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Focus peaking v. magnification

Started May 4, 2014 | Discussions thread
TrapperJohn Forum Pro • Posts: 16,488
The DOF preview can work, too

I tried focus peaking on the EM1, and found it really no more useful than it was on a Sony NEX-7. Not all that precise, and it doesn't show degree of focus, it's either on or it's off.

What I've learned to use is the DOF preview, if you have a decently fast lens mounted. Since the camera runs the lens wide open for exposure and AF, the DOF preview shows the shallowest possible DOF, certainly it does on the EM1. Again, most prevalent on a fast lens, not prevalent on a slow lens, but I MF the EM1 by watching where the 'in focus' band is visible as I twist the ring. With a bit of practice, it can be almost as accurate as magnified view, only you don't lose sight of the composition. Adjust focus until your desired focus point is in the center of the in focus band.

There's nothing more frustrating than having magnified view on, and then realizing that you've drifted off of the composition. You have to cycle back to non magnified, recompose, and then start over.

Ideally, I'd like to see magnified view only on a portion of the VF, not the entire VF, but I suspect current cameras don't have the processing power to do that.

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