RX-10 iv Trying to make sense of MF display.

[GorwelOwen]

I'm trying to make sense of the above, I was out today and trying to focus on some trees that were about a kilometre away. I would have thought that this would have been at the end of the focus range but I achieved focus when the display was about two thirds of the way along at around 0.4 m. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Gorwel

[cheddarman]

BOY, this is one FRUSTRATING forum to try to use! Just had to re boot my computer before it would let me "sign in" 😡😡😡

Right, trying to understand the manual focus on the RX10M4 is a bit like this forum access, annoying!

The indicator in the viewfinder in MF bears no resemblance to where the lens is focussed, as far as I can make out. I am starting astro-photography and when I MF on a star/moon the indicator indicates 4mtr. Just ignore it!

Why use MF on trees, surely the AF would handle that much better or were you just practicing?

[Joe_Dohn]

I assume you're using the viewfinder, have you tried adjusting the diopter dial?

[cheddarman]

He is not saying that his image is blurred in the viewfinder, just that in MF the on screen (or in viewfinder) distance indicator of where the lens is focussed bears no resemblance to where the lens is actually focussed.

I agree, it doesn't.

[Snoopy]

Hi. Did you ever get a proper solution to the manual focusing issues? I would be greatly interested in whatever help you have discovered. I, too, have been struggling with the MF. 

I have been using Focus Magnifier together with Focus Peaking and it helps but not all the way. Recently I plugged the camera to my PC (or a Mac really)  and operated it from the PC running Sony’s Imaging Edge. This exercise was an eye opener in regard to MF. My Mac has a reasonably large screen and when turning the camera’s focus ring I was following the screen. It really responded nicely and the focus got sharp as I wanted it to. The pictures I shot in this way were quite sharp. At the same time the peaking Colour appeared on the camera monitor. This (peaking) works fine also with the Focus Magnifier. Everything worked except the distance bar on the Live View, it showed a distance of 0.4 meters, the correct number had been about 100 meters.

Now I cannot wait for clear skies to try this out shooting some pretty stars. I have an old A350 but would like to get some astrophotos using the long glass of RX10M4. Unfortunately sky’s been foggy for weeks now.  

I saw your wonderful picture of Andromeda and thought that you must appreciate the problems we have with manual focusing of RX10M4 better than an average photographer.

Regards,

Esa Viitala

Norway

Edited[personal details removed]

[cheddarman]

Must admit, quite a while since I braved the night temperatures but yes, the MF is very hit and miss. The way I still do it is to do the focus, take a trial shot and then view it enlarged on the back screen. If no good, start again!