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Another focusing tool ;-)

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hemp0matic

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My A6K did not want to focus on this scene. It was hunting back and forth, then I remembered reading about focus peaking. I usually rely on autofocus which is a lot more reliable than it was on my NEX5N. The focus peaking worked out rather well and was much easier to use than I anticipated. I've been somewhat reluctant to purchase a manual lens, but now, with this new tool, I may pick up that 12 mm Rokinon after all





--
I take pictures like I play guitar. I will never be mistaken for Ansel Adams or Eric Clapton.
 
surely AF should have focused on the little building thingy?

...but welcome to [insert year here] all the same

... focus would have been just as easy with magnification in this instance though anyway
 
Whatever you do, do not follow down the path to perdition known as manual/vintage lenses. That way leads firmly into a black hole of lens acquisition that will never set you free.

Safer to play with opioids. Believe me, I know.

There should be a twelve step plan for us.

Seriously, if you decide that you want to try manual focusing there is a safer path. Modern lenses, available new, with modern coatings and don't need adapters.

Samyang/Rokinon make a range of generally decent, and in some cases excellent manual E mount lenses.

Kamlan makes a nice, reasonably priced 1.1/50 if you want speed on a budget.

7Artisans has just released a nice, reasonably priced 1.2/35, again, for speed on a budget.

Meike/Neewer are producing a range of lenses, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm that are small, light, decent performers at reasonable prices.
 
I just picked up an old FD 50mm f/1.8 Canon lens from Goodwill over the weekend for $10 (still attached to a Canon film camera) and I think it's currently my best lens! Vintage lens GAS isn't really a problem if you stick to thrift stores... yaknow, where $30 is an expensive lens!

I think modern coatings push folks (myself included) to chase more and more sharpness, which is probably worse for GAS. After playing around with that old Canon lens for a couple days, I'm really loving the 1970's soft orange glow it gives everything at f/1.8; though that might be because it reminds me of when I was a kid in the 70's and everything actually had a soft orange glow!

So, +1 for vintage lenses, autofocus be damned!
 
brilly said:
surely AF should have focused on the little building thingy?
Click to expand...
I thought it should as well, but it did not.
brilly said:
...but welcome to [insert year here] all the same

... focus would have been just as easy with magnification in this instance though anyway
Click to expand...
I've used magnification in the past, with mixed results. In this case, it used both and focussing on the gazebo, focus peaking highlights appeared or disappeared with teh slightest focus adjustment.
 
I am going to write "owns camera" in mine.
 
SLN001 said:
Whatever you do, do not follow down the path to perdition known as manual/vintage lenses. That way leads firmly into a black hole of lens acquisition that will never set you free.

Seriously, if you decide that you want to try manual focusing there is a safer path. Modern lenses, available new, with modern coatings and don't need adapters.
Click to expand...
Both are viable options, but I would prefer native E mount just to simplify the process. I'm not all that interested in dozens of prime lenses, just a super wide angle and a fast portrait lens with decent bokeh. The 18-55 and 55-210 serve their purpose 99% of the time.
 
hemp0matic said:
brilly said:
surely AF should have focused on the little building thingy?
Click to expand...
I thought it should as well, but it did not.
hemp0matic said:
...but welcome to [insert year here] all the same

... focus would have been just as easy with magnification in this instance though anyway
Click to expand...
I've used magnification in the past, with mixed results. In this case, it used both and focussing on the gazebo, focus peaking highlights appeared or disappeared with teh slightest focus adjustment.
Click to expand...
 
Davep76 said:
I just picked up an old FD 50mm f/1.8 Canon lens from Goodwill over the weekend for $10 (still attached to a Canon film camera) and I think it's currently my best lens! Vintage lens GAS isn't really a problem if you stick to thrift stores... yaknow, where $30 is an expensive lens!

I think modern coatings push folks (myself included) to chase more and more sharpness, which is probably worse for GAS. After playing around with that old Canon lens for a couple days, I'm really loving the 1970's soft orange glow it gives everything at f/1.8; though that might be because it reminds me of when I was a kid in the 70's and everything actually had a soft orange glow!

So, +1 for vintage lenses, autofocus be damned!
Click to expand...
 
brilly said:
what focus mode were you using? there is massive contrast in the snow on the roof and the building itself - should have been fine
Click to expand...
Well, I thought so too. Honestly, I don't remember the specific focus settings, but it was most likely AFC, and wide focus area. Probably would have been better off spot focus area with AFA or AFS, but then I wouldn't have discovered focus peaking.
 
hemp0matic said:
The focus peaking worked out rather well and was much easier to use than I anticipated. I've been somewhat reluctant to purchase a manual lens, but now, with this new tool, I may pick up that 12 mm Rokinon after all
Click to expand...
While I can strongly recommend picking up the 12mm Samyang since it's a great lens, focus peaking is not very useful tool with it.

With such massive FoV and deep DoF, there's so much nearly in focus that peaking basically just lights up the whole scene regardless of if you slightly off.
 
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