Fujifilm X-T3: Focus Peak Highlight

I like to use manual focus to shoot photographs with my Fujifilm X-T3 digital camera. Set the small dial on the front of the camera to “M.” The beauty of manual focus on Fujifilm X-series cameras is back-button auto-focus still works!

When the small dial is set for “M” both manual focusing and back-button auto-focusing can be used in combination with what Fujifilm calls “Focus Peak Highlight,” or more simply, “focus peaking.”

The following YouTube video by pal2tech explains a technique that makes it much easier to see the focus peaking.

BEST Fujifilm Manual Focus Setting, by pal2tech (6:01).

The process is simple. Set the camera to record JPG + RAF [Fujifilm’s proprietary raw format]. Select one of the black-and-white Fujifilm film simulations, e.g., ACROS. [More about Fujifilm film simulations in an upcoming blog post.]

The camera display will be black-and-white. As Chris Lee (pal2tech) explains in the preceding video, it’s much easier to see focus peaking on a black-and-white background.

JPG files saved to a memory card are black-and-white too, as shown below.

Buzz Lightyear plastic toy. [Focus Peak Highlight not shown.]

RAF files are saved in full color, as shown below.

Buzz Lightyear plastic toy.

Tech Tips

“Focus Peak Highlight” can be activated when the camera is set for manual focus mode. Using back-button focus (AF-L button) in manual mode enables one to retain full control of the exposure triangle, focus quickly, and see what’s in focus before shooting a photograph.

Fuji Back Button Focus (4:06), a YouTube video by Ashraf Jandali, provides a clear demonstration of how to use back-button focus on the Fujifilm X-T1. The same technique works with the Fujifilm X-T3.

Related Resources

BEST Fujifilm Manual Focus Setting, by pal2tech (6:01).
Fuji Back Button Focus, by Ashraf Jandali (4:06).
The ultimate guide to Fuji’s Film Simulations; A DEEP dive to de-mystify one of Fuji’s best features, by Dave Etchells, Imaging Resource.

Tags: back-button focus, BoG Photo Studio, Focus Peak Highlight, Fujifilm Film Simulations, gear talk, Tech Tips

This entry was posted on September 6, 2022 at 4:00 am and is filed under Aperture, Canon EF 100mm Macro lens, digital photography, education, Fringer EF-FX Pro II, Fujifilm X-T3, Godox TT685C, Godox XProF, How To, Lastolite flash modifier, macro photography, Photoshop, product reviews, RAW FILE CONVERTER EX 3.0. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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