Tips for Manual Focusing?

[inquiries]

I got my D40 a couple weeks a go andit came with the kit lens and a 70-300mm, which doesn't autofocus. So when I use it I have to obviously use Manual Focus.

But the problem is when I look in the view finder, the image seems to be pretty much in focus, but then I view it in Playback and it is slightly out of focus. Is there any tips to stop this happening?

Thank you in advance for the help

[RexK_Cozumel]

there should be a focus lock indicatior light that looks like a green circle in the bottom left corner of the viewfinder. When the camera thinks that the subject is in focus that light will turn on. Make sure that the light is solid green before you take that photo. Other than that focus bracket your images. and shoot at a smaller aperture to give yourself a little more DOF to work with.

[BryanC]

Just a thought. Some cameras have a "diopter adjustment". It adjusts the viewfinder to your eyesight. I'm not familiar with your particular camera, so check your manual.

[kencaleno]

A) Set your Focus icons - detach lens, adjust dioptre (next to viewfinder) so icons are sharply in focus. Re-attach lens.

B) Your 70-300 lens will autofocus-there is no switch on that lens, but there is a manual/auto switch on the camera which will enable you to autofocus with that lens

C) Depth of field appears to be the most confusing of focus elements. Depth of field is a range of acceptable sharpness in an image, from near to far. Three factors control Depth of field: Aperture: The wider the aperture, the shallower the depth of field. Focal length of lens, The longer the focal length of the lens, the shallower the depth of field will be. and Distance from subject, Landscape images have great depth of field, whereas Macro (extreme close-up) images have very shallow depth of field. Concerning depth of field, Hyperfocal distance seems to be even more confusing -Hyperfocal distance is a point of focus where at a certain aperture, Half the distance from that point to Infinity, (which starts at 30 feet, and extends to as far as you are able to see)) will be in acceptable focus, The best lenses for hyperfocal distance are 80mm or wider ; telephoto lenses, because of their relative short depth of field, are rarely used.

Regards, Ken

[vandergus]

B) Your 70-300 lens will autofocus-there is no switch on that lens, but there is a manual/auto switch on the camera which will enable you to autofocus with that lens

There are a couple 70-300mm lenses that aren't AF-S. She probably has one of the older AF lenses which will not autofocus on the D40.

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by vandergus

There are a couple 70-300mm lenses that aren't AF-S. She probably has one of the older AF lenses which will not autofocus on the D40.

She did state she got it a fortnight ago,and with the kit lenses.I imagine it is a "G" lens, if it came with the cameraRegards,Ken

[dcclark]

It would be extremely unusual for a D40 to come with a "kit" lens that isn't AF-S.

Also, there is no "switch" on a D40 for manual/auto -- it has to be done through the menu system.

[inquiries]

There are a couple 70-300mm lenses that aren't AF-S. She probably has one of the older AF lenses which will not autofocus on the D40

Yeah it is a G type lens - which don't Auto-Focus with the D40


Thank you RexK_Cozumel, I used the focus light indicator, and it helped a lot. Thank you!

[abyssal20]

I have no direct experience with the D40, but on some other Nikon bodies, you can set focus priority even with a non-af lens. With this mode on, the shutter won't file unless the subject is in focus. And if this mode is available on the D40, it's probably focuses on the closest subject...perhaps that can be changed too. Good Luck!