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Automatic vs. manual focus

MARKFER
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Automatic vs. manual focus

Manual lenses feel like digging a hole with your hands and planting a flower. AF lenses don't give me that feeling. The truth is though when I go out with an AF lens after using mf for a while I think to myself how did I ever get along without AF.
I like MF and turning the focus ring as long as whatever it is, is not moving fast.

Sep 13, 2023 at 09:00 AM

GMPhotography
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Automatic vs. manual focus

Back in the day AF systems were certainly not as good as they are today. Back then you would rely more on the MF as a balance and check yourself mode. Honestly I never trusted the AF systems. Today I guess that still comes in my mind sometimes but the AF systems are certainly better by far. I love the AF abilities of my A7RV and do trust it very much . I mostly buy Sony AF lenses as I get the Focus hold and the AF/MF switch and do use Bothe AF and MF but one thing you have to watch for with MF on these AF lenses is the manual focus and how it feels when you do drop into the MF some are great and some are really bad at MF. This is something maybe you should rent first and see if you like the feel of it before making a purchase. Certainly something to think about . I do a lot of MF and I think its more a exercise for me more than the AF abilities

Sep 13, 2023 at 09:10 AM

chez
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Automatic vs. manual focus

Grenache wrote:
While not every image shot by manual focus lenses is special, nearly all images that I have found breathtaking over the years were shot with manual focus lens…and are often instantly recognizable as to which lens. The Noctilux f/1, Nikon 105/1.8 AiS, and Leica R series come to mind quickly. The Nikon 105/1.4 and Canon/Nikon 200/2 are AF lenses that are also quite distinctive in rendering.

I use a lot of MF lenses specifically because they produce distinctive looking images. I am not saying better or worse, just different. I tend to shoot with MF lenses for more atmospheric or artistic...Show more →

I wonder how well you can pick out someone else’s images that were shot with AF and MF lenses, especially after post processing. I have a bunch of prints made from both modern AF lenses and older Pentax and Fuji medium format lenses and know myself I cannot tell differences from prints hanging on walls.

Sep 13, 2023 at 09:30 AM

Robin Smith
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Automatic vs. manual focus

I MF'ed until 2009. Don't really want to go back. There is no disadvantage to AF in my book. I will tolerate MF in wide angle lenses with EXIF connectors, but will always pick an AF lens if possible. After all, you can MF with an AF lens. While there are a lot of very good MF-only lenses, there are a lot of good AF lenses too, particularly now that camera makers are realizing we don't all want behemoths and are producing smaller, lighter lenses.

Sep 13, 2023 at 09:30 AM

IndyFab
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Automatic vs. manual focus

It all depends what your shooting

Action = AF

Stills = MF or AF depending on one's needs

Every tog has different needs.

Likewise Primes VS Zooms

Sep 13, 2023 at 10:19 AM

nepali
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Automatic vs. manual focus

Technological advancements make our lives easier/more efficient but that does not mean one has to take advantage of it. Manual car vs automatic car, pour-over coffee vs automatic drip coffee maker, cooking with wood fire vs using a natural gas stove, etc. There is nothing wrong either side of the choices. We can choose what makes us happy.

Edited on Sep 13, 2023 at 11:02 AM · View previous versions

Sep 13, 2023 at 10:37 AM

Newenglandrocks
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Automatic vs. manual focus

I started out around 10 years ago with autofocus, so I have very little experience and expertise with MF. This year, I made the leap on one trip and just brought my Fuji with a single MF TT Artisan prime and was shooting mountain biking action shots! It was quite a challenge, but pretty rewarding. It gave me a strong appreciation for how nice I have it when shooting 400 shots of ultimate frisbee in a single game with the A9 and 70-200GMii

Generally speaking, I prefer the instantaneous ability to get the shot with AF. The main place it seems to fail in regular use is astro landscapes. Even the 14GM is pretty comical when it ateempts to focus on distant stars

Edited on Sep 13, 2023 at 12:02 PM · View previous versions

Sep 13, 2023 at 11:01 AM

NJPhotographer
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Automatic vs. manual focus

AF is absolutely brilliant.

Sep 13, 2023 at 11:03 AM

Grenache
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Automatic vs. manual focus

chez wrote:
I wonder how well you can pick out someone else’s images that were shot with AF and MF lenses, especially after post processing. I have a bunch of prints made from both modern AF lenses and older Pentax and Fuji medium format lenses and know myself I cannot tell differences from prints hanging on walls.

Uninteresting images can be taken with any lens. Over processing can ruin - or make vanilla - any image. What I am talking about are images that I find distinctive. For those, I am quite good at recognizing characters in lenses. Case in point, there was a series on Netflix or HBO last year that had a really interesting look to the cinematography. I turned to my wife and said I was pretty sure it was shot with Mandela Leica glass, specifically the 80mm f/1.4 and the 35/2. I found the production notes online and was spot on. They also had used a couple of other lenses I was less familiar with in that line and for some scenes deliberately leveraged the field of curvature to generate a nostalgic look.

Sep 13, 2023 at 12:12 PM

chez
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Automatic vs. manual focus

Grenache wrote:
Uninteresting images can be taken with any lens. Over processing can ruin - or make vanilla - any image. What I am talking about are images that I find distinctive. For those, I am quite good at recognizing characters in lenses. Case in point, there was a series on Netflix or HBO last year that had a really interesting look to the cinematography. I turned to my wife and said I was pretty sure it was shot with Mandela Leica glass, specifically the 80mm f/1.4 and the 35/2. I found the production notes online and was spot on. They also...Show more →

Who says anything about uninteresting images. I’d bet you if the captains were removed from the images posted in the Sony image thread, you’d have a very hard time picking out what lenses were used to capture the image. Sure when you look at your own images, you can tell because you know…but others work I highly doubt you’d have any accuracy.

Sep 13, 2023 at 12:21 PM

nbaronzzi
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Automatic vs. manual focus

In June 2022 I sold my kit of GM lenses and began exclusively using Voigtländer manual primes. I found I greatly prefer their size, weight, haptics, appearance, price, and especially their rendering. I don't leave home without my A7C and adapted VM Nokton 40 f/1.2. The joy and ease I find in this relatively discreet and versatile combo means I always have my camera on me to capture the spontaneous, candid moments I value most. However, I also have steady hands, 20/15 vision, and zero interest in shooting wildlife or sports. I think the value of AF--especially today's lightning-fast and accurate AF lenses--is self-evident and requires no defense. That being said, the manual focus lenses I use are certainly the right tools for me, and after 15 months of shooting them exclusively, I never find myself thinking AF would improve my work, or make me enjoy taking photos more.

Sep 13, 2023 at 12:41 PM

Grenache
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Automatic vs. manual focus

chez wrote:
Who says anything about uninteresting images. I’d bet you if the captains were removed from the images posted in the Sony image thread, you’d have a very hard time picking out what lenses were used to capture the image. Sure when you look at your own images, you can tell because you know…but others work I highly doubt you’d have any accuracy.

Enough already.

I have never owned a Noctilux nor R 80 but recognize them readily in interesting images. The fact that you cannot tell your lenses apart is irrelevant, a product of you processing your shots to look the same way, or that your lens selections gravitate towards similar rendering. You don’t have to be able to see differences between lenses. You can be content or frustrated with images any way you like.

Trolling for the sake of trolling is just lame.

Sep 13, 2023 at 12:51 PM

b-mhac
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Automatic vs. manual focus

If you think about it AF is another form of AI albiet less robust than the applications we are now seeing daily. In the same way people malign AI they should understand that both of these are tools in ol box.

Sep 14, 2023 at 11:17 AM

telyt
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Automatic vs. manual focus

NJPhotographer wrote:
AF is absolutely brilliant.

AF was despicable when it insisted on focussing on bark or foreground instead of bird, or on DLSRs when AF meant Almost Focussed. Bird Eye AF is (mostly) absolutely brilliant. I also enjoy using manual-focus Loxia, APO-Lanthar and APO-Telyt lenses where appropriate.

Sep 14, 2023 at 11:43 AM

osogris
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Automatic vs. manual focus

nbaronzzi wrote:
In June 2022 I sold my kit of GM lenses and began exclusively using Voigtländer manual primes. I found I greatly prefer their size, weight, haptics, appearance, price, and especially their rendering. I don't leave home without my A7C and adapted VM Nokton 40 f/1.2. The joy and ease I find in this relatively discreet and versatile combo means I always have my camera on me to capture the spontaneous, candid moments I value most. However, I also have steady hands, 20/15 vision, and zero interest in shooting wildlife or sports. I think the value of AF--especially today's lightning-fast and...Show more →

Very nice. Which lens did you use for the picture of the cricket?

Clinton

Edited on Sep 14, 2023 at 01:22 PM · View previous versions

Sep 14, 2023 at 12:18 PM

smpetty
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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Automatic vs. manual focus

What a wonderful post with amazing pictures to back it up. Who says you can't do action with MF lenses.

I get the same satisfaction out of shooting manual focus as I do making sourdough bread. The process becomes as important and satisfying as the end result.

I always feel more observant and artistic when shooting manual focus, although I'm not sure which comes first, the decision to shoot manual focus followed by that feeling or that feeling followed by the decision to shoot manual focus.

Thank goodness we have such great lenses that can do either or both. I would be much less likely to stay with Sony if it weren't for the ability to use native mount lens lines like Loxias and Voigtlanders.

nbaronzzi wrote:
In June 2022 I sold my kit of GM lenses and began exclusively using Voigtländer manual primes. I found I greatly prefer their size, weight, haptics, appearance, price, and especially their rendering. I don't leave home without my A7C and adapted VM Nokton 40 f/1.2. The joy and ease I find in this relatively discreet and versatile combo means I always have my camera on me to capture the spontaneous, candid moments I value most. However, I also have steady hands, 20/15 vision, and zero interest in shooting wildlife or sports. I think the value of AF--especially today's lightning-fast and...Show more →

Sep 14, 2023 at 12:34 PM

nbaronzzi
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Automatic vs. manual focus

osogris wrote:
Very nice. Which lens did you use for the picture of the cricket?

Clinton

Thanks

All those shots except the bee were taken with the Nokton 40mm f/1.2 (the bee was with the Nokton 50mm f/1.2). For the cricket I set the close focus adapter to minimum focus distance, at an aperture of about f/4.

Sep 15, 2023 at 12:25 PM

VetraLens
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p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Automatic vs. manual focus

I've never really enjoyed adapted MF glass because the process always felt too cumbersome to me, having to manually toggle between standard and magnified view every time you focus and compose.

But I recently picked up the VC 40mm f1.2 FE, so that process is automated. And I'm really loving everything about that lens, from operating it to the resultant image.

Unfortunately, that leads me to my new conundrum. I would love to further explore the world of dedicated modern MF lenses, but that would most likely mean duplicating focal lengths I already have and love GM versions of. And I can't justify the cost of owning that much redundant glass.

I think I may take another dip into trying adapted glass, because I do have some really lovely old manual lenses sitting around that should be getting used.

Sep 15, 2023 at 02:58 PM

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