Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 175 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Visit Stack Exchange

  7. current community

    your communities

    more stack exchange communities

    company blog
Photography

Questions tagged [manual-focus]

Manual focus is the direct control of a camera/lens's focus by the photographer. This is generally accomplished by turning a focus ring which is mechanically coupled to the lens's focus, but some cameras without focus rings allow manual control over the autofocus motor.

208 questions
info Newest Frequent Votes Active Unanswered
0
votes
4answers
118 views

What does focusing past infinity look like?

Would it nearly instantly become unfocused, or would it be more or less gradual?
7
votes
5answers
1k views

Can you determine if focus is sharp without diopter adjustment if your sight is imperfect?

I've already encountered this question about wearing glasses as a photographer. A more specific question I have is as follows. If your eyesight is not perfect, or your glasses and/or contact lenses ...
0
votes
1answer
55 views

Why won't my Sigma DC 18-250mm 1:3.5-6.3 MACRO HSM unlock for manual focusing?

I have a Nikon D7000 and have used the Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM lens since Feb 2017. Recently it will not unlock for manual focusing. What would cause this to happen? I had it in for ...
0
votes
1answer
62 views

Why does some lenses have red focus points on their focus rings? [duplicate]

A typical lens have white focus indicators on their lenses [5m 50m and infinity] but some have red points for 85m and farther and some lenses have a red curve instead of numbers. What are these red ...
2
votes
3answers
167 views

Can I get a manual focus lens for my Canon PowerShot camera?

I have recently bought myself a camera, a Canon PowerShot SX530, and I noticed that the focus on this camera is difficult to adjust and clarify. I am looking to buy a low priced manual focus lens, I ...
3
votes
0answers
240 views

Sony A7iii how to permanently display focus distance in MF mode

I'm doing mostly landscape photography and the manual focus is a thing for me. Since the native Sony lenses all have focus by wire, the MF experience is poor. I never know if my focus is still at ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views

Will a split prism indicator still work if installed well off center?

There are known hacks about retrofitting trimmed-to-size surplus full-frame split prism screens to modern DSLRs. However, problems with spot metering are also commonly reported with such setups. The ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views

What makes the difference on partially and fully visible moon?

While I'm satisfied (despite the fringe) with shoots from a partially visible moon with a cheap 500 mm lens: 1/100 ISO 100 f/? I cannot understand why the image quality is extremely diminished when ...
1
vote
2answers
249 views

Focused properly and microadjusted lens give blurry image on Canon 80D and quite fine detail on 350D

I'm an unhappy owner of brand new Canon 80D. I still have 350D which served me for nearly a decade. I use the same 24-105 1:4 L IS lens with both of them. It turned out that lens is blurry. I've ...
0
votes
0answers
31 views

How does the focusing mechanism on a rangefinder camera work? [duplicate]

How does the focusing mechanism on a rangefinder camera work, optically and mechanically? How is the double image optically produced? How are they opto-mechanically aligned when the lens is focused?
1
vote
1answer
320 views

Manual focus does not work with Nikon D7200 and AF-S 300mm f/4 ED

I have finally gotten myself a D7200 (2.017 & 1.04 firmware) and a 300mm f4/D AF-S (non VR version). My lens's serial number is 33xxxx. AF works, but manual focus does not work. I have tried ...
5
votes
1answer
162 views

How to prevent autofocus but retain tethered focus control?

I'm using Darktable (on Linux) with Canon 1100D in tethered shooting mode. I found out that from live view section I can control focus in big or small steps. This all works nicely, and I can see the ...
1
vote
3answers
92 views

Why doesn't the focus stay intact after I change the lens setting to manual on my Canon 77D?

My Canon 77D exhibits a strange behaviour with any lens: I half press the shutter button to trigger auto-focus I then change the lens switch from Auto to Manual, while holding the trigger button ...
0
votes
2answers
161 views

Manual focus in A mode can harm my lens? [duplicate]

I use 18-140 Nikkor . This lens have two A & M focus mode and this lens is AF-S that mean when auto focus is enable the focus ring dose't move. If i do manual focus when the lens is at A mode , ...
1
vote
1answer
233 views

Manual focus lens on fixed focus camera?

Hello i have bought this camera: It is a lens type camera, but it has a FIXED focus. I read on the internet that if I buy and put a manual focus lens it will work? Is that true ? If it is true ...
0
votes
3answers
907 views

How can I effectively manually focus a Nikon D3300 using the viewfinder? [duplicate]

I'been having a bad time trying to shoot photos with manual focus. When I'm trying to shoot a picture, using the viewfinder it's really hard to see how sharp is the picture you see through the ...
2
votes
2answers
316 views

What settings should I use for a Tamron manual focus lens on a Nikon DSLR?

I have a Nikon D5100 (which has no AF motor in the body) and a Tamron 90mm SP macro lens. The lens has no AF focus motor either (or at least it doesn't seem to be compatible with the body), and has an ...
0
votes
1answer
65 views

How to turn on manual focus for Sony α7R II?

There is an AF/MF | AEL switch on my Sony α7R II. If I switch this to AF/MF, and then press the button inside the switch, nothing happens on the viewfinder screen or back panel screen. How do I turn ...
4
votes
3answers
164 views

Does an offset split-focus screen exist?

I shoot a Nikon F3 SLR with a split-focus screen, and I do a lot of portraits with very shallow depth of fields (e.g. 50mm f2.8 at 0.5m). When I shoot a portrait I focus on the eye first, then ...
2
votes
2answers
553 views

Canon EF 24-105 IS L manual focusing - is it a problem?

I never really used manual focusing before, so I only noticed it now: when I switch to MF and slowly turn the focusing ring, nothing happens at all. The ring turns and turns but nothing else happens. ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views

Tamron lens focusing problems?

I own a Tamron 18-270mm F/3,5-6,3 Di II VC PZD lens - a fabulous lens, but since I got it (around Christmas time), the autofocus has been playing up; see below image. EXIF is as follows: 270mm, ...
6
votes
2answers
193 views

Is there an adapter to allow a camera to control focus or aperture of a manual focus & aperture lens?

I recently bought the Sony Alpha a7. In a bid to get an affordable portrait lens, I rushed to get the Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 only to realize that there is no communication between the camera and lens. Now ...
-1
votes
1answer
396 views

Focus distance and infinity

When I play with M12 lenses (board lenses. Fixed fl. Aperture) , I can focus them to a distance and they have a certain depth of field. Objects within the Delta of field looks sharp. Can these lenses ...
3
votes
1answer
417 views

Is there any Fuji X to Nikon F adapter that works with AI-s lenses and doesn't require stop-down metering?

I am interested in an adapter that would allow me to use my Nikkor AI-s lenses on my Fuji X-series cameras. There are many such adapters, but they all seem to require stop down metering. I don't want ...
4
votes
1answer
272 views

Adjust manual focus for sharper images with Sony RX0,for aerial photography

I am taking photos around 80m altitudes (with Sony RX0) with a moving drone,Shutter Speed is set to 1/1000 to prevent blurs,I want to take sharp images with manual focus,how should I adjust settings ?
2
votes
2answers
1k views

Why won't my Nikon D5500 autofocus?

Total newbie here! I have a Nikon D5500 - when I bought the camera I had no clue there was a difference between auto focus and manual focus so I have ALWAYS manually focused the camera. I want to ...
7
votes
1answer
175 views

Is the 20mm f/3.5 AI-s NIKKOR focus well damped?

I have a 20mm f/4 AI-s. Personally I do not like the feel of the focus ring. It is not well damped and not silky smooth like my other AI-s lenses. It feels like my older non-AI lenses. I have no idea ...
0
votes
3answers
1k views

Understanding focus distance of Nikon f/1.8D lens with D5600 Camera

I took some sample photos using my Nikon D5600 camera with Nikon f/1.8D lens. I had to set the focus manually since this lens doesn't provide AF with my camera. My Question: The album of my sample ...
3
votes
5answers
398 views

Can viewfinder type make an appreciable difference in manual focus?

I have a few old vintage lenses that I love to shoot with on my Canon T3. The obvious disadvantage is the challenge of getting sharply focuses images while focusing manually. I have great vision, but ...
3
votes
1answer
114 views

Determine the optimal dioptric correction

I just got a DSLR (a Nikon D610). On it, a dioptric correction is available, apparently ranging from -3 to +1 (cf. page 297 in the D610 manual). I'm wearing glasses, so I'm thinking: "Yay, I'll be ...
5
votes
1answer
977 views

Can I use focus point on manual mode?

I just got my first DSLR Canon 6d and Canon 50mm f1.8 lens . Because im begginer on photography i dont know anything but im tring to learn by watching youtube, but there are some questions i have, i ...
1
vote
3answers
777 views

My Nikon D50 refuses to take pictures after I disabled auto focus

I just got a second hand Nikon D50. This is first reflex camera I ever had. I am trying to take macro of an electrical component in relatively dark room. These are the settings on my top display: I ...
0
votes
1answer
84 views

Correct use of magnification for focus assist

I have a Fujifilm x-e1 mirrorless digital camera that has a magnification feature designed to assist with manual focusing. The documentation tells me the following: Manual Focusing Methods In ...
2
votes
3answers
203 views

Are there any DSLRs that are only manual mode?

I am just wondering if there are any DSLR camera models that are implemented with hyper simplicity, where you are given only full manual control, and dials for those parameters only? I think this ...
3
votes
1answer
353 views

Would the Nikon Dandelion Chip give AF Confirmation on bodies without AF Motor?

Few days ago, I found an old Nikon 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6 AF lens and when I paired it with my D5200, the body knew that the lens required an internal/in-built AF motor like the high-end bodies have, so it ...
2
votes
0answers
110 views

Focusing issue with Pentacon6/Biometar80

I recently bought a 'new', old Biometar 80 lens for my Pentacon 6 camera and did some preliminary tests with an adapter on my Nikon DSLR. Everything looked great, so I went on holiday with the new ...
0
votes
3answers
524 views

Why doesn't the focal length in EXIF change when I manually focus my DSLR?

I tried to take several pictures with a DSLR ( Nikon D3200 - 18 to 55mm zoom lens) with manual focus mode. I changed the manual focus randomly and clicked several pictures one after another. I was ...
2
votes
0answers
87 views

How to filter photos in Lightroom 6 by EffectiveMaxAperture EXIF tag?

I shoot with different non-CPU manual focus lenses and use LensTagger (Lightroom plugin) to write full lens name into EXIF. I also set up different MF lens "profiles" (called "non-CPU lens data" by ...
7
votes
3answers
3k views

I keep getting out of focus shots on manual focus - Why?

First off, I'm deliberately referencing this question and have read both the original question and every answer, and I just wanna make sure to note that I know how to focus manually and am in fact ...
5
votes
4answers
3k views

Focus to infinity with 10-18mm canon lens

I am using a canon 10-18mm wide angle lens on a Canon t3 camera. I want to try shooting some stars at night. So I want to focus the lens to infinity. But the lens has no hard stop to it, or any sort ...
3
votes
2answers
470 views

How do I get sharp focus of insects and animals with a camera that doesn't have manual focus control?

I have a Canon Powershot SX410 IS. I like this camera, but sometimes it doesn't focus on the object that I want to shoot. This situation occurs when a small object (such as an insect) is close to the ...
-3
votes
1answer
74 views

Area focusing using manual focus

how to achieve area focus using manual focus mode. I tried using the infinity, but that did not turn out to be correct for me. I use a Nikon D3200. When I need all the subjects in focus, I put the ...
4
votes
1answer
288 views

Is there any rhyme or reason to the order of zoom and focus rings on lenses?

I have 3 zoom lenses, 2 Nikkors & a Tamron. AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR [the kit lens] Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD MACRO 1:2 All except the 24-...
1
vote
1answer
579 views

Using a manual lens on D5100

I am an amateur photographer and I am currently using a Nikon D5100 with the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G lens. I have been thinking of getting an old manual focus lens like a 50mm or an 85mm, because they ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views

How can I see the exposure meter on my Nikon D3200 when shooting in manual-focus mode?

I have a Nikon D3200. I am experimenting with manual focusing on my kit lens. One thing I noticed was that when I am in manual focusing mode I don't see the exposure meter in the viewfinder. This ...
0
votes
1answer
463 views

Does a Ring-Ultrasonic EF-S lens require power to manually focus? (using with adapter)

Would the manual-focus-ring of a ring-ultrasonic EF-S lens (in particular the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens) focus even when the electronics are not working? Or would it require power to allow manual ...
6
votes
1answer
416 views

Manual focus not consistent with Sony A7ii + Sony 55mm 1.8. Hidden setting?

I noticed that when I quickly turned my focus ring, the focus jump in focus was rather big: with a slight quick turn, I can almost jump between near focus and infinity. If I slowly turn the focus ...
2
votes
3answers
2k views

Can I fine tune the manual focus confirmation on my Nikon?

I haven't seen this answered anywhere, but does something or some software exist to fine tune manual (!!) focus confirmation (the dot at the bottom left) to more accurately represent focus? If I have ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views

Focus ring not working in D3300 with factory supplied 18 - 55 mm lens

I have this D3300 that was working completely fine. Someone was playing with the settings and I realized that I cannot focus on objects anymore. I don't think that there is something physically ...
2
votes
1answer
735 views

Supermoon: In focus and Out of focus

In focus moon Tonight I took several pictures of the Super Moon, I am a novice practicing in manual mode. Can someone explain why these photos are drastically different. The out of focus was shot ...

1 2 3 4 5