6500 focus magnifier

[missingendpoint]

I really like the 6500 focus magnifier. Stays zoomed, manual focus friendly, etc.

I don't like the fact that it locks the exposure when you first enable it, so if the lighting happens to change, the exposure isn't corrected.

I mean, I can somewhat understand the problem: say you were doing full frame exposure calculation before you zoom -- what do you do when you are now zoomed-in? I can understand the developers quandary, but it kind of makes the function unusable in situations where the light is changing.

Are there any work-arounds for this?

 

[liyufx]

I suppose you can disable AF on shutter button and do back button focusing, that way you focus first, then press the shutter button to get the right exposure/framing. Would not that work?

Yu

 

[missingendpoint]

I suppose you can disable AF on shutter button and do back button focusing, that way you focus first, then press the shutter button to get the right exposure/framing. Would not that work?

Yu

I'm not talking about 'MF Assist' -- I'm talking about 'Focus Magnifier' ( first camera menu, screen 13 of 14 ).

If you have 'Focus Magnif. Time' set to 'No Limit' and 'AF in Focus Mag.' set to 'On', then the 'Focus Magnifier' function ( selected either from the menu or assigned to a button ) will zoom the image and allow manual or auto focus without loosing the zoomed image -- great for confirming focus -- but the exposure remains 'locked' to what it was when the 'Focus Magnifier' was first engaged -- just as it would be if you had engaged 'AEL toggle'.

So, no, I don't think what you describe will allow exposure to change while the image is magnified.

 

[BBQue]

I suppose you can disable AF on shutter button and do back button focusing, that way you focus first, then press the shutter button to get the right exposure/framing. Would not that work?

Yu

I'm not talking about 'MF Assist' -- I'm talking about 'Focus Magnifier' ( first camera menu, screen 13 of 14 ).

If you have 'Focus Magnif. Time' set to 'No Limit' and 'AF in Focus Mag.' set to 'On', then the 'Focus Magnifier' function ( selected either from the menu or assigned to a button ) will zoom the image and allow manual or auto focus without loosing the zoomed image -- great for confirming focus -- but the exposure remains 'locked' to what it was when the 'Focus Magnifier' was first engaged -- just as it would be if you had engaged 'AEL toggle'.

So, no, I don't think what you describe will allow exposure to change while the image is magnified.

What you want it to decouple focus from the shutter button. So either use back button method or manual focus. Set the focus where you want. Since it is decoupled from the shutter release, you can then concentrate on composition and camera will float exposure. If desired, you can then also lock exposure (AEL).

 

[missingendpoint]

I suppose you can disable AF on shutter button and do back button focusing, that way you focus first, then press the shutter button to get the right exposure/framing. Would not that work?

Yu

I'm not talking about 'MF Assist' -- I'm talking about 'Focus Magnifier' ( first camera menu, screen 13 of 14 ).

If you have 'Focus Magnif. Time' set to 'No Limit' and 'AF in Focus Mag.' set to 'On', then the 'Focus Magnifier' function ( selected either from the menu or assigned to a button ) will zoom the image and allow manual or auto focus without loosing the zoomed image -- great for confirming focus -- but the exposure remains 'locked' to what it was when the 'Focus Magnifier' was first engaged -- just as it would be if you had engaged 'AEL toggle'.

So, no, I don't think what you describe will allow exposure to change while the image is magnified.

What you want it to decouple focus from the shutter button. So either use back button method or manual focus. Set the focus where you want. Since it is decoupled from the shutter release, you can then concentrate on composition and camera will float exposure. If desired, you can then also lock exposure (AEL).

Have you actually tried the settings I outlined above on a 6500? As soon as you go into 'Focus Magnifier' mode, exposure does not float. No buttons pushed -- so it doesn't matter what you assign focus to -- shutter or back button. Merely starting 'Focus Magnifier' [with time set to unlimited and af in magnifier on] locks the exposure -- no buttons pushed.

 

[BBQue]

I suppose you can disable AF on shutter button and do back button focusing, that way you focus first, then press the shutter button to get the right exposure/framing. Would not that work?

Yu

I'm not talking about 'MF Assist' -- I'm talking about 'Focus Magnifier' ( first camera menu, screen 13 of 14 ).

If you have 'Focus Magnif. Time' set to 'No Limit' and 'AF in Focus Mag.' set to 'On', then the 'Focus Magnifier' function ( selected either from the menu or assigned to a button ) will zoom the image and allow manual or auto focus without loosing the zoomed image -- great for confirming focus -- but the exposure remains 'locked' to what it was when the 'Focus Magnifier' was first engaged -- just as it would be if you had engaged 'AEL toggle'.

So, no, I don't think what you describe will allow exposure to change while the image is magnified.

What you want it to decouple focus from the shutter button. So either use back button method or manual focus. Set the focus where you want. Since it is decoupled from the shutter release, you can then concentrate on composition and camera will float exposure. If desired, you can then also lock exposure (AEL).

Have you actually tried the settings I outlined above on a 6500? As soon as you go into 'Focus Magnifier' mode, exposure does not float. No buttons pushed -- so it doesn't matter what you assign focus to -- shutter or back button. Merely starting 'Focus Magnifier' [with time set to unlimited and af in magnifier on] locks the exposure -- no buttons pushed.

I use DMF (and sometimes MF) mode. The magnifier comes on automatically as soon as I turn the lens focus ring. It takes two or three seconds to find the focus. So yes, during those two or three seconds the exposure does not float, but as soon as I press the shutter button to take the picture, the camera obtains the correct exposure. Are you finding different?

 

[missingendpoint]

I suppose you can disable AF on shutter button and do back button focusing, that way you focus first, then press the shutter button to get the right exposure/framing. Would not that work?

Yu

I'm not talking about 'MF Assist' -- I'm talking about 'Focus Magnifier' ( first camera menu, screen 13 of 14 ).

If you have 'Focus Magnif. Time' set to 'No Limit' and 'AF in Focus Mag.' set to 'On', then the 'Focus Magnifier' function ( selected either from the menu or assigned to a button ) will zoom the image and allow manual or auto focus without loosing the zoomed image -- great for confirming focus -- but the exposure remains 'locked' to what it was when the 'Focus Magnifier' was first engaged -- just as it would be if you had engaged 'AEL toggle'.

So, no, I don't think what you describe will allow exposure to change while the image is magnified.

What you want it to decouple focus from the shutter button. So either use back button method or manual focus. Set the focus where you want. Since it is decoupled from the shutter release, you can then concentrate on composition and camera will float exposure. If desired, you can then also lock exposure (AEL).

Have you actually tried the settings I outlined above on a 6500? As soon as you go into 'Focus Magnifier' mode, exposure does not float. No buttons pushed -- so it doesn't matter what you assign focus to -- shutter or back button. Merely starting 'Focus Magnifier' [with time set to unlimited and af in magnifier on] locks the exposure -- no buttons pushed.

I use DMF (and sometimes MF) mode. The magnifier comes on automatically as soon as I turn the lens focus ring. It takes two or three seconds to find the focus. So yes, during those two or three seconds the exposure does not float, but as soon as I press the shutter button to take the picture, the camera obtains the correct exposure. Are you finding different?

The zoom that comes on automatically when you turn the focus ring is not 'Focus Magnifier' -- it is 'MF Assist'. The two are very different.

 

[BBQue]

I suppose you can disable AF on shutter button and do back button focusing, that way you focus first, then press the shutter button to get the right exposure/framing. Would not that work?

Yu

I'm not talking about 'MF Assist' -- I'm talking about 'Focus Magnifier' ( first camera menu, screen 13 of 14 ).

If you have 'Focus Magnif. Time' set to 'No Limit' and 'AF in Focus Mag.' set to 'On', then the 'Focus Magnifier' function ( selected either from the menu or assigned to a button ) will zoom the image and allow manual or auto focus without loosing the zoomed image -- great for confirming focus -- but the exposure remains 'locked' to what it was when the 'Focus Magnifier' was first engaged -- just as it would be if you had engaged 'AEL toggle'.

So, no, I don't think what you describe will allow exposure to change while the image is magnified.

What you want it to decouple focus from the shutter button. So either use back button method or manual focus. Set the focus where you want. Since it is decoupled from the shutter release, you can then concentrate on composition and camera will float exposure. If desired, you can then also lock exposure (AEL).

Have you actually tried the settings I outlined above on a 6500? As soon as you go into 'Focus Magnifier' mode, exposure does not float. No buttons pushed -- so it doesn't matter what you assign focus to -- shutter or back button. Merely starting 'Focus Magnifier' [with time set to unlimited and af in magnifier on] locks the exposure -- no buttons pushed.

I use DMF (and sometimes MF) mode. The magnifier comes on automatically as soon as I turn the lens focus ring. It takes two or three seconds to find the focus. So yes, during those two or three seconds the exposure does not float, but as soon as I press the shutter button to take the picture, the camera obtains the correct exposure. Are you finding different?

The zoom that comes on automatically when you turn the focus ring is not 'Focus Magnifier' -- it is 'MF Assist'. The two are very different.

I missed that - so when would you focus magnifier instead of the automatic focus assist?

 

[missingendpoint]

I suppose you can disable AF on shutter button and do back button focusing, that way you focus first, then press the shutter button to get the right exposure/framing. Would not that work?

Yu

I'm not talking about 'MF Assist' -- I'm talking about 'Focus Magnifier' ( first camera menu, screen 13 of 14 ).

If you have 'Focus Magnif. Time' set to 'No Limit' and 'AF in Focus Mag.' set to 'On', then the 'Focus Magnifier' function ( selected either from the menu or assigned to a button ) will zoom the image and allow manual or auto focus without loosing the zoomed image -- great for confirming focus -- but the exposure remains 'locked' to what it was when the 'Focus Magnifier' was first engaged -- just as it would be if you had engaged 'AEL toggle'.

So, no, I don't think what you describe will allow exposure to change while the image is magnified.

What you want it to decouple focus from the shutter button. So either use back button method or manual focus. Set the focus where you want. Since it is decoupled from the shutter release, you can then concentrate on composition and camera will float exposure. If desired, you can then also lock exposure (AEL).

Have you actually tried the settings I outlined above on a 6500? As soon as you go into 'Focus Magnifier' mode, exposure does not float. No buttons pushed -- so it doesn't matter what you assign focus to -- shutter or back button. Merely starting 'Focus Magnifier' [with time set to unlimited and af in magnifier on] locks the exposure -- no buttons pushed.

I use DMF (and sometimes MF) mode. The magnifier comes on automatically as soon as I turn the lens focus ring. It takes two or three seconds to find the focus. So yes, during those two or three seconds the exposure does not float, but as soon as I press the shutter button to take the picture, the camera obtains the correct exposure. Are you finding different?

The zoom that comes on automatically when you turn the focus ring is not 'Focus Magnifier' -- it is 'MF Assist'. The two are very different.

I missed that - so when would you focus magnifier instead of the automatic focus assist?

Best I can say is try it, maybe you will like it. It allows both button [shutter or back-button] auto-focus while remaining zoomed so you can visually verify focus accuracy, while allowing multiple presses of the focus button till you are satisfied without ever leaving the zoomed view. [the ability to auto-focus while zoomed was new with the 6500].

As I noted, I like it a lot -- except if I am in changing lighting conditions, as the exposure does not change though the focus can be changed.

http://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1640/v1/en/contents/TP0001116973.html