Sony A6000 and focus assist

Tanzer · 06-03-2014, 09:17 PM

In addition to focus peaking, the A6000 supports "punch in" focus assist -- this is a magnified/zoomed-in view on the LCD/EVF, to allow for more precise focusing with manual lenses.

Everyone seems to agree that this is available in stills mode, but I've read conflicting reports as to whether it also works during video shooting. If you have an A6000, can you confirm whether this works during video? Thanks!

Tanzer · 06-04-2014, 03:57 PM

Nobody here is shooting video with an A6000?

osv · 06-04-2014, 06:40 PM

even if it doesn't work with video recording, you can still zoom all the way in, and set the critical focus in still mode... manual focus won't change just because you change the recording method.

with a real parfocal video lens, the picture will stay in focus throughout the zoom range, so if you don't change location, you won't have to set the focus again.

the problem of course is finding a real video lens to put on a dslr...

audiobomber · 06-04-2014, 06:49 PM

I own an a6000 but I don't shoot video. My camera is set for MF Assist. In manual focus mode, it zooms in to check focus for 2 seconds. I just checked video mode and MF Assist did not work. I don't know enough about video or the a6000 at this point to call my answer definitive, but I don't believe this feature works in video mode.

Tanzer · 06-04-2014, 07:52 PM

Originally posted by osv

even if it doesn't work with video recording, you can still zoom all the way in, and set the critical focus in still mode... manual focus won't change just because you change the recording method.

with a real parfocal video lens, the picture will stay in focus throughout the zoom range, so if you don't change location, you won't have to set the focus again.

the problem of course is finding a real video lens to put on a dslr...

Agreed! I'm not looking to build up another lens collection beyond my existing K-mount lenses, most of which are varifocal.

I would like to be able to pull focus on moving objects, so having the punch-in AF would really help.

---------- Post added 06-04-14 at 10:57 PM ----------

Originally posted by audiobomber

I own an a6000 but I don't shoot video. My camera is set for MF Assist. In manual focus mode, it zooms in to check focus for 2 seconds. I just checked video mode and MF Assist did not work. I don't know enough about video or the a6000 at this point to call my answer definitive, but I don't believe this feature works in video mode.

Thanks so much for checking into this! Just what I was looking for.

Well, that was not the answer I was hoping for, per se.

So it seems that the A6000 is not the video body for me.

Edit: My last comment probably came off more negative than I intended. The A6000 is a great camera from what I have read, with nearly moire-free video quality, and the hybrid AF looks to be really, really practical/useable. But there is still some room for improvement with adapted lenses. I can wait a little longer to reap the benefits of the on-going video competition between Panasonic and Sony.

konraDarnok · 06-05-2014, 07:29 AM

Originally posted by audiobomber

I own an a6000 but I don't shoot video. My camera is set for MF Assist. In manual focus mode, it zooms in to check focus for 2 seconds. I just checked video mode and MF Assist did not work. I don't know enough about video or the a6000 at this point to call my answer definitive, but I don't believe this feature works in video mode.

Do any cameras "zoom in focus assist" with a half push of the shutter button? How does manual focus assist work on the A6000?

audiobomber · 06-05-2014, 07:42 AM

Originally posted by konraDarnok

Do any cameras "zoom in focus assist" with a half push of the shutter button? How does manual focus assist work on the A6000?

I don't know the answer to your "half push" question. The a6000 zooms in for the selected time (2s, 5s or no limit), when you turn the focus ring manually with MF Assist active, but only for still photography, not video.

Tanzer · 06-05-2014, 07:47 AM

Originally posted by konraDarnok

Do any cameras "zoom in focus assist" with a half push of the shutter button? How does manual focus assist work on the A6000?

I believe the Panasonic G6 and GH4 will allow this. (I assume we are talking about behavior during video.) Might be activated via the touch screen, rather than shutter half-push.

Also the RX100iii compact and AX100/CX900 camcorders will allow this, although these are obviously not interchangeable-lens cameras. I suspect this will soon make its way into the E-mount cameras, along with the high-bitrate XAVC-S codec.

konraDarnok · 06-05-2014, 09:26 AM

Originally posted by audiobomber

I don't know the answer to your "half push" question. The a6000 zooms in for the selected time (2s, 5s or no limit), when you turn the focus ring manually with MF Assist active, but only for still photography, not video.

Oh, I was thinking about m42 glass and other non-native lenses. The half push would be a neat implementation wouldn't it?

06-03-2014, 09:17 PM	#1
Tanzer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Perrineville, NJ Posts: 1,375	Sony A6000 and focus assist In addition to focus peaking, the A6000 supports "punch in" focus assist -- this is a magnified/zoomed-in view on the LCD/EVF, to allow for more precise focusing with manual lenses. Everyone seems to agree that this is available in stills mode, but I've read conflicting reports as to whether it also works during video shooting. If you have an A6000, can you confirm whether this works during video? Thanks!

06-04-2014, 07:52 PM	#5
Tanzer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Perrineville, NJ Posts: 1,375 Original Poster	Originally posted by osv even if it doesn't work with video recording, you can still zoom all the way in, and set the critical focus in still mode... manual focus won't change just because you change the recording method. with a real parfocal video lens, the picture will stay in focus throughout the zoom range, so if you don't change location, you won't have to set the focus again. the problem of course is finding a real video lens to put on a dslr... Agreed! I'm not looking to build up another lens collection beyond my existing K-mount lenses, most of which are varifocal. I would like to be able to pull focus on moving objects, so having the punch-in AF would really help. ---------- Post added 06-04-14 at 10:57 PM ---------- Originally posted by audiobomber I own an a6000 but I don't shoot video. My camera is set for MF Assist. In manual focus mode, it zooms in to check focus for 2 seconds. I just checked video mode and MF Assist did not work. I don't know enough about video or the a6000 at this point to call my answer definitive, but I don't believe this feature works in video mode. Thanks so much for checking into this! Just what I was looking for. Well, that was not the answer I was hoping for, per se. So it seems that the A6000 is not the video body for me. Edit: My last comment probably came off more negative than I intended. The A6000 is a great camera from what I have read, with nearly moire-free video quality, and the hybrid AF looks to be really, really practical/useable. But there is still some room for improvement with adapted lenses. I can wait a little longer to reap the benefits of the on-going video competition between Panasonic and Sony. Last edited by Tanzer; 06-05-2014 at 07:36 AM.

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06-04-2014, 03:57 PM	#2
Tanzer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Perrineville, NJ Posts: 1,375 Original Poster	Nobody here is shooting video with an A6000?

06-04-2014, 06:40 PM	#3
osv Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: So Cal Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,080	even if it doesn't work with video recording, you can still zoom all the way in, and set the critical focus in still mode... manual focus won't change just because you change the recording method. with a real parfocal video lens, the picture will stay in focus throughout the zoom range, so if you don't change location, you won't have to set the focus again. the problem of course is finding a real video lens to put on a dslr...

06-04-2014, 06:49 PM	#4
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	I own an a6000 but I don't shoot video. My camera is set for MF Assist. In manual focus mode, it zooms in to check focus for 2 seconds. I just checked video mode and MF Assist did not work. I don't know enough about video or the a6000 at this point to call my answer definitive, but I don't believe this feature works in video mode.

06-05-2014, 07:29 AM	#6
konraDarnok Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Albums Posts: 969	Originally posted by audiobomber I own an a6000 but I don't shoot video. My camera is set for MF Assist. In manual focus mode, it zooms in to check focus for 2 seconds. I just checked video mode and MF Assist did not work. I don't know enough about video or the a6000 at this point to call my answer definitive, but I don't believe this feature works in video mode. Do any cameras "zoom in focus assist" with a half push of the shutter button? How does manual focus assist work on the A6000?

06-05-2014, 07:42 AM	#7
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by konraDarnok Do any cameras "zoom in focus assist" with a half push of the shutter button? How does manual focus assist work on the A6000? I don't know the answer to your "half push" question. The a6000 zooms in for the selected time (2s, 5s or no limit), when you turn the focus ring manually with MF Assist active, but only for still photography, not video.

06-05-2014, 07:47 AM	#8
Tanzer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Perrineville, NJ Posts: 1,375 Original Poster	Originally posted by konraDarnok Do any cameras "zoom in focus assist" with a half push of the shutter button? How does manual focus assist work on the A6000? I believe the Panasonic G6 and GH4 will allow this. (I assume we are talking about behavior during video.) Might be activated via the touch screen, rather than shutter half-push. Also the RX100iii compact and AX100/CX900 camcorders will allow this, although these are obviously not interchangeable-lens cameras. I suspect this will soon make its way into the E-mount cameras, along with the high-bitrate XAVC-S codec.

06-05-2014, 09:26 AM	#9
konraDarnok Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Albums Posts: 969	Originally posted by audiobomber I don't know the answer to your "half push" question. The a6000 zooms in for the selected time (2s, 5s or no limit), when you turn the focus ring manually with MF Assist active, but only for still photography, not video. Oh, I was thinking about m42 glass and other non-native lenses. The half push would be a neat implementation wouldn't it?

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