Manual focusing (Page 3): One of the first things I do in class is to have students adjust diopter correction on the camera to match their eyes needs. First, just point the camera to...

rodpark2 Loc: Dallas, Tx

One of the first things I do in class is to have students adjust diopter correction on the camera to match their eyes needs. First, just point the camera to the sky or a bright light source and adjust the diopter until the little lines or focus marks on the focusing screen are sharp. That's a rough adjustment. Then point the camera at a contrasty subject like a sign, allow the camera to AF, maintain your distance and see if you can touch up the focus anymore. I've had students exclaim Wow after doing it. Old eyes will often need correction from time to time in different light, so make it a habit to check it often. Set it with whatever glasses you'll be wearing while shooting. Also, on another point, the pentamirror of most APSC entry level cameras is inferior to the pentaprism on better models, and full frame cameras have larger and easier to focus screens. The diopter adjustment has no affect on AF, but rather allows you to accurately see what the AF is doing. Cheers!

Jerry Green Loc: Huntsville, AL

Bobspez wrote:

Kuzano, which cameras have focus peaking? Do any support Nikon manual lenses?

Nikon D850 in live view. I also use a Hoodman in bright light. Works with manual and AF lens.

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

The Fuji X-T2 has focus peaking which outlines the part of the image in focus with a series of colored dots, through the viewfinder

ole sarg Loc: south florida

I use lots of legacy glass with my sony a6000 and the camera has a focus highlight feature in which everything in focus is highlighted in (I use) red. Thus, no problem.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

Bobspez wrote:

Kuzano, which cameras have focus peaking? Do any support Nikon manual lenses?

Fujis have very accurate Focus peaking in manual mode. Essential using wide aperture with tele lenses because the DOF is so narrow, and AF doesn't always take you where you want to go.

therwol Loc: USA

PHRubin wrote:

Microprism and split screen are in created by the prism. Most DSLRs do not have interchangeable prisms so they can't hve that focusing aid.

I have had two Nikon cameras with interchangeable focus screens independent of the prism. I took out the split screen that came with my Nikon FTn and replaced it with a microprism screen. (Yes, the camera had the option of changing the prism as well, but doing so wouldn't have changed the focusing screen) I took the split screen out of my Nikon FA and replaced it with a split screen surrounded by a microprism. Forgive me for not remembering the letter designation of these screens. It was a long time ago. Why a microprism? I could never get it right on faces without turning the camera vertical and focusing on eyelids. The microprism allowed me to avoid that and also easily make adjustments if the subject moved.

I too find it difficult to focus manually with a modern DSLR. My Nikon D810 has indicators on the bottom of the screen that tell you if you've gotten it right. They are out of the picture and actually a distraction. I've found live view a waste of time without magnifying the image, and that isn't practical.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Bill_de wrote:

I'm curious. How would a picture determine why his auto focus isn't working or how best to manual focus with his specific camera? I seems to me (and I could be missing something) that asking for a photo is a standard response to any question.

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Looking at the EXIF data usually helps understand if there are improvements that can be made to the camera settings. Blur may be from motion, not focus.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

DWU2 wrote:

Try switching to Live View and zooming in to assist with manual focus.

So the antidote for difficult manual focus is the "liveview screen". And the big argument for the prism and mirror in the DSLR was that it was pure optical. That electronic viewfinder was inferior - didn't show you the "real world". What do you suppose the "liveview screen" is?

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

therwol wrote:

I have had two Nikon cameras with interchangeable ... (show quote)

OK - the screen, my error. None-the-less, while film cameras were more likely to be able to interchange them, DSLRs are not.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

Focus peaking is superior to any of the other aids for manual focus on any of the dslr's. Believe it or not, this was taken with a 55-230 lens with no VR, manual focus using focus peaking. Only folks who have tried to shoot hummingbirds will understand how much of a feat this was!

(Download)

jonfrei

I generally find that when one of my crew are having focus difficulties, they have their camera set to some variant of “area” or “multipoint” focus instead of single point focus. If you aren’t in single point focus mode, you have no idea what the camera is trying to focus on. I also recommend (to my crew, based on the type of stuff we are doing) to turn off any “face recognition” or “eye focus” features — again, because it gives control back to the camera and makes focus a bit of an unknown.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

CatMarley wrote:

Focus peaking is superior to any of the other aids for manual focus on any of the dslr's. Believe it or not, this was taken with a 55-230 lens with no VR, manual focus using focus peaking. Only folks who have tried to shoot hummingbirds will understand how much of a feat this was!

Concur. The split focus only indicates that some portion of the image is “in focus” relative to the aperture. All of this without the need to use the DOF preview button—assuming the camera has one and the screen is not too dark.

With focus peaking, you can review what is “in focus” throughout the entire image. A great tool.

Oh, and by the way: nice hummer....

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

CatMarley wrote:

Focus peaking is superior to any of the other aids for manual focus on any of the dslr's. Believe it or not, this was taken with a 55-230 lens with no VR, manual focus using focus peaking. Only folks who have tried to shoot hummingbirds will understand how much of a feat this was!

Very impressive.

I'm looking forward to the next generation of cameras. I like DSLRs, the weight and the balance work for me, but I also like technologies such as focus peaking that add so much more. Today I use Magic Lantern for that on Canon DSLRs - those that it's available for - but I look forward to the fusion of both technologies in future designs, we should see some quite interesting designs in the next year or few.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Peterff wrote:

Very impressive.

I'm looking forward to the next generation of cameras. I like DSLRs, the weight and the balance work for me, but I also like technologies such as focus peaking that add so much more. Today I use Magic Lantern for that on Canon DSLRs - those that it's available for - but I look forward to the fusion of both technologies in future designs, we should see some quite interesting designs in the next year or few.

therwol Loc: USA

CatMarley wrote:

Focus peaking is superior to any of the other aids for manual focus on any of the dslr's. Believe it or not, this was taken with a 55-230 lens with no VR, manual focus using focus peaking. Only folks who have tried to shoot hummingbirds will understand how much of a feat this was!

The Nikon D850 is the first of their DSLRs to offer this feature.

It would be awesome to offer the equivalent through the viewfinder. It's not comfortable or steady to hold a heavy DSLR with a heavy lens out in front of you to view a screen.