Focusing a Nikon 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S (at f/1.2) on Nikon DF

3 years 10 months ago #696246 by iKokomo
I have a really neat manual focus Nikon 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S on a Nikon DF.I have no problem focusing this (using Nikon's green arrow/dot focusing points) manually at f/3.5 or larger (which looks incredible). However, when I try to open this up at f/1.2 - 2.0 I miss 90% of the shots because they are out of focus even if the green dot focus point says it is in focus.Other than swapping out the focusing screen to a split focusing system, is there a way to more reliable way to focus this neat lens at f/1.2-2.0? What are some tips and tricks to using this lens?


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3 years 10 months ago #696269 by Nikon Shooter
The only way I see is to perform an AF Fine Tune yourself
— if available — that would be the more efficient than even
a screen swap except in low light conditions, of course.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
Photo Comments
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3 years 10 months ago #696273 by Screamin Scott
With Razor-thin DOF wide open, make sure that you only use single-point focus. That said, I shoot a lot of macros (which also has razor-thin DOF) and I use an older manual Focus macro lens. I have found that accuracy improves with practice. That said, there are some magnifying aids out there. I used to use a viewfinder magnifier at one point but no longer do. Make sure our viewfinder diopter setting is correct too...

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

Photo Comments
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3 years 9 months ago #699383 by Naheed
As green-dot is not focusing accurately for shooting this
lens at f/1.2. Try using Live View zoomed in at 100% on the
point of focus. I will also suggest that while using Live View
outdoors you should attach an LCD Viewfinder.


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