Auto focus or manual

mikebeecham

mikebeecham

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Is there a preferred way to focus? Is it better to let the camera take care of this, or is it preferred to learn how to focus manually?

Just wondering what I need to be learning here...
 
Let the camera do it, in 99% of circumstances it's the preferred option. There are times you'll need to over ride it but you'll recognise them as you'll be swearing at the camera.
 
If you've got the time and inclination learning to manual focus will be a good thing to do otherwise stick with shutter/aperture priority options rather than 'auto'.
 
Under no circumstances let the camera decide what to focus on.

Either select the focus point the camera should use, or use the centre focus point and recompose.

Use continuous focussing for moving objects and one shot for stationary subjects.

There are uses for manual focussing. And you'll discover them as necessary.
 
In certain situations, the camera will struggle to auto-focus, so switching to manual will sort you out.

Although, when i'm not in a rush - I use manual.
 
Manual focus is fun, but manual focus of large aperture is fun with pain:)
 
I love the fact that everyone's like 'yeah let the camera do it", then Phil'll drop the bomb with 'under no circumstances'

Brilliant ;)

Thanks chaps!
 
Phil V said:
Under no circumstances let the camera decide what to focus on.

Either select the focus point the camera should use, or use the centre focus point and recompose.

Use continuous focussing for moving objects and one shot for stationary subjects.
Click to expand...

That is still autofocus :)

Like with most things in a DSLR camera, the technology can make things easier but only if you know how to control it and make it do what you want.

A point and shoot it is not.

For me, manual focus became a daft thing to do when they stopped putting in split focusing screens - I find it really tricky (except with UWA) with modern lenses and cameras. AF works much better most of the time.
 
gramps said:
If you've got the time and inclination learning to manual focus will be a good thing to do otherwise stick with shutter/aperture priority options rather than 'auto'.
Click to expand...
I think the OP was referring to focusing not camera modes...
 
Gr8Shot said:
I think the OP was referring to focusing not camera modes...
Click to expand...

Indeed, my answer re manual focus was in response to this but I accept that my addition re 'auto' mode was confusing.
 
Gr8Shot said:
I think the OP was referring to focusing not camera modes...
Click to expand...

A senior moment perhaps :D

Or maybe there are just sooooooooooooooo many "should I shoot manual (exposure)" questions that the responses are almost automatic!
 
Nawty said:
A senior moment perhaps :D

Or maybe there are just sooooooooooooooo many "should I shoot manual (exposure)" questions that the responses are almost automatic!
Click to expand...

Been having a few senior moments myself lately :)
 
mikebeecham said:
I love the fact that everyone's like 'yeah let the camera do it", then Phil'll drop the bomb with 'under no circumstances'

Brilliant ;)

Thanks chaps!
Click to expand...

That's not strictly what he said. Phil was saying autofocus but select the focus point, don't use all points.
 
Nawty said:
That is still autofocus :)

Like with most things in a DSLR camera, the technology can make things easier but only if you know how to control it and make it do what you want.

A point and shoot it is not.

For me, manual focus became a daft thing to do when they stopped putting in split focusing screens - I find it really tricky (except with UWA) with modern lenses and cameras. AF works much better most of the time.
Click to expand...

I know that its autofocus. Read the OPs question. He mentions letting the camera decide.

As for MF, you're quite right, modern cameras are simply not suited.
 
In 99% of cases the camera will focus just as you want it to. Occasionally it will be fooled.

If you have a modern camera, I would suggest using auto focus - mainly because the focussing screens in modern cameras are intended only as a composition aid and not for focussing.

Older cameras like I use are fitted with better screens which often include a central split area with which to accurately judge focus.

So most of the time I use manual because that is my only choice. When I do use auto focus, I don't like the idea of have multiple focussing areas and selecting one near to the thing you want in focus. I prefer to have it fixed at the centre area, point the camera at the subject, half press the shutter to focus then recompose and take the shot.


Steve.
 
mikebeecham said:
I love the fact that everyone's like 'yeah let the camera do it", then Phil'll drop the bomb with 'under no circumstances'

Brilliant ;)

Thanks chaps!
Click to expand...


Slow down and read my response again.

It says same as everyone else's. AF is great the vast majority of the time.

The other point I made was NOT to let the camera decide what to focus on. So, AF? Yes. Auto focus point select? No!
 
Phil V said:
Slow down and read my response again.

It says same as everyone else's. AF is great the vast majority of the time.

The other point I made was NOT to let the camera decide what to focus on. So, AF? Yes. Auto focus point select? No!
Click to expand...

Hi Phil,

I read it perfectly well thanks, I merely thought your opening statement was funny, thats all.
 
The simple fact is that modern (read AF) cameras aren't designed with manual focussing in mind. Pre AF bodies have nice aids like brighter focus screens and split/multi prisms. AF lenses are also a PITA to MF compared to MF lenses - the arc of rotation from close to infinity focus is shorter on AF lenses making it slightly harder to fine tune the focus. It's still possible but AF will often (? usually) do the job at least as well as the Mk 1 human eyeball. The major exception is Macro where it's usually better to set the magnification ratio to the required setting then focus by moving the camera gently back and forth until the plane of focus is in the required position.
 
mikebeecham said:
Hi Phil,

I read it perfectly well thanks, I merely thought your opening statement was funny, thats all.
Click to expand...

Attention grabbing is what I was aiming for :lol:
 
I see from your camera bag, you've got a 50 f1.4 prime. At f1.4 you'll struggle to get spot on focus manually especially with the small viewfinder on the 600D.
Smaller apertures are generally more forgiving, because the Depth of Field is wider. So though you may miss the focus, more of the image is likely to be in the acceptable range of focus and it might appear sharp enough. (N.B. Apertures f1.4 is larger f16 is smaller)

Like Phil V said learn to use centre point and recompose. The faster you can do this without too much movement, the better you will become at it. Use the 50 at 1.4 and practice practice practice, ONE shot AF. Try different subject distances. You'll learn what is the largest aperture you can use at what subject distance to successfully isolate the subject and make the image 'pop'. Especially true with people.
 
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