Live Guide
Live Guide, available in the E-PL1, shows you how functions of the camera work live on the LCD. For example, Shutter Priority, which is known as Express Motion on the Live Guide menu, allows you to see movement or stop movement in its tracks without full knowledge of f-stops!
If you have the E-PL1, be sure to check out all the E-PL1’s Live Guide functions if you haven’t already.
Own another Olympus PEN or E-System camera? The E-PL1 makes a great gift for budding photographers!
Have you ever wanted to shoot blurred waterfalls or traffic light trails but didn't know how? The trick is to use your camera's Program (P), Aperture Priority (A), Shutter Priority (S) and Manual (M) settings. These shooting modes allow creative flexibility by enabling control over shutter speed and aperture settings. And they allow total access to the menu options — unlike the AUTO and Scene modes found in Olympus consumer E-System cameras.
P = Program Mode
The P mode allows you to have more control of the camera. In P mode you can change your settings to what you like, but the camera will set Aperture and Shutter automatically for you.
A = Aperture Priority
The A mode allows you to set the aperture manually while the camera sets the shutter speed automatically. Changing the aperture value you can give your pictures different expressions – you can have separate subjects in the front and back of the picture both in focus, or you can narrow the area of the picture that is in focus so the main subject stands out against the background.
S = Shutter Priority
The S mode allows you to set the shutter speed manually while the camera sets the aperture value automatically. By changing the shutter speed you can “freeze” the subject's movement in the picture, or you can deliberately create a blur, giving a stronger sense of motion to the picture.
M = Manual Control
In Manual Mode (M), the user selects both the aperture and the shutter speed. When shooting the moon in the night sky or the multi-colored lights shining in a night scene there is a great difference in light level with the brightness of the surroundings. In manual mode you can shoot without the brightness of the surroundings affecting the exposure of the main subject.
See it in Action
Shutter - Virtually raise and lower the shutter speed and see the results. Click here.
Aperture - Virtually open and close the aperture and see the results. Click here.
Watch how shutter speed and exposure are affected by aperture in this brief animation. Click here.
Want to Learn More?
– Ask Olympus: What are the P, A, S and M modes and how are they used?
