OLY E-PL10 troubleshooting

[traveldave 7]

Bought a refurb E-PL10 late last week and am in Fiji finally shooting with it.  Towards the end of the first week, it started shooting shots that were almost black.  At the end of the dive, I figured out that if I do a half press on the shutter for it to focus first, it will expose correctly.  If I simply push the shutter to shoot, it will be almost black.  It wasn't don't this the first  several days, and only started late in that shark dive.  I checked metadata and it should be existing correctly (have two consecutive shots of the same thing showing exact same settings (in manual) and one is fine, one is dark.   Happens both shooting natural light and with strobes).  

Suggestions on troubleshooting this?

[Wapiti 25]

The only thing I can think of is if you've got some weird setting for auto exposure lock. I don't think the E-PL10 has an AEL button like the OMD cameras I'm used to, so you may have to dive into the menu and look for a manual online.

[ChrisRoss 150]

Weird problem, I think some menu diving might be worthwhile - you could try for example shooting in Av with exp comp to get your water exposed well and dive into the menus and see if there is a setting to specify a minimum flash speed.  This would allow you to check if shooting in a different mode has any impact upon the problem.  Also check and see what options you have for AEL.

[John E 4]

Does it also do it outside the housing? The record and function buttons can be assigned custom functions including AEL/AFL. Just a guess but maybe this is selected and the housing is sometimes touching one of these buttons??  Maybe do a reset and see if the problem is solved?

[traveldave 7]

This may be a stupid question, but would AEL even do anything in full manual?  I would expect that exposure is locked in based on what I set ISO, shutter, and aperture manually  

Thanks to all for the responses. 

 

[traveldave 7]

Played around with it.  Same problem occurs outside the housing.  However, when I switch from S-AF to C-AF, the problem seems to go away.  Will need to spend a bit more time digging into this. 

[Wapiti 25]

Probably some weird setting deep in the menus.  At this point, it probably makes sense to "reset all", if that's possible.  Make note of any custom settings you've built, and start over.

[traveldave 7]

"Full" reset didn't fix it.  Still underexposes with a quick full press of the shutter in S-AF but not on C-AF.  Wrapping up in Fiji tomorrow, so next step is to hit a camera store when I'm home and hopefully play with another E-PL10 to see if it does the same thing.  If not, will see what they recommend.  Seems like software vs hardware, so wondering if firmware can be reinstalled. 

[ChrisRoss 150]

21 minutes ago, traveldave said:

"Full" reset didn't fix it.  Still underexposes with a quick full press of the shutter in S-AF but not on C-AF.  Wrapping up in Fiji tomorrow, so next step is to hit a camera store when I'm home and hopefully play with another E-PL10 to see if it does the same thing.  If not, will see what they recommend.  Seems like software vs hardware, so wondering if firmware can be reinstalled. 

You said you bought it as a refurb last week?, I would assume it has a warranty, the behavior you describe does not sound in anyway normal, so I would be looking to take it back and have it fixed under warranty.  If it does this outside the housing should be easy to demonstrate and have the problem repaired.

[Dann-Oh 40]

I was going to ask if you're trying to shoot faster than the sync speed of the strobes but this happens when you have the camera out of the housing. You could also try resetting the camera (which you have already done) then following along with the backscatter setup guide (linked below).  I did this with my EPL10 and its been working great ever since.  the only thing I change out is the lens and put it in auto mode for my wife, she likes the point and shoot styles playing with all the settings.

 

I'm interested to hear what the root cause of this issue is.

https://www.backscatter.com/reviews/post/Olympus-PEN-E-PL10-Best-Underwater-Camera-Settings-Gear

Edited June 8, 2022 by Dann-Oh

[traveldave 7]

Problem happened both when using strobes and with natural light, so not a sync speed issue.  

Unfortunately I bought the refurb late 2021 but didn't really pay around with it until this trip.  So unfortunately outside of warranty.  I started with Backscatter settings and had no issues, because they recommend C-AF.   I'm more used to shooting S-AF and didn't get good focus results, so switched to S-AF mid-trip.  

[traveldave 7]

Was getting ready to run to the camera store today and decided to do one more experiment.  Switched to the kit lens and could not replicate the problem.  Switched back to the 9-18 and it's back to doing the same thing (underexposing in S-AF when doing a quick shutter press, but not in C-AF).  Hard to know why the lens would/could create this problem, but seems like I've narrowed it down.  Will likely try with a couple other lenses to see if it's narrowed down to just the 9-18.   (May also try the 9-18 on my EM5 to see if it does the same thing on that camera body).

Still strange, but maybe not a problem with the camera body after all. 

[ChrisRoss 150]

Could be a sticky diaphragm on the lens or even dirty contacts it's worth trying the other lenses and the 9-18 on other bodies to see if the problem moves around.

[Dann-Oh 40]

On 6/11/2022 at 12:27 PM, traveldave said:

Will likely try with a couple other lenses to see if it's narrowed down to just the 9-18.   (May also try the 9-18 on my EM5 to see if it does the same thing on that camera body).

Silly question, Are you sure the lens is fully extended and unlocked?  I know I know but I have to ask.

[Zow 2]

I was going to ask if you're trying to shoot faster than the sync speed of the strobes but this happens when you have the camera out of the housing. You could also try resetting the camera (which you have already done) then following along with the backscatter setup guide (linked below).  I did this with my EPL10 and its been working great ever since.  the only thing I change out is the lens and put it in auto mode for my wife, she likes the point and shoot styles playing with all the settings.
 
I'm interested to hear what the root cause of this issue is.
https://www.backscatter.com/reviews/post/Olympus-PEN-E-PL10-Best-Underwater-Camera-Settings-Gear

Hi there! Does anyone have an idea when backscatter will be releasing the macro and wide video guide?

Appreciate if anyone can help me with the settings too for EPL10 video settings. Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JS1221 0]

The Macro and Wide Angle guides for the E-PL10 are both already out and on the Backscatter website.

Sorry, just realized you meant the video guide. Disregard

Edited June 24, 2022 by JS1221

[Dann-Oh 40]

On 6/24/2022 at 1:00 AM, Zow said:

Hi there! Does anyone have an idea when backscatter will be releasing the macro and wide video guide?

Appreciate if anyone can help me with the settings too for EPL10 video settings. Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I called Backscatter a week or two ago to talk about batteries and I mentioned that there is a small group of us wanting the EPL10 video guide.  They acknowledged that it is something they need to work on but there are other things of higher priority to work on that keep delaying the EPL10 videos.  Im sure the BS team will release it sooner than later I hope they see this thread and help us out.

Shoot, Id even settle for the release of the PDF of the recommended settings (like they have for photos) until BS can get around to making the video tutorials.