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No focus peaking???


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Having used focus peaking on NEX-6, I can say that it is better to rely on magnified view if focusing is critical. But I do wonder why focus peaking is not there in T. Maybe it can be added later with firmware update?

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Yes, no focus peaking. Leica didn't want a poorly implemented feature to ruin the otherwise fluid and responsive experience. If if couldn't be done to a level commensurate with the rest of the camera it was omitted.

 

With magnified view, it is very easy to gauge focus accuracy. The most challenging lens I tried on the T was the 180mm APO-Elmarit-R. I shot it wide-open handheld at a hummingbird aviary. I was surprised at how much easier and accurate this turned out to be than I had expected.

 

M lenses like my 90mm Elmarit-M were super easy to use and I nailed focus every time.

 

Not sure how necessary focus peaking really is, as I've found that when I rely on it on the M240, I end up slightly front or back-focused as the peaking range tends to be less precise than the 5x magnified view and visual evaluation.

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Yes, no focus peaking. Leica didn't want a poorly implemented feature to ruin the otherwise fluid and responsive experience. If if couldn't be done to a level commensurate with the rest of the camera it was omitted.

 

With magnified view, it is very easy to gauge focus accuracy. The most challenging lens I tried on the T was the 180mm APO-Elmarit-R. I shot it wide-open handheld at a hummingbird aviary. I was surprised at how much easier and accurate this turned out to be than I had expected.

 

M lenses like my 90mm Elmarit-M were super easy to use and I nailed focus every time.

 

Not sure how necessary focus peaking really is, as I've found that when I rely on it on the M240, I end up slightly front or back-focused as the peaking range tends to be less precise than the 5x magnified view and visual evaluation.

 

That bird shot looks good. Now considering it was an effective 270mm hand held it is very good.

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Lack of focus peaking wouldn't worry me. I've given up with it on the M: too many situations where it doesn't quite work, and it is faster not to look for it, though I use the magnified view.

 

PS Sorry, I DO use focus peaking on the M, but only to check the manual focussing accuracy of my lenses. This shouldn't be an issue on the T :)

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Peaking is easy to understand and challenging to learn.

 

Especially with wide and slow lenses (if they are high-contrast) - it can appear that the whole screen is lit with color.

 

It takes a bit to understand how to use the feature in these instances (i.e. recognizing the "central" area of the peaking color by moving focus, and, based on aperture, correctly predicting the plane of focus. If you do it wrong - the results and experience can be very frustrating. BUT - at very wide apertures or with longer lenses. It's amazing and indispensable.

 

It's a real pity that this is not included - particularly as allows you to focus very fast without losing the framing of the image. This aspect is important - it's very un-Leica to force you to lose sight of the whole frame to properly focus.

 

P.S. If you think Leica lenses are trouble for peaking by making everything light up - try a Zeiss lens. The contrast can be even more formidable (and focus that much harder).

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My use of the T viewfinder with a Noctilux and 35 FLE were accurately focused everytime. The viewfinder really pops when focus is achieved, as good as any I've used previously. Continual use of the viewfinder didn't tire my eyes as normally happens these days even with the M.

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I suppose it really doesn't matter, as more than likely a majority of people buying this camera, i.e. Leica's new "target demographic" will purchase AF zoom lenses.

 

I'm not sure why the T processor can support a touch screen interface but not focus peaking. I realize that people are saying it isn't important...well, perhaps not. The Fuji X-Pro 1 didn't have focus peaking (at first) either and plenty of Leica users have been happily shooting with their M lenses on them...as well as Sony.

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I mainly used the Visoflex while shooting with non-AF lenses.

 

Excuse my ignorance, but can you explain how you focus with a manual lens via the Visoflex, when the subject is not in the middle of the frame? In other words can you move the focus point around - if so, how?

 

Many thanks.

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Excuse my ignorance, but can you explain how you focus with a manual lens via the Visoflex, when the subject is not in the middle of the frame? In other words can you move the focus point around - if so, how?

 

 

 

Many thanks.

 

 

There was no focus point to move around for years - no for generations! The most iconic images were shot at that time !

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Can I point out that even on the A7 which has arguably the best current manual lens focussing on a mirrorless camera that focus peaking is hit and miss. It seems to be affected by all sorts of issues to do with lighting, back lighting, front lighting etc. It is there when I use the camera but most of the time I rely on magnification alone because focus peaking can be very temperamental.

 

LouisB

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So? Rangefinders and AF can be hit or miss under some circumstances too. Doesn't the magnified view on the A7, and lesser Sony models and other brands have more capability than on the T? Sony has a DMF (Direct Manual Focus) mode that can combine peaking and magnified focus (on any place in the field of view.) This even fluidly overrides the AF mode if you move the focus ring.

 

Studying a magnified view is the most exacting way to work but is not always practical... especially if it only works in the center of the frame where it may be too slow, awkward, or inaccurate once you recompose. Thus Leica not only left off one focus tool, they crippled the other one. Meanwhile the newest Sony APS cameras have 179 PD focus points that are selectable for help with motion tracking, adjustable peaking, and various options for magnified view.

 

So which camera is likely to give a typical user or a sophisticated user accurately focused images under a wider variety of situations? The reality is that Leica can't match the technology that Sony and others are offering so they make minimalism and a hand polished body the primary selling points even if that leaves the camera as less capable despite being much more expensive. The assumption being that their intended market does not care.

Edited by AlanG
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