What is dmf focus?

After having used it in this way for a while, I decided to try out the inconspicuous, but ever-present DMF mode. Here’s what I found out about it… It’s exactly what I needed! Maybe you need to try it out too!

The DMF Focus mode in Sony Mirrorless Cameras stands for “Direct Manual Focus“. I’m not sure that the name is very descriptive … it really doesn’t explain much. DMF is actually a merging of Manual and Auto Focus modes in Sony Mirrorless Cameras, and it just may change the way you focus in some of your photographs. Think of it as Sony’s manual focus assist tool.

DMF, in Sony mirrorless cameras, blends the control that you get when using manual focus, with the quick acquisition of Auto Focus (AF). It’s a mode that you’ll find on many of Sony’s cameras from the Sony A7iv, to their APS-C mirrorless range, to their vlogging camera the ZV-1, and even on the compact RX100 vii. So you’ll definitely find this information useful.

The difference between using DMF and MF is that when you’re using DMF, you half-press the focus button to get the subject into focus using autofocus. After that, you’re free to change the focus manually to whatever you prefer. When you’re using Manual Focus (MF), there is no half-press functionality. You’re always in control of the camera’s focus.

One of the nicest things about DMF is that it doesn’t feel like manual focus… That’s right! It’s AF first, and then the camera hands over focus to you…

When you half-depress the shutter release button, the camera acts as if it is in AF-S (Single-Shot AF) mode, and focuses on the closest object. You can then use the lens’s focus ring to adjust the focus as you’d like it, before taking a photograph.

Now, some of you may be saying that this isn’t very different in behavior from what you first described… using the camera in MF mode, and using the AF-ON button when needed, and that’s true. However, DMF may be useful to those who aren’t as yet comfortable with back-button focus … who keep forgetting to press the AF-On button.

An additional benefit is that you can simply use the camera as if it was in AF-S mode. If you have focus peaking turned on, then you get an additional way to visualize the in-focus areas that would normally not be possible in AF modes.

DMF mode is actually meant to be used with autofocus lenses, and so, it does not work with manual lenses. While it does allow you to really get fine-grained with manual focusing, the initial step requires autofocus to work. With manual lenses, it’s probably better to simply set the camera to Manual focus mode.

You can set up DMF on your Sony Alpha camera in two ways:

Now that your focus mode is set to DMF, you have a few more options to change the way you focus, and so that you can visually ensure that your focus is spot-on.

DMF was useful when shooting product photographs in my studio, taking multiple close-up photographs of bicycles from different angles in quick succession. I felt that it was definitely easier to use than MF, but still retaining the control that Manual Focus offers.

I found this mode to be quite useful when not photographing subjects that have specific AF modes… For example, when not shooting portraits (which can make use of eye-focus mode), or fast-moving objects which need AF tracking.

The official Sony website states that this mode is useful for portraits and macro photography. Personally, I think it isn’t very useful for portrait photography (Eye AF would be better), but could be quite useful in macro photography, or in any situation where you need fine control over focus. Of course, you can manually control the AF zones too, to get the same result.

If you’re a Sony shooter, you’d choose the DMF focus mode when you’re trying to learn how to focus manually, or if you’re trying to get used to back-button focusing, but aren’t quite there yet. This is an interesting hybrid mode with both AF and MF at call, but with a stronger emphasis on Autofocus with manual focus as a backup.

This focus mode isn’t for everyone, and honestly, it feels a little amateurish… Still, I’m not too ashamed to say that I enjoyed it and that it allowed me to get sharp focus quickly, and with less fiddling around. I could rely on the camera’s autofocus when I didn’t need to change anything, yet make manual changes quickly and easily.

Should you use it? I’d say, why not try it out? Let me know what you think when you do.

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Published: June 15, 2022 | Last Updated: December 12, 2022

You can make fine adjustments manually after the focus is locked. You can quickly focus on a subject rather than using the manual focus from the beginning. This is convenient in cases such as macro shooting. MENU → (Camera Settings) → [Focus Mode] → [DMF].

After having used it in this way for a while, I decided to try out the inconspicuous, but ever-present DMF mode. Here’s what I found out about it… It’s exactly what I needed! Maybe you need to try it out too!

The DMF Focus mode in Sony Mirrorless Cameras stands for “Direct Manual Focus“. I’m not sure that the name is very descriptive … it really doesn’t explain much. DMF is actually a merging of Manual and Auto Focus modes in Sony Mirrorless Cameras, and it just may change the way you focus in some of your photographs. Think of it as Sony’s manual focus assist tool.

DMF, in Sony mirrorless cameras, blends the control that you get when using manual focus, with the quick acquisition of Auto Focus (AF). It’s a mode that you’ll find on many of Sony’s cameras from the Sony A7iv, to their APS-C mirrorless range, to their vlogging camera the ZV-1, and even on the compact RX100 vii. So you’ll definitely find this information useful.

The difference between using DMF and MF is that when you’re using DMF, you half-press the focus button to get the subject into focus using autofocus. After that, you’re free to change the focus manually to whatever you prefer. When you’re using Manual Focus (MF), there is no half-press functionality. You’re always in control of the camera’s focus.

One of the nicest things about DMF is that it doesn’t feel like manual focus… That’s right! It’s AF first, and then the camera hands over focus to you…

When you half-depress the shutter release button, the camera acts as if it is in AF-S (Single-Shot AF) mode, and focuses on the closest object. You can then use the lens’s focus ring to adjust the focus as you’d like it, before taking a photograph.

Now, some of you may be saying that this isn’t very different in behavior from what you first described… using the camera in MF mode, and using the AF-ON button when needed, and that’s true. However, DMF may be useful to those who aren’t as yet comfortable with back-button focus … who keep forgetting to press the AF-On button.

An additional benefit is that you can simply use the camera as if it was in AF-S mode. If you have focus peaking turned on, then you get an additional way to visualize the in-focus areas that would normally not be possible in AF modes.

DMF mode is actually meant to be used with autofocus lenses, and so, it does not work with manual lenses. While it does allow you to really get fine-grained with manual focusing, the initial step requires autofocus to work. With manual lenses, it’s probably better to simply set the camera to Manual focus mode.

You can set up DMF on your Sony Alpha camera in two ways:

Now that your focus mode is set to DMF, you have a few more options to change the way you focus, and so that you can visually ensure that your focus is spot-on.

DMF was useful when shooting product photographs in my studio, taking multiple close-up photographs of bicycles from different angles in quick succession. I felt that it was definitely easier to use than MF, but still retaining the control that Manual Focus offers.

I found this mode to be quite useful when not photographing subjects that have specific AF modes… For example, when not shooting portraits (which can make use of eye-focus mode), or fast-moving objects which need AF tracking.

The official Sony website states that this mode is useful for portraits and macro photography. Personally, I think it isn’t very useful for portrait photography (Eye AF would be better), but could be quite useful in macro photography, or in any situation where you need fine control over focus. Of course, you can manually control the AF zones too, to get the same result.

If you’re a Sony shooter, you’d choose the DMF focus mode when you’re trying to learn how to focus manually, or if you’re trying to get used to back-button focusing, but aren’t quite there yet. This is an interesting hybrid mode with both AF and MF at call, but with a stronger emphasis on Autofocus with manual focus as a backup.

This focus mode isn’t for everyone, and honestly, it feels a little amateurish… Still, I’m not too ashamed to say that I enjoyed it and that it allowed me to get sharp focus quickly, and with less fiddling around. I could rely on the camera’s autofocus when I didn’t need to change anything, yet make manual changes quickly and easily.

Should you use it? I’d say, why not try it out? Let me know what you think when you do.

Get our email newsletter to stay up-to-date with our latest posts. It’s easy to read and is mailed once in 2 weeks.

The easiest way to support Beyond Photo Tips is by using our affiliate links when you buy anything at all. It will never cost you anything extra, and we get a small commission from it, which helps us a LOT! We share our recommended equipment list here.

Some of the links to products on this website are affiliate links, and we only ever link out to gear that we recommend.

We Partner with these Affiliate Programs: Adorama | Amazon.com | Moment