I'm surprised at how well the autofocus 'grips' the subject using this 'cluster focus' technique. Great for aircraft and the dreaded BIF (Birds in Flight). Keep up the great work, you are helping a lot of people get even more joy out of their photography. Enjoy your coffee!

[@claudiareina2689]

The sports pictures at the beginning of the video were so impressive! Almost felt like works of art more than sport photojournalism…. Wow

[@53HB]

10 months on and I love cluster focus , even works well on my old four thirds 18-180 capturing a peregrine Falcon in flight

[@demarestk]

I very recently got a E-M1 mkii and it's just loaded with features. I completely missed this... Looks very useful for trying to get pictures of my kids running around the house

[@ItzAGr8Day-p4m]

Just got me em1 II 5 days ago, glad I saw this video 🎉🎉

[@mikewalker3800]

I completely missed this video Robin, but so glad I found it. A great feature extremely well explained and presented. Until stock is available in the UK of the O' 100-400 I have been trying to get shots of our domestic garden birds using my 40-150 with the MC20, but miss focus so many times. Your video has taught me to move from C-AF and enable the C-AF TR or now Cluster AF. I have no doubt this will increase my keeper rate and for that I offer a big thank you. Stay safe Mike.

[@Lordvader330]

Thanks I always wondered how to set that up. With the crazy Menu system of the OM-D cameras sometimes you need a video

[@michaelhall2709]

I remember seeing this function in an Olympus ad for either the EM1 II or the EM1-X some time back. (And yes, if memory serves the camera was indeed tracking a flying bird.) Since the ad didn’t explain what was going on, it’s pretty cool to finally see how this was set up, and I’ll look forward to trying it soon myself. Thanks!

[@Lizerator]

I was puzzled by this this morning. Perfect timing. Thanks Robin.

[@donaldgould1293]

Just came across reference to cluster af in looking into caf with 5.3. I then turned to your video for information. Thanks Robin I get so many useful tips from you.

[@scottparr3269]

Hi Robin! Thank you so much for this video! This is the first that I’ve heard the term “cluster focus“ but I am familiar with the actual function of it. I occasionally use it with my E-M1 Mark 2. My reason for looking this up is I could not figure out how to get it to work with my E-M5 Mark 2. Thanks to your video, I now understand it just is not, something that exists in that model. Thanks again! Scott.

[@habu7]

Getting my E-M1 MK2 this week and preparing myself, thanks for the video!

[@michaelpopel7186]

Very helpfull. Didn't know about this kind of AF in my Olympus-camera. Thank you very much!

[@derekgpony]

Thanks Robin. I’m going to go try this immediately.

[@rafaelquiroz5865]

Robin, I shut birds in flight with my Olympus OMD EM1 mark 2 and it works really good! Just choose the right settings and you get wonderful pics. Perhaps you don´t like to shut birds in flight but it doent mean that Olympus is not capable to accomplish totally the job. Greetings fron México!

[@newjersey1029]

Always Great Tips.. you never go wrong.

[@carolewithane_]

Thank you ive been using olympus for a couple years never even knew this i will have to practice now

[@shermanhenzel8505]

Thanks for the tip. I shoot BIF and have never heard of cluster area. I will try it tomorrow on my trail walk.

[@michaelmclean4791]

I have never found CAF to function very well. Will definitely try the cluster option. Thanks Robin.

[@GrandmasterBBC]

Robin you teach me things I had no idea my camera could do. Olympus cameras are incredibly powerful but damn, they sure make some things hard to figure out on your own in the menu system.

[@cornishblue58]

Love you’re honesty Robin.

[@ronshephard9429]

Thanks Robin, I didn't know about the cluster display and will give it a trey.

[@53HB]

Yet another good tip , I will be trying this out on b.I.f combined with the new 100-400 lens . Even a marginal improvement is still a improvement

[@vkmccable]

Love your birds in flight analogy. You are spot on.

[@pinushooterphotography]

I purchased Olympus EM1 ii 3 months ago. Thanks for teachings on cluster autofocus. I really didn’t know about it. I want to use it for tracking birds. Hopefully I will succeed. Thanks.

[@davidhamilton460]

Brilliant, thanks Robin. Just in time for taking pictures at our local horse show this weekend 👍

[@gilbertwalker6769]

Thanks Robin for this interesting video. I have never used C-AF. And I'm grateful to know that the cluster area focusing exists for those who need it. Thanks for enlightening us!

[@Retset]

Thank you. I don't see me using it often and it's a faff to set up so I put it in mode C2 so it's ready once I have forgotten how to set it up!

[@larry5018]

Thanks Robin. I bought my E-M5 iii in May 2020. I stumbled on this but didn't really what I did. Now I know and can repeat it. BOF - I like to see the wings. Best when they are heading my way. Butt shots, not so much. I link the landing or launch best. And for there I use Pro capture and spot focus.

[@PaulPavlinovich]

Its perhaps worth noting that it works on any subject best when there's contrast between the subject and background and plenty of available light.

[@MiaogisTeas]

Thanks Robin!

[@davestokes3446]

I've known about this for years without ever trying it. Will now go out and see if it works for me. Thank you.

[@marklaurendet1861]

Interesting, but I can see why a lot of reviewers would not know about it. Glad you are pointing some of these things out :)

[@neilcousineau4956]

Hi Robin thanks for the tech tip. I rarely use CAF but I do have one of my custom set to high FPS with cluster. I am going to change this to low sequence. Big thanks.

[@RTFM70]

Thanks Robin. I knew of the Cluster option but have never used it so I will experiment with it. Take care 📸

[@lukather39]

Thank you very much for your videos. With your videos you help the people who buy Olympus cameras more than the Olympus company. Olympus menus are horrible and pdf manuals don't help at all either, thanks you, I haven't thrown my camera out the window yet: D.

[@robinwong]

No worries, my pleasure to share as much as I can here. Glad you found them useful

[@HughesyTech]

Thanks for this video Robin, never knew about the cluster AF before this Now to go find it in my EM-5 Mark II

[@paulvangossum683]

I didn't find that menu on my E-M5 Mk II. If someone knows where it is, please tell me. I didn't search for it on my E-M10 MkII.

[@ammadoux]

first time i hear about it. will try it with bee eaters gliding over my house been trying to get them with one point focus and cf

[@mfreider]

Nice one, Robin! It took me few times to read sections of manual about “On2” settings ;) I know - I may be slow sometimes ;) So it nice to see your explanation and guidance regarding this setting. BTW personally I am using Switch which is around AEL/AFL button. Position 1 programmed to be 1 point AF with tracking and Position 2 is clustered continues AF, so by flip of switch I am ready for any situation ;)

[@robinwong]

Thanks for adding the tip on using the Fn Lever/Switch. I personally disabled it, it has caused me many missed shots (accidental switching)

[@iqueque]

A great tip, I will give it a try

[@gekkehenkie297]

thxs. C-AF with cluster is a new world for me.

[@SuperSpily]

Thanks Robin! 🙏🙏

[@PeterThiel-vm8hq]

Good new, a new possibility for my 1.3, I ve never heard about it, Thanks

[@tomasthomschitz6102]

Hello Robin great video, I appreciate all your advice, if you decide to do more tutorials, I would really appreciate it, for example LIVE COMPOSITE, PRO CAPTURE, LIVE ND, FOCUS BRACKETING AND STACKING...

[@robinwong]

I have done all of them. Kindly hit up the search function thanks.

[@originaljamtracks]

Thanks Robin, always learn so much from your videos

[@wturri78]

Very helpful! I just got a lightly used E-M5 Mark III to replace my E-M10 as a travel camera and so far I've found the cluster AF tracking to be pretty accurate. I haven't experimented with shrinking the cluster, but maybe that would help to cut down on a cluttered background? You'd still have to keep the cluster moving with the subject, but it would be easier than having a single AF point. I also have a Canon R6 and on that the subject tracking and C-AF are so good I don't even shoot in single AF anymore. It also weighs a lot and my lens cost more than my entire Olympus system, so there's that....

[@Centauri27]

Lol, "Don't ask me about photographing birds in flight". Getting tired of being asked that? ;-D I didn't know about this capability! I thought this video was about the standard 5x5 or 9x9 cluster area. I just learned something new--thanks Robiin!

[@charlesbooker5140]

Thank you , thank you thank you. I never even knew that cluster auto focus feature was there in the camera settings. I am going to try this on birds in flight 😂

[@MrGManMusic]

No I never heard of it before. Thanks.

[@briero]

Brilliant. Thanks for doing this video. I’ve spent ages trying to find how to activate it 👍

[@YoSpiff]

First time learning about this. I am going to an airshow this weekend and knew there was a better method of focusing than what I've done before. I searched for EM-5 Mk3 focus modes and your tutorial was one of the hits. Last time I went to an airshow my hit rate was iffy, but I don't know if it was a focus issue or being at the long end of my 75-300 zoom. I'll find out in a couple of days.

[@Garrus4Spectre]

So, how did you do?

[@YoSpiff]

@@Garrus4Spectre didnt go. There was a crash on Saturday of a B-17 and a P-39, so the rest of the show got cancelled.

[@Garrus4Spectre]

@@YoSpiff Oh my that sounds horrible...

[@Kvasiir]

This was super helpful, thank you!

[@xms111]

First that I head of this. Will check it out. Thanks.

[@softwight]

This is huge, thanks for posting this video!

[@johnboy1759]

Great video, Robin! Thanks for enlightening me on this subject!

[@francisresch6654]

Thanks for the tip Robin. Very useful!

[@erikjohnsrud3350]

Every morning while I am drinking my coffee my cat jumps from one gate pedestal to the other. I have been trying and trying using continuous Focus plus tracking to get them in Flight with very little success. I am going to try this cluster tracking. It sounds like it might be just what I have been looking for in the past couple of weeks.

[@Scuddi]

I found you via Ming's blog and you've both been great resources. You did a blog post about 43 lenses on m43 cameras, specifically the EM-1 due to its pdaf capabilities. Have you ever thought about doing an update on the topic using the mark II, maybe as a video? It would be interesting to hear your thoughts in 2020.

[@tapptom]

Yes agree100%++

[@johnh.jensen5232]

First time I heard about it. Looking fwd to trying it. Thank you Robin! Will be very useful for me.

[@opapunnsriyakorn4898]

Thanks for your guideline in setting cluster area focus, I learned with many appreciations. Refer to your mentioned "EM10 MIII ....Cluster Area for Single AF only". Would you pleased give some guideline , I can't find AF Area Pointer to set ON 2.in EM10 MIII.

[@laurencedocherty6512]

Just found this vid, and learned something new, will try it for my wildlife shooting, thanks 😎👍

[@Fitzrovialitter]

Thanks, this is what I have been looking for.

[@LaurenceRoach]

Thanks very much for your advice today 🌈

[@robinwong]

No worries, glad I can share!

[@dielect]

Thanks, Robin. I have learned something new again thanks to you. Having tried this out a few times now, it seems important to remember (as I think you point out in the video) that the cluster area focus gives priority to closest subject so it might not work for subjects that were in among other closer objects: rocks, plants, etc. So it should work for birds in flight if there is no competing closer object but not for some perched birds where there is likely to be foliage or other items closer than the bird. Have I got that right?

[@m.ruemmler1605]

New to me! Much appreciated Robin

[@rdilaure]

Thanks Robin. Very informative, and no, I did not know about this feature prior to your video!

[@sumedha7]

Amazing tips

[@jimblues21]

Hi Robin and thanks for all your great Videos, Olympus have this feature as a pre set on the OMD EM1MK2 on the dial C1, I've been using it for a while and love it, I checked after watching your great video to see if it had all the settings you recommended and it does, just thought this might be useful for everyone with this camer

[@chrishodgin4451]

Hi I have only recently upgraded to omd1 mark11 and have never tried the cluster ,the video was interesting

[@anthonygarbo8114]

Thank you. This is a great feature . . . I could have used this in the past . . . .

[@bacon_sammich2845]

Awesome tips, thanks for this Robin!

[@markhoffman9655]

I have found on my E-M1.2 (firmware 3.0) that the C-AF appears to lock on to birds sitting in trees (surrounded by leaves and branch) faster that S-AF - bit of a surprise but explained by the C-AF uses both CD and PDAF focus systems together.

[@k6usy]

I use single point AF + MF normally then I have all points continuous AF set as my “Home Position” AF. If you then map “Home Position” AF to a button you can quickly switch between the two AF modes. If I need full manual I can pull the clutch on my pro lenses.

[@fredsomsen7968]

This is great to know. I'm a brand new OMD E-M1 MkIII user and I've been learning a lot with Robin. I'm an amateur photographer since the early 80s, and have always been a Olympus user (OM2n, OM4, OM4Ti) but bought my first digital camera 6 months ago, so have still a lot to learn. I'm just wondering why this mode doesn't seem to work when I turn the camera vertically.

[@tele-marmotte]

Good info and mood ☺️

[@CYGNIUS]

Your thoughts on shooting birds in flight is similar to my thoughts on shooting images of the moon. Except, with the moon, everybody can do it easily haha.

[@geoffpople5111]

I too was quite unaware of cluster area focus so thanks Robin for the information. Keep up with these very informative videos. Thanks.

[@wildcat1065]

Robin, you say that the cameras don't autofocus in CF in high only CF low. I thought it was actually that it is dependant on the frame rate limits you select rather than high or low ? ie the camera can only continuously focus at 18 fps . If you set the high range range limit to 60fps it only autofocuses on the first shot in the sequence and yes, you would have to set the camera to low not high. However, you might not ever use the 60fps mode so limit it in the high settings to 18fps. Then you could reduce the limit of the the low range to 10fps if you don't need such high speed bursts. When set like this you could use high or low and still retain Af I think ?

[@vkmccable]

Would this would be useful shooting a family portrait session when having them walking towards you or playing interacting with one another? Perhaps too many subjects would confuse the focus?