A quick question Re : E-520

[440GTX]

I have a quick question with shooting with a E-520
In most modes ( All I have tried ) everything worked as I expect.
Wiewfinder is working
AF sets up when the shutter is pressed us half way down .
Press down Click " Nice Shot "
Now as soon as I hold the shutter button right after for the next shot
there is a clunk and the viewfinder turns black.
Wait about 3 seconds and everytning is set to go again.
Is this the normal for about a 3 senond delay between pictures?

Thanks in advance
Fred..

[Sushigaijin]

What exposure mode is your camera set to? A,S,P,M,auto?

What shutter speed is set?

Are you using live view?

If not, are you sure you are not hitting the live view button with your nose?

It's not normal for the camera to go dark for any time other than the time needed for the mirror to be up. UNLESS you're using live view - then the screen goes dark for the amount of time needed to focus also. Give us a little more information?

[BlueRob]

It could be the Anti-shock...do you have it enabled?

[Greg McCary]

Also make sure you are writting to a CF card and not an xd. XDs are slower. Give us an idea of your settings and we can help you more.

[Sushigaijin]

It could be the Anti-shock...do you have it enabled?

I bet this is the answer.

[Iguanamom]

I bet this is the answer, too. Mirror lock up delay. I sometimes forget to change it back to normal shooting and the delay takes me by surprise.

[440GTX]

What exposure mode is your camera set to? A,S,P,M,auto?

What shutter speed is set?

Are you using live view?

If not, are you sure you are not hitting the live view button with your nose?

It's not normal for the camera to go dark for any time other than the time needed for the mirror to be up. UNLESS you're using live view - then the screen goes dark for the amount of time needed to focus also. Give us a little more information?

Thanks for all the replys. Some more info
If I do NOT used live view this does not happen.
Anti Shock is off
This is in all modes with live view on. Auto , Scene and P for now

Thanks again
Fred..

[Greg McCary]

Yes not using Live View is faster. Live View has a shutter lag much like a P&S camera. You focus with the ael/afl button in live view and use the shutter button to fire it. Long exposures, like at night from a tripod take longer write times as well. Image stabilization shouldn't slow it down much.
Many of the buttons are programmable so you can customize the camera as you wish. Learn to shoot in manual as soon as you can, it will set you free. Personally I like to change shutter speeds with the front dial which is not how it comes from the factory. So I reverse that. Once you learn to set exposure and use the +/- button to compensate for a backlit subject you will be able to do anything. Practice is your best friend.
One other thing a good quality, fast card also helps with the write times. I use to take my cards out and put them in a card reader to upload to my computer but I have read so many with issues with the pins getting bent in the camera I rarely take my cards out. I use a CF card most of the time but keep an XD in it just in case I fill up the CF. Just make sure your camera is charged well to upload pictures. It can cause problems if the camera dies during an upload or a firmware upgrade.

[Sushigaijin]

Thanks for all the replys. Some more info
If I do NOT used live view this does not happen.
Anti Shock is off
This is in all modes with live view on. Auto , Scene and P for now

Thanks again
Fred..

Ok, the answer is:

the mirror is locking up so that the camera can focus. In some situations, the focus might take up to 3 seconds from start to finish. Try turning the autofocus OFF and see if it still happens.

Also dig into the menu and make sure the "anti-shock" is turned off. "anti-shock" is Olympus' misleading name for mirror lock-up, which can be useful when shooting on a tripod at intermediate shutter speeds - totally worthless for fast shutter speeds or slow shutter speeds, or when not using a tripod. For most users, this should always be "OFF."

[440GTX]

Ok, the answer is:

the mirror is locking up so that the camera can focus. In some situations, the focus might take up to 3 seconds from start to finish. Try turning the autofocus OFF and see if it still happens.

Also dig into the menu and make sure the "anti-shock" is turned off. "anti-shock" is Olympus' misleading name for mirror lock-up, which can be useful when shooting on a tripod at intermediate shutter speeds - totally worthless for fast shutter speeds or slow shutter speeds, or when not using a tripod. For most users, this should always be "OFF."

Thanks for the reply.
I think that is the answer. But why only if live wiew is turned ON ?
I was out shooting birds this am. Live view " OFF " It was great. AF locked on real quick.
less than 1/4 second between shots.

Off topic. I learned something again this morning.
When shooting moving birds with 40-150 lense set to 150mm
" Use shutter priority " Duh

Fred..

[Greg McCary]

Fred I am not sure why that the AF system is slower. It is just like you have a big old fashion P&S when in Live View. There have been huge improvements. My EP-1 have no VF at all but focuses and fires quick. Live View really isn't for moving targets, birds, sports or street photography. I do use it when I have the camera mounted on a tripod and am doing landscape stuff. It comes in handy when I am shooting low to the ground.

[Ivan916]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/OlympusE520/page7.asp

Explains the various live view modes.

[440GTX]

Got it resolved
Thanks to Ivan916
I set the Live View Mode AF mode to factory default. [ IMAGER AF ]
It was set to [ AF SENSOR ] Which ( I Think ) over rides the " Anti shock "
because the mirror is droped right after you take the picture. causing a
delay for the next picture .( Again I Think )
Any way now live view is OK and as per Greg not using live view is Quicker

Thanks again for all the help.

Fred..