Placing full time manual to OFF?

Hi,

After settling on the 17-40 f/4L, I went to a camera shop to try it out a bit.

Everything was perfect, but I found myself touching the focus ring some times, pretty often in fact.

Of course, I will be able to deal with it over time, but it certainly would be helpful to turn of Full-time Manual focus.

So is it possible?

Thanks

I don't think so.

It's a perk to be honest. Your hands will get used to the positioning of the zoom ring. Don't worry. After a while it will be second nature to ya.

I know on the 1Dxxx series there are several options; normal, off and MF off after AF (I use the last setting so as not to inadvertently change focus after I've AFed). Set via C.Fn.

Not sure about the XT...

Ok, thanks for the fast answers. Gonna buy it next time I go shopping .

Double Negative wrote in post #6021276
I know on the 1Dxxx series there are several options; normal, off and MF off after AF (I use the last setting so as not to inadvertently change focus after I've AFed). Set via C.Fn.

Really? I always figured that FTM on USM lenses was a function of the lens more than the body (except for on the 85L). So with that custom function enabled, one the camera achieves AF, the focus ring doesn't do anything?

timnosenzo wrote in post #6021372
Really? I always figured that FTM on USM lenses was a function of the lens more than the body (except for on the 85L). So with that custom function enabled, one the camera achieves AF, the focus ring doesn't do anything?

That's the idea, yeah... Not sure what the "timeout" is on that, though and quite honestly never really tested it. I'll have to look into it when I get home (unless someone beats me to it).

I know on the 85L the focus ring doesn't do anything unless you switch it to MF, but it's been a while since I set the C.Fn and had a minimal play with it, so my memory's a little vague on the details.

jsboutin,
Practice helps
Like x2x3x4x5x said, your hands should get used to it

Double Negative,
The 17-40 f/4L focus ring works all the time either in MF or AF

Always thought full-time manual meant you can manual focus any time without running risk of stripping gears or whatever when you do not disconnect the auto-focus function.

I hear ya about the 17-40.
Makes me nervous that one day my finger will be just a little heavy on it, or my daughter will look over and go "ooh, spinning" and grab it. Probably strip gear or burn-out the motor

John_B wrote in post #6021891
jsboutin,
Practice helps
Like x2x3x4x5x said, your hands should get used to it

Double Negative,
The 17-40 f/4L focus ring works all the time either in MF or AF

I bet I'll have to get used to it before any real use.

Mystwalker wrote in post #6022016
Always thought full-time manual meant you can manual focus any time without running risk of stripping gears or whatever when you do not disconnect the auto-focus function.

It will (well, it shouldn't) not harm the lens itself, but it can easily make an important picture look bad.

But, as said before, I will practice it a bit (How sad I will be, having to play with my first L lens...I mean, that's almost torture...)

John_B wrote in post #6021891
Double Negative,
The 17-40 f/4L focus ring works all the time either in MF or AF

All FTM lenses do. Except when you use said setting.

Double Negative wrote in post #6025363
All FTM lenses do. Except when you use said setting.

What, my 70-200 2.8 is really feels as though you are directly connected to the gears, and there is nothing inbetween?

Double Negative wrote in post #6025363
All FTM lenses do. Except when you use said setting.

There's no way that you can prevent changing focus with my Canon "L" zoom lenses if you inadvertently spin the focusing ring. It's purely a mechanical thing. Now, if a camera restores an autofocus setting after you spin the ring, that would be a way to over-ride manual focusing.

I much prefer to use the * button to activate autofocus, allowing me to manually focus any time I wish without the camera messing with my setting.

Naturally I never have my camera handy to check this out when in this thread... I know it works on the 85L since it's a "focus by wire" system. Doesn't make sense that FTM lenses wouldn't be affected since others require physical toggling of the AF/MF switch to engage/disengage the focus mechanism. FTM lenses must have an internal "soft switch" or something.

This feature has been around since the 1v at least. From page 102 in that manual; C.Fn-7 (USM lens electronic manual focusing), settings:

0 AF/MF
1 AF, no MF
2 AF

...on setting "1" states, "This prevents the focus from being thrown off by inadvertant turning of the focusing ring after One-Shot AF. (Focusing is possible before focus is achieved.) With both C.Fn-7-1 and C.Fn-7-2, manual focusing is possible with the lens focus mode switch set to MFor M."

...on setting "2" states, "Electronic manual focusing is disabled in the AF mode."

I use the * button as well. One of the first changes I make to any camera. Obviously enough people did this for Canon to come up with the "AF On" button of the Mark IIIs, heh.

timnosenzo wrote in post #6021372
Really? I always figured that FTM on USM lenses was a function of the lens more than the body (except for on the 85L). So with that custom function enabled, one the camera achieves AF, the focus ring doesn't do anything?

Some EOS cameras have this unusual CF that gives you "ELECTRONIC FOCUSING" options that only work on some lenses that have Electronic Focusing.

The early Ring Type USM was slightly different than the USM we have today. It was used on only on a few older lens designs and some longer telephotos.

These are electronic focus ring USM lenses which can only focus manually when the camera is actually turned on. This is because turning the focus ring sends electronic commands to the lens motor, ordering it to rotate. The following lenses are old-style electronic full-time manual USM lenses:

EF 50mm 1.0 L USM

EF 85mm 1.2 L USM

EF 85mm 1.2 L USM II

EF 28-80mm 2.8-4 L USM

EF 200mm 1.8 L USM

EF 300mm 2.8 L USM

EF 400mm 2.8 L USM

EF 400mm 2.8 L II USM

EF 500mm 4.5 L USM

EF 600mm 4 L USM

EF 1200mm 5.6 L USM