How Do I Improve Manual Focus Skills? (Page 5): Yes they should have it in all dslr’s.

wingate2417 Loc: Quincy, Ca.

Yes they should have it in all dslr’s.

User ID

wingate2417 wrote:

Yes they should have it in all dslr’s.

Well the reason it’s in the Fuji’s and Leicas is cuz those are not SLRs. They are live view cameras, but with additional optical window frame viewfinders.

They do no have actual triangulation rangefinders. They have magnified segments of the live view “piped into” a corner of their optical window viewing.

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Alpa Swiss SLRs has actual triangulation RF mechanisms but which was seen via a separate eyepiece. You cannot combine a true RF mechanism into an SLR viewfinder all in the same eyepiece.

A “split prism rangefinder” is not a true rangefinder at all. It does triangulation but in a backassward manner with no moving parts. It’s not accurate unless the lens has a verrrrry flat field ... IOW not very good with zooms or wide angles. Best to focus wide open and shoot about 3 stops down.

bleirer

User ID wrote:

Well the reason it’s in the Fuji’s and Leicas is c... (show quote)

So the Canon R, with the little triangles that converge with focus, or others, like the RP with the glowing red focus peaking, which I assume is from the dual pixel system, is that a similar principle to rangefinding or a different animal?

User ID

bleirer wrote:

So the Canon R, with the little triangles that converge with focus, or others, like the RP with the glowing red focus peaking, which I assume is from the dual pixel system, is that a similar principle to rangefinding or a different animal?

Basically it the AF system but your fingers are the AF motor.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Thank you tomad

Much wisdom on this dpreview.com video
https://www.dpreview.com/videos/6635747518/dpreview-tv-six-techniques-to-help-you-nail-manual-focus

Albeit they really don't address MF for Sports/Action...
For those who own "Pro" Nikon bodies I would suggest looking serious at the following
Nikon DK-17M Magnifying Eyepiece
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/387769-REG/Nikon_4793_DK_17M_Magnifying_Eyepiece_for.html
and the...
Nikon DK-19 Rubber Eyecup
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/352124-REG/Nikon_4787_DK_19_Rubber_Eyecup_for.html

please be advised that while some folks love these focusing aids other don't...
You mileage may vary...

Hope this helps...

gwilliams6

https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/technique/expert_advice/expert-guide-to-manual-focus-photography-97088

Guide to manual focus

User ID

bleirer wrote:

So the Canon R, with the little triangles that converge with focus, or others, like the RP with the glowing red focus peaking, which I assume is from the dual pixel system, is that a similar principle to rangefinding or a different animal?

BTW & FYE, the red focus peaking is not at all informed by the dual pixel AF sensor. Peaking has no real connection to image focus. Peaking will light up on out of focus highlights at those middle range apertures where hard edged bokeh can occur.

It’s also attracted to sparkling surfaces like sunny water even if not sharply in focus, cuz peaking seeks contrasty edges in the viewing image and paints them in bright solid colors. That is all it does and nothing more. But if you realize what it does then it is a helpful focusing aid.

You can also use peaking to watch your DoF expand and contract as you change apertures. The peaking area actually grows and shrinks ... it’s fun. Then you can change focus and see the DoF as a colorful “cloud” moving thru the scene.

racerrich3 Loc: Los Angeles, Ca.

kenievans wrote:

I have a Rebel T6 and multiple AF lenses. I have had no issues with AF. .... Any advise on how to improve my manual focus skills would be greatly appreciated.

Visine before you go out and shoot. :-)

bleirer

User ID wrote:

BTW & FYE, the red focus peaking is not at all... (show quote)

Interesting. On my canon RP, the dof preview button has to be engaged for the peaking to expand, but I understand other cameras, Sony for one, shows it without preview. I would think for critical focus one would want the more narrow band. It's cool to see the color wash over the scene as the focus changes.

User ID

bleirer wrote:

Interesting. On my canon RP, the dof preview button has to be engaged for the peaking to expand, but I understand other cameras, Sony for one, shows it without preview. I would think for critical focus one would want the more narrow band. It's cool to see the color wash over the scene as the focus changes.

Sony allows constant preview by choice in the menus. Maybe your RP does that. The RP is a simplified R model but it’s worth a look-see to find out.

Another control variation is a menu choice to toggle control buttons so you push once to continuously activate, then push again to deactivate.

As you’ve intuited, non preview is best when you are manually focusing. So your RP’s momentary hold preview button is certainly not an inconvenience for MF.

bleirer

User ID wrote:

Sony allows constant preview by choice in the menus. Maybe your RP does that. The RP is a simplified R model but it’s worth a look-see to find out.

Another control variation is a menu choice to toggle control buttons so you push once to continuously activate, then push again to deactivate.

As you’ve intuited, non preview is best when you are manually focusing. So your RP’s momentary hold preview button is certainly not an inconvenience for MF.

The dof preview on the RP physically cranks the aperture down, I don't know how the Sony is able to simulate the dof without closing the aperture, or if it does close it, how it can autofocus. On the RP you don't have any camera controls including focus while the preview button is pushed. You look, release, then adjust.

User ID

bleirer wrote:

The dof preview on the RP physically cranks the aperture down, I don't know how the Sony is able to simulate the dof without closing the aperture, or if it does close it, how it can autofocus. On the RP you don't have any camera controls including focus while the preview button is pushed. You look, release, then adjust.

When a Sony is in continuous stopdown, the auto iris pops to full open when AF activates but the auto brightness for the viewing system keeps the viewing image at a “normal” level. Sometimes you see a slightly bright momentary increase in viewing brightness before the automatic system compensates for it. It also seems as if the AF will proceed without the iris popping open when the set aperture is fairly wide though not max wide. It’s a really peculiar system. Iris behavior also seems vary from lens to lens model. This causes a lot of discussion on the Sony board with no settled answer.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

kenievans wrote:

I have a Rebel T6 and multiple AF lenses. I have ... (show quote)

As the old joke goes: A young man in NYC asks an old man for directions for how to get to Carnegie Hall. The old man replies, "Practice my boy...practice!"

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If we gave two people the same camera and lens, and after a week we learned only one had practiced, who do you think will be better?

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Lots of great discussion here. I put my camera on a tripod and tethered it to my laptop. I was able to confirm that the issue was not the lens. I can't see well enough to manual focus in camera. Fortunately I don't have to. It was fun playing with the old lens but it is not top of the line and I have a couple lenses in that range that are AF. The good news is I did figure out how to tether my camera which will help me in my little studio. Thanks everyone for their advise, comments and the lively discussion.