Using A6400 with manual focus for portraits. Is it too dificult?

[JulioMarin92]

Hey guys! I recently bought a Sony A6400 (it didn't arrive yet) and I was wondering: how hard is to use manual focus to shoot causal portraits? (Not professionally - just for hobby)

I have a Zuiko OM 50mm f/1.8 in MINT condition (wich I love btw - super sharp) that I sometimes use with my Olympus EPL-8 with an adapter. But as the M4/3 crop factor is 2x, the 100mm range is quite hard to get focus specially with larger apertures (from 1.8 to 4). The camera doesn't have focus peaking so I'm stuck with preview zoom to check the focus accuracy.

I watched some YouTube videos about manual focus on a Sony A6400 and it has focus peaking (not as accurate as zooming and checking - but it does have the option), and I'm tempted to buy a K&F OM-E adapter that I found used (near mint condition) for a very low price.
It would cost about 1/7 of the price of a 50mm Sony F1.8 AF, which doesn't make sense buying because I would certaily not use that focal lenght very often. So, is pratically just for fun!

Thanks everyone!

 

[Musicman]

I shot these with a Canon FD 85mm f/1.2L on a full frame Sony A7, which will be close to the same angle of view as your 50mm on a crop body, but with shallower depth of field wide open.

I rarely use focus peaking, although I have had plenty of practice (I’ve been using manual focus lenses since the early 1980s)

Either way, it’s very possible and certainly I don’t find it too difficult


Margot by Rob Telford, on Flickr


Tina by Rob Telford, on Flickr


Jemima by Rob Telford, on Flickr


Juan Alderete by Rob Telford, on Flickr

 

[JulioMarin92]

I shot these with a Canon FD 85mm f/1.2L on a full frame Sony A7, which will be close to the same angle of view as your 50mm on a crop body, but with shallower depth of field wide open.

I rarely use focus peaking, although I have had plenty of practice (I’ve been using manual focus lenses since the early 1980s)

Either way, it’s very possible and certainly I don’t find it too difficult


Margot by Rob Telford, on Flickr


Tina by Rob Telford, on Flickr


Jemima by Rob Telford, on Flickr


Juan Alderete by Rob Telford, on Flickr

Thank you!
I shot film for a long time too, but always with split prism focussing.
Nice pictures! I'm gonna give it a try