Not sure how the newer ones work, but 1st Gen a7x bodies, there's no way to make focus magnify a single-press process. I have it assigned to C1 (right next to the shutter release) and just double tap. I didn't care for the auto focus magnify setting, because my main subject never stops moving and it's not good for that.
Also ditto on shooting raw+jpeg with +3 sharpening - helps a lot.
sticknpuck wrote:
Thanks for all the great info and images showing all this lens is (and isn't) capable of. I've recently picked one up with the A7iii. Coming from from 5 years of various Fuji X usage I can say I am very happy with this camera and lens.
I don't want to hijack this thread but i'd be interested for those using the FE mount of this lens how you have your focus magnifier setup and how you typically use it. I find for most usage I can get accurate focus without the magnifier so I turned MF assist off as it interrupts shooting. I then assigned Focus Magnifier to the Multi Slc Ctr Button. But it doesn't work in the same fashion as MF assist as it takes 4 button pushes to get through the process. Is there any way to assign a button to activate MF assist so that it only zooms when the button is held down?
I've only had it a couple days and there is a seemingly a million ways to set this thing up which is great. I just hope i've missed something and this can be done.
Huh, I'm going to have to try that! sebbe wrote:
I may add, that I'm using "Shot Result Preview" set to C3. While pressed it does not magnify when rotating the focus ring. Very useful for prefocus or shots in motion.
I tried it and it's great. I prefer adding "Shot Result Preview" to "C2" because it's close to the shutter button and I can access it with my right hand (while focusing with my left one). Whenever I don't want the auto-magnify to take effect, I just press on hold C2, focus, and then press the shutter button to take the shot.
Thank Fred, this is what I am looking for - to only use the MF assist when needed. I will likely program to the AFON button in the Custom 1 dial for use with this lens only. Then I can use my right thumb to preview and still activate the shutter with my index finger.
Cheers guys. Hope to add some pics to the thread soon.
Funny I do not like auto magnify at all. I use C1 for focus magnify. C2 is AF/MF toggle. Since I use AF lenses at times this gets me manual focus on those lenses
GMPhotography wrote:
Funny I do not like auto magnify at all. I use C1 for focus magnify. C2 is AF/MF toggle. Since I use AF lenses at times this gets me manual focus on those lenses
A lot of shooters think the way you do so this is a somewhat polarizing preference. When I am forced to magnify manually with adapted lenses I find that for me, it takes extra time to get the shot and the accuracy is not improved. Of course when shooting landscapes or anything on a tripod, I disable auto-magnify and do it manually using the highest magnification. (12.4x)
Fred Miranda wrote:
A lot of shooters think the way you do so this is a somewhat polarizing preference. When I am forced to magnify manually with adapted lenses I find that for me, it takes extra time to get the shot and the accuracy is not improved. Of course when shooting landscapes or anything on a tripod, I disable auto-magnify and do it manually using the highest magnification. (12.4x)
It just kind of bugs me that if i hit the focusing ring before I'm even ready it gets in that mode and I'm lost on where I'm at.
I don't like auto magnify either - tried it once and deactivated it. One reason, I suppose, is that I'm always on a tripod except for the rare event such as last weekend's car show. I did that handheld, but operated the camera the same as always, i.e. set the point where I want to focus, then press C1 a couple of times to bring up magnification. If it takes a second longer that way, it doesn't bother me - my subjects don't move under their own power anyway.
sticknpuck wrote:
Thank Fred, this is what I am looking for - to only use the MF assist when needed. I will likely program to the AFON button in the Custom 1 dial for use with this lens only. Then I can use my right thumb to preview and still activate the shutter with my index finger.
Cheers guys. Hope to add some pics to the thread soon.
If you are referring to the Custom 1 dial on top of the camera, I don't think the AF-On can be added to the dial memory.
See, I'm on the other side of the issue -- I love auto magnify!
I shoot predominately hand held, so for me it helps me quickly get the shot I'm after, in perfect focus. I spend most of my time looking a subject over doing a slow orbit, then get the shot and move on. I know precisely where I want the focus to be, so it's great to just zero in and grab that spot.
I agree with Fred. I use the double-press with manual lenses that are not in the Sony/Zeiss/CV compatibility. It is a hassle to do the double contact. I'd prefer to be able to program either lesser or greater magnification right off the bat, and easily turn auto-mag off for tripod use.
Fred Miranda wrote:
I tried it and it's great. I prefer adding "Shot Result Preview" to "C2" because it's close to the shutter button and I can access it with my right hand (while focusing with my left one). Whenever I don't want the auto-magnify to take effect, I just press on hold C2, focus, and then press the shutter button to take the shot.
I have long fingers. It's really a non-issue to reach c3 with the thumb and press the shutter simultaneously.
Curious question for those who like auto magnify: are you doing (central) focus and recompose? I don't (mainly due to field curvature issues), and my point of focus is often somewhere far to one side.
DannyBurkPhoto wrote:
Curious question for those who like auto magnify: are you doing (central) focus and recompose? I don't (mainly due to field curvature issues), and my point of focus is often somewhere far to one side.
I never center focus and recompose, especially with fast lenses like the 40/1.2. Instead, I move the focusing point using the joystick to cover my subject and just rotate the ring to focus. It works great whenever focus speed is a priority.
DannyBurkPhoto wrote:
Curious question for those who like auto magnify: are you doing (central) focus and recompose? I don't (mainly due to field curvature issues), and my point of focus is often somewhere far to one side.
DannyBurkPhoto wrote:
Curious question for those who like auto magnify: are you doing (central) focus and recompose? I don't (mainly due to field curvature issues), and my point of focus is often somewhere far to one side.
With my A9 I don't use the auto magnify feature, and I often rely just on focus peaking, but when I magnify manually I never recompose. I move the focus point to desired location by joystick or sometimes by touch. Mostly by joystick when using manual native lenses but when I use TAP I typically use touch focusing.
Got mine today. First thing I noticed is the poor design of, what are apparently, the lens mount ribs on the lens. I'm trying to turn (while looking through the EVF) what I think is the aperture ring, and its not turning. The lens mount ribs are the same diameter, with same machining (feel), and located right next to the aperture dial ribs. I don't have this issue with my CV 12, so I took a look at it. The aperture ring/ribs have a larger diameter than the lens mount ribs. I'm surprised I haven't noticed other users mention this. Worse than the Loxia 21 design (which really doesn't bother me), and plenty users have complained about that lens with a similar issue.
My first impression of the optical properties are meh. The central sharpness is excellent (at moderate distance), but the edges and corners are lacking. The shadows seem to lack contrast. A nice boutique lens for a special look, but I can't see it being a good landscape lens. Probably not general purpose enough for me.
Aug 16, 2018 at 09:49 PM
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Yeah, I actually love the design. There's a space and the aperture ring is thin. The ridges are also more raised, or at least they feel rougher. Plus it's all the way at the front. Now rings at the base seem awkward to me, but hey to each their own I suppose.
pdmphoto wrote:
Got mine today. First thing I noticed is the poor design of, what are apparently, the lens mount ribs on the lens. I'm trying to turn (while looking through the EVF) what I think is the aperture ring, and its not turning. The lens mount ribs are the same diameter, with same machining (feel), and located right next to the aperture dial ribs. I don't have this issue with my CV 12, so I took a look at it. The aperture ring/ribs have a larger diameter than the lens mount ribs. I'm surprised I haven't noticed other users mention this. Worse than the Loxia 21 design (which really doesn't bother me), and plenty users have complained about that lens with a similar issue....Show more →
Are you talking about the declicking ring at the very front? You push that towards the mount and rotate to turn the clicks off. It took me a second to get used to that not being the aperture ring too, but adapted quickly to it.
pdmphoto wrote:
Got mine today. First thing I noticed is the poor design of, what are apparently, the lens mount ribs on the lens. I'm trying to turn (while looking through the EVF) what I think is the aperture ring, and its not turning. The lens mount ribs are the same diameter, with same machining (feel), and located right next to the aperture dial ribs. I don't have this issue with my CV 12, so I took a look at it. The aperture ring/ribs have a larger diameter than the lens mount ribs. I'm surprised I haven't noticed other users mention this. Worse than the Loxia 21 design (which really doesn't bother me), and plenty users have complained about that lens with a similar issue....Show more →
pdmphoto wrote:
My first impression of the optical properties are meh. The central sharpness is excellent (at moderate distance), but the edges and corners are lacking. The shadows seem to lack contrast. A nice boutique lens for a special look, but I can't see it being a good landscape lens. Probably not general purpose enough for me.
