Why manual focus

Capturing sharp and in-focus images is something I often see beginning photographers struggle with. So how do you get the images focused? Does it matter if you use Manual Focus or Automatic Focus? I wont be covering much on the technical aspects of focusing in this article but on the practical uses of Manual and Automatic Focus.

If your main focus within photography is landscapes you might have been told that you should never use Automatic Focus. You may also have been told the exact opposite, that Automatic Focus is the only one you should use. While manual focus works equally on most cameras and lenses, autofocus does not.

If you compare Autofocus of a cheap camera and an expensive one, you may be surprised to see exactly how big the difference might be. Notice that I said might be. In most cases, high quality cameras and lenses are able to focus faster and more accurately. Our cameras are on the tripod and we have the time to carefully compose each image. What is most important for us is the fine tuning of the focus. We want the image to be as sharp as possible and focus has an important role in this.

When viewing the image on a smart phone or small computer screen you might not see a huge difference but once you begin zooming in on the image you will see how certain areas, if not the entire picture, are out of focus and soft. For wildlife photographers, or any other photographers that photograph moving subjects, a quick Autofocus is more important.

Simply by tapping the element on the screen that you want in focus. Pressing this button will give you an idea of your image with your selected aperture. It will show how far your depth of field focus range will span through the viewfinder. The button is usually found next to your lens mount but can vary from camera to camera. If you have an issue finding it, you can always check the manual for your camera. The DoF button will show the exact aperture you have set on your camera.

The presented image will look a bit darker. Therefore, it lets less light into the camera. The feature is helpful, giving you an idea of how the image will look. It shows how much of your surroundings will be in sharp focus or soft focus. It is beneficial when it comes to manual focusing.

Using this feature will bring up a real-time view through your lens on your LCD screen. It provides a wider screen to view your image. That makes it easier to judge the sharpness of the subject you are focusing on. You can also zoom into this screen. It allows you to take time and care with this process, giving you confidence in the sharpness of the image. Some cameras will have a focus-magnifier setting. It will automatically zoom in to give you a part of the image for you to focus on.

Some new cameras, especially mirrorless ones, have this function applied whenever you move the focus ring. The oldest way of manually focusing is still readily presented to us, of measuring the distance from your lens to the subject. These distance windows can be helpful when all else fails, giving you a chance to judge or even measure the length. The distance the camera provides should be in both metric and imperial measurements. Most lenses should have a focus distance window or even numbers engraved on older lenses.

But they are getting less common, especially in mirrorless ranges of cameras. This window is an active lens element that moves according to how much you alter the focus ring. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Kyle Schurman. Freelance Contributor. Kyle Schurman is a writer who specializes in digital cameras. His writing has appeared in Steve's Darkroom, Gadget Review, and others. Updated on July 20, Tweet Share Email. In This Article. Autofocus Pros and Cons. Manual Focus Pros and Cons. Which Focus Am I'm Using? Which Should I Choose? Manual Focus. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Email Address Sign up There was an error.

Eye-tracking technology on autofocus has improved this so much, but in close up portraits, even locking onto the eyebrows or nose can ruin an image. Ideally when you are shooting landscapes there is little rush, giving you all the time in the world to slowly compose and get everything ready for the perfect shot. Rather, you can shoot at a suitably small aperture to get the entire image in focus.

After trying out the sumptuous viewfinder of the Sony a7R II I can see why so many people use 3rd party mounts to attach old lenses onto their mirrorless cameras. The relative simplicity of classic manual focus lens designs allows photographers to give new life to vintage glass, which can be an extremely good bargain online. Using manual focus lenses on a modern mirrorless can yield unbelievable results at a lower price than if one were to opt for the latest autofocus prime.

This is no secret—videographers prefer manual focus over auto.