p.1 #1 · Nikon hates focus peaking (it almost got into D750)
I have recently upgraded from D610 to D750.
The D750 has a new feature - on mode dial it has EFFECTS option. When you select it, you can chose from several effects and I guess nobody ever cares for them. But one of them, called Color sketch, works pretty good as focus peaking in live view mode. No, let me rephrase that: It works as superior focus peaking mode. Compared to focus peaking in Sony a6000 it is actually more usable for the focusing part. It works in daylight, it works in dark room. Look at it:
You can also magnify it like in normal live view and still get this effect and it is still helpful to focus. It works with lower contrast subjects too.
Nikon must hate focus peaking so much they gone all the way with implementation of this yet they never tried to make it proper focus peaking feature. Even newest D5 and D500 don't have peaking (or they did not market it in announcement and post-announcement materials at least) though Nikon has developed technology to do so two years ago.
So is it usable? Well. You don't get raw in EFFECTS mode and you get cartoon picture. But you can focus in EFFECTS then switch to your preferred mode like A or M or U2 (which is next to EFFECTS and can do what you want) and shoot from there. You don't have direct control over aperture, you can control it indirectly through ISO and through flash (I got f/4 with flash on, f/1.4 with flash off on 50/1.4 in dark).
Why Nikon didn't really make it usable?
One small step for a firmware programmer, one giant leap for manual focus lens users.
Hopefully Nikonhackers will make that step complete. Just assign EFFECTS on/off to AE-L/AF-L and it would be usable if it could be used in A or M mode to control aperture directly and get raw.
p.1 #4 · Nikon hates focus peaking (it almost got into D750)
joefoo wrote:
Once you get the lens focused, can't you just switch to any mode you like and take the picture?
Yes, that is the way how to use it. You can switch to any mode you like, but U2 is quite good one as you can set it to work as any mode (P,A,S,M) any ISO control (separate from ISO control in EFFECTS) and because U2 is next to EFFECTS it is very easy to switch to it.
Unfortunately that means you have to put your left hand off focus ring on lens and put it on mode dial. That is going to slow you down. If you could do with hand on focus ring you might be able to focus on slowly moving subjects, but you cannot like this.
BSPhotog wrote:
I imagine you'd just shoot RAW. Then none of those effects would be applied to the RAW file.
Unfortunately you don't get RAW in EFFECTS mode. And you even have to wait two seconds after shot for camera to apply effect to full JPG image.
p.1 #5 · Nikon hates focus peaking (it almost got into D750)
That actually looks pretty amazing in its smoothness. Looks better than any other focus peaking implementation I've seen on any mirrorless camera.
Blows my mind that Canikon simply refuse to add this feature for manual focus or video work, especially when they apparently already have the superior technology. Very frustrating. It's the only thing keeping me from using old Nikon AI/AIS glass (that, or a proper drop in split prism screen).
p.1 #6 · Nikon hates focus peaking (it almost got into D750)
That definitely looks better than focus peaking. However, it's aimed at a chart. I'd love to see how well this works when used with a model or in a more demanding environment.
p.1 #7 · Nikon hates focus peaking (it almost got into D750)
jsv_20 wrote:
That definitely looks better than focus peaking. However, it's aimed at a chart. I'd love to see how well this works when used with a model or in a more demanding environment.
In my admittedly limited experience with mirrorless focus peaking bodies, flat surfaces always gave me the hardest time. FP works best when there's lots of edges and contours for the little jittery dots to dance on. When there's only flat surfaces, the dots or lines aren't super visible. When they are, they're still not very pleasant or accurate to use; it's just a jittery mess. I like the solid lines shown in the video. Much more fluid.
p.1 #9 · Nikon hates focus peaking (it almost got into D750)
Mark_L wrote:
This looks pretty cool - good find. I guess only really usable for tripod work but still.
Not just tripod. It worked for me well for non-moving subjects with 24/1.4. It worked better than spending tens of seconds adjusting focus via viewfinder.
Only problem was moving children - switching between EFFECTS and U2 is not that fast.
I will try to do another video showing this with various subjects and lenses.
p.1 #10 · Nikon hates focus peaking (it almost got into D750)
I use focus peaking (and one button magnification) all the time for video with my FS7. It's an extremely useful tool. If Nikon has the ability, I have no idea why they wouldn't include it as a selling point. It has its place.
p.1 #11 · Nikon hates focus peaking (it almost got into D750)
Just tested this on my D750, and it basically blows away my A6000's peaking in terms of visibility and accuracy., especially at high ISO Too bad it can't be used for a wider range of subjects.
Next39 wrote:
If Nikon has the ability, I have no idea why they wouldn't include it as a selling point. It has its place.
With the way Nikon touts their OVF these days as a selling point over mirrorless, I doubt they'll be promoting any Live View improvements until they themselves release an APS-C/FF mirrorless camera.
p.1 #12 · Nikon hates focus peaking (it almost got into D750)
I did not open this thread for the longest time because of the title, thinking that it was another rant against Nikon for not including something. When I finally read it,I was amazed to find an awesome nugget of information. What a great find! I certainly do agree that the features should be implemented as the OP suggested. I would use it all the time. I do not have a d750 but I am wondering is it sensitive enough to do AF fine tuning? That could be another possible use also.
Let's all chant together "Firmware Update, Firmware Update"....
p.1 #13 · Nikon hates focus peaking (it almost got into D750)
Hey OP,
What a great find. I don't have the D750, but what a cool use of that feature. Maybe this will get the attention of someone in Nikon and they will properly implement it. Certainly it's all firmware programming, it would be great to have it added to the more recent bodies.
p.1 #14 · Nikon hates focus peaking (it almost got into D750)
Artscar2 wrote:
I did not open this thread for the longest time because of the title, thinking that it was another rant against Nikon for not including something. When I finally read it,I was amazed to find an awesome nugget of information.
p.1 #15 · Nikon hates focus peaking (it almost got into D750)
My guess is Nikon thinks this feature would encourage people to buy a bunch of third party, non-AF lenses, costing money that their customers might otherwise spend on Nikon gear. I would love it if it came in a firmware update, but I would bet money against it happening.
