How to fix "MF mode, auto focus disabled" error with Olympus M.Zuiko lenses

[InterMurph]

The first time I tried to use my Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm lens, I touched the screen to have it focus, and I got this error:

MF mode, auto focus disabled

• InterMurph
• Oct 22, 2015

Error message seen with Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm and 17mm lenses when snap ring is in "manual" mode.

The app was in auto-focus mode, and the lens doesn't have an AF/MF switch like the DJI 15mm lens does. But the lens was, in fact, in manual-focus mode. As it turns out, the Olympus M.Zuiko lenses have a "snap ring" that changes between manual focus and auto focus modes.

When the focus ring is snapped away from the front of the lens, it reveals a distance scale, indicating that it is in manual-focus mode:

Manual-Focus Mode

• InterMurph
• Oct 22, 2015

An Olympus M.Zuiko lens in manual-focus mode, with the snap ring pulled away from the front of...

And when the focus ring is snapped toward the front of the lens, it covers the distance scale, indicating that it is in auto-focus mode:

Auto-Focus Mode

• InterMurph
• Oct 22, 2015

An Olympus M.Zuiko lens in auto-focus mode, with the snap ring pulled toward the front of the...

So I snapped the ring toward the lens, putting it in auto-focus mode. I was then able to focus by touching on the screen as expected.

 

[Quadpilot]

The first time I tried to use my Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm lens, I touched the screen to have it focus, and I got this error:

MF mode, auto focus disabled

• InterMurph
• Oct 22, 2015

Error message seen with Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm and 17mm lenses when snap ring is in "manual" mode.

The app was in auto-focus mode, and the lens doesn't have an AF/MF switch like the DJI 15mm lens does. But the lens was, in fact, in manual-focus mode. As it turns out, the Olympus M.Zuiko lenses have a "snap ring" that changes between manual focus and auto focus modes.

When the focus ring is snapped away from the front of the lens, it reveals a distance scale, indicating that it is in manual-focus mode:

Manual-Focus Mode

• InterMurph
• Oct 22, 2015

An Olympus M.Zuiko lens in manual-focus mode, with the snap ring pulled away from the front of...

And when the focus ring is snapped toward the front of the lens, it covers the distance scale, indicating that it is in auto-focus mode:

Auto-Focus Mode

• InterMurph
• Oct 22, 2015

An Olympus M.Zuiko lens in auto-focus mode, with the snap ring pulled toward the front of the...

So I snapped the ring toward the lens, putting it in auto-focus mode. I was then able to focus by touching on the screen as expected.

AFAIK, that is only a characteristic of the M.Zuiko 17 mm lens. My M.Zuiko 12 mm f/2 has a AF/MF switch. I'm getting the 25 mm Oly tomorrow, so I will be sure to check.

 

[InterMurph]

My Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm does not have an AF/MF switch; it has this snap ring. As does my 17mm. My 25mm and 45mm have neither.

 

[Quadpilot]

My Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm does not have an AF/MF switch; it has this snap ring. As does my 17mm. My 25mm and 45mm have neither.

Gaak! You're right! I just checked. I confused it with the DJI 15 mm lens, which does have a AF/MF switch (which is ironic, in a way, since you can turn it on or off in the app).

Thanks for the heads up. I suppose all M.Zuikos are like this?

 

[purezerg]

have you tested 17 and 25mm on the x5 yet? is it workable?
I am planning on getting the x5/x5r but am held back by the limited 3 lenses

 

[InterMurph]

I tried the 17mm lens. Without an ND filter, it caused the gimbal motors to vibrate and make a lot of noise. With the B+W 0.9 (3-stop) ND filter, the vibration and sound went away.

I haven't tried the 25mm lens; I think the 17mm lens is too narrow already!

 

[x5yo]

cool, I never knew about this been banging my head over it too!

 

[E-Rod]

Thanks, you just saved me a lot of knob dicking! Solved my issue.

 

[Papasam]

Oh my gosh you just solved a few days of banging my head as well!! Thank you!! I've been running the 12mm for 9 months with no issues and somehow I must have moved the snap ring last week. I discovered it as I was testing my new SSD setup on the X5S along with new firmware. Whew, that could have been a long time hunting between all of those things. THANK YOU!!!!!

 

[Larsplovmann]

Nice to know what so on the 15mm Dji lens... yes I know there is the AF / MF button, but on the appeture ring there is all the numbers, AND also a red A.. What is the meen with that A ??