Focus Map: Underrated Feature in Sony Cameras and How to Use It Properly
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If you’re a Sony shooter and haven’t used Focus Map yet… you’re seriously missing out. This powerful (and often overlooked) feature is one of the most useful focus assist tools available—especially on the Sony A7 IV.
Hi, I’m Mario So, and in today’s post I want to break down how Focus Map works, why it's better than traditional Focus Peaking, and how to get the most out of it. This tool has become one of my favorite features for both video and manual lens work—and after this post, you’ll know why.
What Is Focus Map?
Focus Map is a focus assist feature available on select Sony mirrorless cameras. It provides a visual overlay to show which parts of your image are in focus and which are out of focus using color-coded pixels:
Red/Orange tones = Foreground (out of focus)
Blue tones = Background (out of focus)
No color overlay = Sharp, in-focus plane
This is especially useful when working with manual focus lenses, macro photography, or shallow depth-of-field scenes where nailing focus is critical.
Why Use Focus Map (Even if You Trust Autofocus)?
You might be asking: Why use Focus Map when autofocus on the A7 IV is so good?
Great question. Here are a few reasons:
Manual Lenses: If you're using vintage or adapted lenses that don’t support autofocus, Focus Map gives you clarity on what’s in focus at a glance.
Precision Macro Work: In macro photography, even f/8 or f/14 gives you razor-thin focus planes. Focus Map shows exactly where your depth-of-field lies.
Controlled Studio Shoots: Whether you're a video creator or portrait photographer, this tool can help prevent missed focus—especially when working on the A7 IV’s small LCD.
More Reliable than Focus Peaking: Focus Peaking sometimes gives false confidence. It outlines edges based on contrast, but doesn’t always show the exact focus plane.
How to Enable Focus Map on the Sony A7 IV
Using Focus Map is simple once you know where to look:
Menu → AF/MF → Focus Assistant → Focus Map
Turn it ON
That’s it! There are no additional settings—just an on/off toggle. For quicker access, I’ve personally assigned it to a custom button (the AF-ON button), so I can toggle Focus Map on the fly.
Focus Map vs Focus Peaking: A Real-World Test
I ran a quick test using two lenses in the frame: one in the foreground and one in the background. Here’s what I found:
Focus Peaking (Set to High, Yellow):
It gave a general idea of what was sharp.
But it was hard to tell whether I was focused on a person’s eye or ear.
I’ve reviewed footage before where peaking looked right, but focus was actually off.
Focus Map:
The colored overlays showed exactly where the focus plane started and ended.
Red = foreground out of focus
Blue = background out of focus
Anything without a color = tack sharp
This gave me confidence, even without an external monitor.
Focus Map for Macro Photography
I tested this with the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro lens in manual focus mode.
Even at f/8, the focus plane was thin.
Focus Map clearly showed which part of the plant was in focus.
I bumped up to f/20 for deeper focus—but still used Focus Map to dial it in accurately.
Note: At high f-stops, you’ll need to compensate for exposure with ISO or lighting.
Photography Mode Limitation
Unfortunately, Focus Map only works in video mode.
When you switch to photo mode, you're limited to traditional Focus Peaking. I hope Sony changes this in future firmware updates—it would be a game-changer for macro and manual-focus stills photographers.
Which Sony Cameras Have Focus Map?
As of now, Focus Map is available on the following Sony mirrorless models:
Sony A7 IV
Sony FX3
Sony FX30
Sony ZV-E1
Sony A6700
Final Thoughts
Focus Map is one of the best underutilized features in Sony’s mirrorless system. Whether you’re a filmmaker, photographer, or hybrid shooter, this tool can seriously help you nail focus with confidence—especially when working with shallow DOF or manual lenses.
I use it all the time on my Sony A7 IV, and I recommend assigning it to a custom button for easy toggling.
