auto vs manual focus

RAPhotography · 28th of January 2008 (Mon)

in another thread someone mentioned that they use manual focus to ensure sharper images. this was a new concept to me. i guess I have always thought just the oposite. My theory is that I don't trust my eyes enough to pick out the sharpest focal point . . . so let the camera do it for me.

Have I been trusting my camera/lenses too much? Am I jipping myself out of better photos?

What do most people do?

ryan

dekalbSTEEL · 28th of January 2008 (Mon)

Only for static subjects and with a proper focusing screen installed in your camera...

PhotosGuy · 28th of January 2008 (Mon)

Quote:

and with a proper focusing screen installed in your camera...

It's difficult to M focus with todays cams. Back when cams were designed for it, I 'upgraded' my Nikon screens to the "Apollo" P screen to get better results.
Today I only M focus when there's no other way to get the shot.

tonylong · 29th of January 2008 (Tue)

Manual focus is useful with Macros or in situations where there may not be enough light/contrast to ensure a good focus. Make sure your eyepiece/viewfinder has a good diopter setting.

Live View has given a new capability which is especially useful for macro or other tripod-mounted situations -- it's way cool to be able to zoom in on a subject at 10x zoom and then to manual focus to "get it right" -- if you're about my age, though, you might have to switch from the diopter viewfinder to the LCD using reading glasses.

28th of January 2008 (Mon)	#1
RAPhotography Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: US Posts: 452 IMAGE EDITING OK	auto vs manual focus in another thread someone mentioned that they use manual focus to ensure sharper images. this was a new concept to me. i guess I have always thought just the oposite. My theory is that I don't trust my eyes enough to pick out the sharpest focal point . . . so let the camera do it for me. Have I been trusting my camera/lenses too much? Am I jipping myself out of better photos? What do most people do? ryan __________________ Ryan Adams Photography www.RyanAdamsPhotography.com

28th of January 2008 (Mon)	#2
dekalbSTEEL Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NIU town, USA Posts: 1,793 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: auto vs manual focus Only for static subjects and with a proper focusing screen installed in your camera... __________________ Grippy 30D, Tokina 300f4, Sigma 18-50f2.8, Canon 70-200f4L, thrifty50mkI, PM7500DX Jon Gee Photography.com

29th of January 2008 (Tue)	#4
tonylong ....winded Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA USA Posts: 47,196 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: auto vs manual focus Manual focus is useful with Macros or in situations where there may not be enough light/contrast to ensure a good focus. Make sure your eyepiece/viewfinder has a good diopter setting. Live View has given a new capability which is especially useful for macro or other tripod-mounted situations -- it's way cool to be able to zoom in on a subject at 10x zoom and then to manual focus to "get it right" -- if you're about my age, though, you might have to switch from the diopter viewfinder to the LCD using reading glasses. __________________ Tony Two Canon cameras (5DC, 30D), three Canon lenses (24-105, 100-400, 100mm macro) Tony Long Photos on PBase Wildlife project pics here, Biking Photog shoots here, "Suburbia" project here! Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood pics here

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