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Manual vs Auto Focus


11 years 6 months ago - 11 years 6 months ago #254280 by cmdwebsites
I've always considered that manual focus is only to be used when I'm having trouble with the auto focus. Does anyone use it differently?
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11 years 6 months ago #254292 by MYoung
I use manual focus when I'm not rushed to frame up a shot.
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11 years 6 months ago #254293 by KenMan
With macro photography I use manual focus
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11 years 6 months ago #254295 by KCook
Also see -

www.photographytalk.com/forum/beginner-p...se-manual-focus-much

Kelly
Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/
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11 years 6 months ago #254297 by ThatNikonGuy
Autofocus doesn't always get it right, and those are the times manual focus comes into play.
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11 years 6 months ago #254302 by Joves
As Ken said macro is one of the biggies. Then there are times as NikonGuy said as well where the AF just will not work. There is also controlling depth of field through focus, and focus stacking. The times where AF will not work is where there are too many things for the AF point to pick the area you want, or where the area you are focusing on does not have enough definition to lock on.
The following user(s) said Thank You: cmdwebsites
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11 years 6 months ago #254305 by icepics
I'm a longtime film photographer and use manual cameras so I'm used to focusing manually. I used all auto settings at first with my digital camera but once I started using manual settings that's what I always use. I supposed I might use auto if needed for a particular situation.

Maybe it takes practice and I learned it early on. If I'm having difficulty focusing I try to find an edge to something in the scene and use that to focus on, then reframe the shot.
Sharon
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11 years 6 months ago - 11 years 6 months ago #254312 by effron
I actually use AF for macro sometimes, however when I'm shooting a landscape, my camera is always switched to manual focus....... ;)
Why so serious?
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11 years 6 months ago #254348 by Soccer Mom
:goodpost: I will sometime use manual just because it makes me feel more part of the photo.
Canon 7D, 18-55mm, 55-250mm, 70-200mm L f/2.8, 100mm and 17-55mm f/2.8
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11 years 6 months ago #254396 by Henry Peach

cmdwebsites wrote: I've always considered that manual focus is only to be used when I'm having trouble with the auto focus. Does anyone use it differently?


That's how I use it. In most situations it does a better job than I can looking through a small viewfinder.
mattneedham.zenfolio.com
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11 years 6 months ago #254521 by Casey T
I don't do a lot of macro work so don't use my manual focus that much. I'm pretty much an auto focus sort of gal.
My Passion is being behind my camera and my family.
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11 years 6 months ago #254629 by BrandyMaeD
I probably should not admit this, but I leave my camera on auto focus. I only use manual focus when either it’s not focusing on what I want, or I’m going for a specific amount of blurriness. For me, I like that I can take pics faster in auto focus. When I’m shooting family portraits for a client I can snap three pics of their kiddo running around with bubbles in the time it would take me to focus once. Plus if their child moves, I have to adjust it manually again. For me, it’s auto 99% of the time.
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11 years 6 months ago #254686 by Roy Wilson

BrandyMaeD wrote: I probably should not admit this, but I leave my camera on auto focus. I only use manual focus when either it’s not focusing on what I want, or I’m going for a specific amount of blurriness. For me, I like that I can take pics faster in auto focus. When I’m shooting family portraits for a client I can snap three pics of their kiddo running around with bubbles in the time it would take me to focus once. Plus if their child moves, I have to adjust it manually again. For me, it’s auto 99% of the time.


Your not alone, I keep mine in auto focus for the same reasons
Canon 5D Mark II, 30D, 40D, 50 1.2L, 16-35 2.8L Mark II, 24-105 4L IS, 24-70 2.8L, 70-200 2.8L IS, 85 1.8, 4 x 580 EX(II)
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