Being old enough to remember when Louis Daguerre was still giving online classes in photography, I grew up with nothing but manual focus. I have tried many of the tips you mention here, with my digital camera(s), but I find that looking through the viewfinder and knowing what I am doing is MUCH faster. If my camera is on sticks, I never take the time to set up my camera for focus peaking, I just focus and shoot.
Having said that, my vision is good enough to allow for the old ways. If I get to a point where I can no longer accurately find focus bye eye, then I will spend the time looking at my screen. I would say that, after knowing how to manually focus, should come the knowledge of WHERE to place your focus; that is a heartbreaking story of love and loss, all by itself.
I learned about how to preset my lense for whichever best f-stop to infinity from a photo instruction book way back when I started out.
Please look up “HYPERFOCAL DISTANCE”
Never used my camera without setting hyperfocal distance on my lense before setting out……that way I could take grab shots that were always in focus.
Setting each lense to its hyperfocal distance, and then repeating your tests may reveal the descrepencies between your lenses and camera.
Another note…..the more plates or leaves on the aperture in each lense usually indicates more precision in the lense ability to achieve a more accurate aperture.
The right advice at the right time-thank you! I'm no stranger to manual focusing, but I still struggle a lot. This will definitely help. I've attached my manual lens and I'm excited to have some fun with it this weekend.
Ultimately, it just takes practice! My a7iii’s focus peaking makes it easier for sure, but even then I still zoom in to make sure it’s tack sharp… or as sharp as the lens will let me go haha
Being old enough to remember when Louis Daguerre was still giving online classes in photography, I grew up with nothing but manual focus. I have tried many of the tips you mention here, with my digital camera(s), but I find that looking through the viewfinder and knowing what I am doing is MUCH faster. If my camera is on sticks, I never take the time to set up my camera for focus peaking, I just focus and shoot.
Having said that, my vision is good enough to allow for the old ways. If I get to a point where I can no longer accurately find focus bye eye, then I will spend the time looking at my screen. I would say that, after knowing how to manually focus, should come the knowledge of WHERE to place your focus; that is a heartbreaking story of love and loss, all by itself.
Great article!
I learned about how to preset my lense for whichever best f-stop to infinity from a photo instruction book way back when I started out.
Please look up “HYPERFOCAL DISTANCE”
Never used my camera without setting hyperfocal distance on my lense before setting out……that way I could take grab shots that were always in focus.
Setting each lense to its hyperfocal distance, and then repeating your tests may reveal the descrepencies between your lenses and camera.
Another note…..the more plates or leaves on the aperture in each lense usually indicates more precision in the lense ability to achieve a more accurate aperture.
Cheers
The right advice at the right time-thank you! I'm no stranger to manual focusing, but I still struggle a lot. This will definitely help. I've attached my manual lens and I'm excited to have some fun with it this weekend.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
Ultimately, it just takes practice! My a7iii’s focus peaking makes it easier for sure, but even then I still zoom in to make sure it’s tack sharp… or as sharp as the lens will let me go haha
Sounds like you've got it dialed in just right! Thanks for reading Jack, appreciate you.