I originally got into m43 because of how easy it was to use legacy lenses. The ability to use MF lenses is a big thing for me. MF on m43 works pretty well. I have used various combinations of LCD and EVF over the years and I have thousands of images shot that way. That said, MF on the NEX is so much simpler than on any m43 body I have ever had that I just stopped using MF glasson my m43 bodies. Why? Two words..."focus peaking" and I was HUGELY skeptical until I tried it. I can go out with my NEX (and mine doesn't take an EVF so I'm using LCD only) and a manual focus lens like one of my Konicas and the images are consistently in focus. What's more the process is fast once you get used to ut. Also, the NEX has a sunny weather setting that boosts the LCD so that it is perfectly visible in bright light.

My m43 bodies are compact, fun, have terrific native primes and are what I'll grab if I need to travel light, move quickly and want AF. BUT...there is absolutely no reason I can think of to ever to put any of my MF lenses on my m43 bodies again.

I just visited my local camera shop and checked out the peaking feature on the Sony DSLRs which I assume is the same as on the NEX cameras (they only had an original NEX-5 and I don't believe it has it, or at least the firmware hadn't been updated to add it). It was indeed really easy to use. I'm definitely considering picking up a used C3 or 5N body if I can find one at a good price and ditching my E-PL1+VF-2 for legacy glass.

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Olympus PEN E-PL1 | M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 L | M. Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f4-5.6 R | Zuiko Auto-W MC 28mm f2.8 | G.Zuiko Auto-S 50mm f1.4 | Zuiko Auto-T 135mm f2.8 | Fujian 35mm f1.7

I sure hope someone from Olympus is reading this thread. I think this is the most compelling thread I have read in this forum in support of focus peaking!

The NEX-5 does support peaking, just needs a firmware update. I've seen 5N kits used for $400. New at $475. Sony regularly sells the original 3 or 5 kits refurbished for $249 and $299 respectively. Considering that the lens fetches up to $200 on ebay, would $49 and $99 for the bodies after selling the lens be a good enough price?

That's what happened to me. I picked up a C3 body (all of 3 weeks old) for under $300 and I have been so impressed with it that I don't even think of using legacy glass with my m43 bodies. I have my E-P1 and GF2 with three primes and the NEX. Everything is flexible, small and gives me great IQ (with the NEX sliding pretty easily into jaw dropping IQ).

I will say that it takes a bit of practice to figure out how best to use focus peaking at at first I used magnification to double check it but after a bit of practice it becomes second nature and you find that you can shoot quickly and accurately and get the stuff you want in focus right. It really is very cool. You have three focus peaking colors (white, yellow and red) I use red most of the time but I find there are times I change the color depending on lighting and subject matter.

I use red as well. It stands out most for me.

I'm one of those that doesn't seem to have a problem with manual focusing, I guess. I don't have any real tricks, I just turn the focus ring until the image looks 'sharpest' - a lot of times I'll turn past that point and waffle back and forth to confirm, but I've noticed that the vast majority of the time my first instinct is correct. I don't even use the magnifier most of the time, but if I'm trying to focus on a small target or area with low contrast I find it helpful.

That said, I think there's a few factors that are big differentiators:

1) G3 - the viewfinder and LCD seem to be better for manual focus than my GF2 LCD. I assume better resolution on the LCD and the viewfinder just having the lack of glare helps. I assume the OMD is at least as good or better but other m4/3 bodies may be more like my experience with the GF2.

2) Good manual lenses - I've got the Voigtlander and two legacy lenses and all three have very smooth, properly damped focus rings. I think this makes a huge difference, because working with focus by wire and/or cruddy focus rings is considerably harder to do consistently.

3) I'm only 28 and used to wear glasses for distance only (LASIK last Dec eliminated that) so I have basically no trouble with my close up vision. That may be a big factor in ease of unassisted manual focus but I'm not sure as I don't have any other eyes to compare with

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500px | flickr

“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” -- Dorothea Lange

Where do you find those deals? I just checked the Sony website and it seems like they are selling the NEX 3 for between $425-470 with lens refurbished.

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Olympus PEN E-PL1 | M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 L | M. Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f4-5.6 R | Zuiko Auto-W MC 28mm f2.8 | G.Zuiko Auto-S 50mm f1.4 | Zuiko Auto-T 135mm f2.8 | Fujian 35mm f1.7

I never had a real issue with the manual focus until I tried some star field photography with the OM-D. Geez, that was hard. I was never sure if I had the focus or not.

I wish the lenses or camera had some sort of infinity designation so that you know where the near/far focus limit is.

I did mange to get this image. I had a friend shine a flash light on the rocks and focused the best I could.

The Sony website and the Sony stores don't have the same pricing. For example, the 3D monitor is $250 online and $200 in store. Similarly the refurbed NEX cameras are lower in store. I think the refurbed $249/$299 price point has been consistent since April.