Main Focusing method that you use for macro photos?

What is your main choice for focusing during macro shots? What is your main thoughts/opinions (positive or negative) on these or other focusing methods.


1 - Just auto focus on subject!


2 - Pre-focus at a specific distance then move the camera unit subject area is in focus!


3 - All manual - Move camera setup to the specific location and then use only manual focus for the subject!


4 - Other (specify the method with a description)!

I am pretty sure you will get similar answers by most here, in macro, manual focus is the way. Focus has to be so precise, autofocus just will not be good enough.

I use live view, than magnify 10x on the portion I want in focus, move back and forth and hit the shutter when I am precisely where I want to be. With this technique, I almost never miss and do not need to take a lot of exposures just to ensure I have one in good focus.

Martin

Generally use #2 - ie I preset the magnification I want on the focus ring and then focus by moving the camera.
Brian V

#2
MPE-65 (No AF to fiddle with!) on a linear stage.
Dial in mag, rough focus by sliding the entire platform, fine focus with finger operated thimble screw.

#2. Then if I'm doing a focus stack, I move the camera until the focus plane is just in front of where I want to start, then hold the shutter button on continuous shooting, and slowly move the camera forward until my focus is off the back of what I want.

#2, might use #1 for Dragonflies in flight although now I no longer have a 1D3 or 7D this is much less likely!

Martin G. wrote in post #13623026
I use live view, than magnify 10x on the portion I want in focus, move back and forth and hit the shutter when I am precisely where I want to be. With this technique, I almost never miss and do not need to take a lot of exposures just to ensure I have one in good focus.

Martin

This is one of the main reasons I want one of the newer bodies.

For me #3 is the one that works, live view at 10x, AF not very reliable at MFD.

#2 for me. Tried the other options as well as trying LiveView, but always go back to #2 for speed and reliability.

I usually use #2 with the MP-E 65. Just set the the magnification, and then move closer or further from the subject to get it into focus. After you've found something to brace yourself on this becomes much easier. It seems to work pretty well, but I'm very much a novice at this stuff still. The more time spent on it the better you get no matter what method you choose.

Hehe!

Despite the humiliation this is going to cause me I will describe my use of method #2!

I set the amount of magnification I estimate I will need, I point the camera where I think the subject is, I look out from behind the camera and see where the subject actually is, I point the camera at it, no, still no where in sight... I twist to infinity, wave the camera about frantically looking for subject. (if the subject has wings it has usually flown away by now) I suddenly remember to breath, gasp! Cough! Compose myself, hunt for the subject and repeat procedure until I at least have a blurry photograph I can pass off as art.
FAIL


PS: I should perhaps add that method #2 is the only one that works for me...

Snowyman (assuming you are serious) start with your lens at minimum focus distance in manual (forget about the magnification you think you want -at least for now). Then point it where you think the subject is making sure it is only around a foot away from the lens. Find the subject, move back and forth until it is focused, and then fire the shot. I think you will get many more keepers this way. Note, it takes practice.

Snowy, I thought I had copyright on that technique!

With the MPE it is a case of dial in the magnification and then see if you can find the subject. At 5x it CAN be a challenge.Too far away and it is not visible, too close the same, and 1 mm either left right or up and down and the subject is not visible through the viewfinder.

On the Tamron (which has a focus ring) I tend to set focus for use at 1:1 and move the camera, for less than 1:1 I find the subject and use the focus ring. (which is #2 or #3)