Mirrorless Camera Trends, and AF techniques

Last Update: 28th July 2020

One of the previous CEOs of Olympus said during an interview in 2019 that Olympus differentiates itself from other brands with the following:-

1. MFT compactness, functionality, IQ, lens offer (See "Break Free" campaign)
2. IBIS - In-camera Image Stabilisation, not invented but perfected by Olympus
3. Olympus decided to focus on photography, functionality, and creative features
4. Unique and comprehensive lens offer / Diverse supply of M43 add-on options 

I have always enjoyed my different MFT cameras as I would any other brand or camera. I also value the smaller camera bag and/or my benefits with IBIS. It's great to go out with my Olympus f1.8 primes and to have the confidence that when I return my images will be sharp.

When we look at the different camera manufacturers today, we see that they all have a strong engineering history. It's no problem for them to plan, design, and engineer great cameras. They are all well-represented on social media, and they know how to launch new products.

We see that it's becoming more difficult for manufacturers to differentiate their products. Some used sensor size as a differentiator, promising better image quality, but as technology and software (firmware) improved the size aspect of sensors became less. See this article.

Others developed increasingly complex Auto Focus algorithms, but again as competitors catch up they quickly lose their advantage. The same is true for IBIS, high-resolution images, video, and a host of other complex and often interesting features. It's like camera manufacturers are in this constant catching-up race and make you think you watching a Formula 1 racing scenario.

We see another interesting trend happening with Leica and Fuji. Leica successfully associated their "German Quality" label with top IQ and their Leica cameras while Fuji developed a unique analog camera experience offering excellent image quality and creative features.

We basically have 3 mirrorless trends:-

1. Engineering and Technology (Some brands, each focussing on specification)
2. M43 cameras (Mix of video & creative features, size, IBIS, and  lens offer)
3. Focusing on Unique Camera look and feel, quality, and IQ (Leica and Fuji)

If you were allowed to be part of an MFT working group, how would you describe current MFT strengths and what do you like to see in the future?

Here are some ideas of current strengths and how to improve:-

1. Compactness, IBIS, and Lens offer - this is important and a big win for MFT
2. Longer Product life cycles, and regular Firmware Updates, show customer loyalty
3. Training is important for MFT photographers - Photo walks, social media, web
4. Propose different camera/lens combos - used and new - Focus on applications
5. Different Camera/Lens configurations to help us grow from Hobby to Pro level
6. Unique Olympus functions and how to improve/master all these functions
7. The Lost Opportunity - The Pen-F Creative Concept, Profiles, and Community
8. Integration with other Olympus products - Cameras, Voice Recorders, and Video
9. Expand WorkSpace connectivity, Phone/iPad Apps, Social Media, sharing Profiles
10. How to improve IQ, expand ISO functionality, AF training, improve the histogram

In 2019 Olympus made a formal listing of M43 strengths

Before we continue, see the illustration below. We all know that perspective is important. We often see the things people talk about most are not really what photographers want or need. For example, it is only when you hiking with heavy gear that people will think about weight? The list below shows what people talk about 20% of the time and the 80% you seldom see on forums.

A Different Perspective

Olympus compact camera/lens offer. The older Olympus "Break Free" slogan is "Up to half the size and weight". This is huge and welcomed by many Olympus photographers The concern we have, is Olympus shifting too much to Pro Range lenses. Pro lenses are canceling any size or weight benefits Olympus had and could even destroy the Break Free message.

Olympus In Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS).  Did Olympus focus too much on marketing IBIS? They should have protected the Olympus "IBIS" brand label by quantifying the effectiveness of IBIS with an International standard. Anyone can add some kind of sensor stabilization, call it IBIS, and people will associate it with the effectiveness of the Olympus IBIS solution. All competitors that use "IBIS" in their product brochures, benefit from the research and development from Olympus.

EM5 MKII with 45mm f1,8 lens - f7.1, 1/320, ISO100 (Edit in Photoshop & Fuji Provia in DXO FilmPack 5)

As with any product, getting top results requires owners to first master the product. Sounds so basic? The same is true for M43 cameras. It needs a different style and lots of practice to prepare for using small sensor cameras on the job or photo walk.

This is especially true for photographers migrating from film 35mm SLR cameras to APC sensors or from full-frame DSLR cameras to M43 cameras. Using your M43 camera like you did your old full-frame DSLR, will not necessarily result in the best experience. For example, see how the presenter below explains how to use the ISO and in-body stabilization (IBIS) strategically.

The difference with older SLR Film cameras is, that modern photographers think of things like ISO and IBIS when setting the exposure. With older SLR cameras photographers made more effort to select the right focus points and talk about things like hyperfocal length. The reason is, that older lenses are less capable and the older AF systems were not as good as modern systems.

Studying product reviews and camera forums, one quickly thinks all cameras should have hybrid AF systems with Phase and Contrast Detection. We need more computing power, more advanced AF, and AI algorithms, and we wonder why the differences with old SLR cameras. Does this mean we do not need to consider hyperfocal distancing techniques? 

Why discuss camera focusing techniques? Simply because almost everything from here onwards will reference back to what focusing technique you select with your camera.

Different subjects or photography applications require different ways of using your camera autofocus. Wedding photographers will use their AF differently from sports or landscape photographers.

Let's study landscape, street, or residential photography. If your aim is sharp front-to-back images, things like DOF (Depth of Field) and hyper-focal length are important. For example, have a look at the OptimumCS-Pro App. To help you see the benefits of this App, go study this page. At the bottom of this page, you will find a list of 5 additional articles.

As you saw, the OptimumCS-Pro app has an interesting concept. Let's explore a little more. This concept also highlights a unique Micro Four-Thirds strength and has the potential to change the way you use your camera.

The image below was not edited or manipulated with Photoshop. I have reset the camera and only changed things like the focus frame, jpeg+raw option, and what was displayed on the screen. The jpeg output settings are default settings. I resized the image for the web.

Olympus OMD EM1 II with 17mm f1.8: ISO200, f5, 1/320