It's been 25 years since I stopped making a living with photography and the timing for getting back into it seems right. I'm circling closer to making a digital SLR buy and have a question or two. (I should say right up front that I have yet to visit a camera store and put my hands on any of the latest cameras. I will, but it's a bit of a hike to the nearest reliable dealer.)
I learned whatever I learned using manual focus lenses. I was fortunate since a friend loaned me his Leica M2 with 3 summicrons to use during my study. The action of focussing was a very real part of the process. I took a certain amount of pride in it, and honestly enjoyed it. Now, the latest digital camera systems seem to take great pains to deliver autofocus excellence, but does it come at the expense of manual control?
I know that manual override is a part of the lense "systems", but I've read that the manual focussing adjustment/distance has been shortened considerably. Which would seem to me to make manual focussing overly fussy (fussy focuss... hmmm).
Are the primes different in that respect from the zooms? Any words of wisdom would be welcome. Thanks.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Welcome "back", Tim! Your question is a keen one. I, too, began photography before auto-focus existed. I'm really quite glad I did. I still manually-focus images, or manually adjust auto-focus pulls, perhaps 50-60% of the time. Old habits die hard I guess. I also shoot with a Leica M7 to keep my hand in with "real" cameras .
Honestly, I had not thought about whether today's lenses have less travel in their focus rings than older lenses. It's been a long time since I've used an FD lens (Canon shooter here). I think that the focus on my 50mm f/1.4 might be a bit tighter than my old 50mm FD. But I don't think it's a universal truth.
One thing you should be very cognizant of as you're building your new outfit is whether or not a lens offers "full-time manual focus". Many consumer-grade lenses must be switched between auto and manual focus. When the lens is set to "auto" the focus ring is inactive. This is a characteristic you'll want to avoid if possible. All of the Canon "L" lenses that I've used offer full time manual focus, as well as most of the non-"L" lenses. I have one Sigma lens (bought as a bit of a lark) that does not and it drives me batty.
I agree with Ken about the "full time" manual focus. I learned how to focus with a Leica iif, back in the day...
Today, I use a Canon 1DMkII, which has one of the most sophisticated AF functins you could find. I do lots of shots of birds on the wing, and always select a single AF spot, most often the center but frequently on on the periphery of the focusing area that includes 45 AF points. With the 500mm f/4, focusing is so fast and so accurate that I seldom need to touch it up, nor would I have the time to do it.
One of the nicest features is the camera's ability to track a subject and keep it in focus.
Once you get a real feel for how the AF works (or doesn't, given the situation) you may find that the need for manually focusing will be much less than you anticipate.
Of course, if you will mainly do portrait, product, or other photography of subjects that either stand still by nature, or choose to cooperate with you, manual focus is fine.
Make sure that you get a camera with a large and bright viewfinder, as well as the possibility of interchangeable focusing screens if you intend to stay pretty much with MF.
Also, on the Canons, even in Manual Focus the focus spot will light and the camera will beep when it thinks you have achieved focus.
__________________ --Walter Kimmel
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Last edited by Walter_Kimmel; 08-28-2006 at 07:50 PM.
Reason: adding another thought
Thanks gents. It sounds as if the better lenses have included smart alternatives to allow for the widest spectrum of uses and users.
I think it's time for some hands on. Boston will likely be the destination for the research/buy. I've heard that Calumet Photo has a decent setup in Cambridge, MA. Can anyone suggest another store in the vicinity?
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
I have learnt the benefits of manual focus as an alternative.
I take a lot of shots of musicians in rehearsal with the 70-210 Canon.
I find it handy to be able to manual focus on one particular musician and then zoom and re-frame to include others (deliberately out of focus) to enhance the composition. Far simpler than using focus lock as you can use it for several shots in succession.
Tony
London UK
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
And 20 years ago my eyes were far better! One of my concerns isn't the lens being a shorter throw, it is the lost of split image focusing screens. I have to say that using auto-focus has probably saved my sight. I use it mostly in the "spot focus and freeze mode". In the newer design of camera, I really missed changing the aperture with my left hand. It took me awhile to get cused to the dail aperture function. As far as equipment, although youdidn't ask, you will end up using nothing from your old camera days, as the new camera and lenses and flash all talk with each other by chips. If you had Nikon or Cannon, you don't have to stay with it so feel free to switch brands or you wanted to.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Yes, the viewfinders of today's digital SLRs are not especially well-adapted for precise manual focus. For that reason I changed the focusing screens on my (Canon) 1D Mark II and 1Ds Mark II to a model of Beattie screens that features a split center focus spot. It's not quite as bright or generous as the screens on old slrs but it's better than the standard screens for precision.
So perhaps on the list of qualities for which to shop you might consider a camera that offers a replaceable focus screen.
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Linear Mode
