Manual or auto focus?

[timberghost72]

I just wanted to see what all the photographers use or prefer. I've been trying to use manual focus more lately. Experimenting really. I can't seem to get a real good picture using manual focus and I have double checked that my diopter is set correctly.  So what are your preferences or does it depend on the situation? Any tips for using manual focus? I'm taking the family to Utah for a National Park trip (think the Griswolds  ) and I wanted to see if I can improve my pictures. I usually shoot in AV mode.

[Smokepole]

What kind of camera do you have?

I have a canon 50d.  I shoot mostly spot automatic focus, then compose after I depress the button part way.  Once you lock onto your focal point, you can move the camera to compose the shot.  It is next to impossible to focus sharp by eye.  The auto focus is very precise, so you should take advantage of that when you can.  Focus, compose, shoot.  Works great for me. 

Shooting birds or other fast moving objects, I have great results with servo mode focus.   

[timberghost72]

That is how I shoot now. Focus and recompose if needed. The autofocus works great just trying to learn a little more. I have a Canon 60D.

[Smokepole]

Great camera.  It should take awesome pictures, especially if you have editing software to enhance them when you get back from a trip. 

I shoot mainly AV mode also.  Your photos should be tack sharp if you have a good lens and fast enough shutter.  The auto focus feature is dependable.  Most of the time if guys aren't getting sharp photos, it isn't a focus issue.  It's motion blur from shooting off hand with too slow a shutter speed.   

[Alchase]

Just some clarification,

Do you mean the fully "Automatic Setting"?
or
just the auto focus (button half way down)?
or
switching off "IS" and going manual "all the way"?

The only times I use the "Automatic Setting" is on things I just want a "good enough" picture, maybe kids playing inside etc...

Usually I shoot AV mode (Aperture Mode) so my subject is in focus and the background maybe not so much.

Sometimes I switch over to TV mode (to maybe blur a waterfall) usually I am in AV.

I tried totally manual a few times, and I realized real quick, I would totally suck at photography if I had to shoot an older all manual camera, LOL

[Smokepole]

Timberghost, what do you want to improve about your pictures?  Maybe you could post a shot that you weren't happy with, and if you can paste in the exif data info we could get to the bottom of it.  Your camera should take nothing but tack sharp photos every time.  Also what lens are you using?

[Johnb317]

I learned before auto focus and now auto focus with IS is sop. 
If your auto focus isn't sharp make sure you didn't change the settings, you can force autofocus sections.  (Far right button on back of camera on a 30d and 5dii)

[Wazukie]

I use both, depending on what I am shooting.  I learned photography way back when on a fully manual camera, as did many.  Auto focus is nice though thats for sure.

[wapiti hunter2]

Timberghost, what do you want to improve about your pictures?  Maybe you could post a shot that you weren't happy with, and if you can paste in the exif data info we could get to the bottom of it.  Your camera should take nothing but tack sharp photos every time.  Also what lens are you using?

Sharpness has more to do with the glass than the recording device (camera body).  If you learn about depth of field, it's relationship to shutter speed and your iso, you will understand what the cameras brain does.  Then you can go "manual" or choose wisely, not to. 

Having a bigger and better camera body and crappy lenses, does not a great photographer make.

[Smokepole]

Sharpness has mostly to do with shutter speed x focal length, if being hand held.  Of course, good glass is important.  My point is, lots of guys that have great glass, great camera bodies with auto focus will complain about blurry photos.  Rule of thumb is a shutter speed equal to your focal length.  At 200mm, you should have at least 1/200 of a sec.  But then consider the crop factor of his camera is 1.6x.  That makes his 200mm lens 320mm. 1/320 of a sec. required, but I try to shoot at 1/500 and adjust my iso to the lowest setting possible - if I don't have a tripod.

What I'm saying is there are so many reasons for subpar sharpness.  Usually it is not an autofocus issue.  Motion blur is caused by too slow of shutter. 

ISO simply adjusts the sensitivity of the sensor.  How fast it takes in light.  Too fast & you get grainy shots, just like fast film.

Depth of field is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a photo that are in relative focus.  Has nothing to do with ISO.  It is focal length/aperture that determines depth of field.  Even with a shallow depth of field... f2.8 at 50mm - your focal point should be tack sharp.

Bottom line is, you need to have good equipment, then understand the dynamics of all of the features/functions to express yourself creatively with a camera.  It's not that difficult &  once you understand it, you can take any shot you want.

[timberghost72]

Im not having problems with auto focus. Pictures are great. Im just experiment with manual focus and DOF (turning autofocus off). I shoot in Av mode not manual. 17-55 f2.8 IS lens. I understand min shutter speed at hand held and  all the dynamics of photography with ISO, shutter speed and  aperture. Just askin about manual focus only. Maybe Im not asking correctly.

[Smokepole]

Well I'm blind as a bat, so I rarely use manual any more.    My first slr was a canon ae1.  The shots I took were pretty horrible.  Everything was manual focus. 

The only time I use manual any more, is to take sharp product photographs.  First I focus on the focal point.  Then I carefully click the lens to manual focus.  Then I compose the shot using the tripod.  Then click the remote to take the shot.  If you don't use manual, the remote will refocus the shot.  Still this is using autofocus... not focusing by eye.  I doubt I could do a very good job by eye... 

They say it is impossible exceed the sharpness of autofocus by going manual.  I'm not sure why one would need or want to go manual.  Maybe I just got my fill of it back in the film days.   

[timberghost72]

I think that is my main problem too. Blind as a bat . On reason of using manual for me is to focus and not have it change when taking say a picture with a remote. Think family picture with tripod. I know I can use autofocus and the timer but I just want to experiment. As long as the focal plane doesn't change then you can take multiple shots at different arrangements of subjects or objects.

[Smokepole]

Yup manual comes in handy for using the remote.  I still use auto to lock down my focal point, then flip it to manual while I hold it there.  As long as your subject doesn't move, or you bump the focus, ring, you're good.

You can use the same technique when you use the timer, just flip it to manual while you hold it down.  It's especially important when you are taking closeup shots, since any movement at all can cause motion blur, and you want to use slow shutter speeds and low iso to get real smooth shots.

Yeah, I wasn't sure about the question... but I like talking about cameras.  I need to get out and take some shots!

Here's a shot I took using auto to gain focus, then fipped it to manual.  The shot was off a tripod, using the remote.  The shot was taken at F22 for 3.2 seconds with the iso at 100.  Not sure why I stopped it down that far... f11 would have been fine, and the lens has a sweet spot there anyhow...

[timberghost72]

Nice, the increment lines on the tape are sharp all through the photo. I like that picture and how the tape twists a little.