Manual or Auto Focus?

Paul_Canning

Paul_Canning

Paul_Canning

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21 Sep 2007
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Being a newbie photographer, I'm hungry for any helpful advice!

I have been practicing taking photos at local gigs (sadly I cannot afford a f1.8 lens yet) and I use a mix of Tv and Av mode.

But when it comes to focus, I simply use Auto, and will sometimes change the focus point if the camera is struggling to lock on.

Is this ok to do? Please correct me, but I can only see Manual being useful if I was maybe doing some close up, tripod mounted lightbox shots of static objects?
 
I use auto focus 99% of the time. Sometimes I auto focus and then switch to manual in order to lock the focus though.

I use centre focus point 100% of the time. I lock the focus, recompose, then shoot.
 
I try and use AF for most as it's relatively fast on my current range of lens BUT on specific lens, like my 50mm f2.0, I tend to use MF as I find it's faster that way (practice makes perfect)
As it's a prime and macro lens, I find it gives me better control as I recompose without needing to focus on centre then recompose. I can turn to focus exactly where I want at a slight turn, even if it's the top most remote corners.

If it weren't for my getting bad to worst eyesight, I'd probably happily rely 100% on MF when on that prime.
 
Can someone explain exactly what you mean by focus then recompose. I'm currently working through 'understanding exposure' and excellent read and he explains it that how you take light readings say off the sky, set your exposure and then recompose.

I'm sort of understanding how and why you would do that.

What does it mean then to do that with focus. Why would you focus on one spot and then recompose?

Sorry for the newbishness.
 
dannyjo22 said:
What does it mean then to do that with focus. Why would you focus on one spot and then recompose?

Sorry for the newbishness.
Click to expand...

Newbie photographer here also but presumably it means you use the centre point to focus on the subject, then move it to where you want in the frame while keeping the focus locked?
 
I can only presume its focusing on one spot then possibly moving the camera to point at something else, still keeping the original spot in shot and in focus but more to the side (or top/bottom) of the shot?

EDIT - doh, beaten to it :P
 
Install a split-prism focusing screen and you'll suddenly find yourself frequently correcting the autofocus. Just small corrections, but nonetheless...
 
dannyjo22 said:
What does it mean then to do that with focus. Why would you focus on one spot and then recompose?

Sorry for the newbishness.
Click to expand...

It's so simple if you just think about it for a second.

For example, if you've got 2 people infront of a landscape, the center focus point will be between the 2 people and aiming for the background. This is why you would point the center focus point on the subject, lock it (by pressing shutter half way), then recompose and shoot.
 
I use AF unless i'm doing some really low light stuff and the camera is struggling to find a point to focus on then its MF.

Think MF will be used more when doing some Macro stuff once i get some tubes
 
I use AF 90% of the time, 10% when I need to prefocus or such like.

When I use AF, 90% of the time I select the focus point. USually I photography static scenes.
 
ScarySquirrel said:
I use auto focus 99% of the time. Sometimes I auto focus and then switch to manual in order to lock the focus though.

I use centre focus point 100% of the time. I lock the focus, recompose, then shoot.
Click to expand...

This +1. Except I am aware that this can cause problems with objects that are closer to the lens especially when using a very narrow DOF. I also have the 'top hat' button mapped to select focal point. Which means when I reompose I am only making very small adjustments.

See this useful explanation as to why.

It is like all things, once you understand what is happening you can make an informed decision.
 
I use MF maybe 5% of the time, but I couldn't live without it:

Pre-focus for an anticipated shot.

Anything taken with the MPE-65E

Anything taken with a tilt and shift

Anything taken with 800mm + 2x converter (f11)

Sometimes in very poor light.

Sometimes when you need to focus *through* something (leaves, railings, etc)

Andrew
 
ScarySquirrel said:
I use auto focus 99% of the time. Sometimes I auto focus and then switch to manual in order to lock the focus though.

I use centre focus point 100% of the time. I lock the focus, recompose, then shoot.
Click to expand...

Focus locking, then recompose is in general a bad idea.

One important reason is that the field of focus is not planar, especially with wider or faster lenses.

Sometimes it is hard to void but it is best to choose the focus point closest to the subject and then move.
 
I've just got a 135mm M42 f2.8 Lens for £17 so only MF hoping to use it for Macro stuff will get to play around with it tonight :)
 
MF most of the time, I find autofocus is rubbish on the D70, probably because it doesnt have many focus points ? I cant get any decent depth of field on the 18-70mm glass, it just takes a picture as you see it with the naked eye, ie focuses on everything. Use MF with the 50 1.8 and get better results than AF.

Wierdly i borrowed a D40 once and i got focusing and DOF just like a 50 1.8 with the 18-50mm kit lens, on AF. Cant do it at all on the d70 and AF.
 
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