If your question is "why do diehard manual photographers that look down on automated shooting modes have no problem accepting automation when it comes to autofocus" then you haven't gotten any answers to your question.

You're not getting one from me either. That's because I'm not an "auto shooting mode is the only way to go" kinda guy and they're the only ones who can answer your questions.

I will say though, that for cameras like mine (Nikon D5300) manual focus is a lot harder than it was with my film cameras. Of course the eyes ain't as good as they used to be either......😡

Before proceeding, I want to declare openly that I am about to ask a question which some may interpret as unnecessarily raising controversy or attempting to troll the group or provoke some of its members. Please be assured that is absolutely not my intent, and it is my hope that we can have something resembling an intelligent discussion around the topic. There are some specific elements involved, and I don't want to shy away from those. But please do not interpret them as provocation.

The thoughts behind this discussion arose as I was getting ready to do the latest firmware update for my D850. It was released in April, but I somehow missed it until yesterday. It apparently provides for improved operation with certain lenses. And no...it does not add the "Eye Focus" capability that many have been anxiously awaiting.

So the question is this...and I haven't been able to find a delicate way to ask it...for those who treasure "Manual" photography, exactly what are the boundaries of thta method of operation? And for the purposes of this discussion, let's please set aside the question of whether "Auto ISO" is or is not part of "manual exposure." It's been discussed thoroughly elsewhere without resolution. I'm passionate around my position on that subject and realize that others are equally passionate around their own, different, position.

BUT...it seems that many (and I mean many everywhere, not just here) who would never consider following anything other than manual exposure management would also never consider anything other than automatic camera focus. And preferably automatic camera focus that can identify, lock in on, and focus on the eye of their subject, whether human or animal. Why is the manual choice preferred in the one case, but the automatic choice is lusted after in the other case?

Now just for full disclosure here. I proudly use autofocus essentially all the time, except for night sky photography and a few other cases where autofocus falls short. I was initially quite concerned when some of my newest cameras no longer had an autofocus assist light. (Trust me...I learned that it's OK.) Because of some vision problems relating either from glaucoma or occupational exposure to intense light (my doctor and I don't agree on which), I shamelessly depend on autofocus. And yes, I use Program exposure mode a lot of the time also. It's just too good and too convenient if I select the correct metering pattern, and I am pretty shameless about that also.

Why do we think there is such a disparity in the acceptance of automatic exposure vs. autofocus, especially since various forms of automatic exposure have been around longer than autofocus? I am really interested in the responses here, especially if we can keep the discussion civil and thoughtful.

🤷🏼

I saw this post and began to wonder if I was doing it all wrong. So I tested the cameras abilities with the same lens and focal distance, but used the Auto Setting on #1 and manually exposed for #2 in this sequence. As you can see, there is some blowout on #1 which is not there on #2. To get to the manual settings, I started at twice the focal distance for shutter speed, adjusted white balance for daylight, used the lowest setting for iso (200) and then adjusted the aperture to get the balance that I wanted. I could have let P mode do this for me, but this way in manual mode I can adjust brightness to what I like in my photos and what works for me in post.
Just to clarify, I shot in raw and let the camera make the jpeg to wirelessly transfer to my iPad.