Manual focus

[ahockenberry]

Hi folks,

I am curious if anyone uses Manual focus anymore? And if so, what are the benefits?

I know some times those who shoot macro with a reversing ring will use a manual focus, but I am asking about choosing to disable the AF and use the Manual focus for regular photography. Is this still done and is so why?

Thanks

Ashley

[Paul S]

Well, there's macro with tubes (or reversed lenses, as you say), where the range of focus is pathetically small and AF doesn't really work. (That said, when I shoot macro with tubes, I'll let the AF do the fine focussing for me...)

And then there's my T/S lens, which is MF only.

But choosing to use MF on a lens that could AF? The only times I can think of when I'd do that are in low light, or when trying to use hyperfocal technique. Of course in low light, I can't focus manually very well either, but some people can. Hyperfocal is the big use of MF for me.

-Paul

[Joe F.N.]

Ashley I use Manual focus quite often. If the birds are in thick brush I will often turn AF off. I can often focus faster manually there, than wait for the AF to stop hunting.

[Kevin]

I often manually focus when I'm shooting. I suppose mostly it's when I'm shooting flowers. The primary reason is for control. For other kinds of shooting I often use an off-center AF point and let the camera focus. This allows me to compose the shot as I like. But with flowers and trying to compose properly in camera, their isn't necessarily an AF point in the vicinity of what I want to be in focus. That, plus I like to shoot shallow dof so it's just easier to manually focus.

I don't usually have a problem manually focusing because I "go beyond" the point of focus then "come back" to watch that it's in focus. Not sure that makes sense but hopefully you'll understand. :)

[Rudi]

I have AF always on, but use the * button to focus. This has the advantage of being able to override the AF at any time (with my USM lenses, anyway), or choosing to manually focus without even attempting AF, such as when shooting birds in the bush, or macro, when I want to have the ultimate control, or not waste time waiting for AF to finish hunting...

[Paul S]

What Rudi said! If I'm shooting something the camera can AF on, but I don't want it on an AF point, I AF and then recompose and shoot. Using the * button for focus makes that much easier. (In theory, you can do that without the * button, but in practice I find it practically impossible.)

The only non USM lens I own is the MF T/S! The only time I ever touch my AF/MF switches is to return them to AF if they've been accidentally bumped to MF!

-Paul