Comments on: When is Manual Focus Better than Auto Focus?

By: Amber

Amber — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:41:10 +0000

Thanks so much for this post! For some reason I have gotten into my head that if I do not shoot in manual mode only at all times, then I am not a true photographer. It’s great to read all of this and find out that THAT IS NOT TRUE!!!
The priority modes on my camera are also very helpful. Because then I can set up the exact aperture that I need and my camera figures out the best shutter speed. It feels better knowing that it’s ok to not shoot in full on manual all the time. I was having such a difficult time with focusing my lens. I would look into it and it would appear to be in focus but then once I saw the image, it was blurry where I didn’t want it to be blurry. Or, I would miss a good shot completely because I just couldn’t get the lens to focus in time. Definantly a bummer when photographing children because they sure are really quick and make priceless faces instantly and for only a few seconds most of the time.
TTessier, I also love what you said “No one can put another man’s hat on his head for him, he must do that himself or it just does not feel right.” Words to live by!
Thanks All!

By: TTessier

TTessier — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:43:12 +0000

Good infor from everyone. I am just getting back into photography since digital has come so far, including the lenses. First off – I agree that the technology has come so far that many good, great even, are shot in the auto mode. I was opposing manual for some reason until yesterday when I was trying some tests shots with low light in the yard. So this morning I went to the beach (Cha Am Thailand) where they have some half sunken boats with the sunrise in the background. I took some in about all the modes and found that to get even colors from front to back, at least in this situation, manual worked better. But, to date, several of my favorite photos I am going to have framed were taken in the auto mode.

It seems the “Old School” photographers say if you shoot in anything but manual you might as well stick to the point-and-shoot pocket cameras. Old habits are hard to break I know. But, there are times when a numer of settings, auto or manual, will produce a great photo. Just being in the right place at the right time is half the battle. And being able to have an “artist’s eye” to even see the photo is the first step. Once you have these two obstacles down, take as many photos as you can if you are new in MANY modes and settings and you will figure out what works for you. No one can put another man’s hat on his head for him, he must do that himself or it just does not feel right.

Thanks everyone for the info I read, I do take what I need……..eat the meat and spit out the bones.

Peace and Joy Always………TT

By: Wooglah

Wooglah — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:27:51 +0000

I’ll do it. Tomorrow I’ll try portrait with manual focus, and then something else, macro or… When you learn spartan wasy, you can always do autofocus, but you can not do manual if you never learn to do it….

By: FFred

FFred — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:31:23 +0000

That’s a very interesting page you found.
It raises a number if very interesting issues. While changing my focusing screen was more or less on my distant “to do” list, it has now been promoted to “essential must get gear”.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:00:21 +0000

FFred,
THAT makes sense!
I use a prime lens that did not come w/ my DSLR, and it’s f/1.8 – very fast. i looked into your claims a bit more and found this article which is also very helpful in addition to your advice. http://www.jayandwanda.com/photography/dslr_man_focus/man_focus.html
perhaps it’s my camera. perhaps it’s my lens. perhaps it’s THAT lens on THAT camera. O the possibilities…. that really sucks… ;-)

By: FFred

FFred — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:35:04 +0000

Ok, there are a number of issues here.

First, modern reflex (DSLR) cameras have absolutely crappy focusing screens (this is the screen that the image is projected upon, in older days it would feature at least microprisms and often a split prism as focusing aids, those days are gone unfortunately).

Secondly, DSLR makers know that most of their users will *only* use the auto focus (and a significant number will also only use kit lenses). So why do they bother buying a DSLR in the first place ? Well, haven’t you heard of marketing ?

And thirdly, so called “third party” lens makers sometimes have trouble calibrating their lenses for all the models of cameras out there (for example my “Bigma” is being recalibrated right now for my K10). This in no way means the so called “3rd party” lenses are bad, it just means the camera makers are getting better in obscuring the comminication between their lenses and their camera body. 3rd party lenses are often as good (and sometimes better) as brand ones for way less money.

Another example is the wide Sigma zoom (11-17 I think) which regularly has problems. If yours has focusing trouble, just send it back.

And if you have trouble with manual focusing, just change the ground focusing glass. Pretty much every camera lets you change it easily (although it’s often a plastic sheet). You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:25:45 +0000

still the same problem here too. my eyes are fine, my diopter has been checked too. on my most recent shoot, i shot 200 raw images. once i digitally processed them and then looked at all of the TIF’s (i enlarge them on my 17″ screen), only 122 were in focus. that was using both manual and auto. i’ve almost lost confidence in my skills b/c of this. i’ve mastered composition, lighting, etc…, but the focus problem has me wondering and frustrated.

By: kristarella

kristarella — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:42:00 +0000

Summer, near the side of your viewfinder there might be a lever or scroll wheel or something that adjusts the view. It’s called the diopter adjustment. Maybe it’s not suited to your eye?

You could try autofocusing and the change the diopter and see what it looks like to you.

By: Summer

Summer — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:22:36 +0000

I’m having trouble w/ my manual focus when taking portraits, I make sure that I’m completly focused in the viewfinder, but then they come out blurry. Should I be using autofocus?

By: Marko PyhÃ¤jÃ¤rvi

Marko PyhÃ¤jÃ¤rvi — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:10:23 +0000

Always. That’s what I have learned in practice. I used auto focus much some years ago but I got lots of pictures that were not sharp at all. I decided to get rid of auto focus and use my feet instead.