Question about DMF

[AlphaBaruch]

I finally got the chance to use the DMF focussing feature on my A7RV, when I shot a kitten thru a mesh fence. It worked great! But my question is, if I left my focus mode permanently on DMF (not that i would) what would be the disadvantages of doing so? I think I would set DMF during a zoo visit.

[tonygale]

I could be wrong on this, but I believe that the trade off for setting the camera to DMF all the time is you lose continuous AF. I am in in continuous AF about 90% of the time

[LensBrew]

I agree with Tony, losing continuous AF might be a deterrent to a lot of photographers. But DMF has its place. I usually use it for moon or landscape shots. It gives me the manual focus to fine tune my focus, but at the start it does a single autofocus to reduce my manual work to get there. Once at the ball park (in 1 ms) the manual focus ring is the next step.

Think of it as a manual focus with an automated starting focus point at where you want it.

[CarolineJensen]

I only turn that on for specific things because of the limitations. If you always shoot certain subjects that need that feature, then I would leave it on. 

[AlphaBaruch]

I could be wrong on this, but I believe that the trade off for setting the camera to DMF all the time is you lose continuous AF. I am in in continuous AF about 90% of the time

Thanks- I don’t want to lose cont AF!

[AlphaBaruch]

I agree with Tony, losing continuous AF might be a deterrent to a lot of photographers. But DMF has its place. I usually use it for moon or landscape shots. It gives me the manual focus to fine tune my focus, but at the start it does a single autofocus to reduce my manual work to get there. Once at the ball park (in 1 ms) the manual focus ring is the next step.

Think of it as a manual focus with an automated starting focus point at where you want it.

Thanks!

[jb]

Check out Mark Galer's superb explanation of DMF .  I use his technique of combining a custom hold and custom button.  To me, the only disadvantage of DMF is the time it takes to get in to and back out of the mode.  Mark's method fixes that problem.  While pressing your assigned custom button (I use AEL), DMF along with multiple other optimized settings are activated while you manually focus.  Upon releasing your custom button, you immediately return back to whatever mode your were previously using. 

 

[Grant Robertson]

On 3/30/2023 at 12:05 PM, jb said:

Mark Galer's superb explanation of DMF

Where might I find that?

[alpha-jessica-a]

I believe it may be this video: