Practicing Manual Focus

[Deborah-G]

I am horrible at using manual focus. I do wear contacts and they get dry a lot and I clearly don't have 20/20 vision if I am wearing contacts. So I am always double guessing myself when I am looking through the view finder because it's so small and I don't know if it's not entirely focused because of my eye sight or my skill.

I often take pictures of children and my own childrens sports games etc.


Any suggestions on how to improve my pictures using manual focus. It really is my preference but I hate getting back home, pulling the picture up on my computer and seeing that it is out of focus. Sometimes they are great but I hate losing a good shot because it wasn't in complete focus.



Thanks!

[sk66]

Set the diopter on the camera and use the focus confirmation indicator in the viewfinder....
But I really don't know why you would prefer manual focus, especially for sports. Seems like a generally bad idea to me.

[wulf]

What range of apertures do you have available? For ease of focusing, you don't want to be wide open if the light will allow it as that reduces depth of field (ie. margin of error). You also don't want to be too close to your subject, as that is another factor that reduces depth of field. Understanding the concept of depth of field will help you make things relatively easy on yourself.

Wulf

[Deborah-G]

Originally Posted by sk66

Set the diopter on the camera and use the focus confirmation indicator in the viewfinder....
But I really don't know why you would prefer manual focus, especially for sports. Seems like a generally bad idea to me.

Sorry, I should explain the sports thing. It's mainly when my boys play baseball. I like getting a nice clear shot of them on a base or at bat with the other players just in the background in the field. I have also taken a few neat pictures using the manual with one of them at bat but I take it through the back stop fence so the batter is in focus but the fence is not.

I hope that makes sense

[autofocus]

I guess the question I have is why? I can understand manual focusing for those low light times that the camera struggles, or for pre-focusing an action shot, but I can't see how you, or anyone, can focus faster than what today's cameras are capable of doing...especially if you have vision problems. Unless you are either a purist, or your camera/lens combination has a problem with front or back focusing, why not let the camera do what it does best? It sounds like you're already experiencing a lot of missed focused shots, so why continue?

[Deborah-G]

Sometimes when I use the auto focus it's not always putting the focus on my subjects but rather the bridge, tree's or whatever else is around or closer and then my subjects are not as in focus as I want.

When I take a picture of a baby using my backdrops I'd like the baby to be the focus not the baby and the backdrop. I want the backdrop to be just that - in the background.

I don't know if it's just that I am not explaining myself properly or what but I was just looking for suggestions on how to improve using my manual focus for those times that I choose to use it. This is a digital photography forum - I thought people might have some suggestions.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by Deborah-G

Sometimes when I use the auto focus it's not always putting the focus on my subjects but rather the bridge, tree's or whatever else is around or closer and then my subjects are not as in focus as I want.

When I take a picture of a baby using my backdrops I'd like the baby to be the focus not the baby and the backdrop. I want the backdrop to be just that - in the background.

I don't know if it's just that I am not explaining myself properly or what but I was just looking for suggestions on how to improve using my manual focus for those times that I choose to use it. This is a digital photography forum - I thought people might have some suggestions.

OK, suggestion...either use your center focus point on your subject (always an eye in portrait work) and re-compose the shot while holding the shutter half down ~or~ use your camera's ability to dial in the focus point..usually, this is a setup function in most SLR's. Either of these will solve your focus problems. If you are shooting in auto focus modes the camera will pick the focus point, and that's why you're having this problem

[Doug Pardee]

I don't know what kind of camera you're using, but if it's a DSLR, you can probably buy an aftermarket focus screen that includes manual-focusing aids like the split-circle. I've used one in my Canon XT/350D for about six years now.

[karen_s]

It sounds like your camera may be set to pick several spots rather than just one. This was the first thing I changed when I got my camera.

Have you experimented with all the focus modes? Some work better than others for catching action. I use single spot continuous with the back button focus option and do what wulf suggests by giving myself wiggle room with the depth of field. I also invested in lens with fast accurate focus and rated well for sports. (Lenses vary a great deal when it comes to focus speeds.)

[Deborah-G]

Thanks everyone. I think I will go play around some more and try a few of these things. My instructor had a few suggestions as well so hopefully I'll be able to get the pictures soon that I want with more accuracy. Practice, practice, practice....