Question about Focusing

[srwatters]

I shoot using the shutter release button for it's main purpose. My Nikon D3 has a separate AF-ON button that I use to activate the auto focus feature. Once you learn to shoot like this, it's doubtful that you'll ever go back to the 1/2 press method. Even my budget Hasselblad H2 has the option of programming a button for auto focus activation leaving the shutter release to do it's job. YMMV.

[CaptainTom]

I'm with Scott on this. The Canon has the same feature and I will never go back to half press focus.

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by zebulus

Manual Focus dosent scare me at all, but todays modern lenses just arent designed to be manually focused very well.

You might want to specify which lenses you're talking about. All my pro Nikkor lenses manually focus quite well. And my D3 viewfinder makes it a very viable option in the right circumstances.

[Jaycee]

I agree with Scott -- I get a lot more keepers since changing to back-button AF and disengaging the AF function completely from the shutter button (which required making some changes in the menus). The AF button locks focus a lot better than the shutter button and it's also better for tracking moving objects as long as you keep an AF point on the moving subject and your thumb on the AF button. All you have to do to lock focus is lift your thumb off the AF button. It takes a little while to get used to but it's well-worth it.

[jeffkohn]

Why Focus and Recompose Sucks.

Whether it causes focus errors in real-world shots will depend on camera to subject distance and how much DOF you have. But for cameras with multiple cross-type AF sensors I see absolutely no reason not to use them.

[brad]

I've never been a fan of the AF On button method.. tried it, didn't like it.. I'm sure I'd get used to it.. but better? I haven't seen it.

[zebulus]

Originally Posted by srwatters

You might want to specify which lenses you're talking about. All my pro Nikkor lenses manually focus quite well. And my D3 viewfinder makes it a very viable option in the right circumstances.

Yeah, I had a feeling someone might say that.

Okay, where should I begin. Well, I feel like a broken record but im a budget shooter. I dont have much money so I cant spend much on lenses/gear yadda yadda you know.

Anyway, when I used Nikon I had gone through several lenses. All total I had owned the following in AF:

50mm 1.8
55-200 VR
70-300 G
18-55 AFSII

Yeah, all cheapy lenses. As you can guess, the 50mm and the 55-200 were the best to manually focus.

But if you can afford $1,000+ lenses, sure, manually focusing is great. Personally, I like food, water, and gasoline.


Right now I have three lenses. The minolta 70-210 F4, the 28-25 3.5-4.5 Macro, and the cheapy kit lens. None of which really manuall focus very well. They just werent designed for it.

[Jaycee]

You have to shoot a lot of frames to get used to it. When I first tried it I didn't like it, either, but now I would never go back.

[venchka]

Did anybody mention back button focus? For locking focus independant of shutter release? How about this: Auto focus. Turn auto focus off. If you don't touch the lens nothing will change.

[CFord]

I am trying to remember but I don't think that the A300 has that button. You might be able to remap one of the existing buttons like the AEL but again not sure on that camera. This is one of the prices you when you buy a lower end camera. The more you move towards the pro end of the spectrum the more features are given in a more accessible manner. If you are having a hard time learning the features on the camera you can go to the Friedman Archives. Gary writes a book for all of the Sony/Minolta products that is much more comprehensive and understandable than the basic manual. If you ever want to get together and try out some different glass or play with other Sony gear feel free to let me know. We have a meetup coming up in Sugarland that isn't far from you.

[zebulus]

Originally Posted by CFord

lower end camera

This camera may be on the lower end for sony...but its WORLDS apart from my old D50. WORLDS. If I end up doing more and more work seriously, I may eventually look at an A700, but honestly other than the metal body I dont see much difference.

[CFord]

I think you would be surprised at the difference. Some things you can't measure via a spec sheet. The offer still stands if you ever want to try out different bodies or some G and Zeiss glass though.

[toverman]

This thread is no longer new, but thought I'd pipe up about the back-button focusing (Canon). It is awesome, and I've never gone back for a few reasons. Not only does it help in composing a shot, Canon's have full manual focusing capability even when in AF mode. That means I can instantly tweak focus without a finger on any button. Especially when shooting macro or any other razor-thin depth-of-field situation, it is awesome.