I need some help with my new nifty fifty please

[samu2]

I got mine delivered today and so far I have just been frustrated with it. I have to manual focus and it took me about 4 minutes to focus on something, there is so way I can actually focus quick enough on things that move, especially my children.

Has anyone got any good ideas/tips that might be useful to me? I want to love this lens but the focusing thing is making using it a headache.

[IABoomer]

Checking a couple of your other posts, I see you have a Nikon D3000. I'm guessing you got the 50mm f/1.8 lens, which I don't think has an integral focus motor, and thus won't auto-focus on the D3000/D5000 cameras.

[samu2]

I know it won't auto focus, it's how hard it is to manual focus that is the problem lol

[IABoomer]

Maybe try stopping down the aperture some so you're not fighting with such an extremely shallow DoF? Otherwise, it's just an issue of practice.

I borrowed a D40 with a manual 70-210 lens to shoot some outdoor track meets. The first one was a struggle to get my zoom and focus right, but by the third one, I felt more comfortable and got more keepers.

[RLucas]

It can be touchy, especially when there is low light. Use the green focus confirmation dot in the bottom left hand corner of the viewfinder.
When it lights solid green it's usually locked in. Practice on objects that are moving across the frame first, then you can step up to trying to focus on things that are moving toward or away from you.
It takes time if you have never done it before, but it is very rewarding when you get that "AHA" moment.
Good luck, and keep practicing.