Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2014/02/24

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Subject: [Leica] OT: Focus peaking and an old friend - Paul
From: roark.paul at gmail.com (Paul Roark)
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:14:07 -0800
References: <99DA8789-FB7F-4A76-A47B-434DE42C4227@sfr.fr> <CAJ3Pgh4ihScSGMNRFn6jZgAeHagxYCKLjeP8knqOiRx35a6bGQ@mail.gmail.com> <A6A814F6-CA42-4748-ABA4-093A680B615B@sfr.fr>

I'm using the Sony a7r.

There are probably at least 2 issues.  First is how awkward or necessary it
is to adjust the system, and second how to use it so that it's accurate.

The best I've been able to do in terms of setting up the camera is to set
one of the functions on the Sony Function Button to peaking.  That allows
me to go directly to an adjustment screen that pops up on the left can pull
it up in the viewfinder, then I select strength.  It's a three-step
process.  I suppose part of the trick will be to just learn where the
buttons are well enough that I don't have to think much about it, but it
does add complexity.  I like my old mechanical wheels better.  Different
cameras, of course, will have different approaches here.

Aside from the mechanics of its use, exactly how to use it so it gives an
accurate indication as to what is in focus is not entirely clear to me.  I
suspect all of these cameras have a lot in common on this issue.  It seems
like I first need to set it's strength for how it's going to be used.  With
the magnification, set to high works best.  For non-magnification, High
ends of having way too much shimmering away.  In genera, it seems like high
contrast edges -- like back lit things -- shimmer whether or not they are
really that well in focus.

One of me goals is to be able to do a focus stack easily.  I hope I'll be
able to learn how to see the range covered by each focus setting easily in
the viewfinder -- with as few buttons to mess with as possible.  At this
point, I seem to still be better off knowing the meter distances to the
specific elements and going to them via the distance scale.  Removing the
need to memorize and re-focus by using peaking would make the process
faster.

For a quick dual-focus, I have a chart taped to the top of the camera
telling my the close setting needed for the f-stop.  For a sweeping
landscape, the dual focus if often all that is needed, and while the evf
system that works about as fast as it did with the M9 at this point.  The
potential of the evf approach is much higher, however.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com


On Mon, Feb 24, 2014 at 1:40 PM, philippe.amard <philippe.amard at 
sfr.fr>wrote:

> Thanks
>
> Which camera Paul?
>
> On the X-E1 you just have to press the (horizontal) 'wheel' and the image
> pops up ...
>
> Hope this helps
>
> Ph
>
>
> Le 24 f?vr. 14 ? 22:36, Paul Roark a ?crit :
>
>  Excellent shots.
>>
>> I wish someone could tell me how to get a net benefit from focus peaking.
>> I guess it's a learned skill, and one I have not quite learned yet.  It
>> seems like it almost needs an adjustment wheel on the camera to be able to
>> easily and quickly adjust it to the specifics of the subject -- without
>> having to remove the eye from the viewfinder and going into a menu.  Too
>> often I find it too strong, annoying and giving what I see as false
>> in-focus signals with high contrast edges, but then in low contrast areas
>> it seems too weak.
>>
>> Paul
>> www.PaulRoark.com
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Feb 24, 2014 at 1:22 PM, philippe.amard <philippe.amard at sfr.fr
>> >wrote:
>>
>>  I tried my old Angenieux 70 x 3 at 210mm using focus peaking this
>>> weekend.
>>>
>>> High ISO was necessary for speed as the X-E1 is probably not able to
>>> resist the weight of a heavy lens without a tripod collar ...
>>>
>>> So this is handheld yet focus peaked.
>>>
>>> Here at f5.6
>>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Phileica/album368/
>>> Angenieux+210+-5030.jpg.html
>>>
>>> And there at f22
>>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Phileica/album368/Ang__
>>> nieux+f22-5016.jpg.html
>>>
>>>
>>> Bien cordialement de Metz
>>> Philippe
>>>
>>>
>>> One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to
>>> the eye. Antoine de Saint Exup?ry in Le Petit Prince.
>>> NO ARCHIVE
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Leica Users Group.
>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>>
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>
>
> One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to
> the eye. Antoine de Saint Exup?ry in Le Petit Prince.
> NO ARCHIVE
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>


In reply to: Message from philippe.amard at sfr.fr (philippe.amard) ([Leica] OT: Focus peaking and an old friend)
Message from roark.paul at gmail.com (Paul Roark) ([Leica] OT: Focus peaking and an old friend)
Message from philippe.amard at sfr.fr (philippe.amard) ([Leica] OT: Focus peaking and an old friend - Paul)