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10/31/2004 01:53:09 PM · #1 |
Does anyone have any tips or tricks for improving focus when going manual?
Had a low light situation where the autofocus was hunting back and forth so I went manual and thought I had it focused but back in the computer the pictures aren't.
P.S. I'm using a Canon EOS 20D. |
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10/31/2004 01:57:57 PM · #2 |
Believe it or not, when I had my Fuji 602 and it would hunt for focus, I would put a laser pen on the subject I wanted to focus on then it would auto focus in a snap. As soon as I had focus, I'd turn of the laser and snap my shot. Worked great!
-danny |
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10/31/2004 04:27:01 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by kadac00:
I went manual and thought I had it focused but back in the computer the pictures aren't.
P.S. I'm using a Canon EOS 20D. |
If your manual focus is not in focus, may be you want to correct the diopter setting on the viewfinder. The way I do is use manual focus to focus on a subject, then move to autofocus and notice if there is any change. Ideally there shouldn't be, if there is any movement, correct the diopter setting and yes ofcourse, do these tests in proper light situation |
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10/31/2004 04:30:23 PM · #4 |
| As for using autofocus in low light, try using manual, and then get back to autofocus to fine-tune the focussing, I find it difficult ( and not precise ) if I focus manually in very low light. Auto focus won't work, but if you get the focus closer to the actual point, it works. With 20D, I think the movement of lens, when in autofocus, is going far ( increase distance) so if you adjust focus manually to infront of the subject and get back to auto, it should focus for you. |
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10/31/2004 04:39:35 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by crabappl3:
Believe it or not, when I had my Fuji 602 and it would hunt for focus, I would put a laser pen on the subject I wanted to focus on then it would auto focus in a snap. As soon as I had focus, I'd turn of the laser and snap my shot. Worked great!
-danny |
Sony uses this as a focus aid in its higher end cameras :) |
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10/31/2004 04:47:16 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by kadac00:
P.S. I'm using a Canon EOS 20D. |
With what lens? To aid fast focus in darker conditions a wide aperture, good quality lens will help a lot.
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10/31/2004 04:53:57 PM · #7 |
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Message edited by author 2005-07-12 11:13:39. |
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10/31/2004 04:54:13 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by jlhudson:
Originally posted by crabappl3:
Believe it or not, when I had my Fuji 602 and it would hunt for focus, I would put a laser pen on the subject I wanted to focus on then it would auto focus in a snap. As soon as I had focus, I'd turn of the laser and snap my shot. Worked great!
-danny |
Sony uses this as a focus aid in its higher end cameras :) |
Like on my f717! wanna buy it?
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10/31/2004 04:58:11 PM · #9 |
Carry a small flashlight with you to light the scene briefly and lock in the focus, (on most cameras by holding the shutter release halfway down) then take the photograph.
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10/31/2004 05:56:13 PM · #10 |
The 550ex adds some extra low light assistance. I tested mine in a pitch black room and it exposed the shot perfectly and the focus didn't hunt at all. Wild stuff. My ST-E2 works great too if I don't want to use the flash.
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10/31/2004 06:57:44 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by Jacko:
The 550ex adds some extra low light assistance. I tested mine in a pitch black room and it exposed the shot perfectly and the focus didn't hunt at all. Wild stuff. My ST-E2 works great too if I don't want to use the flash. |
I wonder if you can use that ST-E2 thingie to fire strobes? Like Alien Bees? That would be awesome! |
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10/31/2004 10:06:28 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by digistoune:
Originally posted by Jacko:
The 550ex adds some extra low light assistance. I tested mine in a pitch black room and it exposed the shot perfectly and the focus didn't hunt at all. Wild stuff. My ST-E2 works great too if I don't want to use the flash. |
I wonder if you can use that ST-E2 thingie to fire strobes? Like Alien Bees? That would be awesome! |
Unfortunately u can't... however, you can use it to fire an off camera slave flash that can be configured to trigger your strobes.
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11/07/2004 03:40:42 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by gaurawa:
If your manual focus is not in focus, may be you want to correct the diopter setting on the viewfinder. The way I do is use manual focus to focus on a subject, then move to autofocus and notice if there is any change. Ideally there shouldn't be, if there is any movement, correct the diopter setting and yes ofcourse, do these tests in proper light situation |
To the best of my knowledge diopter is only useful for people who have glasses ... diopter changes nothing in the camera system except the focus of view finder
Am i missing something here ?
Are diopters in SLR diff from the NON Slr
Message edited by author 2004-11-07 03:41:21.
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11/07/2004 03:45:51 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by kadac00:
Does anyone have any tips or tricks for improving focus when going manual?
Had a low light situation where the autofocus was hunting back and forth so I went manual and thought I had it focused but back in the computer the pictures aren't.
P.S. I'm using a Canon EOS 20D. |
1. why not manual focus towards infinity ... this will give a huge DOF and v high chances ur subject will be in focus
2. If possible turn on the light source, focus on the subject .. activate focus lock ... turn off the light source .. adjust shutter and aperture as required
Message edited by author 2004-11-07 03:46:24.
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11/07/2004 07:24:22 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by akulkarni:
To the best of my knowledge diopter is only useful for people who have glasses ... diopter changes nothing in the camera system except the focus of view finder
Am i missing something here ?
Are diopters in SLR diff from the NON Slr |
Diopter adjustment is useful for everyone who has less than perfect vision, which includes most of us.
kadac00, if your 20D (and lens) is working properly it has the ability to focus properly, auto or manual, in low light. I am guessing that your problem stems from some settings not being set appropriately. But there are enough of them that could affect it that I'm not sure where to start in making sure they are correct. Is the switch on the lens set to manual? If hand holding be careful not to inadvertently move the focus ring. Is drive mode set to one shot? And of course increase the ISO for low light. Maybe setting everything back to default would help you track down the problem. |
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11/07/2004 01:55:08 PM · #16 |
I have 20/13 vision in both eyes, and the diopter can make a difference. Push it all the way to the top or bottom and look! Goes all blurry huh? Now if you are using manual focus, this is going to matter.
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11/08/2004 03:10:21 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by dacrazyrn:
I have 20/13 vision in both eyes, and the diopter can make a difference. Push it all the way to the top or bottom and look! Goes all blurry huh? Now if you are using manual focus, this is going to matter. |
totally agreed !!! but how often you change the diopter ?? once in years or when camera changes hands !
If diopter is not correctly set to ur eye all auto focus mode frames will look fuzzy to u !!
The whole point is diopter should be set according to your eyes and diopter plays no role whatsoever on focus of ur pictures
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11/08/2004 03:19:04 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by akulkarni:
Originally posted by dacrazyrn:
[snip]Push it all the way to the top or bottom and look! Goes all blurry huh? Now if you are using manual focus, this is going to matter. |
[Snip] If diopter is not correctly set to ur eye all auto focus mode frames will look fuzzy to u !!
The whole point is diopter should be set according to your eyes and diopter plays no role whatsoever on focus of ur pictures |
I'm not sure if I got all of that.
I have bad vision and use contacts/glasses and have had problems with man.focus. The people at the camerastore gave me this trick: put it into autofocus and fiddle with the diopter thingy till the image in the viewfinder is sharp.
The diopter setting/viewfinder has no direct role in autofocus but is, of course, paramount in manual focus.
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