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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41 views

How can I measure the exact range of focus of a given fixed focus webcam?

By moving objects around the camera I can see that they get very blurry at 10cm and less sharp at 3-4m away from the camera but how can I measure the exact range of focus? If I check the sharpness of ...
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55 views

Canon 16-36mm f2.8 EF manual focus not working

I bought a used Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 where the auto focus works fine, but manual focus isn't working. The focus ring is not stuck, so that isn't the problem. Any ideas to what it can be?
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108 views

K10D poor focus - manual or auto - with full-frame zoom lens

I'm getting very poor focus particularly at the long end of an 80-320mm tele lens that I am using with my Pentax K10D. The lens was originally bought for my 35mm Pentax SLR (maybe an MZ5 or something, ...
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111 views

Sigma 70-300mm macro or nikon 55-200mm vr ii

I currently have a Nikon d3200 and am trying to decide between these two lenses. I understand the sigma can only manual focus on my camera. Im mostly looking to shoot wildlife , landscape or other far ...
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1answer
38 views

Does the QX1 support passive lenses?

I'm just starting to get into photography and got a used Sony QX1 and the 16-50 kit lens. Now I'm looking to extend my glass collection. I've read that to use lenses without any electrical connections,...
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103 views

Canon 5DS Manual Focus Assist in Live View

I know that some cameras have a type of manual focus assist where it will highlight areas that are in focus when you manually focus. I am curious to know if there is a way to do that on my Canon 5DS ...
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63 views

How to properly focus using a Macro reverse ring?

Fourth question from me about this topic. I'm trying to digitize a large number of family slide films with a modified slide projector by taking photos of the slides (I replaced the original yellow ...
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2answers
220 views

Not able to manual focus in night for star photography

I was shooting at f4.5 shutter speed 30s for capturing stars in my photo but was not able to manual focus as we can't set the manual focus for stars. I am using a 18-55mm Nikkor lens, what I get after ...
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1answer
219 views

How to combine an autofocus teleconverter with a manual-focus lens

I have a teleconverter (Bower MC 2x C/AFI) which has pins to connect the lens electronics to the camera body. It works well with my autofocus lenses. If I try to use the converter with a manual-focus ...
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1answer
130 views

Shutter activates when manual focus is achieved. How?

I have a canon 5D mk ii which I've been using for donkeys year. I was messing about with a new lens in the office today and somehow stumbled on a feature I've never noticed before. Using manual focus, ...
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183 views

How to proper focus for sharper images?

For shooting landscape photos, what is better using manual focus or automatic focus? I seen a lot of people who focus with automatic focus then switch to manual focus, is this so the focus doesn't ...
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95 views

Is it physically possible to mount a manual EF-M lens onto a Canon DSLR without an adapter?

I'm wondering if you can mount an EF-M lens directly on a Canon DSLR body. I'm aware that electronic communication won't work, but I can use manual focus with electronic shutter. If anyone is ...
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122 views

Which settings are needed to display manual focus aids on the gx9 when using manual lenses?

I have recently got a panasonic gx9 camera to complement my canon system. I have been struggling to get manual focus aids to work, I have at one point managed to get it to display some kind of ”zebra”...
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161 views

Does the autofocus system look through the lenses?

I have a doubt about the effect of putting a filter (polarizer, UV etc) on the autofocus system. In theory, a lens which is put in front of the lens will affect the focus (we must set a different ...
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903 views

If I swap cameras, will my lens keep appropriate focus?

I'll be going to a place where the night sky is quite nice to photograph. I plan on taking a star trail long exposure shot with a Canon 3000N, an analog camera. I'm pretty sure it won't be able to ...
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1answer
433 views

How to figure out the order of lens elements in the rear group?

I bought a second-hand Canon 100D after I got into photography this summer, and got to use a vintage lens that was still attached to my dad's Pentax ME Super (Asahi Pentax-M 50mm 1.4 SMC, a great step ...
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450 views

Are electronically parfocal RF lenses parfocal enough for fireworks photography with zoom?

Within a month or so, it's the first time I'll see fireworks as an owner of a good camera and naturally I'm planning to take photographs of them. By researching various fireworks photography sources, ...
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3answers
317 views

Focus in Analog and Digital Cameras [duplicate]

Why a subject not in focus in the viewfinder of an analog camera is seen as two misaligned half circles, while in that of a digital camera is evenly blurred?
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258 views

How to focus old manual viewfinder cameras?

I recently got two really old cameras, and I'm lost. The cameras are an Agfa Silette, and a Welta Weltax. I expected the cameras to have a focusing mechanism similar to rangefinger cameras, or split-...
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1answer
146 views

Are front lens focusing and unit focusing equivalent in triplet/tessar style lenses?

Some vintage tessar or triplet type lenses (eg such intended for viewfinder cameras) implement focusing by merely moving the front element or front cell. When adapting such lenses to other cameras, ...
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4answers
431 views

Is it possible to use a follow focus to add AF to MF lenses?

I recently switched from a EOS 7D to a Sony a6400 and since I have to buy new lenses I saw the huge difference in price between compatible AF and manual focus lenses. I also stumbled upon this: ...
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258 views

How do I find infinity focus with a kit lens when there's not enough light for optical verification? [duplicate]

I have a D7200 which I want to use at long distances in low light photography. The kit lens, a 18-140 does not have focus markers on it. Furthermore, the focus ring does not stop hard at any point. ...
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180 views

With an old manual lens and modern digital camera, sharp image on the matte focusing screen, blurred one on the sensor

I tried to use an old Practicar lens 50mm/1.8 with Canon 450D, using an appriopriate adapter ring Practica B/Canon EF. Of course, this lens is completely manual in this configuration. Via the ...
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2answers
124 views

How to handle frequent, uncontrolled lighting changes?

I was taking photos of birds in a sanctuary. There I experienced few challenges. I want to know how to handle these. There were frequent daylight variations as it was partly cloudy. It was a bright ...
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4answers
1k views

How do fixed lenses “focus” on things at different distances? [duplicate]

I'm trying to understand depth of field and I'm struggling. If I'm playing with a 50mm fixed lens, and I alter its focus using the little ring around the lens, what is actually changing in terms of ...
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265 views

Is minimum focus distance (MFD) really minimum?

On my prime lense the barrel shows the "minimum" focus distance (MFD). According to the definition you find on internet you cannot focus an object closer to this distance (measure from the sensor ...
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1answer
112 views

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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1answer
618 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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4answers
3k views

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
871 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
195 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
646 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
79 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
260 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
460 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
2k 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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1answer
152 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
313 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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1answer
2k 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
106 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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933 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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1answer
824 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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1answer
455 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
139 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 ...
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2answers
514 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
544 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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3answers
3k 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
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2answers
706 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
189 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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