Best technique for critical focus?

Norfolkbloke

Norfolkbloke

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Just recently I've been experimenting with different focusing techniques, reason being for too long I've been too lazy and relied on auto focus and there has been one or two occasions where my camera hasn't quite used the correct focus point. When photographing something close distance and offset to either side of the frame I do if possible manually select which specific focus point I want to auto focus on but because the focus select points are clustered pretty tight in the centre of the viewfinder on my Nikon D600 I've come to just use the central focus point and recompose, however using this method I've found I need to either compose the picture, hold down AE lock, recompose the central focus point over the desired area for optimum focus then recompose again to take the final shot, it's bloody long winded but necessary when panning from light to dark on aperture priority to get the correct exposure!

I have found a slight short cut in switching to full manual focusing, using the central focus point and relying on focus confirmation, then recomposing and taking the final picture knowing that the camera won't refocus and re-auto expose when pressing the shutter!

Anyone else doing this....or just me:bonk:

How do others on here achieve perfect focus?

Matt
 
You just need to switch to back button focussing to separate focus from exposure I'd say.
 
Not being familiar with Nikon it's hard for me to comment but I just move the focus point with my thumb on the joystick on the back of my 1D mkiv to where I want it to be them take the shot.
It has become second nature for me.
 
As Alan said, you can disable focus on the shutter release and enable back button focusing, this means you don't have the focus recompose issue of hving to keep hold of AE lock.

If you are in no hurry i.e. for landscape then you can focus using live view with manual focus. Zoom in with live view and focus on the critical near and far points and go for the best compromise.
 
Thanks for the replies, folks!

Will have another mess about this weekend ..if the weather holds!

I've tried just using manual focus and relying on just what I see but nowhere near as reliable as using auto assisted focus, maybe a bit easier with standard lens but with wide angle everything is just too far away in the view finder to get it spot on!!

Matt
 
Steve-T said:
As Alan said, you can disable focus on the shutter release and enable back button focusing, this means you don't have the focus recompose issue of hving to keep hold of AE lock.

If you are in no hurry i.e. for landscape then you can focus using live view with manual focus. Zoom in with live view and focus on the critical near and far points and go for the best compromise.
Click to expand...

Just assigned my ae/af button to af on so this looks to be the best option as you suggest!

Thanks everyone!

Matt
 
drexyl said:
Not being familiar with Nikon it's hard for me to comment but I just move the focus point with my thumb on the joystick on the back of my 1D mkiv to where I want it to be them take the shot.
It has become second nature for me.
Click to expand...

This.
 
must admit after 2 years ive just started using back button focusing and must agree its far better,just have to remind myself sometimes why the pic i took isnt in focus:lol:
 
Am I correct in thinking that even with back-button focussing you still have to hold the "shutter" button half way down to maintain the correct exposure before you then recompose the image?
 
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