Manual focus techniques?

Hello all, I've been following with this forum for many months and this place is a wealth of knowledge, help and fun.

I have been struggling with manual focus or FTM adjustments to finalize focus, especially with narrow DOF.

Later when reviewing the images on a larger screen display, I find what I wanted to focus on in my composition a bit soft.

I have my diopter calibrated to my eyes - I would lock autofocus with center point and adjust it until it looks as sharp as possible.

I would appreciate if anyone had any techniques or equipment that help with manual focusing?

Thanks

Could you post an example? It may not necessarily be a focus issue, but a soft lens issue. You've done all you can do with your XT, diopter is set, center point focus used. Unfortunately, the XT's viewfinder leaves a little bit to be desired for manual focus.

Leaves a lot to be desired. I guess I'm spoiled by the 5D's huge bright viewfinder, but it's easy as pie to MF most of the time with it. I used a friend's XT the other day, and it was pure hell. Nothing was in focus. I used to have an XT...when I had it, it didn't seem too bad. No offense to the Xt owners out there. While I had mine, I loved it.

I've never seen another view finder, and me doing macro alot I manually focus all of the time (unless im not doing macro). My 350D viewfinder is a bit odd though, its like sitting at the back of a movie theatre. lol. I make do though, its easier in macro though because its either in focus, or WAY out of focus. I can usually tell because reflections are very sharp when in prime focus.

Unless you have a problem with your gear why should you need to MF with an AF lens? You can MF with a 350D, I did it plenty of times, but it isn't at all ideal and you need good eyes.

It's odd. I have perfect eyes, but I can't MF to save my life on a small VF.

Why MF with an AF lens? Well, I've posted this before (don't know if you saw it), but I find that with any close-up or shallow DoF work, sometimes the AF sensor (which is usually far larger than the actual spot you wish to focus on) will lock onto something you don't want. However, I like to have AF get it close, and then "touch it up" as needed with MF. Sometimes AF gets it perfect, but I keep my hand on that focus ring just in case. If I'm using a relatively small aperture (below f/4 or so), I'll just trust AF 90% of the time.

I use AF when I can and the focus is fine on my 350D. I only use MF or FTM when the point of focus is non center avoiding the focus lock/recompose bad habit I am still trying to kick - especially when I'm set for a f/1.4 shot. My eyes I thought were ok but sometimes I wish the viewfinder was a bit bigger. For FTM or manual focus I find myself tweaking back and forth alot to make sure I am achieving the best focus that I can see. Maybe I need bifocals

Is the viewfinder in other canon digital bodies bigger than the XT?

In every model above it, it's noticeably bigger. The 5D viewfinder, I would say, is 3-4 times the size at least. To give you an idea...with the Xt, it's merely a rectangle that appears to be a distance away, in the center. With the 5D, you actually have to look into the corners of the viewable area to see everything.

If you are using 1.4 and trying to MF with the 350D you will struggle. When I MF it is with my classic lenses which where designed as MF and have beautifully smooth and accurate MF, but even then rare I would use 1.4 and I suspect I would struggle too. I thinkl the problem is just a function of what you are trying to do and what you are trying to do it with. Not made for the job really.

I would rely on AF and recompose even if it is a bad habit. Works most of the time and probably more consistent than trying to MF in such circumstances. If it works cool ... forget it's a bad habit

Or simply try an AF point that actually lies where you want focus to be achieved. MF and razor thin DOF usually don't mix on these crop cameras.

condyk wrote in post #1998729
Unless you have a problem with your gear why should you need to MF with an AF lens? You can MF with a 350D, I did it plenty of times, but it isn't at all ideal and you need good eyes.

Because lots of times when using a a very shallow DOF, and even with the proper AF point selected, the AF will miss focus. Even with 45 point AF, its often quicker and more accurate to just set AF to center point, lock in focus, then adjust manually. Nothing worse than having a great shot and finding the AF missed focus on the eyes by a few CM...

Although I will admit, manually focusing on the 350D is quite a bit more difficult, from the few times I've had the opportunity to shoot with one.

On a side note, I know some great photographers that still refuse use AF (and I mean never). Seems like sometimes people forget that *gasp* there was actually a time before AF!

For now I will continue to focus lock and try to re-adjust focus after a recomposition. It takes so much time for me to focus from manual mode - I definitely now appreciate photographers that have never heard of/acknowledge AF

I went to the camera store today to look at the 30D and the 5D... wow the 5D viewfinder is quite big! It seemed you could almost fit a small animal in there or something of the sort I had to look deep into the corners to see the whole composition.

As I was looking at the 5D, the salesman said L lenses were specifically designed for the 5D and that other lenses that I had were going to cause alot of light falloff on the edges and soft focus.

I mentioned that the 5D sensor should be the same as 35mm film cameras - he said my current lenses may be a problem (see my list below).

Am I missing something here or I think this guy is trying to get me into the L mania I thought the full frame sensor is the exact same dimensions as a 35mm film cell and therefore be subject to the same light falloff/soft focus in the corners? Sorry if I changed topic here


Foggy

Foggy wrote in post #2004800
For now I will continue to focus lock and try to re-adjust focus after a recomposition. It takes so much time for me to focus from manual mode - I definitely now appreciate photographers that have never heard of/acknowledge AF

I went to the camera store today to look at the 30D and the 5D... wow the 5D viewfinder is quite big! It seemed you could almost fit a small animal in there or something of the sort I had to look deep into the corners to see the whole composition.

And the 5D and 1DsII only have 0.7x viewfinders, making the focusing screen seem smaller than they are. You should see my Olympus OM-4 with 0.84x, or my OM-1 with 0.92x and they would really spoil you!

Foggy wrote in post #2004800
As I was looking at the 5D, the salesman said L lenses were specifically designed for the 5D and that other lenses that I had were going to cause alot of light falloff on the edges and soft focus....
Am I missing something here or I think this guy is trying to get me into the L mania I thought the full frame sensor is the exact same dimensions as a 35mm film cell and therefore be subject to the same light falloff/soft focus in the corners? Sorry if I changed topic here

Some salesmen have to force themselves not to sell their sisters, and only have a bit more self control when it comes to their mothers!