Auto Focus Fine Tune with Manual Focus Lens: I do use the focus conformation dot on my Nikon D800e. Can I benefit by using Auto Focus Fine Tune on my manual focus lenses?

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

I do use the focus conformation dot on my Nikon D800e. Can I benefit by using Auto Focus Fine Tune on my manual focus lenses?

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

par4fore wrote:

I do use the focus conformation dot on my Nikon D800e. Can I benefit by using Auto Focus Fine Tune on my manual focus lenses?

No idea, would be nice. But I can use Focus Conformation on my manual Pentax lenses with my Pentax cameras (not sure about the really old K-100D though as it is converted for IR use only).

rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

par4fore wrote:

I do use the focus conformation dot on my Nikon D800e. Can I benefit by using Auto Focus Fine Tune on my manual focus lenses?

Why? Are you experiencing front or back focusing issues in your images?

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

lamiaceae wrote:

No idea, would be nice. But I can use Focus Conformation on my manual Pentax lenses with my Pentax cameras (not sure about the really old K-100D though as it is converted for IR use only).

Fuji calls it “focus peaking”. Very useful when focus stacking when using an AF lens in manual focus.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

par4fore wrote:

I do use the focus conformation dot on my Nikon D800e. Can I benefit by using Auto Focus Fine Tune on my manual focus lenses?

I would think theoretically yes....I would definitely CHECK the focus.

RF-4 Phantom Flyer Loc: Gilbert, Arizona USA

par4fore wrote:

I do use the focus conformation dot on my Nikon D800e. Can I benefit by using Auto Focus Fine Tune on my manual focus lenses?

I am slightly confused by this question. By definition when using a manual focus lens you are not able to use the auto focus function of the camera but must focus the lens yourself thru the use of your fingers on the lens focus ring. How can a fine tuning of a system you are NOT using be of any use or benifit? What am I missing here?

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

RF-4 Phantom Flyer wrote:

I am slightly confused by this question. By definition when using a manual focus lens you are not able to use the auto focus function of the camera but must focus the lens yourself thru the use of your fingers on the lens focus ring. How can a fine tuning of a system you are NOT using be of any use or benifit? What am I missing here?

My understanding is that the OP is thinking that Focus Confirmation could be made more accurate by Fine Tuning it.

aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM

par4fore wrote:

I do use the focus conformation dot on my Nikon D800e. Can I benefit by using Auto Focus Fine Tune on my manual focus lenses?

Yes it can help, but ...

The big problem is that the focus confirmation dot covers a very wide range. If you move the focus plane too close then carefully adjust focus until the green dot first appears and take a picture, then do the same but starting from behind rather than in front, and you'll see that the focus planes in the two pictures are fairly far apart. This of course means that if you'll get a green focus confirmation dot anywhere in that range, and the range is so big, I find it pretty useless.

So, to deal with this problem, I focus manual lenses by doing the first step above -- i.e., starting too close and move focus back until the dot first appears. That make focus-confirmation pretty consistent. I focus-fine-tune that way as well, and it works fairly well.

It's unfortunately slow focusing that way, but other than using a magnified LiveView, you don't have much choice if you want fairly accurate focus help.

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

rehess wrote:

My understanding is that the OP is thinking that Focus Confirmation could be made more accurate by Fine Tuning it.

Yes that is what I am wondering. Thanks!

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

aflundi wrote:

Yes it can help, but ... br br The big problem is... (show quote)

Thanks for that info!

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

RF-4 Phantom Flyer wrote:

I am slightly confused by this question. By definition when using a manual focus lens you are not able to use the auto focus function of the camera but must focus the lens yourself thru the use of your fingers on the lens focus ring. How can a fine tuning of a system you are NOT using be of any use or benifit? What am I missing here?

My thinking that Focus Confirmation could be made more accurate by Fine Tuning it.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Fine tuning is to correct forward or back focus, or it can be used to produce a different effect by "defocusing."

This may help, it's by Hogg member Steve Perry of Backcountry Gallery who prepared this video for PetaPixel: http://petapixel.com/2017/08/16/use-auto-af-fine-tune-nikon-dslr-right-way/

Here is another great source, check out the sight for Nikon focus tips: http://backcountrygallery.com/secrets-nikon-autofocus-system/

Leitz Loc: Solms

par4fore wrote:

I do use the focus conformation dot on my Nikon D800e. Can I benefit by using Auto Focus Fine Tune on my manual focus lenses?

Perhaps you can let someone who knows how to use your camera try it, and tell you the results.

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

Leitz wrote:

Perhaps you can let someone who knows how to use your camera try it, and tell you the results.

Thanks Leitz, good idea.

Math78 Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

Great idea but this won't work with Nikon cameras. I tried my D7100 with a 50mm AIS lens. The camera does not give me the auto-focus fine tuning option with this lens.

par4fore wrote:

My thinking that Focus Confirmation could be made more accurate by Fine Tuning it.