stargazer78 wrote:
I wonder how people are able to MF accurately with the viewfinders in today's SLRs? Even with the -S screen on my camera, my manual focus precision isn't really any better than AF. Perhaps if viewfinders still had a .85x magnification like they did 30 years ago, my accuracy would improve. But most 35mm SLRs today are closer to .70x. With f/2.0 lenses and faster, my MF results aren't much better than AF.
Do all these MF proponents have 20/20 eyesight?
No. I, for one, am near-sighted and I am required to wear glasses to drive. I do not wear my glasses when I use my camera and I have no problem focusing.
Or are they relying on a split-prism screens? Viewfinder magnifiers?
No. I use the S-type screen in my 5D. I have tried a VF mag and it didn't make any difference, except in the size of the image.
Or are they simply shooting with smaller apertures?
No, I shoot at all different apertures, mostly between f1.2 and f4 for "normal" and "telephoto", stopped down some more for wide/deep/landscape.
Oddly enough, I have had no trouble with shifting from Auto to Manual focus.
I took these shots one in auto focus, switched to manual, defocussed and manually focused and I can't tell the difference. I used the Canon 10D and 17-40L purchased from Chris Ventura. No post processing other than converting to jpg. Handheld.
I have not experience the problem with the 10D, 30D, 40D (not sequentially, I have them all now) with the 70-200 f2.8, the 24-70L f2.8, the 50 f1.8, or the 17-40L f4 and I switch back and forth from Auto to manual frequently.
