happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

Hi, I need some help understanding exactly what the full time manual focus capability on the "L" lens does. If the AF is on on the body and the AF is on on the lens you can still manual focus the lens.

My question is that if you are not holding the shutter button half way down while you do the manual adjustment does it stay adjusted manually for the next shot or does the AF kick in as soon as you push the shutter button down.

Can really see the potential for this just can't seem to find where it is written down how to use it.

Thank you

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

If you use BBF (which you should be using), You have the option to manual focus or auto focus. For auto,it just takes a thumb press.

rhc7

Yes, for next picture focus will not change. if you have switched off the auto focus on the lense.
I use manual focus when shooting with long lens on tripod, evening moon shots. sunsets, or animals, as I want to make sure it is spot on. when doing so, turn the focus ring past focus point and then back to make sure you have it .

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

From my experience, it is like a car clutch; once you have taken the shot, it reverts to normal auto focus

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

Thanks for the replies, I try it out later today. I want to make sure I am using it right before trying it with a shot that is important. First L glass I have owned.

My EF lenses don't do this

Mr. B Loc: eastern Connecticut

It's a manually operated switch...when it's off it's off. Period.

rhc7

if you move the switch on the lens to MF..it will stay in manual focus UNTIL you switch the lever back to AF-auto focus. On some Canon L lenses you EVEN while setting is AF, you can manual focus the lense. if there is ANY resistance to turning the focus ring..then you can not use manual while setting is AF. looke at CANON USA website about each lens and check for FTM.. which means full time manual focus capabilities...

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

:thumbup: And just to clarify, focus will stay where you put it in manual unless you once again press the BBF button.

FredB Loc: A little below the Mason-Dixon line.

Full Time Manual focus on certain Canon lenses with that feature simply means that, even with the switch on the barrel in the "AF" position, you can manually turn the focus ring without damaging the focus mechanism, without having to turn the switch to "MF". On NON-FTM lenses, it's recommended that you NOT do that - it's kinda like turning a watch backwards - it may not hurt this time, but it may gum up the mechanism at some future point.

You can use it to fine tune after an auto focus, or to get the focus on the object you really want, in those cases when the AF system has focused on the 'wrong' thing.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

It's just like you said, if you're using the shutter button to focus, you will have to push it half-way-down to use the manual adjustment.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Sailor, I'm pretty sure you have to repeat the process for very shot.

I think all L lenses are full time manual focus enabled.
I use it mostly on an occasional bird in a tree, especial if it's shaded.
My focus wants to lock on twigs in front of and behind the bird, but NOT the bird. If I can't get a focus lock, I simply reach up and turn the focus ring, till the bird is sharp and shoot.
The camera resets when I shoot the shot, and I repeat is necessary.

I dont know where it's written. Ill have to look to see if its in my camera manual, under focus options, but dont know.
Good luck
SS
My focus w

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Full time manual focus means you can manually focus the lens without having to use the manual/AF switch on the lens. But that is only half the story. If you have your shutter button set to AF when its half depressed, it will obviously override whatever manual focus settings you've made prior to that

There are two approaches to manually focusing a lens while the AF switch is still on. First, but not favored, is to depress the shutter button half way, and while depressed you can manually focus your lens before taking the shot. In this case you would have to go through the proces again for the next shot. A better approach is to use BBF, back button focusing. In that case you set the shutter button up to meter only, not to AF, and the back button is set up to AF and meter. These buttons are controlled by the custom functions menu. Once set up, you can then manually focus prior to depressing the shutter button and depressing it will not trigger the AF. The back button is then used for AF. You press and hold it with your thumb and then depress the shutter button to take your photo. This technique allows full control over the lenses AF and manual focus features. Of course it is only intended for lenses that actually support Full Time Manual Focus.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Lenses either have FTMF capability or they don't. There is nothing to enable. How its used is dependent on how the camera body's shutter button and back button are set up.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Yes, the manual too states to push the shutter half-way-down to adjust (just as you described in your example)
It is there for just that purpose/occasion - very nice feature to have!

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

Hi all, Thanks very much for the very informative answers they are very much appreciated. As SS described that is what I tried last night and that seemed to work very well. SS's example of when he uses it is exactly the type of situation I was thinking of. I have not used back button AF but will give that a try as well and see if I want to switch to that method.

I was by a large photography chain store (in Canada) last night and stopped in and asked one of the sales people who looked at me like I had two heads and told me to switch AF on or off on the lens then told me to focus with AF and recompose and to read about that. I was polite thanked her and left after looking at some of the other gear. I bought this camera from this chain just at another location and my salesperson there was great and really helpful (should have gone there but was two far away at the time).

Again thanks for taking the time to answer, I am glad I found this forum.