Live Composite is a feature that Olympus added to the E-M10 that allows the user to take a series of photos and stack them together in-camera. This method will create a base exposure, then will only change brightness when new light is added. It allows the user to stack the photos in camera to create long exposures where it normally would not be able to, or in lighting situations that a normal long exposure would not work. Using live composite also cuts down editing by not having to stack the images in Photoshop. It also shows the exposure building in real time on the back screen.
Since the implementation of Live Composite, Olympus has added the feature to their entire lineup. Everything from their flagship E-M1 Mk II to the Tough TG-5. The feature allows for full manual exposure of a scene. Using the camera's light meter, the user can overexpose or underexpose the frame. The camera allows for shutter speed to be set from a half-second to as long as sixty seconds. Once the initial exposure is captured and stored, the camera will continually take photos only exposing where new light is added.
Using Live Composite helps extend the camera's ability to gather light in difficult situations. When you have too much light, you will need to use the aperture to control exposure. Sometimes the need for a neutral density filter will be needed to further cut down on light on bright days. Live Composite will also help take the guesswork out of capturing lighting. Allowing the camera to build the exposure, you will no longer need to keep restarting the camera to check exposure since the exposure is shown in real-time on the back screen. You can stop the exposure once you have the desired look.
Live Composite gives you tons of flexibility for landscape and night photography. Stop into your local Richmond Camera to ask about the awesome features that Olympus Cameras have to offer! Check out our other examples below, and let us know what you think of Olympus' Live Composite feature!
-Chuck Rudisill, Store Manager, Richmond Camera Carytown