Photography

Questions tagged [manual-focus]

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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.

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Auto-focus in Nikon D3100 doesn't work and i can't take pictures

When on autofocus my camera will not focus. The lens will do the twisting movement, go in and out of focus and then stay out of focus. Then it won't even take a photo. In addition, when on manual ...
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68 views

How to nail focus with Digital Split Image on FujiFilm X-Series cameras?

FujiFilm X-Series cameras offer Digital Split Image focus assist mode. The manual provides inadequate usage instruction, stating: Digital Split Image: Displays a split image in the center of the ...
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3answers
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How to nail focus with Peak Highlight on FujiFilm X-Series cameras?

FujiFilm X-Series cameras offer Focus Peak Highlight assist mode. However, the manual provides inadequate usage instruction, stating: Focus Peak Highlight: Highlights high-contrast outlines. Rotate ...
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2answers
136 views

How to perform non-center focusing using common film SLR camera?

I have a Nikon FM2 camera with Nikkor 50/1.4D lens. Is there a way to focus on the area that is not center? This can be easily done with digital camera as Nikon D750, where we can just use focus ...
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1answer
53 views

How do adjustments to flange focal distance affect front focal distance?

I am using a Nikon Micro-Nikkor F-mount lens with 105mm fixed focal length in a custom optical set-up (F-mount adapter to custom optics). This means that my flange focal distance is only an ...
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2answers
121 views

Is it normal for EF 24-105/4L IS to autofocus when switched to manual focus?

I'm using a Canon 6D mark II. I recently got a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L. I wanted to try using manual focus, so I switched the lens to manual focus, but it keeps auto focusing when I half press shutter ...
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1answer
69 views

How to set manual focus lens when asking others to take pictures for me?

I've been using manual focus lenses. In a few cases, I wanted to be in a picture, but it takes too long to explain how to focus. Even people who have used manual-focus lenses in the past, who should ...
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1answer
85 views

What focal-length setting to use for in-body image stabilization with manual zoom lenses?

The FujiFilm X-H1 has in-body image stabilization that requires the focal length to be set on the camera when using manual-focus lenses with adapters. This is a bit cumbersome with zoom lenses, and I ...
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4answers
157 views

What does focusing past infinity look like?

Would it nearly instantly become unfocused, or would it be more or less gradual?
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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 ...
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68 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 ...
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3answers
191 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 ...
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487 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 ...
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1answer
72 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 ...
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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 ...
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431 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 ...
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448 views

Why doesn't manual focus work with my 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 ...
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216 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 ...
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3answers
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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 ...
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2answers
241 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 , ...
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1answer
281 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 ...
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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 ...
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2answers
380 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 ...
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1answer
69 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 ...
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3answers
182 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 ...
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2answers
734 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. ...
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2k 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, ...
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208 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 ...
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1answer
459 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 ...
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1answer
457 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 ...
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1answer
328 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 ?
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2answers
2k 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 ...
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1answer
187 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 ...
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3answers
2k 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 ...
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5answers
495 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 ...
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1answer
122 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 ...
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1k 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 ...
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1k 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 ...
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3answers
153 views

How to correctly use magnification for focus assist on FujiFilm X-E1?

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 ...
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3answers
207 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 ...
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1answer
427 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 ...
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0answers
119 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 ...
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3answers
658 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 ...
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0answers
89 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 ...
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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 ...
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4answers
4k 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 ...
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2answers
514 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 ...
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1answer
77 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 ...
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1answer
318 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-...
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1answer
660 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 ...

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