The likely most popular introduction in 2014 was the Fuji X-T1 which is now shipping and leading the Amazon mirrorless camera sales. And actually one of the new features the X-T1 has could be added on all Sony high reoslution EVF cameras! And that’s why I am asking you if you would like Sony to add the “Split Screen” feature you can see on the video on top.
[poll id=”176″]
Let’s see if Sony will do it 🙂
0 Responses
Yes, please. Great idea, especially if an option and not a necessity.
This would be an excellent addition for us manual lens enthusiasts, and saves us a double-press of whichever custom Function button focus zoom is set to.
Excellent feature… In fact indispensable for Manual focus lenses
More options are always nice
If it were possible I would rather have the camera “notice” the changing focus and zoom automatically and the go back to normal setting on half press. With all the motion sensors in the camera and the PDAF sensor perhaps something like this would be possible.
Looking through a small hole to see several screens of information … not sure about that.
But all Sony cameras do that already? It’s called manual focus assist and if you’re in manual focus mode it activates when you zoom and is deactivated by hald pressing the shutter. Or did I not understand what you want?
That is a feature I would use!
It would be nice addition surely. However, I think the implementation could be better. In this fuji version the size of the main screen (the whole) image is reduced significantly. I think a better option would be to include separate small box in top of the main screen, in a similar fashion the histogram window is included in the EVF of A7/A7r.
This is the kind of feature/advantage that will create a compelling reason for people to really appreciate EVFs.
well they have fake 50yr old camera designs they might as well have fake 50yr old focus aids
Yes …. if it would be a touch-screen and the focus could shift to wherever one touches the screen ….
not sure of the split screen, but that magnified view side by side with the normal view on my a7…yes pretty please i want that!
we already have something similar with the focus zoom feature- just as good
I’ve extensively used split-screen in the past and it is a very good focus aid, anyway, I like focus peaking better. Split-screen could be an added feature ( mainly at low light levels, where FP sometimes fails ), which you could turn on when wanted, like FP.
Nice idea, but I’d prefer a split screen like the old cameras; don’t change anything in the EVF, just over impose a circle in the center, which split 45 degrees like in the old days. That would be cool.
But Sony doesn’t do firmware updates, remember?
No, I like the current focus aids. If they could make an emulation of the old ‘split prism’ system from my old filmies eg. Minolta x700 etc etc now that would be cool and everyone would be all over that. But split screen. No thanks. 🙂
I’m not buying this. Sony can and will add this, but not to any existing camera. They’ll add it in the next generation so they can give people more “reasons” to upgrade.
then I guess you will never buy a camera
Looks like a nice idea, but a poor configuration to me.
The main image is shrunk to 2/3rds it’s original size and the zoomed area is only twice as big, so in real terms only 1.5 times it’s original size!
The critical zoom to focus on the NEX is much higher magnification which makes it much more useful and accurate.
But I would occasionally appreciate a compromise – maybe a clearly outlined box magnified 4 times, in the middle of the whole frame so I don’t shift composition whilst focussing.
But options are always good for differing circumstances
Yes, if it is not only an EVF feature but on the LCD as well. I really miss the overall view at the moment with the focus zoom aid.
This is not what I expected when I heard about it. I’d rather see an option to emulate an SLR focusing screen, with split circle and microprism.
Or, if they’re doing this type of thing, I’d prefer they do it the way I suggested on DPR a couple of years ago: put the magnified view in the center of the image, but leave the borders unmagnified so you still have framing context without exiting magnification… similar result to what Fuji did, but higher magnification with less use of viewfinder real estate.
sounds good. In a perfect world, Sony would put both in and let us decide which way to use it!
Perhaps not presently utilized to its fullest potential but a brilliant and (digitally) original move on Fuji’s part (as is “Live Bulb Mode” on Oly).
I am getting an a7 for only manual lenses and would greatly appreciate the split screen. However, I would be embarrassed for Sony if they ripped it off from Fuji without an original twist of their own included.
I’d definitely upgrade for it for macro – the zoom implementation on the a77 isn’t great. At the very least it would help if they centred it on the active af point…
Sony doing firmware updates? You must be joking. There are so many things that should be fixed in NEX cameras yet they did nothing to address the issues and release a new update.
Sony couldn’t care less about its customers.
THAT is why they are going down and closing their stores.
Your medicine, Zoran, your medicine!
First generation Sony NEX-3/5 got *TONS* of new features in multiple firmware updates. In fact I know rarely any camera that got so many features after-sales.
A must have feature for all EVF camera if the user are very into MF~
Personally I’d love to see the PDAF sensors utilized more as a focusing aid. Have the areas “in focus” according to the PDAF sensor shift in color (B/W to color for instance) so like focus peaking but with fewer false positives.
Sounds great! I really hope someone from Sony reads this.
Yes pls! For now, more option to focus faster is always better. The only thing I wish is that there’s a way to implement this without making the main viewfinder becoming tiny, maybe they can do some sort of overlay in the center and using the focus reposition, we can reposition it?
Magnify to check focus works well but it’s too slow on moving subjects and is counter intuitive. I’m using the A7r mainly for manual glass
I’d like to see Sony enhance the exisiting image magnifier so that the entire image is shown in the little black box that indicates where the zoomed in area is. It’s display real estate that can definitely be used.
You telling me Fuji didn’t copywrite or protect this idea in any way?
As this is only a matter of the firmware – of course I want such a feature but with configurable magnification and the option to do it not as a split screen but as an overlay…
Anf of course switchable…
Yes, I support the overlay idea. I don’t like splitting the screen to show you just one small screen next to the full frame. The overlay idea would also be nice if the overlay magnification moved where you wanted it to depending on where you are trying to focus in the frame. In this case of imagery, I would love it if I can move the overlay to the vase, for example, and the overlay would take the area of the vase and not display the vase in the centre ovelay.
I wish my controls and menu from Nex-7 (or even Nex-5) to my A7. When I changed my Nex camera, even when I guided my friend with his A3000, everything was the same (common interface). Maybe some people needed changes and are very happy with them but I am more confortable with old interface. I am fighting against my 2nd nature since European release, I preordered my camera at UK. Sony firmware and support needs more changes !
I would use the split screen feature. Photograph in one screen and Duck Dynasty in the other.
I proposed once a picture in picture mode instead of split screen for the focus magnification.
Problem: You need focus magnification to see critical focus especially when using manual focus. When you use focus magnification the whole screen is used to show the magnified view. You cannot control the framing.
Solution: If there would be a small picture of the whole picture frame without magnification in one of the corners you wouldn’t lose track of the frame.
This split screen mode is inverted (magnified view is the small picture instead of the full frame) and it es showed as a split screen instead of a picture in picture.
This – many other cameras do this, they have a 1:1 magnified area in the center of the screen, and even while that’s in the center you can still see the rest of the view to the edges of the frame to help composition. (Heck, even some of my old film SLRs had a split-image focusing element in the center of the viewfinder — putting a focusing aid in the middle is not a new idea, it’s just something that works.)
Most mirrorless cameras (outside of the NEX lineup) already have this feature.
OF COURSE.
You would be an idiot to say no.
Even if you don’t want it, you just never use it. Having a feature like this will draw in potential new users and will ultimately benefit Sony and the NEX system.
Well, some people do not want too many options and would just things to be as simple and straightforward as possible. Having (for example) 5, 6 different EVF screen styles means having to flip through the ones you don’t want to find the one you do want.
It’s just like the Nikon Df with no video. Video is a great features, but at the same time, removing it cleans up the menu system of the camera and you will also have no chance of accidentally hitting the video record button because there isn’t one.
Sony!!! I’d like micro wave generator on next cameras to boil thieves hands by turning it by distances like eith smartphone and make them think twice before… poll: is it an important feature for you ? Moreove microwave gene ragor can be used to keep our coffee hot too;)
Generator *….
In that case u did not read well Andreas askedbuf it was important and not if we’d like… Now tell me who’s the idiot to not notice the subtlety
It’s a cool and useful feature… however I think Sony can do one better by not only adding this, but also the choice of several different viewfinder/focus formats (including split-screen).
There’s no reason to be limited to one or two choices. I’d like to see a choice of 5 or 6 different viewfinder styles that can be selected via the menu. Let’s really show the advantages that EVF can offer over OVF.
Yes.. Only when peaking is on
This would be a great addition! With just one improvement – it would be much better if there are no black squares on the right, i.e. the focusing area on the right better be a vertical strip taking the whole space on the right rather than just a horizontal rectangle.
Oh, yes, and the magnification on the right should be configurable through the menu to like 3x, 9x and 1:1 (100% crop). Also I think this split screen mode would be best accessible through the DISP (up button on back dial) where the other displaty modes are.
Sony didnt even provide ” live view display Setting On/off” feature for earlier NEx cameras ,even the SLT a55 was mostly unusable in studio due to missing this feature ,which could have been easily added via a minor firmware upgrade!! Highly unlikely that sony will give this upgrade !!
It’s probably copy righted by FujiFilm but what Sony can do is (maybe firmware) put a smaller screen inside the full screen, almost as PIP (picture-in-picture) and have it movable in the frame where the user desires to have the zoomed portion to be placed….sounds good?
why anyone would vote no is beyond me… its merely a software change and would not be active all the time. if you really feel like the answer is no, your vote should still be yes, then just dont use the feature.
Obviously, noone would mind an additional feature added through firmware, even if they don’t plan to use it. Thats why the question was asked “Would it be important for you to have the Split Screen feature… ” and circa 17% say itis not IMPORTANT for them.
and if it could be a diagonal split then it would be superb.
I often use long telephoto lenses an would like a simple inexpensive gadjet that mounts on the hotshoe and makes it easy to point the camera in the right direction.
I think the better question or suggestion is would one want a bigger EVF, which is what makes this feature practical on the Fuji – a bigger viewfinder with better refresh rate, glass, etc would be welcome. On A7 type cameras could be a differentiator between them and the A6000 (ex nex) type cameras or they could all use bigger magnification.
First – sony should increase screen resolution to use this feature in camera
Second, PIP feature should be better than two separate pictures side by side
I would like if you decrease then expand the current mag view to suit. To try and explain better, you could decrease the size of the mag view to just a square in the center using a dial if you wanted. While you are decreasing the more of the live view becomes visible behind the mag view square. When the mag view is small you can then move it around the screen.
Touchscreen to set focus point…
XT1 is very good in operation, while a speed dail is not necessary because there are too many stops. A mode dail can be more helpful.
a simple “picture in picture” focus point zoom is much better
which this function can found on a compact DC canon S90 few year ago
“AF-point zoom (on/off) – enlarges the focus point or the detected faces when you halfway press the shutter release”
yeah ,thats the perfect solution
Please Sony no, No NO!!!! Two image side by side make the picture super small, is like viewing a tunnel viewfinder from 7 years ago, sorry but is completely worthless for me.
It’s an optional function on the Fuji camera. Stop holding back innovation.
Ok Sony, I not want to hold your innovation, you can do it now!!! 🙂