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Focus peaking on Z6

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Yavor Nikolov

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I wanted to try this option some many users find useful and in the manual it is written focus peaking is activated with d10. In the menu of the camera d10 is highlights peaking, where I can choose the color of the marking, sensitivity etc. Am I doing something wrong? Camera is Z6, firmware version 3.00, I checked what's new in the latter versions and find no use to update it.
 
May I ask you a stupid question in order to respond to your own: have you thought of switching to manual focus (MF) in the i-menu (focus mode)?
 
I guess it's not your question that is stupid but mine :) No. Actually thought of but nooneknows why I decided that focus peaking should show the on/off focus areas in any focusing mode, no matter whether the focused area is achieved automaticaly or manually. Thank you anyway!
 
Yavor Nikolov said:
I guess it's not your question that is stupid but mine :) No. Actually thought of but nooneknows why I decided that focus peaking should show the on/off focus areas in any focusing mode, no matter whether the focused area is achieved automaticaly or manually. Thank you anyway!
Click to expand...
It does work in any focusing mode. I switched the color to blue and I was just using it in animal AF. If you adjust the focus ring in any AF mode, it pops up.
 
Good point. I think that's a pretty nice feature of the Z cameras. In any AF mode, you can temporarily switch to manual focus by moving the focus ring. You not only get the focus peaking, but you also get the red-turns-to-green focus indicator square that is otherwise only available in manual focus or AF-S.
 
BSiler said:
Good point. I think that's a pretty nice feature of the Z cameras. In any AF mode, you can temporarily switch to manual focus by moving the focus ring. You not only get the focus peaking, but you also get the red-turns-to-green focus indicator square that is otherwise only available in manual focus or AF-S.
Click to expand...
Yes, I like this design. Focus peaking is on all the time in Manual, but not when using AF. While in AF, any turn of the focus ring shows peaking. So it's not intrusive, but is instantly available.

I need to change peaking levels depending on the lens. Wide angle vs telephoto need different peaking levels. And using the 100% zoom often needs a different peaking level -- but when zooming, it's usually enough to just see what's in focus directly, no peaking assistance is necessary.
 
BSiler said:
Good point. I think that's a pretty nice feature of the Z cameras. In any AF mode, you can temporarily switch to manual focus by moving the focus ring. You not only get the focus peaking, but you also get the red-turns-to-green focus indicator square that is otherwise only available in manual focus or AF-S.
Click to expand...
I learned something, too. On my Z50 focus peaking active is limited to MF. That's where I was coming from.

In AF modes, it won't activate when I move the focus ring. Go figure... it's just getting people confused that use the Z50 as a second camera.
 
Mark said:
BSiler said:
Good point. I think that's a pretty nice feature of the Z cameras. In any AF mode, you can temporarily switch to manual focus by moving the focus ring. You not only get the focus peaking, but you also get the red-turns-to-green focus indicator square that is otherwise only available in manual focus or AF-S.
Click to expand...
I learned something, too. On my Z50 focus peaking active is limited to MF. That's where I was coming from.

In AF modes, it won't activate when I move the focus ring. Go figure... it's just getting people confused that use the Z50 as a second camera.
Click to expand...
When in an AF focus mode have you tried holding in the BBF button while turning the focus ring? That is what you have to do on a Z6/7 anyway to get the peaking to show up when in an AF mode.
 
Yavor Nikolov said:
I wanted to try this option some many users find useful and in the manual it is written focus peaking is activated with d10. In the menu of the camera d10 is highlights peaking, where I can choose the color of the marking, sensitivity etc. Am I doing something wrong? Camera is Z6, firmware version 3.00, I checked what's new in the latter versions and find no use to update it.
Click to expand...
As others have mentioned, Focus peaking only works in manual focus mode. Personally, I think this is a design flaw that wasn't thought through.

One example of where this is really poor is if you ever use a gimbal. When you use the gimbal's external controls to manually focus, focus peaking does not work. Because the camera needs to have autofocus enabled in order for the external gimbal to control the focus ring. In manual focus, an external gimbal cannot control the focus ring. There are several threads complaining of this lack of functionality, that I think would be an easy firmware fix...

Anyways, switch to manual focus (or manual focus override by moving the ring) and it works.
 
Last edited:
Ernie Misner said:
Mark said:
BSiler said:
Good point. I think that's a pretty nice feature of the Z cameras. In any AF mode, you can temporarily switch to manual focus by moving the focus ring. You not only get the focus peaking, but you also get the red-turns-to-green focus indicator square that is otherwise only available in manual focus or AF-S.
Click to expand...
I learned something, too. On my Z50 focus peaking active is limited to MF. That's where I was coming from.

In AF modes, it won't activate when I move the focus ring. Go figure... it's just getting people confused that use the Z50 as a second camera.
Click to expand...
When in an AF focus mode have you tried holding in the BBF button while turning the focus ring? That is what you have to do on a Z6/7 anyway to get the peaking to show up when in an AF mode.
Click to expand...
Thank you! Exactly, you're right.

The Z50 doesn't have a BBF button but:

after assigning the AE-L/AF-L button via menu f2 to AF-on, I get focus peaking when I push the customized button and move the focus ring.

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It can be important to appreciate the limits of focus peaking.

Focus peaking shows detail "acceptably sharp to the software" parallel to the short dimension of the frame and highlighted in a chosen colour.

Focus peaking does not exactly correspond to what is exactly sharp within the available depth of field.

My advice is use the lowest focus peaking option available.

I work from a tripod when using it - and zoom into the image as belt and braces to help check the zone of sharpness within the available depth of field.

For green English landscapes my chosen colour is red.
 
Mark said:
Ernie Misner said:
Mark said:
BSiler said:
Good point. I think that's a pretty nice feature of the Z cameras. In any AF mode, you can temporarily switch to manual focus by moving the focus ring. You not only get the focus peaking, but you also get the red-turns-to-green focus indicator square that is otherwise only available in manual focus or AF-S.
Click to expand...
I learned something, too. On my Z50 focus peaking active is limited to MF. That's where I was coming from.

In AF modes, it won't activate when I move the focus ring. Go figure... it's just getting people confused that use the Z50 as a second camera.
Click to expand...
When in an AF focus mode have you tried holding in the BBF button while turning the focus ring? That is what you have to do on a Z6/7 anyway to get the peaking to show up when in an AF mode.
Click to expand...
Thank you! Exactly, you're right.

The Z50 doesn't have a BBF button but:

after assigning the AE-L/AF-L button via menu f2 to AF-on, I get focus peaking when I push the customized button and move the focus ring.
Click to expand...
You can probably accomplish the same thing while holding the shutter release button in the half pressed stage. However, having an assigned button to BBF is easier from an ergonomic standpoint. It's just an operator preference either way.
 
Leonard Shepherd said:
It can be important to appreciate the limits of focus peaking.

Focus peaking shows detail "acceptably sharp to the software" parallel to the short dimension of the frame and highlighted in a chosen colour.

Focus peaking does not exactly correspond to what is exactly sharp within the available depth of field.

My advice is use the lowest focus peaking option available.

I work from a tripod when using it - and zoom into the image as belt and braces to help check the zone of sharpness within the available depth of field.

For green English landscapes my chosen colour is red.
Click to expand...
Your tip/reminder to zoom into the image is a good one. It can really make the fine tuning of the focus much easier on a small target area. The only thing I wish for is the ability to revert back to non-zoom with a half press of the shutter release button.
 
Digital Shutterbug said:
Leonard Shepherd said:
It can be important to appreciate the limits of focus peaking.

Focus peaking shows detail "acceptably sharp to the software" parallel to the short dimension of the frame and highlighted in a chosen colour.

Focus peaking does not exactly correspond to what is exactly sharp within the available depth of field.

My advice is use the lowest focus peaking option available.

I work from a tripod when using it - and zoom into the image as belt and braces to help check the zone of sharpness within the available depth of field.

For green English landscapes my chosen colour is red.
Click to expand...
Your tip/reminder to zoom into the image is a good one. It can really make the fine tuning of the focus much easier on a small target area. The only thing I wish for is the ability to revert back to non-zoom with a half press of the shutter release button.
Click to expand...
I have the F2 button set to "100% zoom". So it zooms into the focus point, and zooms back out with another press. I can also hold the AF-On button, and manually focus with the lens ring while zoomed in. I suppose that's the reason that a half press doesn't reset the zoom.

Yes, zooming makes adjusting focus on difficult subjects much more effective. For instance, when a fence or branches are in front of a subject.

I use this zoom often, since it's fast and easy. The F2 zoom also zooms to the focus point when doing image review.
 
I'm sorry for the maybe silly explanations, but just to be sure I'm doing everything right. Nowhere in the menus I have "Focus Peaking". if I turn on "highlights peaking" when I turn the focus ring, or when using a non CPU manual lens, I see small spots of the selected color in the area that is acceptably sharp I guess. Where goes the highlights peaking then? And is this what we are looking for? On my display sometimes this color fringes look very subtle and not particularly on all sharp edges in the focused area, at first glance it's hard to define where they are and where not. The sensitivity is normal, the middle step. I feel more confident to define the focus at 100% zoom by my eye than use the peaking function, am I missing smth?
 
jthomas39 said:
Digital Shutterbug said:
Your tip/reminder to zoom into the image is a good one. It can really make the fine tuning of the focus much easier on a small target area. The only thing I wish for is the ability to revert back to non-zoom with a half press of the shutter release button.
Click to expand...
I have the F2 button set to "100% zoom". So it zooms into the focus point, and zooms back out with another press. I can also hold the AF-On button, and manually focus with the lens ring while zoomed in. I suppose that's the reason that a half press doesn't reset the zoom.

Yes, zooming makes adjusting focus on difficult subjects much more effective. For instance, when a fence or branches are in front of a subject.

I use this zoom often, since it's fast and easy. The F2 zoom also zooms to the focus point when doing image review.
Click to expand...
The F1 and F2 buttons are the fastest way to get to various functions. I love those two controls. Unfortunately, I have F1/2 programmed for Focus mode/AF-area mode and Subject tracking, respectively. I use them so often that I can't bring myself to change how I use them.

I use the OK button for zooming. I think that's the default. I don't remember right off hand if it can even be programmed. I could possibly use the OK button for subject tracking, and use the F2 button for the zooming function. It's a matter of reprogramming my muscle memory. :-(

My biggest problem is having neuropathy in my fingers. Moving your thumb from the AF-On button down to the OK button seems like such a natural and easy movement for most people. That's not the case for me. I'm apt to push almost anything besides the OK button. I often have to move the camera from my face to see where I'm placing my thumb.

I think I will try your suggestion and see how it goes. It might work out better than my current settings with some training. Thank you.
 
Yavor Nikolov said:
I'm sorry for the maybe silly explanations, but just to be sure I'm doing everything right. Nowhere in the menus I have "Focus Peaking". if I turn on "highlights peaking" when I turn the focus ring, or when using a non CPU manual lens, I see small spots of the selected color in the area that is acceptably sharp I guess. Where goes the highlights peaking then? And is this what we are looking for? On my display sometimes this color fringes look very subtle and not particularly on all sharp edges in the focused area, at first glance it's hard to define where they are and where not. The sensitivity is normal, the middle step. I feel more confident to define the focus at 100% zoom by my eye than use the peaking function, am I missing smth?
Click to expand...
You're not missing anything. It's a matter of training and setting the sensitivity to the right setting for your subject. You can't just set it for Standard, and expect it to work properly for your particular scene. It's a control I find myself changing often. I would say I am probably in High most of the time. But, it can be too much for some subjects. I have focus peking in My Menu for quick access.

I also use red most of there time. However, it's not always the best color. If your subject is red, it's useless. You will find yourself changing the color and sensitivity from time to time. Just experiment with the controls to become familiar with what focus peaking can do for you.

--
Steve
 
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Yavor Nikolov said:
I'm sorry for the maybe silly explanations, but just to be sure I'm doing everything right. Nowhere in the menus I have "Focus Peaking".
Click to expand...
Nikon calls it highlights peaking whereas focus peaking is just a general term that has been around for quite a while - same thing though and that threw me at first too.
Yavor Nikolov said:
if I turn on "highlights peaking" when I turn the focus ring, or when using a non CPU manual lens, I see small spots of the selected color in the area that is acceptably sharp I guess. Where goes the highlights peaking then? And is this what we are looking for? On my display sometimes this color fringes look very subtle and not particularly on all sharp edges in the focused area, at first glance it's hard to define where they are and where not. The sensitivity is normal, the middle step. I feel more confident to define the focus at 100% zoom by my eye than use the peaking function, am I missing smth?
Click to expand...
Yes, the spots of color is what you are looking for. Depending on the light and contrast it can be very difficult to see at times. In those cases use the Zoom feature and focus by eye as you said. It takes practice. Try turning the sensitivity up to high and practice with that to see the color, then turn it back down for more accuracy later. Actually use Zoom with or without the highlights peaking. Zoom works fantastic to see what is going on when using AF as well and it always zooms right into where you have the AF point set.
 
Digital Shutterbug said:
The F1 and F2 buttons are the fastest way to get to various functions. I love those two controls. Unfortunately, I have F1/2 programmed for Focus mode/AF-area mode and Subject tracking, respectively. I use them so often that I can't bring myself to change how I use them.
Click to expand...
With luck the new pro body "to be available within the year" will have more Fn buttons.
 
Leonard Shepherd said:
Digital Shutterbug said:
The F1 and F2 buttons are the fastest way to get to various functions. I love those two controls. Unfortunately, I have F1/2 programmed for Focus mode/AF-area mode and Subject tracking, respectively. I use them so often that I can't bring myself to change how I use them.
Click to expand...
With luck the new pro body "to be available within the year" will have more Fn buttons.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, those extra buttons will be way out of my budget. :-(
 
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