Manual focus on DSLR

ScumLord · 15-07-2011 4:39pm #1

How do you go about manually focusing a DSLR? I remember with my fathers old SLR cannon it had a circle in the middle and as what you where looking at came into focus the two semi circles lined up telling you it was focused on that spot.

I see no such focusing help on any digital camera I've used. The best I've come across is expanded view on a Sony camcorder which just basically zoomed in to the image on the viewfinder.

I always rely on the autofocus because I have no confidence in manually focusing.

landsleaving · 15-07-2011 4:49pm

What usually works for me is once I get what I want in focus I keep turning till it just about loses focus on the other side, for want of a better description, then go back. That usually ensures it's perfectly focused, by finding that exact point of clarity between each direction I can turn the wheel. Try it with something near enough to you for practice, that looks a lot different to what's around it. Red apple on a white surface works well, and use a wide aperture so you can see the focal point clearly with the rest of the shot quite clearly out of focus. Then just keep at it till you get it - once you have a method of sorts you should be ok in most situations.

As far as I know there's nothing like the old focus aids on newer viewfinders, which is such a pity, lining up the circles made things so easy and when autofocus won't cooperate you're just sunk with a DSLR.

Cakes. · 15-07-2011 4:52pm

If you half-press the shutter button and focus manually the focus spot on the viewfinder should light up and beep when the area that is over is on focus.

Well, that works on my 1000D!

slimboyfat · 15-07-2011 5:07pm

Now are you getting confused with shooting in manual mode or actually focusing manually?

15-07-2011 5:15pm

Cakesofrice's 1000D acts the same as my 7D, so. Just switch over to manual focus, and as you're turning the focus ring, half-depress the shutter button. When you lock focus it should flash red to let you know.

It only happens ones though, so if you want it to give that red confirmation again, then you have to let go of the shutter button and half-press again.

hbr · 15-07-2011 5:18pm

ScumLord wrote: »

How do you go about manually focusing a DSLR?

Most DSLRs have focus indicators that operate in both automatic and
manual focusing modes. My Canon has nine of them. I usually set the
camera so that only the centre indicator is active for manual focusing.

I remember with my fathers old SLR cannon it had a circle in the middle and as what you where looking at came into focus the two semi circles lined up telling you it was focused on that spot.

You can get split prism focusing screens as an add-on for some DSLRs
http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/

I see no such focusing help on any digital camera I've used. The best I've come across is expanded view on a Sony camcorder which just basically zoomed in to the image on the viewfinder.

Some DSLRs with live view will let you zoom in on the area you want to
focus on.

I always rely on the autofocus because I have no confidence in manually focusing.

DSLR autofocus systems are usually fast and accurate. I usually depend
on mine to do the focusing for me. I often use manual focusing for close-up
and macro shots where the camera is on a tripod.

Back button focus is another option.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaDlksznUhY

Cakes. · 15-07-2011 5:21pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Cakesofrice's 1000D acts the same as my 7D, so. Just switch over to manual focus, and as you're turning the focus ring, half-depress the shutter button. When you lock focus it should flash red to let you know.

It only happens ones though, so if you want it to give that red confirmation again, then you have to let go of the shutter button and half-press again.

Mine beeps too when it's in focus, I think you can enable and disable it in the menu.

What Camera do you have ScumLord ?

15-07-2011 5:32pm

Cakesofrice wrote: »

Mine beeps too when it's in focus, I think you can enable and disable it in the menu.

What Camera do you have ScumLord ?

Ah yeah, I turned the beep off. It annoys me

spiralbound · 15-07-2011 5:41pm

ScumLord wrote: »

How do you go about manually focusing a DSLR? I remember with my fathers old SLR cannon it had a circle in the middle and as what you where looking at came into focus the two semi circles lined up telling you it was focused on that spot.

I see no such focusing help on any digital camera I've used. The best I've come across is expanded view on a Sony camcorder which just basically zoomed in to the image on the viewfinder.

I always rely on the autofocus because I have no confidence in manually focusing.

Mine has a little green light in the viewfinder when it's in focus (nikon)

landsleaving · 15-07-2011 5:54pm

hbr wrote: »

Some DSLRs with live view will let you zoom in on the area you want to
focus on.

That's what I have, it's not for me, as far as I know I have no other aids for manual focusing - Olympus e520. Correct me if i'm wrong, please, because I'd love a beep!

Cakes. · 15-07-2011 6:06pm

You have AF selection but don't know if it beeps

Cakes. · 15-07-2011 6:10pm

If you go to the D spanner in your menu and look around you should have an option to enable a beep for focus lock, which would work with your seleted focus spot.

I think that would work, i'm going by this

ScumLord · 15-07-2011 6:19pm

hbr wrote: »

DSLR autofocus systems are usually fast and accurate. I usually depend
on mine to do the focusing for me. I often use manual focusing for close-up
and macro shots where the camera is on a tripod.

I can't say that I'm in any way disappointed with the autofocus on my camera it does the job very well, in a way I'm wondering is it even really possible for me to do a better job? Should I just entrust it to the camera?

Cakesofrice wrote: »

What Camera do you have ScumLord ?

Olympus E-510

landsleaving · 15-07-2011 6:21pm

Had it turned off alright, thanks.

Doesn't do anything for manual focusing though unfortunately, pity because I just started using some OM lenses with an adapter and autofocus doesn't work with them at all.

landsleaving · 15-07-2011 6:27pm

ScumLord wrote: »

I can't say that I'm in any way disappointed with the autofocus on my camera it does the job very well, in a way I'm wondering is it even really possible for me to do a better job? Should I just entrust it to the camera?

Olympus E-510

I'd say that's much the same as the e-520, I had a look on a few sites and in the manual and I don't think there's anything to assist with manual focusing. In most situations I'd say you're fine with autofocus, but for the odd time it's a bit off you can use S-AF MF mode, it focuses as well as it can, then you can adjust manually before the final shot.

Or use live view:

Live View: Manual Focus magnification

The E-510 features magnified Live View feature; simply press the INFO button until the magnify loupe appears. You can reposition the loupe anywhere in the scene then press OK to magnify. Select between 7x and 10x view by turning the main dial.

During magnification Returned to full frame view

From here

.Longshanks. · 15-07-2011 6:34pm

This works on my canon 7D using the back button AF....

- Camera set on single focus point
- Lens in manual mode
- Slowly adjust focus barrel by hand whilst repeatedly pressing the focus button
- When the subject becomes in focus the camera beeps and the selected focus point in the viewfinder blinks

Simples!

Cakes. · 15-07-2011 6:37pm

kev_Longshanks100 wrote: »

This works on my canon 7D using the back button AF....

- Camera set on single focus point
- Lens in manual mode
- Slowly adjust focus barrel by hand whilst repeatedly pressing the focus button
- When the subject becomes in focus the camera beeps and the selected focus point in the viewfinder blinks

Simples!

They're using Olympuses

ScumLord · 15-07-2011 7:39pm

Thanks for the info, I had a mess around with settings and the back button autofocus. It does beep when it's in focus. There seems to be a never ending learning curve on these cameras.

peckerhead · 15-07-2011 8:00pm

Just today took delivery of a nice secondhand E-510 from the Bay of E-ness — glad I happened on this thread!

landsleaving · 15-07-2011 9:47pm

Just had a little fiddle about with some settings. I now have it set to Manual focus with back button autofocus. Thats Menu >Spanner 1> Button Dial > Ael/Afl > MF > Mode 3. Think you've already got this figured out Scumlord but in case anyone else is looking for the info.

With that on, when focusing manually there is a little green light in the viewfinder, with the info in green on the right, it lights up when in focus. Handy, I hadn't noticed it working before this thread but after checking it is always there in manual focus mode, regardless of ael/afl mode, so there is a manual focus aid, I don't get a beep with it, just the light, beep only happens with autofocus. It doesn't light up at all with the OM lenses attached mind, but a nice little extra aid for manual focusing with the kit lens anyway.

mdebets · 15-07-2011 10:46pm

kev_Longshanks100 wrote: »

This works on my canon 7D using the back button AF....

- Camera set on single focus point
- Lens in manual mode
- Slowly adjust focus barrel by hand whilst repeatedly pressing the focus button
- When the subject becomes in focus the camera beeps and the selected focus point in the viewfinder blinks

Simples!

But isn't that just using autofocus with adjusting focus barrel by hand instead of letting a small motor doing it? You still let the camera decide if it is in focus or not (by waiting for the beep to tell you)?

Manual focus on DSLR

Comments