I just got a Canon 100mm macro f2.8 IS lens. There are a couple items in the manual that confuse me. First item – the manual states:

“After autofocusing in ONE SHOT AF mode, focus manually by pressing the shutter button halfway and turning the focusing ring (Full-time manual focus).”

Is this directing you to depress the shutter button halfway, let the camera auto-focus, and then OVERRIDE the autofocus by using the focusing ring while the shutter is still halfway pressed? Or does it mean you let the camera autofocus, then TURN OFF AUTO FOCUS (switch to full-time manual focus) and then fine tune the focus in manual mode? Other?

Second item – the manual discusses the focusing distance range settings on the lens which permits the autofocus time to be shorter. The manual lists these three ranges:

1. FULL – 1.0 ft to infinity
2. 1.0 ft to 1.6 ft
3. 1.6 ft to infinity

One and three are awfully similar; both go to infinity but have different starting distances. Seems hard to believe the shooter needs to be aware that he/she is 1.4 ft from the subject (use FULL), as opposed to 1.6 ft from the subject (use setting #3). And #2 is a subset of #1. Also, these don’t seem to match the three settings on the lens, which are:

1. FULL [no measurements provided]
2. 1.6 ft to infinity
3. 1.0 ft to 1.6 feet

The setting markings on the lens at least appear to be a continuum, although out of order (In order; FULL for macro, 1-1.6, and 1.6 to infinity). Could it be that the manual is wrong? Other?

Thanks for insights. UGG participants are fond of poking fun at those who don’t read the manual, but in this case, it’s not helping!

Thx,

William

I've been debating with myself whether to post the following and have finally decided to do so. The following is not the only to use a monopod, maybe even not the best, but it works for me and many professionals I know. If you have a camera with only an LCD screen and no viewfinder, this set of instructions will not work for you; you must have a viewfinder. The instructions below are written as though this was THE way to use a monopod. I hope some of you find them useful:

To begin, you must have a head on your monopod that will allow you to tilt your camera forward. The monopod should be long enough so that, when fully extended, the optical or electronic viewfinder of your camera, on the tilt head on your monopod is slightly higher than your eye, that's right higher. Now stand with your feet approximately shoulder with apart with both feet flat. Position the monopod approximately one foot in front of the toes of your shoes and centered on your body. Now, here's where the tilt head comes in. Tilt the monopod backward toward your face and, at the same time, tilt the camera forward so it remains level. Without bending your knees, lean forward so a small portion of your weight is on the monopod. Adjust the distance of the monopod in front of you (and, at the same time, adjust the tilt of the camera) so that when you lock your eye into the viewfinder, you are leaning forward slightly. The monopod and your two legs should form a TRIPOD. The last word in the previous sentence, the one in all caps is the secret to using the monopod. Quite simply, the monopod is not a vertical support of your camera, it is the third leg of a highly effective tripod. Good luck!