manual or auto focus, prefer?

[vandergus]

I manual focus a lot but only with my old MF lenses. Trying to manual focus a camera and lens that's built for auto-focusing is a pain.

Ken mentioned choosing the right process for the shot but you also have to choose the right process for the tool. Modern DLSR's and lenses are designed to be auto focused. They removed the split prism focusing aid from focusing screens to allow a clearer view but this also makes manually focusing more difficult. They shortened the focus throw in lenses to speed up AF but it also sacrifices precision during MF. The smooth damped feel of a MF focusing ring is also very hard to achieve with a focus ring that is now attached to a set of gears. It all adds up to a less than satisfactory manual focusing experience. I understand that it is necessary in certain situations, but I wouldn't want it to be my normal modus operandi.

This is why I ended up modifying my camera when I started using more manual focus lenses (added a split prism focusing screen). Make my tool fit the process.

[Jim Bryant]

Only time I use manual focus is when it's too dark for autofocus to work, or when I want a play at second base when shooting from the 1st base photo well. Good write up Ken

[sk66]

I tend to stick with autofocus when possible....I generally find the camera does a better job of focusing than I do.
I find that when working with shallow DOF I tend to manually focus a little "too deep". I've learned to manually focus "slightly short" to take advantage of the 1/3- 2/3 DOF effect in order to compensate. I don't know if my problem is due to wearing glasses or just my tendency (and this is true for most people) to want to "plus up" the focus (i.e. oversharpen).

[inquiries]

I prefer Auto focus, when I use manual it is often a bit out of focus. I have to use manual focus with my 70-300 though

[bradzo66]

It always feels a little intimidating answering anything after Ken has(dPS bible) but I prefer manual . In the early days I would come home and see that auto had decided that something other than what I wanted had become the subject of my image aaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!! So I started to do it myself .

[spazoid1965]

I have never owned an autofocus lens. My AI & AI converted lenses work fine on my DSLR.

[JonZenor]

I have tried using manual focus many times, especially when photographing birds which are usually behind a branch or piece of grass that my camera likes to focus on instead of the bird.

My problem is that even though my viewfinder shows the subject relatively sharp, the end result is usually blurry. One example can be found here and more examples at the bottom of thisblog.

I see the advantage of using manual focus, but it just doesn't come out very sharp.

[sybren]

Originally Posted by bradzo66

It always feels a little intimidating answering anything after Ken has(dPS bible)

I just ignore him. Just as the real bible his comments aren't suitable for everyone, and certainly not a definite truth. Unless you're believing in them, of course.

Anyway, I use AF most of the time. Especially with my 7D the AF is fast and precise, and AF tracking is very much improved (coming from a 350D). As for shots as macro and landscape, where my camera is on a tripod and the subject is stationary I use MF via live view, by zooming in 10x on the part I want to focus on. That gives me exceptional sharpness exactly where I want it to be.

[FrankLamont]

Mostly auto, unless I'm shooting action; at times, I'll pre-manual focus, keep it there and shoot continuous as the whatever passes the whatever-in-focus. Aside from that and dark places... it's auto focus.

I sincerely did not like using manual focus when shooting weddings last time, I can tell you.

[CaptainNH]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

Top-of-the-line cameras will only have the centre spot usable at F8,and entry level cameras at F5.6, and less than that, even these single spots aren’t reliable.

Originally Posted by kencaleno

NOTE: Unless your camera has depth of field preview, looking through the viewfinder all will not be in focus, because your lens, until you press the shutter button to make the shot, will be open at full aperture.

Am I misunderstanding what you're saying here Ken or are these two statements contradictory?

All of my AF lenses focus at max aperture, then stop down to take the shot (speed of focus is one of the reasons I went for f2.8 over f4 for my 70-200).

I can't see, in that case, how being stopped down will have any impact on "visibility" for focus points.