Manual Focusing a 50mm 1.8 lens?

Is there any good resources that I could read or watch on manual focusing? I picked up this lens and for the most part I'm happy with my shots. My only complain is that the auto focus in low light situation is a real hit or miss for me. So switching to manual focus seemed like the OBV solution, however my results were about as hit or miss as my auto focus

Not that I'm aware of; remember that today's DSLRs aren't meant to be manually focused. They lack the split-prism type focusing screen typical of film bodies, and the viewfinder of an APS-C type camera is rather dark compared to that of a full-frame camera. You can buy add-on split-prism style focusing screens which supposedly help, but I have not tried them.

Your best bet will be to focus slowly and carefully, finding a section of the scene where you can most easily tell if it's in focus (text on a sign), focus past, and then back on to the subject.

Do you have the AF-assist feature turned on? Are you using the center focus point (it's the only one that's a cross-type focus point)?

Turn the lens manual focus ring and go from unfocused, through focused, to beyond focus. Watch the in-focus indicator in the viewfinder out of the corner of your eye as you slowly turn the lens focus ring back to focus.

Having the focal point lit helps a lot. Even human eyes have difficulty focusing in low light, for the same reasons cameras have trouble, low contrast.

135 Mark wrote: Not that I'm aware of; remember that today's DSLRs aren't meant to be manually focused. They lack the split-prism type focusing screen typical of film bodies, and the viewfinder of an APS-C type camera is rather dark compared to that of a full-frame camera. You can buy add-on split-prism style focusing screens which supposedly help, but I have not tried them.

Your best bet will be to focus slowly and carefully, finding a section of the scene where you can most easily tell if it's in focus (text on a sign), focus past, and then back on to the subject.

Really, cameras are not meant to be manual focus? That's news to me, it seem every camera Nikon comes out with is manual focus and the only way auto focus work is if you have a lens with a auto focus motor in it.

Moose 5 wrote: Do you have the AF-assist feature turned on? Are you using the center focus point (it's the only one that's a cross-type focus point)?

Turn the lens manual focus ring and go from unfocused, through focused, to beyond focus. Watch the in-focus indicator in the viewfinder out of the corner of your eye as you slowly turn the lens focus ring back to focus.

Having the focal point lit helps a lot. Even human eyes have difficulty focusing in low light, for the same reasons cameras have trouble, low contrast.

yup the AF assist feature is on and I am using the center focus point.

I've been using mechanical manual cameras for so long I don't even remember how I learned to manually focus a camera. But sometimes if I'm having trouble focusing I try to find something with a hard edge or line to focus on, then reframe the shot. That's with the object I'm focusing on being in the same plane as the subject (not closer or farther away). Or if I"m having difficulty focusing I look away for a minute then back thru the viewfinder, that seems to help give the eye a break and then I can often get it in focus. I guess it might just take practice.

What you are not taking into account is, is the fact that with the advent of auto focus, lenses no longer have a long focus throw (number of turns of the focus ring to get from closest focus to infinity). They did away with that so the AF motor doesn't have to work as hard (& it works faster as well with the shorter focus throw) . Older manual focus lenses are able to be more precisely focused with their longer throw. Couple that with the fact that the focusing screens are optimized for AF operation as well & it becomes difficult to accurately manually focus an AF lens. You have to rely on the internal rangefinder (green dot) to acquire proper focus. That or else do what I do & that is to use older manual focus lenses along with having changed out my focus screen to a split image model...

The tado wrote:

135 Mark wrote: Not that I'm aware of; remember that today's DSLRs aren't meant to be manually focused. They lack the split-prism type focusing screen typical of film bodies, and the viewfinder of an APS-C type camera is rather dark compared to that of a full-frame camera. You can buy add-on split-prism style focusing screens which supposedly help, but I have not tried them.

Your best bet will be to focus slowly and carefully, finding a section of the scene where you can most easily tell if it's in focus (text on a sign), focus past, and then back on to the subject.

Really, cameras are not meant to be manual focus? That's news to me, it seem every camera Nikon comes out with is manual focus and the only way auto focus work is if you have a lens with a auto focus motor in it.

Screamin Scott wrote: What you are not taking into account is, is the fact that with the advent of auto focus, lenses no longer have a long focus throw (number of turns of the focus ring to get from closest focus to infinity). They did away with that so the AF motor doesn't have to work as hard (& it works faster as well with the shorter focus throw) . Older manual focus lenses are able to be more precisely focused with their longer throw. Couple that with the fact that the focusing screens are optimized for AF operation as well & it becomes difficult to accurately manually focus an AF lens. You have to rely on the internal rangefinder (green dot) to acquire proper focus. That or else do what I do & that is to use older manual focus lenses along with having changed out my focus screen to a split image model...

The tado wrote:

135 Mark wrote: Not that I'm aware of; remember that today's DSLRs aren't meant to be manually focused. They lack the split-prism type focusing screen typical of film bodies, and the viewfinder of an APS-C type camera is rather dark compared to that of a full-frame camera. You can buy add-on split-prism style focusing screens which supposedly help, but I have not tried them.

Your best bet will be to focus slowly and carefully, finding a section of the scene where you can most easily tell if it's in focus (text on a sign), focus past, and then back on to the subject.

Really, cameras are not meant to be manual focus? That's news to me, it seem every camera Nikon comes out with is manual focus and the only way auto focus work is if you have a lens with a auto focus motor in it.

What brand and type of screen do you recommend Scott?

I prefer the central split image (diagonal split) with the microprism collar...I got mine from www.focusingscreen.com/

I don't know what body you have but the D5000 has a 'Rangefinder' setting which works along the same lines as exposure. In the center focus. The only drawback is it won't work at a very shallow DOF. Under 4.5 I think.