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

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From my interactions with many Olympus OM-D users, a lot of people are not aware of cluster-AF feature for continuous AF shooting which may be more effective in some situations. I thought making a video to show how the cluster area AF works and also how to activate it in your OM-D camera can be beneficial!
0:00 Intro
0:25 What Is Cluster Area AF Display?
1:21 Compatibility with OM-D Cameras
2:06 When To Use Cluster Area C-AF Effectively?
3:28 When NOT To Use Cluster Area AF?
4:16 How To Activate Cluster Area for C-AF Shooting?
5:33 Cluster Area C-AF In Action
6:01 Extra Tip - Burst Shooting with C-AF
7:10 About Bird In Flight Shooting
8:53 Conclusion/END
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[@TomReicher]

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

[@medialordsentertainment]

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]

😂👍

[@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.

[@cornishblue58]

Love you’re honesty Robin.

[@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!

[@BekirSolo]

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

[@alb41ful]

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

[@marshazangroniz9168]

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

[@Lizerator]

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

[@johnboy1759]

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

[@softwight]

This is huge, thanks for posting this video!

[@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.

[@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 !

[@Kvasiir]

This was super helpful, thank you!

[@johnh.jensen5232]

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

[@Planedude60]

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

[@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!

[@bacon_sammich2845]

Awesome tips, thanks for this Robin!

[@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.

[@bonynge5]

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

[@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..

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@vkmccable]

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

[@carolewithane_]

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

[@michaelmclean4791]

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

[@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!

[@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

[@derekgpony]

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

[@francisresch6654]

Thanks for the tip Robin. Very useful!

[@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

[@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.

[@Fitzrovialitter]

Thanks, this is what I have been looking for.

[@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 :)

[@shermanhenzel8505]

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

[@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!

[@MiaogisTeas]

Thanks Robin!

[@newjersey1029]

Always Great Tips.. you never go wrong.

[@RTFM70]

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

[@rdilaure]

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

[@davidhamilton460]

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

[@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!!

[@stevetomlinson7343]

great explanation as usual! thanks!

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@originaljamtracks]

Thanks Robin, always learn so much from your videos

[@andreasb.746]

Thanks Robin. Good Tip! Will try it.

[@catherinejoanpiazza420]

Great tip! Thanks for all you do!

[@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 :)

[@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.

[@johnmiller5717]

thank you and yes it is the first I have heard of it.

[@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!

[@Rafaga777]

Always something new to learn. Thanks a lot for this tip...

[@gekkehenkie297]

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

[@briero]

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

[@chilicrabbabe]

Something new I learn today. I don't think I have heard anyone mentioned about it before.

[@davidcoote8395]

Another great video. Thanks. My new to me OMD1ii is getting set up with lots of good info.

[@claudiareina2689]

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

[@laurencedocherty6512]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@user-kz5em8yf7p]

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

[@sumedha7]

Amazing tips

[@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.

[@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!

[@anthonygarbo8114]

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

[@MrGManMusic]

No I never heard of it before. Thanks.

[@LaurenceRoach]

Thanks very much for your advice today 🌈

[@robinwong]

No worries, glad I can share!

[@tobiashaufele6001]

Great description very easy

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@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!

[@TeannCoffee]

Thanks and yes it is the first time!

[@PeterThiel-vm8hq]

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

[@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....

[@scotimages]

Great Tips. Many Thanks!

[@tele-marmotte]

Good info and mood ☺️

[@xms111]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@alfonsonoriega5242]

Gracias, Robin !!!

[@robinwong]

My pleasure to share!

[@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 😂

[@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!

[@LouisJulienRoy]

Thank you very much very helpful for me

[@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!

[@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

[@graigsmith6734]

Cool, useful feature, didn’t know about it.

[@Darkangel959]

heard first time of it. Nice Video! Thumb up! Thank you from Germany

[@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.

[@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.