Manual Focusing
Jun 27, 2015 12:01:38 #
Gene51 wrote:
And we all know what C.A.N.O.N. Stands for - Can't Afford Nikon Oh No. :XD:
Jun 27, 2015 12:50:57 #
wingclui44
Loc: CT USA
Gene51 wrote:
What you state is lens manufacturer-dependent. Fro... (show quote)
Gene51,
Some of the Nikon kid lens may have the the manual override switch to let you manual focus when in AF mode. I have the Nikon 18-70mm AF-s f3.5-f5.6 ED DX with the AF-M/M switch which can do the manual over-ride when on AF mode. I think this lens was original as a kit lens for the D70 or D80, I am not sure!
Jun 27, 2015 13:03:44 #
John_F wrote:
This is a general question and I realize there will be variations amongst different cameras. Here it is. If I have the camera set to any one of the various auto-ficus options, would I damage the lense mechanism by rotating the lens barrel in the event I am dissatisfied with the auto-focus result. Should the camera software reassert its focus.
If you have the lens barrel switch turned to auto focus the motor and gears inside are engaged and yes you can do damage that way. To manually focus turn the switch off and that will disengage those parts.
Jun 27, 2015 13:45:36 #
wingclui44 wrote:
Gene51,
Some of the Nikon kid lens may have the the manual override switch to let you manual focus when in AF mode. I have the Nikon 18-70mm AF-s f3.5-f5.6 ED DX with the AF-M/M switch which can do the manual over-ride when on AF mode. I think this lens was original as a kit lens for the D70 or D80, I am not sure!
Some of the Nikon kid lens may have the the manual override switch to let you manual focus when in AF mode. I have the Nikon 18-70mm AF-s f3.5-f5.6 ED DX with the AF-M/M switch which can do the manual over-ride when on AF mode. I think this lens was original as a kit lens for the D70 or D80, I am not sure!
That is one of my favorite walkaround lenses for DX. It was the D70 kit lens.
However, with certain camera bodies, like the D7000, you should never use an AF lens with the focus mode set to M while the camera is set to AF.
Page 99 in the D7000 manual, link below:
http://cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/noprint/D7000_ENnoprint.pdf
I am sure there are other cameras that this is true for.
Jun 27, 2015 13:55:41 #
jimmya wrote:
If you have the lens barrel switch turned to auto focus the motor and gears inside are engaged and yes you can do damage that way. To manually focus turn the switch off and that will disengage those parts.
Not the case with Sony cameras.
If you have DMF on your camera and most Sony's do, then all the lenses allow this except SAM lenses, which do not turn and can't be forced.
Jun 27, 2015 14:48:07 #
Jun 27, 2015 15:07:46 #
ClutchDisk
Loc: Fayetteville, NC
I think I maybe in over-cautious mode. D750 I place the selector switch to "M", then move my selector switch Sigma 150 to 500mm also to "M". Both switches are placed A/F. I'm not sure if I can switch just one from A/F to M. Body or lens ? Or should I just keep doing both ?
Jun 27, 2015 15:15:50 #
wingclui44
Loc: CT USA
Gene51 wrote:
That is one of my favorite walkaround lenses for DX. It was the D70 kit lens.
However, with certain camera bodies, like the D7000, you should never use an AF lens with the focus mode set to M while the camera is set to AF.
Page 99 in the D7000 manual, link below:
http://cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/noprint/D7000_ENnoprint.pdf
I am sure there are other cameras that this is true for.
However, with certain camera bodies, like the D7000, you should never use an AF lens with the focus mode set to M while the camera is set to AF.
Page 99 in the D7000 manual, link below:
http://cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/noprint/D7000_ENnoprint.pdf
I am sure there are other cameras that this is true for.
Thank you for your reply!
I don't know the D7000. I use this lens on my D200 it's fine when using manual override. I even try it on my FX Df, no problem. I brought this lens as "D" rating from Adarama for my D200 which I got as body only several ears early. It's different to the other Nikon kit lenses, because of it's manual over ride function on the selector switch, plus the built quality with metal mount!
Jun 27, 2015 15:20:10 #
wingclui44
Loc: CT USA
ClutchDisk wrote:
I think I maybe in over-cautious mode. D750 I place the selector switch to "M", then move my selector switch Sigma 150 to 500mm also to "M". Both switches are placed A/F. I'm not sure if I can switch just one from A/F to M. Body or lens ? Or should I just keep doing both ?
Check your Sigma manual to see if it can be over ride with manual when both the camera and the lens set to AF.
Jun 27, 2015 16:57:36 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
Completely depends upon the lens and the camera their used upon...
I use Canon gear, so I'll talk Canon lenses and cameras, and some third party lenses I've used on Canon...
Most Canon USM (ultrasonic) lenses allow FTM or Full Time Manual override of autofocus. It's safe to manually focus without first turning off the AF system and generally can be done without harming the AF mechanism of the lens.
There are a few hybrid USM lenses where this may not be entirely true. For example, some people think overriding the AF in the EF 50/1.4 USM lens risks faster wear and tear on the mechanism. There aren't many hybrid USM though... I don't know of any other currently in production.
Canon micro motor lenses should never be manually overridden while AF is turned on. Doing that will damage the AF mechanism. Turn AF off at the switch, before manually focusing the lens. Most micro motor lenses have such narrow and inconveniently placed focusing rings that you won't want to manually focus them anyway.
Canon STM (stepper motor) lenses are fly-by-wire... That means that there is no direct, mechanical means of manually focusing them. It's okay to override their AF manually, but in order to do so the lens has to have power applied to it. You literally have to start the AF working (half press of the shutter release or press the back button), before you can manually override one of these, when the lens is set with AF on.
There are a few Canon USM lenses that are fly-by-wire, too. The EF 85/1.2L II is one of them. These do allow manual override of focus at any time, but need power and so need to be mounted on a camera in order to manually focus.
Third party lenses...
All modern Tokina I'm aware of use a "focus clutch" arrangement. You push/pull the focus ring to switch back and forth between AF and MF. You really don't have any choice but to shift the lens to MF if you want to manually focus it, because manually rotating the ring while it's set to AF will do nothing at all.
Tamron lenses... I have no idea. They make both micro motor (sometimes called Piezo or PZD) and ultrasonic (USD) too. I have one of their current micro motor AF lenses and I don't manually override it. I don't currently have any of their USD lenses.
Sigma lenses... I have no idea. They also make both micro motor (no markings) and ultrasonic drive (HSM) lenses. I don't have any modern AF Sigma lenses..
All the above pertains to Canon... I have no idea about Nikon, Sony, Oly or Pentax.
I use Canon gear, so I'll talk Canon lenses and cameras, and some third party lenses I've used on Canon...
Most Canon USM (ultrasonic) lenses allow FTM or Full Time Manual override of autofocus. It's safe to manually focus without first turning off the AF system and generally can be done without harming the AF mechanism of the lens.
There are a few hybrid USM lenses where this may not be entirely true. For example, some people think overriding the AF in the EF 50/1.4 USM lens risks faster wear and tear on the mechanism. There aren't many hybrid USM though... I don't know of any other currently in production.
Canon micro motor lenses should never be manually overridden while AF is turned on. Doing that will damage the AF mechanism. Turn AF off at the switch, before manually focusing the lens. Most micro motor lenses have such narrow and inconveniently placed focusing rings that you won't want to manually focus them anyway.
Canon STM (stepper motor) lenses are fly-by-wire... That means that there is no direct, mechanical means of manually focusing them. It's okay to override their AF manually, but in order to do so the lens has to have power applied to it. You literally have to start the AF working (half press of the shutter release or press the back button), before you can manually override one of these, when the lens is set with AF on.
There are a few Canon USM lenses that are fly-by-wire, too. The EF 85/1.2L II is one of them. These do allow manual override of focus at any time, but need power and so need to be mounted on a camera in order to manually focus.
Third party lenses...
All modern Tokina I'm aware of use a "focus clutch" arrangement. You push/pull the focus ring to switch back and forth between AF and MF. You really don't have any choice but to shift the lens to MF if you want to manually focus it, because manually rotating the ring while it's set to AF will do nothing at all.
Tamron lenses... I have no idea. They make both micro motor (sometimes called Piezo or PZD) and ultrasonic (USD) too. I have one of their current micro motor AF lenses and I don't manually override it. I don't currently have any of their USD lenses.
Sigma lenses... I have no idea. They also make both micro motor (no markings) and ultrasonic drive (HSM) lenses. I don't have any modern AF Sigma lenses..
All the above pertains to Canon... I have no idea about Nikon, Sony, Oly or Pentax.
Jun 27, 2015 17:37:23 #
ClutchDisk
Loc: Fayetteville, NC
wingclui44 wrote:
Check your Sigma manual to see if it can be over ride with manual when both the camera and the lens set to AF.
I have read it awhile back. Basically gets a little muddled and then refers to check the camera manual. That's all well and good but the lens and camera manuals use different acronyms that I am not really sure what they mean to each other. Such as the lens manual states if you camera supports HSM with radio waves. Nikon manual don't specifically state about lens radio waves. So I'll just do what I've been doing AF and AF, M and M. Just thought I would ask in the event that someone has a similar type equipment or experience. I'm probably over complicating a simple solution or explanation anyway.
Jun 27, 2015 19:11:39 #
John_F wrote:
This is a general question and I realize there will be variations amongst different cameras. Here it is. If I have the camera set to any one of the various auto-ficus options, would I damage the lense mechanism by rotating the lens barrel in the event I am dissatisfied with the auto-focus result. Should the camera software reassert its focus.
It depends on the camera, or most likely on the lens you're using, if the lens has all-time-manual-focusing, you are good to go, if not, it is most likely you will damage the AF mechanism in your lens.
Jun 27, 2015 19:30:23 #
Jun 27, 2015 19:34:18 #
CHOLLY wrote:
Do you guys even read the previous posts before replying? :lol:
Nope!
Jun 27, 2015 19:52:08 #
amfoto1 wrote:
There are a few Canon USM lenses that are fly-by-wire, too. The EF 85/1.2L II is one of them. These do allow manual override of focus at any time, but need power and so need to be mounted on a camera in order to manually focus.
There are a few Canon USM lenses that are fly-by-wire, too. The EF 85/1.2L II is one of them. These do allow manual override of focus at any time, but need power and so need to be mounted on a camera in order to manually focus.
The Canon 200 f1.8 is this way as well(not the f2).
It also has the focus preset ring. That's what that narrow knurled ring right in front of the switches is. You can preset any focul distance and just turn that ring and the lens jumps to the exact pre-set focus, no matter where you were shooting before. The ring is not mechanical, it's actually a 360 degree switch!
Another VERY cool feature on this lens is that it has 3 manual focus speeds. Extra slow, normal and extra fast!! Very cool!! ;-)
SS
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.