Manual Focus with Mirrorless Camera (Page 2): Same here .

agillot

Same here .

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

I'm not a young man any more, but I do actually remember having a mirrorless camera when I was a child. I don't remember the brand, but I believe it was classified as a "pin hole camera"! 😉📸

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

cactuspic wrote:

At me at least, it is horses for course. AF does ... (show quote)

When I do in camera focus stacking I autofocus, switch to manual and just slightly front focus, then switch back to auto and start the sequence.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Urnst wrote:

I enjoy the conveniences of modern mirrorless cameras. Sometimes, however, I prefer manual rather than autofocus. There's something about seeing the focus peaking lighting up on the subject and tripping the shutter with the focus exactly where I want it that gives me great pleasure. Does anyone else feel this way?

I do like the focus peaking feature - my old eyes aren’t what they used to be. So, when using legacy glass on my mirrorless camera, it’s a life saver in getting the best focus.

Stan

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Yes, I find a good bit of satisfaction in picking the spot I want to be the focal point and focusing on that spot. However, I don't rely on peaking, since most of my cameras don't have that feature.
--Bob

Urnst wrote:

I enjoy the conveniences of modern mirrorless cameras. Sometimes, however, I prefer manual rather than autofocus. There's something about seeing the focus peaking lighting up on the subject and tripping the shutter with the focus exactly where I want it that gives me great pleasure. Does anyone else feel this way?

User ID

Mac wrote:

I enjoy Manual Focus (and Manual Exposure) I bought an adapter to allow me to use my Leica M Mount MF lenses on my Z5. I don’t always use focus peaking, it depends on the situation.

Same as my Z6. Using it as a home for homeless Leica lenses. Focus peaking is enabled, I assigned the red dot button on the top deck to quickly access the FL setting for the IBIS, and the big “OK/Set” button on the back toggles in and out of MF magnifier.

MF magnifier and peaking allows quick accurate MF down to about f/5.6 or 8.0 without the need to revert to maximum aperture for focus.

Did get the FTZ along with the body but haven’t actually needed it yet.

(Download)

Dennis833 Loc: Australia

As a long time landscape photographer I prefer to pick my focus point using manual focus magnification. I mainly use manual focus prime lenses as I prefer to manually open and close the aperture on the lens. I often shot a foreground and background image for maximum depth of field and quickly do that with the focusing scale on the lens. I only use my zoom and other auto focus lenses on kayaking trips. This may sound like a slow way to shoot but I shot with large format for 25 years...now that's slow!

Toment Loc: FL, IL

burkphoto wrote:

My camera has both focus peaking and focus magnification. They work great, but I’d prefer a super-bright, super-high resolution *electronic* viewfinder with digital microprism and split-image rangefinder.

Yep…

JD750 Loc: SoCal

User ID wrote:

Same as my Z6. Using it as a home for homeless Leica lenses. Focus peaking is enabled, I assigned the red dot button on the top deck to quickly access the FL setting for the IBIS, and the big “OK/Set” button on the back toggles in and out of MF magnifier.

MF magnifier and peaking allows quick accurate MF down to about f/5.6 or 8.0 without the need to revert to maximum aperture for focus.

Did get the FTZ along with the body but haven’t actually needed it yet.

Photec

There is nothing like getting a warm fuzzy message while you are pressing the shutter release.

Eir

I too, have a number of film era manual lenses that I will use the focus peaking feature with. I have found that even with the colored "in focus" area highlighted, the peaking seems to be broader than what actually ends up in focus. Has anyone else had this experience? Even stopped down quite a bit, it seems that the focus peaking still leaves a little grey area in the "what's in focus" department.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Eir wrote:

I too, have a number of film era manual lenses that I will use the focus peaking feature with. I have found that even with the colored "in focus" area highlighted, the peaking seems to be broader than what actually ends up in focus. Has anyone else had this experience? Even stopped down quite a bit, it seems that the focus peaking still leaves a little grey area in the "what's in focus" department.

I agree. Peaking isn’t perfect ..

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Eir wrote:

I too, have a number of film era manual lenses that I will use the focus peaking feature with. I have found that even with the colored "in focus" area highlighted, the peaking seems to be broader than what actually ends up in focus. Has anyone else had this experience? Even stopped down quite a bit, it seems that the focus peaking still leaves a little grey area in the "what's in focus" department.

When you stop down DOF increases so it’s harder to tell the exact focus point because more of the scene is in focus.

Focusing wide open helps with that but then some lenses change their focus point slightly when stopped down. So it’s not perfect.

Urnst Loc: Brownsville, Texas

JD750 wrote:

When you stop down DOF increases so it’s harder to tell the exact focus point because more of the scene is in focus.

Focusing wide open helps with that but then some lenses change their focus point slightly when stopped down. So it’s not perfect.

Well, life is never as good as we want it to be...

User ID

Eir wrote:

I too, have a number of film era manual lenses that I will use the focus peaking feature with. I have found that even with the colored "in focus" area highlighted, the peaking seems to be broader than what actually ends up in focus. Has anyone else had this experience? Even stopped down quite a bit, it seems that the focus peaking still leaves a little grey area in the "what's in focus" department.

Common experience with multiple brands. You hafta realize it just colors contrasty edges and learn to use it. It also shows you DoF, and likewise there can be some learning involved with placing the DoF.

As to stopping down, that will acoarst deepen what you called the “grey area” cuz you’re deepening the DoF. Note that “D” stands for “Depth” ? If you want minimize or eliminate your “grey area”, focus a 100/2.0 or a 50/1.0 wide open !

Check the menus or RTFM. Some models have adjustable sensitivity for peaking. In Custom Settings under Shooting/Display is a line called Peaking Highlights. When you open that up the adjustment scale is there. Your camera may differ but thaz the general idea.

Notice how obtuse the menu is. The word “Focus” is not used anywhere, and the word “Highlights” might suggest exposure control rather than a focusing aid.