p.2 #1 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
I had occasion to shoot for a week with a D800 that belongs to a friend. I shoot exclusively with MF Nikkor lenses and had no difficulty finding focus with that camera even with fast lenses with a stock screen. Granted, my eyesight is perfect and I've been shooting almost exclusively with these lenses mounted on my D700 for two years. The D700 has a stock screen as well. If you're eyesight is good what you need is practice, practice, practice.
Here's a shot taken wide open with the 28 f/2 AI-s on the D800.
p.2 #2 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
I found that the focus dot can sometimes get confused when shooting a wide angle lens with a lot of DOF. In this case, I only trust my eyes. It is much more accurate with longer FL's.
p.2 #4 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
James Markus wrote:
Ask yourself this...why have an audible AF confirmation beep? Is it not already in focus - and being done so by one of Nikon's very very accurate AF systems? Ya see, for AF operation I turn the beep off. Now, mount a MF lens...place my 50+++ year old corrected vision eyes at the viewfinder...and you don't even offer a confirmation beep option? What kind of logic is that? Look, as a young buck I literally shot millions of frames all using manual focus glass, and a split image focusing screen. My vision is simply not that discriminating anymore...I need a little help. The "beep" is already there built into the camera...just not usable for the type of focus confirmation that - to me - makes the most sense to have as an option. Ok..whine is over......Show more →
This sounds like an issue for a firmware update. I wouldn't think it could be that difficult.
p.2 #7 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
Like a lot of things, I find it can vary with different lenses. One thing I would suggest:
1) Set your camera up on some fixed object.
2) Focus from infinity to green dot confirm and take a shot.
3) Focus from close to green dot confirm and take a shot.
Compare the two shots. With a some wide aperture lenses I've found the difference between focus confirm from infinity and focus confirm from close up is significant and one is more accurate than the other.
p.2 #8 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
I was having a lot of trouble focusing my Samyang 85/1.4 on my d700. Precise focus was not clear on the screen, and the green dot had a wide focus range where the dot remained illuminated. Lucky for me I found that best focus occurred at the point where the right pointing arrow transitioned to the green dot. I have since found this to be true for all my manual lenses. This may work on the d800.
p.2 #9 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
sandycrane wrote:
I was having a lot of trouble focusing my Samyang 85/1.4 on my d700.
I am using the Samyang 85mm on a D800E and it's a royal pain. The lens is plenty sharp for the increased resolution of the 800/E compared to the D700, but exact focus is hard to get to. Even with the magnifying eyepiece that I use. Also, the focus ring is stiff (compared to the Samyang 35mm) which is not always a benefit.
p.2 #10 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
James Markus wrote:
Ask yourself this...why have an audible AF confirmation beep? Is it not already in focus - and being done so by one of Nikon's very very accurate AF systems? Ya see, for AF operation I turn the beep off. Now, mount a MF lens...place my 50+++ year old corrected vision eyes at the viewfinder...and you don't even offer a confirmation beep option? What kind of logic is that? Look, as a young buck I literally shot millions of frames all using manual focus glass, and a split image focusing screen. My vision is simply not that discriminating anymore...I need a little help. The "beep" is already there built into the camera...just not usable for the type of focus confirmation that - to me - makes the most sense to have as an option. Ok..whine is over......Show more →
Having 60++++ eyes I find the only thing that works best for me is the green dot.
However, and this I read somewhere, the trick is to focus behind the subject and then gradually to refocus until the green light flickers., That's where I've been most able to get it right.
If you've got a D700 then the katzeye can be another tool in your focusing arsenal. I'm unsure if Katzeye will come out with one for the D800, but they may in the near future.
p.2 #12 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
CGrindahl wrote:
Though the thread is devoted to Nikon MF lenses rather than Zeiss or any other third party manufacturer, the Manual Focus Nikon Glass thread in the Nikon forum now has perhaps half a dozen participants (...)
Curtis,
Your link actually points to Ephesus on Wikipedia.
p.2 #13 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
lbloom wrote:
Curtis,
Your link actually points to Ephesus on Wikipedia.
Wow! I just checked this thread after almost a year and caught you correction. Thanks for that. At that time I was posting photos from a trip I'd just completed to Turkey and was sharing photos and talking about places I'd visited, including Ephesus. I corrected it... a day late and a dollar short...
p.2 #14 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
jsv_20 wrote:
If you've got a D700 then the katzeye can be another tool in your focusing arsenal. I'm unsure if Katzeye will come out with one for the D800, but they may in the near future.
I wrote to Katz Eye's owner who answered that because of technical issues with the D800, they had no plans of fabricating a screen.
p.2 #15 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
j.liam wrote:
I wrote to Katz Eye's owner who answered that because of technical issues with the D800, they had no plans of fabricating a screen.
I'm content with the standard screen on my D700 but there has been a discussion on the Manual Focus Nikon Glass thread about cutting down screens from vintage cameras and using them in DSLR cameras. I wonder if it is possible to swap out the viewfinder in the D800 that way? Of course, if Katz Eye is not inclined to go there perhaps it is not worth considering...
p.2 #16 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
Having used a D700 with the stock screen and with Katz Eye.....well worth the $105 + 60 for installation and calibration if you're a devotee of MF. Small investment and the return in the 'keeper rate' with fast lenses easily doubled.
p.2 #17 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
I use the D700 + Samyang 14mm 2.8 and have no problems whatsoever with the stock screen. I also focus bracket, and don't use live view. I use the green dot when focusing in mid-ground, and it is really accurate.
p.2 #18 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
You shoot with 1 UWA lens? Nothing else?
The stock screen is optimized for ~ ƒ/2.5 so with with these slower lenses, it's usually not as critical an issue. Pull out a 50/1.2 (one of my favorites) and it's another game altogether. With the millimeter-deep DOF @ ƒ/1.2, the camera's rangefinder might be off by 5mm and the shot is blown. Which it typically is.
p.2 #19 · How accurate is manual focus confirmation?
I tried the Katz Eye on my D300 and didn't like it enough to keep it. I am shooting with the D700 and find that a $39 DK-17M helps with MF.
For me, I focus without the help from the green dot first. Then look down to see if the green dot also on, then I take a shot. If the green dot doesn't agree, I actually go with my eye since the DK-17M installed.
