Why is Macro best done in Man Mode

[rookies]

I not sure if this been asked.

But Why is macro best done in macro Mode? I would of though it be easier done in AF Mode but depending on the lens

 

[Joe T]

I assume you mean manual focus. The problem with AF is that is often not accurate enough for manual work or it cant be fine-tuned to get the point of focus exactly where you want it. Also at that level of detail there isnt enough for the AF to get hold of and thus hunting can be an issue.

HTH.

 

[will69]

If my point of focus is bang on an AF point (with my canon 60mm Macro lens) I will leave it in AF, then tweak with manual focus. Usually however it does not work out like that.

In AF, that leaves focus and re-compose. However with Macro the DoF is so shallow any movement in the camera between focus and shutter action will take the subject out of focus. The answer is MF.

Another issue (albeit a bit more technical) is that focus changes lens extension (whether internal or external) which changes magnification. This can be crucial in some shots, so fix your extension (=magnification) and focus by moving the camera forwards or back.

Unless you have a lens with focus limits, then many macro lenses will hunt which can be a real pain if you have only a moment to catch that fly.....

 

[rookies]

My macro Lens does have limit but never really used it it set at full all the time so what is this really for never got to understood that

 

[mervyn]

Is it not true that the accuracy which you can achieve with manual focus depends on the quality of your eyesight and this might be worse than autofocus? Certainly in my case its questionable!!:nuts:

 

[will69]

My macro Lens does have limit but never really used it it set at full all the time so what is this really for never got to understood that

I do not have a lens with a focus limiter but I THINK what it does is to tell the lens to use use only a part of it's focus range so that it does not swing through it's full range when hunting.

 

[Splog]

I 'm not sure about the manual versus auto thing :shrug: Some lenses need manual i.e mpe-65 although I have never used one, but I do have the Canon 180 macro and most of my shots are taken with autofocus on the AI servo setting and it gets good focus quite often, occasionally errrr sometimes

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

You cant really do true macro (well with sigma 105 at least) in auto focus mode as changing the focus changes the magnification so for true macro you wind the focus ring all the way out until it stops - that gives 1:1 then you focus by moving the camera closer / further away from the subject.

 

[Splog]

You cant really do true macro (well with sigma 105 at least) in auto focus mode as changing the focus changes the magnification so for true macro you wind the focus ring all the way out until it stops - that gives 1:1 then you focus by moving the camera closer / further away from the subject.

It's the same with the 180 I guess it depends on the subject,but if the subject is a bit nervous I prefer to get focus and move closer taking several shots on the way in and hopefully get to full macro before they fly away, but that's just me

Steve