authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

This was taken with my 100mm 2.8 series e lens with no flash @ 7:20pm. This lens is amazing. Beats the crap out of the 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 lens as far as light capability goes.
The image is slightly soft as it was shot through a double glass window and the glass is dirty. I like manual focus on my Nikon D200. It will only work as Aperture Priority or Full Manual but the matrix metering works. Forces me to learn how to use the camera.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Photographers who avoid manual lenses out of principle or because they don't have enough confidence to do themselves what their digital cameras are doing for them are really missing out on some great and often very affordable lenses.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

what's the big black mark

Each to their own, manual focus is ok but try shooting sports events with one

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Amen!
That's the way I did it back in the '70's.
I'm not going back there again.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

NO disrespect to people who want to revert to manual everything but I moved on, or we would all still be on horse and cart

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

User, no surprise there. The 2.8 is 1.5 times faster than the zoom.
PS. @ 7:20 pm, one of my lenses is four times faster than your 2.8 !!
SS

Peekayoh Loc: UK

Surely the best thing is to use what's appropriate. I have both AF and MF lenses and they all have their uses.
You wouldn't really use AF for a landscape so why not an MF lens?
For Portraits with a fast lens, AF is often not good enough and MF is preferable.
For sports AF is usually preferable but I sometimes use manual trap focus with peaking (Sony) to get the image.

I wouldn't want to do without AF but I find myself using MF a lot and there is undoubtedly something satisfying about plonking a 40 year old MF lens on a modern DSLR and get better results than your peers with their modern equipment.

There is no 'one size fit's all'.

cthahn

A D200 is what I use, 2 primary AF lenses, and 5 manual focus lenses normally on manual or aperture priority.. Those that talk down primary and manual focus lenses are not photographers. Point and shoot and everything automatic computer controlled. No imagination. The one reason why so many stupid questions are asked on this website because most never bothered to learn anything about the basics of photography which have been around since day 1.. There are many good quality lens for sale at reasonable prices instead of all the slow super zooms. This should irritate a few photographers.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

it's all about what you feel like trying. i have a number of old canon lenses.with an adapter i use them on my sony alpha,some are top notch lenses. sometimes i just feel like taking them for a spin. these were shot with a canon fd 200mm f 2.8 lens.

ocbeyer Loc: Baltimore

I use some nice old Zuiko glass on my E-3. My problem, as I suffer with astigmatism, is focussing. If only today's cameras retained the focussing screens of the pre-digital era I would use them more. Thinking about Katz Eye but...

RetiredPhotog Loc: South West Ohio

Some of the older lenses still work out fine but for a lot of fast action shots they have their problems. I would like to see some split image focusing brought back like was used in older 35 mm film cameras. For older eyes I think they were easier to use for manual focus.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Did for years and got great shots.

In fact all the shots prior to the advent of auto focus were shot with a manual lens. But, then again those photographers were highly skilled at their craft unlike those today who shoot a 1,000 shots on an outing and select the few good ones!

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

I am on the same page as you cthahn, I have a D200 and 5 AF and 5 MF AI lenses, I used them on different ways. I always use MF on macro shooting. (I don't have and don't need a AF macro lens)

Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

Hear Hear!!

Today's budding photographers can perhaps be forgiven for thinking that auto focus, auto exposure and all the other auto features have been around since the days we lived in caves. So it's only natural that they have a hard time relating to a manual lens.

Back in the seventies my right hand controlled the shutter and the shutter speed dial. My left hand supported the lens, adjusted zoom, adjusted focus and adjusted aperture. My eye, looking into the view finder instead of on an LCD, worried about the light meter built in to show you the exposure and of course my eye also composed.

All of those activities had to be completed to take a picture. Surprisingly it was still possible to photograph sports, macro and all kinds of other challenging subjects. It was just a matter of practice and more practice until the hands and the fingers are all coordinated. I used to take pictures as quickly then as I do now. It simply demanded more hand eye coordination.

When I got my first manual lens for my DSLR I struggled to use it. How soon we forget. Then I was reminded of what I used to do in my film days and with some practice it all came back again.

Ignore those people who poo poo manual photography. They are the ones we should be feeling sorry for since they have a long way to go to finally master the art of photography.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

Don't forget those days of hard working in the dark room!