Portraits: Auto Focus or Manual Focus, which is best? (Page 2): I use Auto Focus, Center point and BBF. Rarely do I go to manual.

Bobbee

I use Auto Focus, Center point and BBF. Rarely do I go to manual.

Peekayoh Loc: UK

toast wrote:

Let's say I want to focus on the eyes of my subject. I recently read an article that claimed manual focus is more precise and exact. The writer claimed that in auto focus mode, even if the Auto Focus points locked on the eyes the focus is not exact.

Thoughts. Thanks! :)

In my experience, MF using a fast lens on a normal DSLR, especially a crop one, was always a hit and miss affair even with an M-screen. With this setup, I think you are better off relying on AF especially if your camera has Micro Adjust, practically a necessity at very wide apertures. Using a smaller aperture to hide any missed focus is one answer but that rather defeats the object of using a fast lens.

The situation is somewhat different with Mirrorless cameras where focus peaking is a great help as is focus magnify; these functions work extremely well with old MF lenses with their "long throw" focus rings. If your Mirrorless camera has an "Eye AF" function, then AF can be deadly accurate. It certainly is with the Sony A7rII using CAF + EyeAF, I can't comment on other cameras, no experience.

HillbillyHiker Loc: Cookeville, TN

My eyes aren't what they use to be, so I rely on AF(back button). Also spot focus. I photo a lot of cats and they don't exactly do what I want. Early on in my shooting I like the split screen for accurate focus. That just is too slow for animals that dodge and duck around.

jerrypoller Loc: Huntington, NY

Cdouthitt wrote:

Another option might be focus peaking...but I'm guessing that the OP doesn't have that feature either.

Sorry, I'm still new to some of the finer points of DSLR - what is "eye priority" and "focus peaking"? I shoot with a Nikon D610. Thanks.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

Cdouthitt wrote:

Get a camera with eye priority...set it and forget about it...it's way more accurate/faster than trying to nail the focus manually.

Is it the same as "face priority" in LV?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

wingclui44 wrote:

Is it the same as "face priority" in LV?

Not that I'm aware of. My camera has a specific setting for the eye (you can even specify which eye). Face priority is likely different as it locks onto faces as a whole, but doesn't specify where it focuses.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

jerrypoller wrote:

Sorry, I'm still new to some of the finer points of DSLR - what is "eye priority" and "focus peaking"? I shoot with a Nikon D610. Thanks.

Features your camera doesn't have...sorry Charlie.

Focus peaking
http://www.google.com/search?q=focus+peaking&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS651US651&oq=focus+peaking&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3.5077j0j4&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8&hl=en-US#imgrc=_

Eye priority
http://asia.olympus-imaging.com/product/dslr/em1/feature5.html

jerrypoller Loc: Huntington, NY

Cdouthitt wrote:

Features your camera doesn't have...sorry Charlie.

Focus peaking
http://www.google.com/search?q=focus+peaking&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS651US651&oq=focus+peaking&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3.5077j0j4&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8&hl=en-US#imgrc=_

Eye priority
http://asia.olympus-imaging.com/product/dslr/em1/feature5.html

I thought I had read the manual carefully - thanks anyway. Maybe on my next upgrade.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

Cdouthitt wrote:

Not that I'm aware of. My camera has a specific setting for the eye (you can even specify which eye). Face priority is likely different as it locks onto faces as a whole, but doesn't specify where it focuses.

Thank you very much!
I did use this "face priority" feature with my Olympus M4/3 camera to take pictures of my family during the party of my grand daughter's birthday. It came out very good and sharp on those eyes.

ronz Loc: Florida

As a professional photographer for over 25 years & starting in the film years I assure you both can work great. I generally prefer A/F for portraits and most other work. Much of my work is now for magazines and 99% I using A/F. For portraits I use the smaller focusing point and concentrate on the eyes. Wedding formals are the same but I know I can do the same with manual focus it is just a bit faster with A/F

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

toast wrote:

Let's say I want to focus on the eyes of my subject. I recently read an article that claimed manual focus is more precise and exact. The writer claimed that in auto focus mode, even if the Auto Focus points locked on the eyes the focus is not exact.

Thoughts. Thanks! :)

Wrong. With today's technology, autofocus is so accurate that it puts manual focus to shame. Besides, the focus screen built into the camera would make focusing manually just a guess. Today's cameras don't come with the split screen or any of the other manual focus screens built in. Although, you can have a different focus screen installed into some modern DSLR's.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

It depends!

It depends on things like your desired deapth of field and that depends on the lens apature setting and distance to the subject.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

With my D7000, I find that auto focus, Continuous mode, and using back button focus are the best combo. My old eyes get confused sometimes, auto focus does much better.

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

The more you fizz around while doing a portrait the more compromised your product will be--use auto
Stan

Don Fischer Loc: Antelope, Ore

Ok. Come's to auto or manual focus, my eye's don't cut it. In the film days most of my cameras had the split image finder. Was easy to manual focus with it. Today I always auto focus.