A77 Focus Peaking Discovery

Yes, it works in AF-A mode but you have to enable DMF in the menu.

But, what would be a point in having peaking focus (PF) in A or S mode if camera is doing everything and camera itself doesn't need to confirm it has a focus or not as she does everything.
It does make sense ONLY in situation where we use our cameras manually to assist our incapable eyes in discerning is it perfectly in focus or not?
Camera doesn't need confirmation for itself obviously. If we are not happy with a focus she elected, we can take care of it by focusing manually.

Mike-Photos wrote: Peekayoh wrote: Yes, it works in AF-A mode but you have to enable DMF in the menu. I've set that but I don't get it to work. can you give me the exact sequence of steps? Just to make sure I understand. In DMF mode, if peaking is on, the peaking will display because the camera switches to manual focus after focusing. What this thread is about is having peaking work in AF-A or AF-S mode.

When Focus Peaking is enabled, it works either with manual focus or with AF-A mode auto focus if DMF is enabled. Focus Peaking doesn't ever work in AF-S mode auto focus.

Ok Mike, I should have been more explicit in my previous reply so I'll try and clear this up for you.

With the a99, Sony have added DMF as a focus option rather than the two step method of the a77 and the "silent multi controller" affords very quick access to the function if you wish it. Once DMF is selected, the a99 behaves just like the a77; as soon as focus lock is achieved, the camera drops into manual focus and peaking becomes active.

In AFC-C mode, the theory is that you don't want DMF, you want continuous AF. If you decide you want to override AF-C, just hit the AF/MF button (assuming you haven't changed the function) and the camera drops into manual focus and again peaking becomes active.

I'm not sure what you mean by full time focus peaking in relation to any AF mode.
You only get full time focus peaking in manual focus mode.
Of course you can get that by pressing the AF/MF button or the lens MF button if it has one.

No. I understand Ok, I have both cameras

In AF-A mode with DMF enabled, the a77 drops into MF mode as soon as the focus is locked and peaking is then available. I don't see that as full time focus peaking and of course, you lose the AF-A mode.

The a99 offers all the focus modes of the a77 plus a DMF mode which operates essentially the same as the a77 cludge; so nothing lost but something gained.

I'm surprised this thread seems to have a new life after being dormant for most of a year.

I think part of the confusion here is semantics.

Focus Peaking technically only works when the camera is in manual focus. When the camera's focus mode dial is in the AF-A position with DMF enabled, after the auto focus has locked onto a subject, the DMF instantly switches to manual focus. It is only when the DMF switches the camera to manual focus that Focus Peaking works. This happens so fast after focus is achieved that it appears that Focus Peaking is working in auto focus mode.

This is how an A77 camera has to be setup to make Focus Peaking work immediately after the camera achieves auto focus lock:

• Peaking Level set to High, Mid, or Low
• AF-A Setup set to DMF (menu setting)
• Focus Mode Dial set to the "A" position
• AF/MF button either set to AF/MF Control Hold, or if it is set to AF/MF Control Toggle, it must be toggled to AF

In addition, if you want the the EVF/LCD image to be in black & white with colored focus peaking, set the Creative Style to Black & White.

If you are shooting RAW + JPEG, the black & white will only be recorded on the JPEG image. If you are shooting RAW, the recorded image will be in color, even though the image you see during playback is black & white. This is because the camera can't display a RAW image on the EVF/LCD, so it converts the RAW image for playback and applies the black & white Creative Style during the conversion.

I don't own an A99, so I can't be sure the A99 works identically, but it sounds like it is pretty close.

Lynn