Camera Labs

I'm doing a bit of manual focusing recently with my 60mm micro lens. It seems to be a bit hit and miss whether I get it focused properly or not. Stupid question perhaps but anyone with any manual focusing tips? Anything I could look out for? (other than sharpness obviously!). I must have dodgy eyes and should think about getting them looked at.

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Nikon D700 | 20mm f2.8 | 28mm f2.8 | 50mm f1.8 | 70-300 f4-5.6 | SB800 | flickr | serial photography

Probably not much help, but I found that using the viewfinder to be easier to get fine focus than the resolution limited screen in live view. Apart from that, is to take several shots at slightly different settings to help increase the chance of getting a good one. And if there's light available, can also try dropping the aperture to increase DoF to hide minor focus problems.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Just recently, there was a great series for manual focusing at DIY Photography...here's a link:

The series starts with this post, and then the next two are follow ups.
[url]http://diyphotography.net/nine-reasons-to-manually-focus-when-taking-pictures/url]

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Flickr
Current equipment: Nikon D90, 18-105mm
Wishlist: 50mm f/1.4/8.

Hi Welly,

There's one trick I know that people use. They zoom in with live view on the LCD and adjust focus visually - I haven't tried it myself, but I hope it can help.

Cheers

Cheers Kirt! Some useful tips/ideas there. Just what I was looking for.

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Nikon D700 | 20mm f2.8 | 28mm f2.8 | 50mm f1.8 | 70-300 f4-5.6 | SB800 | flickr | serial photography

Yeah, it is a series worth reading, love the exercises too!

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Flickr
Current equipment: Nikon D90, 18-105mm
Wishlist: 50mm f/1.4/8.

How about the "distance ring" on the lens? you dont find it useful to focus with?

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Flickr
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Bodies: Nikon D80, Nikon FM2n, Zenit 3M, Olympus Pen EE-3
Glass: Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 + Nikon 50mm f/1.8 + Nikon 35-70 f/2.8 + Industar 50mm f/3.5 (M39 Screw mount)
Light: two Nikon SB-28's
Backpack: Kata DR467
Shoplist: Nothing for now

The distance ring would be useful but my sense of distance makes it all but useless!

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Nikon D700 | 20mm f2.8 | 28mm f2.8 | 50mm f1.8 | 70-300 f4-5.6 | SB800 | flickr | serial photography

Always remember you have a little dot that lights up in the viewfinder!

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D40 - Nikon 18-135mm - Nikkor 50mm f/1,8 - SB-600 flash
Nikon Coolpix L3

How about choose your desired magnification using the focus ring and then move your whole upper body back and forth to get the right focus. I don't have a macro so magnification isn't key for me but I do this with my 50mm.

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Graham
Flickr