Why can't we have either a better manual focusing aid (specifically, doesn't destroy your ability to compose like current MF assist & more accurate than focus peaking) or these same lenses with AF?
Looks like a hell of a lens, congrats to those who don't have my reservations about MF on current Sony bodies. Think this is exactly what people are looking for when wishing for a 35 1.8 G series, I know I am haha.
JVan_02 wrote:
Why can't we have either a better manual focusing aid (specifically, doesn't destroy your ability to compose like current MF assist & more accurate than focus peaking) or these same lenses with AF?
Looks like a hell of a lens, congrats to those who don't have my reservations about MF on current Sony bodies. Think this is exactly what people are looking for when wishing for a 35 1.8 G series, I know I am haha.
Well you can turn off MF assist to allow compose and focus, then focus check with mag from a button.
JVan_02 wrote:
Why can't we have either a better manual focusing aid (specifically, doesn't destroy your ability to compose like current MF assist & more accurate than focus peaking) or these same lenses with AF?
Looks like a hell of a lens, congrats to those who don't have my reservations about MF on current Sony bodies. Think this is exactly what people are looking for when wishing for a 35 1.8 G series, I know I am haha.
MF assist is a nuisance.
I like to have it turned off, compose, move the focus point around with the joystick to where I want critical focus, and press the joystick to magnify. I can't imagine a better MF experience.
Apr 02, 2021 at 06:23 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
JVan_02 wrote:
Why can't we have either a better manual focusing aid (specifically, doesn't destroy your ability to compose like current MF assist & more accurate than focus peaking) or these same lenses with AF?
Looks like a hell of a lens, congrats to those who don't have my reservations about MF on current Sony bodies. Think this is exactly what people are looking for when wishing for a 35 1.8 G series, I know I am haha.
I'm not sure what you mean by current MF assist. Are you talking about focus peaking? Are you talking about magnification? Are you talking about turning up contrast and using the shimmer in the viewfinder? There are a lot of different ways to do MF with an EVF. Sure Sony could add some new MF aids and that would be great -- when I use one of my adapters on Nikon Z camera I get a box that I can move to where I want to focus and it turns from red to green when focus has been achieved, and I believe some L mount cameras have picture in picture which allow you to keep the whole scene but magnify a small area for MF. Are these the sorts of MF aids you want? If not what exactly would you like to see? How do current MF methods destroy you ability to compose?
Apr 02, 2021 at 06:32 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
I like to have it turned off, compose, move the focus point around with the joystick to where I want critical focus, and press the joystick to magnify. I can't imagine a better MF experience.
This is exactly what I do, but I also often have the composition I want in my head and move the focus point to where I want to focus before I even bring the view finder up to my eye.
I like to have it turned off, compose, move the focus point around with the joystick to where I want critical focus, and press the joystick to magnify. I can't imagine a better MF experience.
As someone who has used split prism focusing screens all EVF/rear screen solutions seem incredibly clunky at this point. I realize split prisms might not have the accuracy one is accustomed to with either modern AF solutions or MF assist, but unlike MF assist one can focus and compose AT THE SAME TIIIIIIIIIIIIME (I'm just exaggerating for effect, no digs meant at anyone :P )
I guess in this matter it just seems too clunky for me. I know some street photogs use manual focus as is all the time and people photograph kids all the same. Not trying to say it's impossible. I just don't enjoy it.
Even with a split ring I’d often focus and then recompose. I do the same thing with the magnify button. I realize that is a little more complex, but I do value the added accuracy.
Not arguing you shouldn’t feel the way you do.
-Tim
JVan_02 wrote:
As someone who has used split prism focusing screens all EVF/rear screen solutions seem incredibly clunky at this point. I realize split prisms might not have the accuracy one is accustomed to with either modern AF solutions or MF assist, but unlike MF assist one can focus and compose AT THE SAME TIIIIIIIIIIIIME (I'm just exaggerating for effect, no digs meant at anyone :P )
I guess in this matter it just seems too clunky for me. I know some street photogs use manual focus as is all the time and people photograph kids all the same. Not trying to say it's impossible. I just don't enjoy it. ...Show more →
Right. There is one manufacturer, I think its Fuji, who shows a pop-up magnification of where the user has selected while still showing the entire scene. I would love Sony to implement something similar.
I like to have it turned off, compose, move the focus point around with the joystick to where I want critical focus, and press the joystick to magnify. I can't imagine a better MF experience.
Sounds like you'd enjoy an M camera with rangefinder focusing.
Most any mirrorless with the auto magnify and peaking turned off should act like this – even my M10-R can be configured this way. The magnify feature is usually the rear wheel in/out – or as in the case of the GFX, pressing the rear wheel punches in and spinning it changes magnification if you feel you punched in too far or not far enough.
rhawidantas wrote:
Right. There is one manufacturer, I think its Fuji, who shows a pop-up magnification of where the user has selected while still showing the entire scene. I would love Sony to implement something similar.
Fujifilm, Canon, probably others...
Apr 02, 2021 at 09:30 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: On
JVan_02 wrote:
As someone who has used split prism focusing screens all EVF/rear screen solutions seem incredibly clunky at this point. I realize split prisms might not have the accuracy one is accustomed to with either modern AF solutions or MF assist, but unlike MF assist one can focus and compose AT THE SAME TIIIIIIIIIIIIME (I'm just exaggerating for effect, no digs meant at anyone :P )
I guess in this matter it just seems too clunky for me. I know some street photogs use manual focus as is all the time and people photograph kids all the same. Not trying to say it's impossible. I just don't enjoy it. ...Show more →
It sounds to me like you might find focussing looking for a shimmer in the EVF (without magnifying or using peaking) as a strategy you might like. That technique does allow both focus and composing at the same time. People tweak the jpeg settings to make this work, so it does not work if you actually want jpegs, but does if you want RAW output. I don't use this strategy but many around here do. Ask in the alternative gear forum and I am sure someone will recommend settings that will let you try MF that way.
Steve Spencer wrote:
It sounds to me like you might find focussing looking for a shimmer in the EVF (without magnifying or using peaking) as a strategy you might like. That technique does allow both focus and composing at the same time. People tweak the jpeg settings to make this work, so it does not work if you actually want jpegs, but does if you want RAW output. I don't use this strategy but many around here do. Ask in the alternative gear forum and I am sure someone will recommend settings that will let you try MF that way.
Used to do that with my NEX 7. Had to basically rack focus every shot to made sure one of my shots was in focus and having tasted modern AF I know I won't find it worth it anymore. Besides, the 40 G looks to be 90% as good and the 35 GM every bit as good outside of CA correction. The sacrifice I'd need to make in terms of usability just wouldn't be worth it for me—even if the 35 APO is basically the best combination of IQ and form factor short of the $8k APO summicron.
So far I really like what I see. Transition zone is smooth and oof rendering is lower in contrast just with the CV 50/2 APO.
A floating element lens or group allows for high resolution/contrast up close, even at MFD. Color rendition seems lovely as well.
My only complaint so far is the moderate optical vignetting which means cat-eye bokeh wide open and uneven rendering.
All in all, Voigtlander was able to bring the quality and look from their 50mm APO to 35mm.
I should have my E-mount copy as soon as it's available. Just to think that not long ago, some of us were desperate for a great 35mm lens for the E-mount, even messing with PCX filters and all. Now we have three new outstanding options for every budget and taste.
So far I really like what I see. Transition zone is smooth and oof rendering is lower in contrast just with the CV 50/2 APO.
A floating element lens or group allows for high resolution/contrast up close, even at MFD. Color rendition seems lovely as well.
My only complaint so far is the moderate optical vignetting which means cat-eye bokeh wide open and uneven rendering.
All in all, Voigtlander was able to bring the quality and look from their 50mm APO to 35mm.
I should have my E-mount copy as soon as it's available. Just to think that not long ago, some of us were desperate for a great 35mm lens for the E-mount, even messing with PCX filters and all. Now we have three new outstanding options for every budget and taste....Show more →
What's the other two?
highdesertmesa wrote:
Sounds like you'd enjoy an M camera with rangefinder focusing.
Most any mirrorless with the auto magnify and peaking turned off should act like this – even my M10-R can be configured this way. The magnify feature is usually the rear wheel in/out – or as in the case of the GFX, pressing the rear wheel punches in and spinning it changes magnification if you feel you punched in too far or not far enough.
Sadly what I don’t like about RF focussing is focus and recompose. You can’t move the focus patch (of course) so for off centre subjects you have to focus centrally and recompose, which reduces accuracy a little. With the workflow I mentioned, the camera stays at the angle required by your composition, and the focus patch is moved to the subject before magnification. At small apertures it doesn’t matter much, but at wide ones there is a useful touch more accuracy.
JVan_02 wrote:
As someone who has used split prism focusing screens all EVF/rear screen solutions seem incredibly clunky at this point. I realize split prisms might not have the accuracy one is accustomed to with either modern AF solutions or MF assist, but unlike MF assist one can focus and compose AT THE SAME TIIIIIIIIIIIIME (I'm just exaggerating for effect, no digs meant at anyone :P )
I guess in this matter it just seems too clunky for me. I know some street photogs use manual focus as is all the time and people photograph kids all the same. Not trying to say it's impossible. I just don't enjoy it. ...Show more →
Split prisms are usually a centre only tool, so accuracy is compromised a little if you use focus and recompos for off centre subjects. When I shot film on manual SLRs I was always tried to focus on the screen and not use the split prism for off centre subjects, but that ain’t easy.
So far I really like what I see. Transition zone is smooth and oof rendering is lower in contrast just with the CV 50/2 APO.
A floating element lens or group allows for high resolution/contrast up close, even at MFD. Color rendition seems lovely as well.
My only complaint so far is the moderate optical vignetting which means cat-eye bokeh wide open and uneven rendering.
All in all, Voigtlander was able to bring the quality and look from their 50mm APO to 35mm.
I should have my E-mount copy as soon as it's available. Just to think that not long ago, some of us were desperate for a great 35mm lens for the E-mount, even messing with PCX filters and all. Now we have three new outstanding options for every budget and taste....Show more →
Makes me curious what Voigtlander could do if they threw away the size and cost restraints and created their own version of the Otus line for M and E mounts.
(I'm just exaggerating for effect, no digs meant at anyone :P ) 