What Is Focus Peeking?
Focus peaking is a feature found on some digital cameras and lenses that helps the photographer manually focus the camera by highlighting the areas of the image that are in focus. When the camera is set to manual focus mode, the camera will display a live view of the image on the LCD screen or electronic viewfinder (EVF). As the photographer turns the focus ring on the lens, the camera will highlight the areas of the image that are in focus with a colored outline or “peaking” effect.
Very Useful
This can be particularly useful when shooting with a wide aperture or shooting with a lens that does not have an autofocus motor, as it can be difficult to accurately judge the focus of the image by looking at the viewfinder alone. By using focus peaking, the photographer can easily see which parts of the image are in focus and adjust the focus accordingly.
Not All Cameras Have it
Focus peaking is typically found on high-end digital cameras and lenses, but it can also be found on some mirrorless cameras and even some smartphones. It is an important tool for photographers who prefer to manually focus their cameras, and can be especially useful when shooting with legacy lenses or when shooting in low light conditions.
