Manually focusing may sound like something from the analog era, but today it’s actually one of the most powerful tools in a serious filmmaker or photographer’s toolkit. Especially with Sony cameras, you have access to a wide range of smart features that make manual focusing accurate and efficient. In this blog, we’ll share four practical tips to help you nail your focus every time.
1. Zoom in on your screen for precision
A simple yet highly effective tip: double-tap the LCD screen on your Sony camera to zoom in on your image. This gives you a much clearer view of whether your focus is truly on point. Want even more control? You can adjust the default zoom level in your settings for even greater precision. The more you zoom in, the easier it is to fine-tune critical focus.
2. Enable focus peaking
Focus peaking is one of the best-known manual focus tools — and for good reason. It highlights the sharp areas of your frame with a colored outline. You can customize both the color and intensity of that outline. This helps you adapt it to your scene. For example, choose red for a green background, or white for darker settings, so your focus peaking always stands out clearly.
3. Use focus mapping for even more control
Sony offers another powerful feature: focus mapping. This tool gives you a real-time color-coded view of your focus range. Blue areas are further away, red areas are closer. And the zone with no color pixels? That’s your focus sweet spot. It’s especially useful for tracking shots or interviews where depth of field is shallow.
4. Connect an external monitor
Sometimes you just need a bigger screen to truly judge sharpness. This is especially true when shooting in 4K or using cine lenses. An external monitor can make all the difference between “almost” and “perfectly” in focus. Many professional Sony cameras support external displays via HDMI, and there are plenty of compact monitor options available to mount on your rig.
In conclusion: Manual focusing might take a bit of practice, but it gives you maximum control and creative freedom. Thanks to the advanced features in our Sony cameras, you can be confident your subject is perfectly sharp. Whether you're capturing a moody portrait or a detailed product shot, you’re in charge of what’s truly in focus.
Ready to give it a try? Explore our range of Sony cameras and discover which features best suit your style of shooting.
