OM System OM3 Guide
The OM System OM3 Guide is much more than a User Manual, it is a fully comprehensive guide (67000 words aprox) covering everything you could want to know about how to use this incredible camera, fully illustrated with example images, tables and graphics and with a wealth of step by step instructions, walk-thoughts and tips.
The OM3 is based on the incredible and feature packed OM1-MKII and has additional features with the new Creative Mode Dial, CP Button and new Video Mode Dial. In this guide I explain all all of the features including how best to use and optimise the new features to suit you, including ways to create Custom Modes and configure buttons.
The Menu Walkthrough gives clear directions of what to change and what to leave as default, explanations of why, full walk-throughs for customising buttons with lots of tips, setting up Custom Modes with a helpful table of useful settings and a wide variety of suggestions to try out. Custom Modes are personal to the user, so I give examples to consider and encourage users to think about the best use scenarios and explore the possibilities. There is also access to a downloadable ‘Planner’ to help with setting up Custom Modes and Buttons, and downloadable tables to use on your own computer.
It explores all of the camera features such as Live Time, Live ND, Live-GND, Bracketing and Focus Stacking and goes into detail of how to actually use these out in the field with practical examples and images you can learn from and apply yourself.
Also covered is the technical theory of photography in ‘Photography 101’ where we explore the Exposure Triangle, how to get great Depth of Field, learn how to nail exposure, improve your composition and even tips on how to plan your shots with tips on Apps to use. We also explore Processing with tips on which applications to explore and how to develop a good workflow, with examples of how to use Photoshop for layering, focus stacking and blending images.
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The Guide has its own dedicated website which you will have access to. Ideal for bigger screens, it makes viewing the many images more enjoyable.
It is also Mobile Friendly making it easier to digest and access. Bookmark or add it to your Home Screen.
A 323 page e-Book is also included for offline viewing with all of the content.
Divided into easy to navigate Sections for easier reading, jump in and out at will or read through section by section:
OM3 Settings
Contains all the information you need to set up and customise your OM1-MKII, with an overview of the Menu, a full Menu Walkthrough, setting up Custom Buttons and creating Custom Modes, with my own detailed step by step examples for street, landscapes, birds in flight, macro, and other suggestions
In-Camera Features
Takes you though all the OM3 Modes and show how to use each one with examples, such as Focus Bracketing and Stacking, Live ND, Live-GND, Live-Time, Live-Composite, the benefits of 14Bit Hi Res, and even tips for using Subject Detect Modes and the changes with AF. Look out for the highlighted ‘Tips’ throughout the guide. This section is packed with images and examples of how to use each feature, including the benefots and things to avoid.
Photography 101
Takes you through everything you need to know about the technical side of photography, Exposure Triangle, Depth of Field, Correct Metering, even Planning your shot and Workflow best practices. I help you to understand Hyperfocal Distances for sharper images and quick tricks for getting it right. In Composition I share all my tips with diagrams, marked up images, and my fool proof method for good composition. Once you know my trick for composition you will understand how to achieve balance and harmony, and not be constrained by the ‘Rule of Thirds’.
Gear
Includes all my top tips for essential items plus some new useful accessories. Lenses, bags, my favourite accessories I always use, and a few other tips too.
This Guide has evolved into something that is very comprehensive and I truly believe my years of experience as a photographer and using Olympus will help you get the most from your OM3, not just with the full menu walkthrough, but also to help you with better composition.
Button & Custom Modes Planning
To help with planning your Custom Modes and Custom Button configurations two documents are included available to download.
Custom Modes Spreadsheet – I show various suggestions for Custom Modes in the Guide. The table I use is available with the fields left blank for you to write your own settings in, copy mine, or mix and match. I suggest how you can ‘expand’ CMs to 5 so the extra colour may be useful. Download it as a PDF to print at home, or an Excel spreadsheet that can also be imported into Apple Numbers and Google Docs. Both formats are included. Save it to your mobile and always have it with you.
Button Planner – The Customising Sheet is a downloadable PDF designed to be printed at home for you to plan out your custom button settings before committing to the camera. print as many as you like and use it to start formulating a plan. Planning first is key to avoid getting lost in the possibilities.
Also included is a 323 Page PDF e-book to download for offline reading.
Contains all the content from the Online Guide.
Full colour images and diagrams.
Contents Page with links to each chapter.
This Guide is for you if you want to learn about:
- How to Set Up and Use the OM3
- Using Creative Mode Dial
Focus Bracketing/Stacking and Blending
Exposure, Aperture and Depth of Field
Good Composition & My Fool-proof Technique
How to Develop a Processing Workflow
Creating and Using Custom Modes
Creating Long Exposures with Live Time
- Pro’s & Con’s of Live-GND
- Subject Detection Modes and Best Uses
Using the new Video Mode Dial
- Live Composite and Star Trails
Languages
Although the PDF is English, the Guide is also provided as an online version, which can be translated* into many different languages including among others French, German, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese using Google Translate.
Try it with this web page at Google Translate.
*Translation is by Google and I cannot verify the accuracy.
Guide Contents
Each Section goes into quite some detail. The OM-1 Section goes through the Menu indicating what needs to be set up, suggestions for setting up buttons and Custom Modes including how to set up my own Custom Modes and suggestions for others. In Exposure & Focus Bracketing I not only show you how to do it but also how to combine images in Post Processing. In Composition we explore the Rules of Composition such as Rule of Thirds and Golden Ratios with examples and annotated diagrams. Processing Workflow explores how to create and organise a workflow with suggested Apps, workflow diagrams and tips on processing.
Below is an overview of topics contained in each Section.
Camera Settings
Main Menu overview
Full Menu walkthrough and settings
Detailed explanations
Exploring the new CP Button
Creative / Movie Dials
- Full Walkthough for settings and features
- Suggestions and examples
Detailed Video settings
Custom Settings
Customising buttons and suggestions
- Setting Custom Modes for C1-C5
Full details, explanations & further suggestions
In-Camera features
Long Exposures using Live Time and Live ND
- Exposure Bracketing techniques
Using High Resolution Mode
Video
- Movie modes and settings
- Exploring the new S&Q mode
- Profiles and what are Codecs?
- New Video Custom Modes and how to use
Live-GND
Using Live-GND, right way and wrong way
Comparisons and tips
- Settings and configuring
Effects of movement
Photography 101
Exposure Triangle, Metering & Aperture
Depth of Field and Hyperfocal Distances
Planning and researching locations
Processing Workflow
Improving Composition
Focus Bracketing/Stacking
Focus Bracketing for Landcapes
Bracketing & Stacking for Macro
- Tips and Tricks
Live Composite
Live Composite for star trails
Live Composite for light trails
Live Composite for landscapes
Basic Settings & CMs
We explore the OM3 Menu, how to use My Menu, set up basic settings and then explore options for button settings. We then move to advanced settings with Custom Modes for Basic, Street, Landscapes, Macro and Wildlife, setting up C1 to C5. There are tips and suggestions for other genres, along with tips for how to use the new features with quick access and custom settings.
Composition
We explore how to understand composition and create balanced images using the Rule of Thirds, using Lead-In Lines, the Golden Ratio, Points of Interest and Positive/Negative Space with annotated examples. I also include my own method for creating harmonious compositions with my own ‘Rule’ which never fails.
Wildlife
The OM3 may not be the most suitable camera for wildlife and birds in flight by virtue of the ergonomics, however the features have been implemented from the Om1-MKII so you can still give it a go. Learn all the settings and features you need.
Discovery and Planning
My tips on how to find inspiration and then plan your trip using a variety of Apps to research location, plan routes, check sunset and sunrise, weather including wind, precipitation and cloud cover, and tide times.
Get Creative
Picture Modes, Art Filters, Colour Creator; learn the differences, how they can be used to make your own style of image for street, portraits, architecture, in fact anything. Full details and even a table of all the modes to save and print.
Depth of Field
We explore Depth of Field, the technicalities of it and more importantly how you can maximise it using simple techniques and more advanced Hyperfocal techniques, with and without Apps. We also look at Diffraction, why it matters and how to avoid it.
Processing Workflow
Getting organised with your files and how to develop a Workflow of your own, including an overview of which applications to use, a few pros and cons and how to integrate them into a logical path to follow. Go the Adobe way or avoid it? We explore options and a few recommendations.
Gear
The Gear section contains tips and recommendation for the gear I use, lenses, bags, tripods, and also lots of accessories such as cable releases, battery packs and flashlights. Some of these you may find very useful.
Other Guides Available
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3 for 2 Bundle Offer of Processing Guides
What People Are Saying
“Oh My Gosh! Your guide is amazing. I wish I had known about it two years ago. O thought it was going to be just a guide for the EM1-MKIII but it is so much more than that, it is a comprehensive guide to photography using the camera.”
“5* for highly recommending this guide, worth every penny.”
“Very readable and the sections on lenses, accessories and workflow are useful.”
“I can highly recommend Phil’s guides, comprehensive and easy to use.”
“I can absolutely recommend the OM1 guide. Comprehensive, well structured and easy to use”
“Excellent Guide, it goes beyond the usual ‘push this press that’, with explanations and examples of how to use each of the in-camera features.”
“An outstanding resourse that is going to be very helpful indeed. Highly recommended for new users and experienced alike, thanks very much.”
“Very useful, not only comprehensive but backed up with stunning images to inspire. Thanks for all the hard work.”
“Really useful tips and insights. Really appreciate not only the camera tips but also the composition and depth of field which I struggle with.”
“So useful! Highly recommended. My camera is all set up and it’s made me really think how I can use it better. And love the processing tips too!”