Focus Peaking: Which Cameras Offer This Feature?

Focus peaking is a camera technology that helps photographers focus during manual focusing. It shows a false-colour overlay on the sharp areas of the image in real-time. It was initially used in videography, but it is now available in most new cameras. Some of the camera brands that have focus peaking include Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, and Leica.

Canon cameras with focus peaking

Canon DSLRs do not feature focus peaking at all. However, you can use focus peaking on Canon cameras with Magic Lantern, a third-party software that extends Canon cameras' features.

The Canon EOS R is the only non-cinema EOS camera to have this feature built-in. All of the R System camera bodies have focus peaking (RP, R, R6, R5, R3). However, the EOS RP does not have the additional focus guide feature.

Users have reported issues with the focus peaking on the R5, finding it barely discernible and almost unusable. However, some have found that adjusting the viewfinder brightness and colour settings improves the visibility of the focus peaking.

Sony cameras with focus peaking

Sony has a range of cameras with focus peaking capabilities. Focus peaking is a technology that helps photographers focus their camera when using manual focus by overlaying a false colour on the sharp areas of the image in real-time. This feature is particularly useful for photographers using manual lenses, which can be some of the sharpest lenses when focused properly.

Some older Sony camera models with focus peaking include the Sony a7R, which was mentioned in a forum post from 2022. However, any mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC) released in the past five years will have focus peaking built-in. This includes newer DSLRs from Sony, which have the feature but can only be used in live view.

The Sony a7R is an E-mount camera, which means it uses a different lens mount system than A-mount cameras. This allows for a shorter flange distance, which is the distance between the lens mount and the sensor. A shorter flange distance can improve the performance of the camera in low-light situations and increase the maximum possible aperture.

In addition to the a7R, other Sony cameras with focus peaking include the a6000 series, the a7 series, and the a9 series. These cameras offer a range of features, including high-resolution electronic viewfinders, fast hybrid autofocus systems, and the ability to capture high-quality images and videos.

Overall, Sony offers a variety of cameras with focus peaking capabilities, providing photographers with a useful tool for manual focusing and ensuring their images are sharp and clear.

Nikon cameras with focus peaking

Focus peaking is a camera technology that aids manual focusing by highlighting the in-focus parts of the image with a colour overlay. While it was first used in videography, it is now a common feature in mirrorless cameras and some DSLRs.

Nikon has been slow to adopt focus peaking, with the company seemingly unaware of the technology's benefits. However, some Nikon cameras do offer a "Color Sketch" mode, which can be used to achieve a similar effect. This mode is available on the following Nikon camera models: 3300, 3400, 5100, 5300, 5600, 7100, 7200, and 750.

To use the "Color Sketch" mode for focus peaking, follow these steps:

• Set your Mode dial to "Effects".
• Select the "Color Sketch" option.
• Manually focus on your desired subject.
• Optionally, zoom in to fine-tune your focus.
• Switch back to your normal picture-taking mode.

It is worth noting that the "Color Sketch" mode is not ideal for photography, as it will give your images a cartoon sketch effect. Therefore, this technique is best suited for situations where you have ample time to set up your shot.

As of 2017, the Nikon D850 was the only Nikon FX camera known to have true focus peaking. However, this information may be outdated, and newer models could have been released with this feature.

If you are specifically looking for a Nikon camera with good manual focus capabilities, the Nikon Df is worth considering. It has a focusing screen designed for manual focusing, and it is compatible with pre-AI Nikon lenses. Additionally, the Nikon Z system cameras are also a good option, as they offer focus peaking and EVF magnification, making manual focusing easier.

Fujifilm cameras with focus peaking

Fujifilm cameras have a Manual Focus Assist mode called Focus Peaking, which helps photographers pinpoint the areas of an image that are in focus. Focus Peaking is particularly useful when using manual focus lenses, as it can be challenging to determine the plane of focus with the naked eye.

Focus Peaking works by overlaying a coloured highlight on the camera's LCD screen over areas of the image that are in focus. Photographers can adjust the highlight colour and intensity in the camera's settings. The available colours vary by camera model, but red, blue, yellow, and white are common options. The intensity can usually be adjusted between a 'High' and 'Low' setting, with the former being less sensitive to sharpness and brighter, and the latter having a higher focus threshold and being harder to see.

Focus Peaking is available on many Fujifilm X-Series cameras, including the X-T20, X-H1, X-E2/S, and X-T3/T30. It is also available on the X-S10, X-E4, and X-H2/H2S, although these models require photographers to access the MF Assist menu to use it. The X-Pro2 and X-Pro3 models have a similar feature called the Electronic Rangefinder.

To use Focus Peaking on Fujifilm cameras, photographers should first ensure their lens is set to manual focus. They can then adjust the camera's settings to enable Focus Peaking and customise the highlight colour and intensity. When taking a photo, the areas of the image that are in focus will be highlighted with the chosen colour.

In addition to helping with manual focus, Focus Peaking can also visualise the effects of changing the camera's aperture. For example, when using a wide aperture like f/1.8, only a small part of the image will be in focus, so Focus Peaking will only overlay colour on a small portion of the image. Conversely, when using a narrow aperture like f/22, a large portion of the image will be in focus, and Focus Peaking will overlay colour on a more significant part of the image.

While Focus Peaking is a valuable tool, it is essential to use it appropriately. For example, in landscape photography, a narrow aperture is typically used to achieve a deep depth of field. In this case, it may be helpful to adjust the sensitivity of Focus Peaking to 'Low' to avoid too much of the image being overlaid with colour. Similarly, in portrait photography, Focus Peaking can be useful for ensuring the subject's eyes are in focus, but it may be challenging to use with multiple subjects or fast-moving children.

Panasonic cameras with focus peaking

Panasonic is one of the manufacturers that have included focus peaking in their cameras. Focus peaking is a feature commonly found in digital cameras, including Panasonic's LUMIX G Series cameras. It is designed to assist photographers and videographers in achieving accurate manual focus by highlighting the areas of the image that are in focus.

The following Panasonic cameras have focus peaking:

• DC-GH5
• DC-GH5S
• DC-GX9
• DC-G9
• DC-G100
• G6
• GX7
• GF6
• GM5
• EP5

To enable focus peaking on a Panasonic LUMIX G Series camera, follow these steps:

• Set the camera to [P], [A], [S] or [M] mode by rotating the Mode Dial.
• Press the [Menu / Set] button to access the camera's menu.
• Navigate to [Custom Setup] (spanner + letter ‘c’ icon).
• Navigate to [Monitor / Display] (letter "i" icon).
• Scroll until you find [Peaking] and select [On].
• Confirm by pressing the [Menu / Set] button.

Now, when you use Manual Focus, the camera will highlight the areas in focus in a specific colour, usually blue. You can also customise the detection level and colour of the peaking settings.

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