Using Manual Focus on Your Camera - Why it Won't Kill You!

Рет қаралды 11,385

2 жыл бұрын

Even if you don't like manually focusing, it is a tool in your photography toolbox to fall back on when autofocus argues with you!
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Пікірлер: 69

@gordonmiles9995 2 жыл бұрын

Manual focus was the only way when I bought my first camera (K1000). Naturally, when the vintage glass went up for sale at yard sales and antique shops, I began my quest for the glass I could never afford. One hundred lenses later, I have some of the highest quality lenses that could often be bought for the price of lunch at McDonald's. I have five high end digital bodies, and nothing but manual glass. Good video

@cameraprepper7938 2 жыл бұрын

I focus manual 99% of the time, I want to nail the focus precise where I want the focus to be, many times I have been disappointed with the autofocus, when using a mirrorless Camera it is very easy to focus manual, it is a joy every time. Of course I also use manual shutter, manual aperture and manual ISO ;)

@Skipsul 2 жыл бұрын

Another "old timer" here who learned on manual Minoltas in the 80s. Even on my modern digitals, they frankly often miss focus in difficult situations, so I'm often toggling manual mode to dial in exactly what I want, and that means falling back on old-standby skills like zone-focus and dropping the aperture. It also forces you to focus on composition skills. I also adapt a lot of manual lenses onto mirrorless, and while the ability to punch in for focusing is great, I do miss the split-prism of my Minolta.

@hatpeach1 2 жыл бұрын

Lenses, like cameras, are mechanically beautiful. Collecting them, just for the sake of having them, is also a thing!

@250GTOAJ 2 жыл бұрын

Manual focus is great for absolute control.I am now 63 with eyesight that is much different that it was when I was 10 and started in photography auto focus is a real help.

@davidroberts6766 2 жыл бұрын

Part of why I still put several rolls of film through a variety of my Nikon SLRs every month, including my FM3A, is allowing myself to slow down and focus manually. I often adapt manual Nikkor AIS glass and Minolta MD manual lenses to my Z cameras. Like, sometimes I want some flare! The look of these old lenses can be very different to modern gear. Many of them are still amazing optics all these decades later. Being open to manual focus really does encourage you to explore the history of photography through vintage gear. But when my granddaughter is quickly zig zagging, give me eye autofocus every time!

@maxdmachy 2 жыл бұрын

Another awesome post! Great balance between the emotional / sensual aspect of slowing your production down while getting a more complete control. And tons of useful technical information. There are things I knew as I started using Leica R glass on an Olympus E-510 body in 2009. The split image function on Fuji, that`s new to me. I might well be tempted to get an old body, ideally a seasoned X-pro body, for the sole reason of adapting glass with focal lenses from about 50mm and above. Thank you for plenty of useful information! And the most pleasant presentation

@621Tomcat 2 жыл бұрын

I just found this channel while looking at videos on Z cameras. I don’t have one, nor so I want to get one, but they’re cool. I got my first camera last year and I’m so glad to have started with an FM2. The guy at the shop taught me the basics, and getting a feel for all the things that make the picture are so nice. I have a lot of old F mount glass, including a 50mm 1.2 - it’s such a blast to shoot indoors

@MrAustinParrish 2 жыл бұрын

That 50mm E-series was one of my first primes and it got me totally hooked.

@kmtabq617 2 жыл бұрын

I bought my first 35mm camera, a Canon FT, back in the mid 60s, and your videos about manual focusing and film bring back a lot of memories. Now I'm going to go through the boxes of old lenses that I've got to see what I can adapt to my Sony A1. I spent many years loading 100 foot spools of Tri-X into cassettes, and I don't think I'll go back to the hassles of film.

@JohnChubbSr 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Leigh. Lots of food for thought as I'm still learning, and only for a couple years. Great ideas!

@HR-wd6cw 2 жыл бұрын

With focus peaking on modern ML cameras now, I think this has totallly changed the game for some people when it comes to manually focusing. I know for me, it was a struggle with a DSLR because all I had to rely on was my vision (which isn't perfect obviously) and a small dot in the OVF to tell me if what I had the focus point on, was in fcosu or not, and sometimes a tiny bit too much one way or there other meant that your subject might be out of focus (especially when shooting wide open with extremely shallow DOF). Of course with focus peaking now, I feel much more confident in manual focusing, and somtimes will use it to tweak my focus in certain cases like landscape photography (as the camera is usually good at getting focus, but sometimes needs a little help). Plus focus peaking can let you check focus much more easily before you click the shutter. With film cameras, such as some SLRs and rangefinder style cameras, you have focusing aids that can help you (such as the split view, where it shows you a circle in the middle and when you align the subject such that it is continuous through the middle of the frame (the frame and the focusing circle) you knkow the object is in focus.

@lensman5762 2 жыл бұрын

As an old timer, I really appreciate you pointing out that manual focus, once mastered by the digital generation, is the most worthwhile skill to master. I still use film cameras up to 4X5. None are ' autofocus '. My digital ones are. Some of the most exotic lenses by Zeiss, are still manual focus to date, not to mention Leica M lenses. One point of concern that I have, is that these new computer controlled digital devices we use these days, have unsuitable viewfinders, for manual focusing, though one could get the LCD display to do something useful for a change and show sharp focus. For those who may have or still remember, there is nothing like looking through the viewfinder of a Nikon F3 HP or F4S ( even though this one was autofocus ). The view through the ' giant ' and bright viewfinders are something to behold.

@Edwin-- 2 жыл бұрын

The look you get with the various types of lenses is a matter of personal preference of course. I am very much in love with the look I get with the Voigtlander Nokton (40mm f1.2) and Apo Lanthar lenses (the 50mm f2 is awesome and 65mm f2 macro is spectacular), and they are an absolute joy to focus manually on E-mount cameras as they are so well made. I am less inclined to focus manually on modern AF glass, as I find focus by wire less enjoyable, but would if the situation calls for it. Manual focus glass draws you more into the process of photography, which is really nice if you can take the time for it. Thanks for another great video!

@stuartmeador8993 2 жыл бұрын

The manual focus type lenses usually have depth of field marks either side of center focus so the photographer can set front and back of focus sharpness zone.... no need to pinpoint focus. very effective in many situations.

@JoeZiehmer 2 жыл бұрын

KEH is where I’ve gotten my manual focus lenses for my Pentax k10d it’s not just cheaper there’s just something about manually focusing and threading the needle for that perfect shot, getting back into photography it just feels natural to use it, and don’t feel guilty that I’m coming back to it.

@joetrent4753 2 жыл бұрын

I use a modern manual focus lens (Voigtlander 40mm f1.2) for my street photography and much prefer the accuracy and ease over autofocus lenses plus I like doing the work myself. It's much easier to zone focus, having the lens pre-focused before taking a photo than relying on autofocus. There is also a tried and tested muscle memory technique for focusing with shallow depth of field that works better for selecting the exact part of the frame I want to focus on rather than relying on autofocus choosing for me. To me manual focus has brought back something to my photography I missed when I used to use DSLR's and autofocus lenses.

@scrptwic 2 жыл бұрын

I use manuel focus for astrophotography on my Rokinon 14mm2.8 manuel focus lens. I went to the Redwoods in Northern California and found the 14mm lens could photograph the whole tree and was easy to get star bursts in the pictures.

@JB-ou6fl 2 жыл бұрын

I enjoy the feeling of turning the focusing ring on old Nikon AI-S lenses. Those lenses were made to last and with higher quality materials back then (in my opinion) but surprisingly, some of those old Nikon lenses are still being sold brand new by Nikon in February 2022.

@wi4m 2 жыл бұрын

Yes. I recently bought a Panasonic S5, and have a few very nice modern lenses, but I've also saved a lot of money by using my old Minolta MD manual lenses, including an excellent 35mm macro that is optically identical to the Laica branded one. At least, that's what the seller said. I will do some testing. 🙂

@wi4m 2 жыл бұрын

*Leica 😳

@llggpagm 2 жыл бұрын

I believe that part of mastering photography should be learning in a fully manual camera, and then growing from there, that way you truly learn how the image is "captured" and evolves!

@Kelkschiz 2 жыл бұрын

Typically, I will afford myself the luxury of owning one modern AF lens for my favorite focal length. At the moment I don't have one though. I'm saving up for either the Tamron 35-150 or the new Sony 70-200. The rest of my kit consists of vintage manual lenses that I bought on average for $15 apiece. And these are all superb. I enjoy going through secondhand vintage lenses and finding the beauties. Also, indeed, using older gear is a joy and an enrichment.

@MasticinaAkicta 2 жыл бұрын

You are right about auto focus, it isn't always that smart. Sometimes you have to take control. And having lenses that are suitable for manual focus, a camera system that also is friendly to manual focus people, that is nice.

@DPer4mance 2 жыл бұрын

Recently bought a Nikon FM (and another one, and two FE's) and used manual focus for the first time. Like you said, it's fun and almost therapeutical to slow your photography down with one of these old camera's. Although I think that it's much easier using manual focus with something like an FM than with my D750. The focusing screen on the FM is made to help you. The one on the D750 is intended to not get in your way while using autofocus.

@sculpherphotography4835 2 жыл бұрын

As a photographer that opened a studio in 1976, yes i am used to manual focus. Did lots of editorial & press photography work with a Nikon FM & Nikon F3, , Also studio portraits and weddings with Bronica SqA, + Mamiya RZ 67 etc., now use Nikon Z cameras for most of our portrait work but for fun recently bought a Mamiya C330 Med format film camera using 120 roll film and renewed my enthusiasm for this type of photography.

@irutgers 2 жыл бұрын

I have an older Nikon macro lens that still produces crisp images. With my Z6II I have to manually focus…Nikon makes it easy to know if I have focused correctly. Your video is encouraging me to learn how to focus manually more intuitively (the bears) 😊

@noenken 2 жыл бұрын

Fully agree. I am using all AF mirrorless cameras today but I have shot concerts purely in MF on Zeiss ZF.2 lenses on D4 and Df bodies. Even when shooting portraits today I like to set the camera to MF, use back-button focusing and be able to just grab the focus ring and set it where I want it to be. AF is a great tool, it makes things easier in most situations. But YOU NEED TO KNOW how to do it yourself when the machine just doesn't get it. One of the best uses for MF today is macro / product photography, studio stuff with things that hold still. So just get a macro lens around 100mm equivalent and the next time you want to sell on ebay or so, try it out.

@shmuelaryehkoltov241 2 жыл бұрын

I prefer manual focus, it somehow connects me more to the process of creating a photo, makes me more conscious and aware of what I'm doing.

@catmonkey6826 2 жыл бұрын

It's really worth having manual and early AF lenses serviced, the joy of focusing a lens that works like new is so worth the small price.

@dr.peterscroll422 2 жыл бұрын

Rainy weather is a good time to try manual focusing. At 6:20 minutes in your video, you mentioned that the camera focused in front of the bears. This could be because the auto focus detected the rain drops between you and the bears so focused at a point in front of the bears.

@RichardBO9 2 жыл бұрын

Honestly, I need to practice with auto focus. :) I manual focus most of the time. Funny how all of the Zeiss manual focus lens I want are expensive. :| Great video. THANKS!

@andrewchisholm3665 2 жыл бұрын

Since i got my Z5 last year I have loved using the two TT Artisan lenses even though I am half blind it is easier to do it especially with the EVF. It also takes me back to when I used to shoot film way back last century

@zephxiii 2 жыл бұрын

At Thanksgiving I used old Nikkor 28/2.8 and 50/1.8 screw drive lenses on my Z6 and was awesome how well it worked with focus peaking etc. and how many amazing shots I got. The other amazing thing about using those lenses on the Z is I can nail focus right on point which was a struggle with the 28 for some reason.

@chrisreich40 2 жыл бұрын

I learned photography with a zone focus camera; I had to guesstimate the distance to my subject and set the lens appropriately. With my Nikon AF SLRs, the AF system was tricked into focusing on something other than the subject, ruining the shot, or took so long to focus that I'd miss the shot. Manual focus definitely has its time and place, and I'm always learning more under which circumstances to make the switch.

@robertdavis1255 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing a very interesting subject...I have a lens that the AF stopped working so it was great to have to use manual focus ...yes practicing is a 'new' experience for me as I have always had AF lenses... cheers 😀

@LeighAndRaymond 2 жыл бұрын

That’s something I didn’t mention in the video. I was in the depths of Bryce Canyon when my 70-200mm stopped autofocusing! I switched it over to manual focus so I could keep shooting with a telephoto lens. :)

@cbooth2004 2 жыл бұрын

You say that using manual focus won't kill me, but I got my first manual-focus lens last summer, and now I look like I am 62 years old. :-( Having said that, my experience is that I really like the lens and the interesting characteristics it has, and it has given me some images that I like. And now I am considering getting more manual-focus lenses in the future. The number of out-of-focus shots is FAR higher. With experience, that number is going down, but I have a long way to go yet--which I don't mind. What I like about manual focus is that when a bird is in cover, I can focus in to the subject rather than the closer twigs or leaves. I expect to be able to switch to manual on my auto-focus lenses with better competency as a result. While it is a painful learning curve at first, adding to one's skillset can only be enriching and in the end rewarding. :-) By the way, the manual-focus lens I got is a Tokina 400-mm reflex lens. I really have to think about composition and what I am looking for very differently, and I find it an addictive lens to use. Frustrating, yes, because when a bird shows up with it on the camera, I don't have time to switch, and my regular birding lens would catch it in an instant, but I really enjoy the quirky character of the images it provides and switching mindset about what I am doing with the camera. AND, when everything falls into place, I like the image I get.

@bsfoto988 2 жыл бұрын

In 2012 I bought a Leica R5 with a Summilux R 50mm. I searched for a new challenge in photography. I shot only a few films before adapting the lens to my Samsung cameras. This is still fun - even if it is not that easy catching the focus with an aperture of f/1.4

@robertrosario966 2 жыл бұрын

Ive always liked manual focus I started out witha canon tlb then a1 then a nikon fm2 now a hasselblad d1x 2 and still go to manual

@KillingTheMost 2 жыл бұрын

great pondering

@The_CGA 2 жыл бұрын

I wouldn’t be in a position to be diving head-first into photography both as an artistic passion and for business I discounted the value in vintage glass. I’m on the hunt for an F4 3-400mm prime and a fast 200 prime right now to round out my stable. Vintage 135 primes are great for portraits and press work, at $20 each I don’t have to worry so much when I’m in a dangerous situation, I can get closer to the action. a cool focal length seemingly forgotten. Would love to see laowa or TTartisans make a really fast modern manual 135 for night work. Oh yeah, and autofocus just don’t work reliably at night as subjects are moving in and out of streetlights.

@alexshdvideo 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for posting. I grew up with MF cameras and I am usually 10 years or more behind what ever is NEW on the still’s department for hardware.. rocking my D300s. And manual focus lenses (most often vintage Nikon glass like the Nikon 80-200) or more and more Lensbaby and maybe some day a Lomography lens or two…. I get fast good results with the pointers from your video from years ago. (Moving the focusing box in the viewfinder and getting the green dot when contrast/sharpness is reached). I’m fast and accurate.. I get better results than with my NIkon DX AF glass…. Question: going forward to full frame for better use of my Lensbaby Twist 60, Velvet 80 etc.. a used Nikon D610/810 with same methods I have vs say a used Nikon Z6 mirrorless with focus peaking (Like my video gear has been for last 20 years). Which for you has been the better experience? The used DSLR takes the bigger depreciation and thus a better buy for less money…. About 1/2 to 2/3 what a used Z6 costs…. But a used Z6 has focus peaking, better video. Etc…. Which in practice do you like using and get more constant results with.. Viewfinder - green dot? Electronic Viewfinder focus peaking with back button? I almost wonder about a used Z7 over a used Z6, though perhaps the added sensor results on is pointless when shooting Lensbaby, Lomography or 30-100 year old lenses…. Or maybe it helps bring alive those aspects in larger prints or digital photo frames like my new Meural Canvas by Netgear? Or do something weird like switch to Fuji.. but honestly grew up with Nikon, and would prefer to stay there and shoot everything in RAW… though I could experiment with Fuji.. some day a medium format Fuji honestly…. But that is not really part of the equation for 2022 for me…. A full frame Nikon body is however…. Anyone’s thoughts?

@ggivensjr 2 жыл бұрын

I started out with film TLRs, 6x9 range finders and Minolta 35mm SLRs which although Minolta had developed AF in there SLRs I still had many MF lenses. Today I still use MF with my old style Sony ILCA-A99II and ILCA-A77II cameras when using them with a TC1.4 and TC2.0 and F/3.5-6.3 and F/4-5.6 lenses. Because as you know these lenses won't AF with TCs.

@bfs5113 2 жыл бұрын

IMO, it is all about focusing aids. Certainly no fun like using a focusing loupe (with focusing cloth) on LF. Since it is a perishable skill, shooting with manual lenses on a regular basis helped back in the late seventies, but modern AF cuts down interruptions from the thinking process. I still remembered trying to focus manually in low light with half of the split-image focusing aid black out. 🙂

@short1961 2 жыл бұрын

At 60 years old I was fortunate to be able to shoot a M10 Mono with the F2 50mm APO. Unfortunately by the time the gear arrived from Lensrental I was sick as a dog. This was my first time shooting a true rangefinder. Needless to I had a heck of a time focusing. Nothing like when I Was 17 years old shooting a Fujica ST605 slr. I got a glimpse of what that combo could. Due to my funding it will be some time before I can get my hands on this again. Quick question how did you get use to rangefinder focusing? Love this channel.

@archivist17 2 жыл бұрын

I much prefer rangefinder focusing. I find it somewhat harder with an SLR or other screen. The focus peaking on my Olympus EP5 is a real boon!

@tonykeltsflorida 2 жыл бұрын

I have a Canon EOS M camera with a Kamlan 50mm f/1.1 manual focus lens. It is how I learn manual focus. I do not use ML on my EOS M. I use Canon firmware 2.0.3 and there is no viewfinder. I get pretty good results and I didn't need autofocus or any other help.

@eusenjo 2 жыл бұрын

A7R3 with only manual focus lenses, no complaints😁😁😁😁😁

@bublt4me 2 жыл бұрын

The Lumix G9 has the ability to make your viewfinder monochromatic. When pairing this with focus peaking, it makes focusing a breeze

@ericmeekey7886 2 жыл бұрын

Video is the big thing in today's digital media, and last-gen cinema cameras with poor/mediocre autofocus capability can be had for a steal. But I wouldn't count on the job of Focus Puller to be around in the future on pro sets with the latest equipment.

@timryan6395 2 жыл бұрын

I’m an architectural photographer- manual focus is the norm with every lens to achieve critical focus.

@Jay-jb2vr 2 жыл бұрын

Well of course...

@rp1puccio789 2 жыл бұрын

I would but due my shaking caused by meds I’m taking and will never get off, I can’t use most all lens without a tripod even with the sony a 7 r 4, and the sony a9 2 both great when I can’t use a tripod it’s hard with auto focus and manual is impossible in the past I used it any ideas that I haven’t thought off thanks in advance Thanks ric

@llggpagm 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting thing is that Leica developed the autofocus system in the 60s, patented it, and then sold it, to never use it back again...

@nubbinthemonkey 2 жыл бұрын

It was like 10 years before I could afford autofocus lenses so I'm going to autofocus goshdernit

@joekelly9369 2 жыл бұрын

i use my d850's like tbeyre f3 hp's, tripod 1 frame a .minute ...i got the 10 fps batteries just because they last a week .

@HippyNZ 2 жыл бұрын

i am all for manual focus if you want to use it and in fact i do use it. but the focusing on bears issue was lame you were just using the wrong focus mode as you do not need to use a tracking mode in that situation

@davidkelsey2864 2 жыл бұрын

I am an old timer but I grew up on the zone focus or "Everything" focus of Olympus Trip 35s or Kodak Instamatics.. Now I am older and have owned a number of SLRs then DSLRs manual focus was not a priority for many years until I watched some KZfaqrs using manual focus to get foreground detail in landscape photography. I have a lot to learn, but the massive array of lenses confuses me. Just the lens mount types for Nikon for example. I have some old Nikon lenses that I would love to use on my later DSLR (Sorry I can't afford a mirrorless). No-one seems to talk about how you adapt lenses to newer cameras as if it is a secret science. Possibly a video for you?

@bfs5113 2 жыл бұрын

Ha, ha. IMO, zone focusing is just a political corrected term for focusing for dummies, like the Kodak Instamatic (I had the 233 back then). Since Nikon DSLR used the same F mount, you can use any AI/AI-S and later lenses without any adapters. If your latest DSLR has Live View (i.e. focus and compose using the LCD screen), then try it instead of using the optical viewfinder. There should be plenty of KZfaq videos on that topic.

@davidkelsey2864 2 жыл бұрын

@@bfs5113 ha ha agree....