13
Chapter 1: Getting the Lay of the Land
Working with Lenses
To take best advantage of the features of your E-PL1, match the camera body
with a Micro Four Thirds lens. If you bought the E-PL1 kit, which includes the
camera body plus the Olympus 14–42mm M.Zuiko Digital lens, you own this
type of lens.
Micro Four Thirds
refers to the camera design and technology that permits
the E-PL1 to take such a small, lightweight form. If you’re interested in the sci-
ence and history of the Micro Four Thirds format, visit www.four-thirds.org,
an Olympus educational Web site.
When dealing with lenses, the important point to know is that Micro Four
Thirds lenses were designed specifically to partner with the E-PL1. Like the
camera itself, these lenses are built to be as small and lightweight as pos-
sible, and they support the camera’s entire range of features. (Note the
M
in M.Zuiko; it distinguishes Micro Four Thirds lenses from standard Zuiko
lenses. As for
Zuiko?
It stems from two sources: an abbreviation created
to refer to one of Olympus’ original lens-manufacturing plants and a rough
translation of the Chinese expression for “golden light.” Won’t you sound
smart at the next meeting of the photo club!?)
At any rate, although you can mount other types of lenses on the camera, you
need to purchase an adapter to do so. And with some lenses, you lose access
to certain important camera features. For example, you can’t use autofocus-
ing with some lenses; you must focus manually. The Olympus Web site has
details about lens options.
Because of those complications — and because covering all the variations
involved with using your camera with different types of lenses is way, way
beyond the page count this book allows — instructions in this book presume
that you’re using a Micro Four Thirds lens, and illustrations feature the 14–42mm
Micro Four Thirds kit lens. If you use a different lens, check your lens manual
for help with any questions that you can’t sort out.
With that bit of business out of the way — okay, it’s probably about two or
three bits — the next sections explain the basics of working with a Micro
Four Thirds lens.
Attaching and removing lenses
Follow these steps to attach a Micro Four Thirds lens to your camera:
1. Turn off the camera.
2. Remove the cap that covers the lens mount on the front of the camera.
3. Remove the cap that covers the back of the lens.
05_879504-ch01.indd 13
05_879504-ch01.indd 13
6/28/10 1:31 PM
6/28/10 1:31 PM
