Hi Marlene, I’ve been using FP for quite sometime. I used it when auto focus too. My eyesight isn’t particularly good anymore and if the subject is moving, it allows me to ensure the target area is in focus. eg a wading bird on the shore line, when I can keep the point of focus: in the case the eyes, glowing blue or red. I have got used to it over the years…🙋🏼♂️
I use a Sony a6400 with my new Surui anamorphic lenses. This has forced me to remember my film school days from 20 years ago and go all manual settings. I had trouble finding out what was in focus, as my eye sight isn't what it used to be. And I actually learned about focus peaking yesterday, and it helps a lot!
Hi Marlene, Eric from Yorkshire, England here. Bought a G9 3 months ago in November 22 after research on the web. Thanks for your practical hints and setup videos, they have saved me a great deal of time and "hair Pullung out" moments. please keep up the good work.
Great tip on using the "low" setting. I always had mine on high and was disappointed with the on screen information/color. So, once I changed to the "low" setting, I too like this better. My eyes are not the best, so this is a big help. Thanks again for the great info.
Oh yes, I can see how it would be a huge benefit when shooting BW at night. Thanks for sharing that. I'm sure it will benefit others as well. Cheers John!
Hi, I've only just discovered focus peaking too. I wear glasses and cant always see properly whats in focus so this really helps. Its annoying when I think Ive got a great shot only to load it up on the PC and see its out of focus - hopefully this will help minimise that - fingers crossed 🙂
@@ImageMaven Very true, but even with auto focus never underestimate the ability of an idiot to mess it up 🤣🤣. I like to photograph wildlife birds/insects and with a shallow depth of field I cant always see if the camera has picked up a twig or petal rather than the thing I want. But its fun trying. Love the videos!!!
I am aware of focus peaking but don't really use manual focusing much. I can see where it would be very useful though. Thanks for another concise, helpful and to the point tutorial!
I mean, you are the G9 queen. Just now figured out how to use it. It does it on my other cam but I did not understand what it was, thought it’s zebra but red. My other cam’s focus peak is red. So when it comes out, it’s where it’s focused.
Thank you to you! Years after, I still go back to you for tutorials. You’re the reason why I have a G9 and it feels like there’s more to learn everyday whenever I see your videos. Even I use a different camera now, I still bring my G9 for high stakes gig.
Great video, very well explained as is your style. I have a G9 and use a lot of vintage manual focus lenses. I found initially that focus peaking was really useful but it was not as discerning of critical focus for my needs. Instead, I always focus with the magnification in the viewfinder mode. That way I get to see focus snap on the details. I was amazed that some prime lenses get super sharp in a very narrow depth of field even stopped down. Once, I got used to this, my photos of wildlife and birds and insects really improved. However, with peaking, they would still be OK but perhaps the really sharp areas were not where I wanted.
Ah, interesting Maggie. Thanks for sharing! Yes, the magnifier is very handy. Also the closer you are to your subject the less depth of field you have even when stopped down. Great to meet you!
Hi Marlene, love your channel. You’re a great teacher. I have a Lumix GX9 and a Lumix LX100 II and finally broke dawn and got the Lumix G9. I had a couple of Minolta MD lenses one a 50mm and the other a 28mm from the old film days. I finally decided to put the dirty dusty things to some use and try them out on my GX9. I almost always shoot in manual mode. Some shots turned out very sharp and some not so good. So I set up Focus Peaking on the GX9 and what a difference. I saw a video by somebody that said you can use aperture priority and yes it did work, but I liked using manual better. I finally decided to try it on my one year new G9 (the first generation). Well it didn’t work. I finally switched it to aperture priority and it worked! It also works on shutter priority, but not manual? I can use it on either one on the G9 it’s just puzzling why it doesn’t work in manual mode? Anyway I just thought I’d bring that up in case anyone else has run into that situation, and maybe I missed some setting? Thanks very much for your excellent videos and teaching. None of my manual lenses have any electrical contacts and you have to tell the camera the focal length manually.
@geraldhawkins773 Thanks for adding to the conversation Gerald. Useful info that may get lost. To make your findings more prominent maybe copy and paste some of the above in a fresh comment instead of a reply to someone’s other comment. And then I can pin it to the top of the list. Cheers
HI Marlene, I belive that this function is used by every photographer using a manual lens. In my case it was probably preselected for contecting such a lens. I must confes however that I neved went into HI/LOW PEAKING setting that you described. Thank you - as always. Excellent job.
I dont know what i would do without it, for a few years before i got glasses i was like man, why are so many of my pics just out of focus? then i got glasses and still can't see if its in focus unless i hold the camera an arms length away, (but then cant see details in the viewfinder/screen) but with focus peaking it makes a huge difference, it should be standard as an accessibility thing on all cameras, and i do a lot of macro with manual lenses so it does really help.
Sounds like you have figured out how to best use peaking. I wonder if your camera diopter can be adjusted so that you can see focus through the viewfinder when setting up your shots. You might want to check into that. It really helped me.
@@ImageMaven i actually did do that when i realized what was happening, luckily the g9's viewfinder is pretty good, before i was using the lcd screen but now i use the viewfinder about 90% of the time and the lcd for those moments when you have an awkward angle .
I use peaking AFS G100 and focus via touch screen ..I think AF on Lumix for video is not upto mark. Also 4K crop reduces to 1 inch sensor ..same a some new phones Downside of cameras is obsolesce of installed control chip >>updates cannot cure focus issues. Creativity has leaped forward..out of camera images with set color profiles work but dont inspire. Have a good look at one inch sensor phones..so many advantages size inboard editing PAUSE BUTTON while filming instant posting for social AND AND BUSINESS very good tutorial Tnank you Robert
This is the video i need lol EDIT// this was very helpful. Also that I also have a Panasonic camera with very similar menus / screen. I tend to learn the minimum, and stagnate. Nice to learn some new stuff, thanks
I think we're all guilty of stagnation from time to time! Me included. Glad I could kickstart your learning. Cheers, and enjoy exploring the fun side of photography.
M4/3rds has such a great selection of lenses available that a vintage manual focus lens is not necessary. On the other hand, Lumix L mount has a lens shortage. Since I have shelves and shelves of lenses from my film years, an adapter and my S5 put these prime lenses back to use. Focus peaking is pretty much necessary when using these film Era lenses. For example, in L mount, there is only the big pig Sigma available in 135 mm. I much prefer the very sharp mini Minolta MDII 3.5 135 mm.
You’re right Barry. It’s the video people who introduced me to the term when I started shooting my RU-vid tutorials. But it wasn’t until I got a lens without auto focus that I learned how to use it. Cheers!
On my S5 it doesn’t always show up. But when it does it’s useful. If I’m filming something like bees in flowers i’ll turn the screen monochrome display yellow peaking. Because things get lost in color i still prefer 10x punch in for photos.
Hi Marlene! Nice video! Yes, I've been using focus peaking for years because my old eyes need it. I don't really like it because, at least for my real estate photography as well as bird photography, it obscures what I'm shooting. For example, when composing a shot of a kitchen, maybe I want the right edge of my shot to be exactly on the edge of a cabinet, but that colored peaking line makes it hard to see if I'm right on the edge of it (someone else edits my pics and they don't know what I chose for my composition, so it is up to me to get it right when I shoot). Same thing with birds in a tree, sometimes the peaking color completely hides the birds when I'm searching for them in the viewfinder, before I zoom in. I could use AF on the birds, but sometimes it is tricky in trees. Bottom line, if I still had my younger eyes I probably wouldn't use it. I did learn something new though, and that is the High and Low peaking. Either I forgot about it or I never noticed it. So I'll play around and see if I can mitigate my problems. Thanks!
Hi Keith, All great points. Thanks for sharing your first-hand experiences. I have wondered about obscuring the birds. Haven't had a chance to test since putting out this video. (So darn cold here at the moment and very few birds around.) But will do so as soon as possible! Great to hear from you again. Cheers!
You certainly know how to pique our focus! I learned to use focus peaking with my ancient lenses. Recently, I learned a new trick with focus peaking thanks to @cameraconspiracies. On the same page as "Focus Peaking", there's a setting "Monochrome Live View". Turn this on to turn off color in the viewfinder and display. The focus peaking colors jump out against the Monochrome making it easier to see what's in focus! This should work especially well when focusing video on a Lumix camera. One more thing to pique your peaking interest. By changing apertures, the focus peaking colors will show how depth of field changes with aperture.
I can always count on you to leave the punniest comment Jason. And wow, I think I need to make another video with all of those extra tips you’ve shared. Thank you! 👌
Really cool info! I HAVE to try that Monochrome Live View! Kind of surprised that Mr. Camera Conspiracies was able to impart some useful wisdom in there with all his sarcasm and jocularity. He's always good for a laugh.
I tried it, but the monochrome display didn't work as well for me. But I have been experimenting with leaving Focus peaking ON with Auto Focus. Not sure yet if I like it. I photographed a mom and baby portraits a few days ago with peaking ON, and I couldn't see the subject's eyes properly so I missed some opportune shots. Perhaps for street photography or landscape it would be more useful. Thank you for watching!
@@ImageMaven I've never used FP for autofocus, however always for close ups and macro. I love your your channel and learning a lot abt MFT been a Canon's girl myself for years who just got into a polygamy with Lumix G9 :)):)
Thanks for your videos, I have a G100, can you give me the best focus settings for video for general purposes, I use mostly my Lumix 12mm-60mm, f2.8-4.0, thanks
I suggest you explore this for yourself as I don’t know your circumstances. Start with custom multi and go from there. Don’t forget to consult your camera manual for all the possible scenarios.
The problem is there is no AE/AF button for BBF on this camera. You have to program another button and it's in an awkward position. I tried many times.
@ImageMaven I see, I missed that apologies How annoying is that ! I find this invaluable on my G9 when I need a quick accurate focus with the peaking aid, that can be slow in the manual mode using the focus ring . I wondered if this was a 'feature' of the G9, or just serendipity when the two operations were perhaps designed independently, but then worked well together.
I use a number of camera systems two of which are relevant here. One is based around a Lumix G90/95, the other around the Canon M series and fond as I am of my Lumix camera, focus peaking on the M series is really far better. Same thing, pick your highlight colour of choice but it is far more 'in your face' than it is on Lumix bodies. The reason I use focus peaking is mainly when using adapted vintage glass or modern lenses such as Tilt Shift which are manual focus only.
Hi John. Thanks for adding that info about Canon focus peaking. And you’re absolutely right, it’s a necessity for the non AF and vintage lenses, plus body cap lenses like Lens Babies. And I’m kicking myself for not including that info in my video! Cheers.
@@ImageMaven Hi Marlene, don't kick yourself, to point something out should be enough for the 'curious' to explore further and to be honest in these days of dramatically improved auto focus on most brands, very few average consumers will ever think to try manual focusing anything !
Should I trust in focus peaking? I like to make focus in the eyes when interviewing someone. I leave the focus peaking on, everything looks perfect but when I see the video, it is blurry. How is it possible?
Hello Marlene, Greetings from Germany in advance and I have to tell you that I have subscribed to your channel for a long time and have learned a lot from you. I own the Lumix G9 and only now after your training did I understand what I can do with this camera. But now I have a small problem and I hope you can help me. How can I set the number of minutes I can still film in total on the Lumix G9 before the memory card is full. I only ever get 10 minutes on 4K, but that means the camera shuts off after 10 minutes because of the temperature. The real remaining time is then still not recognizable. And is it correct that you can use a maximum of a 128 GB SD card. It would be great if you could help me Greetings Ronny
Hi Ronny, If you push the DISP button it cycles through various screens. One of them shows the video minutes remaining. But you must be in the Creative Video Mode (M-Video) on the Mode Dial to see that amount. It will never go over 29:59 as that is the longest video you can take in one shot. But I have a feeling you're wanting the TOTAL amount of video recording time left on the memory cards. Page 30 of the camera manual has the info about the supported SD cards and the approximate photo/video capacity of each size of card. Sadly it's hard to judge. You might want to consider using Lumix Tether to save directly to your laptop if you require more space than 2x 128GB cards will give you. I think it can do that but will need testing. Sorry I couldn't be more help!
I've known about it and used it but not that much. However, it's nice to be reminded that I should probably brush up on manually focusing my G9 just in case I spot Big Foot through a bunch of dead branches. As alway, Marlene, thanks for the Lumix tips. Will you be reviewing the new Lumix S5(2) just to get your thoughts on Panasonic phase detect autofocus?
But as for the S5ii I’ll not be testing it unless Panasonic gives me a loaner. I’ve no plans to go FF. But I hope the G9ii has Phase Detect. If that’s the case, I’m all in! Here’s hoping!
@@ImageMaven I too am hopeful that Panasonic will deliver a G9 mk II with a 24mm sensor & Phase Detect in 2023. I'm saving up Panasonic ! As always its good to see you delve into another topic.
@@ImageMaven I have to confess that I bought the S5 for my real estate photography biz (only because of others' expectations). Now I'm bummed because the S5ii has the phase detect autofocus and my S5 probably won't be worth much on a trade-in. Oh well, when I'm rich and famous I splurge! 😂😂🤣🤣
thats because you are mostly a birder, no need for focus peaking, but if you would do macro photography focus peaking would be one of the very first things to learn about.
