Manual focus on Canon SX50: I am having such a hard time using manual focus on my SX50this morning I was having a hard time getting focused on the sunriseso switched to manual focus.

hikergal Loc: North Idaho

I am having such a hard time using manual focus on my SX50this morning I was having a hard time getting focused on the sunriseso switched to manual focus. It was very frustrating and found using the up and down arrows didn't work. The other functions assigned to the arrows would come up. Then tried to put manual on infinity, but that didn't help that much. Meanwhile the sun was rising! I took 38 shots and got just one that was only half way decent. Any suggestions? I'll try anything as I have been trying to get a daily sunrise photooh, and it was 16 degrees, and the camera was on my metal tripod!

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

hikergal wrote:

I am having such a hard time using manual focus on... (show quote)

I shoot like that I use auto focus, it works very well. I don't have an SX50 but a Canon dslr camera.

I understand your frustration, manual focus can be difficult except with video. Auto may work for you.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

jimmya wrote:

I shoot like that I use auto focus, it works very well. I don't have an SX50 but a Canon dslr camera.

I understand your frustration, manual focus can be difficult except with video. Auto may work for you.

What a worthless reply.

You don't have the same camera as the OP, and he said that the autofocus wasn't doing what he wanted, so he tried manual.

hikergal Loc: North Idaho

I tried autofocus at first but the camera was having trouble finding something to focus onclouds, haze, land, etso that is why I tried the manual...

jimmya wrote:

I shoot like that I use auto focus, it works very well. I don't have an SX50 but a Canon dslr camera.

I understand your frustration, manual focus can be difficult except with video. Auto may work for you.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Holy Crap. A question is asked. It catches another members eye and he/she comments with what is in their mind when seeing the question and another member jumps in and jumps on the person offering a thought.

Wow, we getting a bit testy here now ?

Sarge69

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

sarge69 wrote:

Holy Crap. A question is asked. It catches another members eye and he/she comments with what is in their mind when seeing the question and another member jumps in and jumps on the person offering a thought.

Wow, we getting a bit testy here now ?

Sarge69

Getting to be the typical situation here. People that know nothing about the issues jumping all over people that try to help, or people that know nothing about the equipment being used trying to give "expert" opinions that have nothing to do with the situation!

hikergal Loc: North Idaho

Omigosh, everyone, I didn't mean to stir up so much controversybut has anyone else had the same problem I am having with the manual focus on my SX50I tried to follow the instructions in the manual but am having trouble with doing it as they say tothe arrows up and down don't seem to work the focusespecially after I click "OK"...

Wahawk wrote:

Getting to be the typical situation here. People that know nothing about the issues jumping all over people that try to help, or people that know nothing about the equipment being used trying to give "expert" opinions that have nothing to do with the situation!

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

hikergal wrote:

Omigosh, everyone, I didn't mean to stir up so much controversybut has anyone else had the same problem I am having with the manual focus on my SX50I tried to follow the instructions in the manual but am having trouble with doing it as they say tothe arrows up and down don't seem to work the focusespecially after I click "OK"...

I use the SX50 but have never used the Manual Focus. Auto Focus has always worked for me, including on my sunrise, sunset and clould pics.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Wahawk wrote:

Getting to be the typical situation here. People that know nothing about the issues jumping all over people that try to help, or people that know nothing about the equipment being used trying to give "expert" opinions that have nothing to do with the situation!

He was anything BUT helpful.
Doesn't have the same camera, not even a bridge, but a full DSLR, and doesn't work the same way.
My take is it was someone just wanting to put their 2¢ in.

Criticize my reply all you want, but he didn't add ANYTHING useful.

Which is the REAL direction this forum is taking.

hikergal Loc: North Idaho

You know, it has always worked for me too..yesterday's sunrise photo came out fairly wellit had to be something in the air this morning that was confusing the camera. Could the frigid temperature at 16 degrees have anything to do with it? But it was 16 degrees yesterday tooI'll try again tomorrow morningthis manual focus and I are not getting along! Thanks...

Wahawk wrote:

I use the SX50 but have never used the Manual Focus. Auto Focus has always worked for me, including on my sunrise, sunset and clould pics.

wtompkins Loc: Northern Michigan

I have the SX50 also, and tried using manual focus once...couldn't figure it out. I need to take some time to read the manual; in the meantime, most of my pictures have been taken on auto focus, and they've turned out very well.
You keep trying.. and post your results, I'd love to see how they turn out. This is a really nifty camera, and I know there are lots on here that have one and love it!
Hey....maybe we should have our own section! LOL, j/k.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

hikergal wrote:

You know, it has always worked for me too..yesterday's sunrise photo came out fairly wellit had to be something in the air this morning that was confusing the camera. Could the frigid temperature at 16 degrees have anything to do with it? But it was 16 degrees yesterday tooI'll try again tomorrow morningthis manual focus and I are not getting along! Thanks...

Just find something in the distance with some contrast, hold the shutter button 1/2 way down to lock focus, then recompose.

GaryI Loc: NY & Fla

I also have an sx50. I like many things about the camera, but manual focus isn't one of them. It's very hard to get it right.

Try the various focus settings. You can spot focus on an item, or focus on the entire picture. Both have worked well for me.

busted_shutter

Side question. My brother has the SX40 and mentioned he'd like manual focus. Does he have it, and just not realize, or was this an added feature on the SX50? Thanks.

hikergal Loc: North Idaho

I would be EXTREMELY surprised if it did NOT have ithave him check his manualor check the top right button on the camera top and the ring on the backsidemine in on the left for MF, Normal and Macro

busted_shutter wrote:

Side question. My brother has the SX40 and mentioned he'd like manual focus. Does he have it, and just not realize, or was this an added feature on the SX50? Thanks.