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How Your X Series Camera Can Help With Manual Focusing

Focusing manually can be a daunting prospect when you first try it, but the array of focusing aids available on your X Series camera can really help you get your eye in.

We’ve already seen that manual focusing can be a really useful tool in certain circumstances, but it’s even more useful when you use your camera’s suite of focusing aids that let you nail critical sharpness.

These tools can be used individually or in combination and can often be customised to suit your own preferences and styles. Let’s have a look at the available options and see when each one comes into its own.

Digital Split Image

Go to the camera’s AF/MF SETTING menu and scroll down to MF ASSIST > DIGITAL SPLIT IMAGE to choose an option for this focusing aid – either COLOR or MONOCHROME.

When you go back to making an image, by half-pressing the shutter release button, you’ll see a square in the middle of the frame that’s divided up into four sections. Straight edges that run vertically down the box are split if they are out of focus. Turn the focus ring and you’ll notice this split getting smaller until the straight edge looks normal – at this point it is in focus.

The COLOR or MONOCHROME menu options simply refer to whether this square section is shown in full colour or in black & white. Which you choose is largely a matter of personal preference.

The Digital Split Image option works well when vertical lines are present in the object you want to focus on. If they are not, then one of the other manual focusing aids may well work better for you.

Digital Microprism

The Digital Split Image and Digital Microprism options are based on analogue focusing aids from the days of film SLRs. Where the Digital Split Image option is good for subjects that contain clear, vertical straight lines, Digital Microprism works well for objects that contain fine detail and texture – foliage, water, pebbles on a beach, etc. You can switch it on in the camera’s menu. Press MENU OK, choose the AF/MF SETTING menu, and scroll down to MF ASSIST > DIGITAL MICROPRISM.

You’ll see the Digital Microprism area as a circle in the middle of the screen. When the area or object underneath this circle is out of focus, the Digital Microprism will show speckled details; when it’s in focus, the speckles will disappear and the object will look normal.

Focus Peaking

There is no analogue equivalent for Focus Peaking mode – in fact the origins of this technology come from digital video. The principle is simple: with Focus Peaking turned on in the camera’s menu, objects that are sharp and in focus are outlined with a bold colour; anything not sharp is not outlined.

You can turn on Focus Peaking by pressing the camera’s MENU OK button, selecting the AF/MF SETTING menu and scrolling down to MF ASSIST > FOCUS PEAKING. You’ll be able to select a colour (white, red, blue, or – on selected models – yellow) and an intensity (high or low). While which you use is largely down to personal taste, you may find that switching the peaking colour to something that stands out against the subject you’re photographing is a good move.

Focus Check

Focus Check works differently to the options we’ve outlined above, and you can find it in a different part of your camera’s menu, too. Turn it on by going to the AF/MF SETTING menu, scrolling down to FOCUS CHECK and selecting ON.

With Focus Check switched on, the view through the EVF or on the camera’s LCD screen will instantly magnify the moment you turn the focus ring. When you half-press or fully press the shutter release, the view will spring back to normal so you can compose and make an image.

Crucially, you can use Focus Check in combination with the Digital Split Image, Digital Microprism, and Focus Peaking options outlined above, or by itself by choosing AF/MF SETTING > MF ASSIST > STANDARD.

Cameras with OVF

It’s worth pointing out a special case that only applies to X Series cameras that have optical viewfinders – such as X100 and X-Pro models. When in OVF mode, pushing the EVF/OVF lever in towards the lens activates a small LCD display that shows an enlarged central portion of the frame – ideal when focusing manually.

Your Next Steps

• CHALLENGE Set your camera to manual focus and spend the day making images without AF, exploring how the various focusing aids can help you. You might find that this slows you down, but don’t get frustrated – this sometimes results in a much greater ‘hit rate’ and better-quality pictures. Post your favourites to social media with the hashtags #learnwithfujifilm. You can also submit your work here for a chance to be featured on our social media channels.