kakomu wrote:
It doesn't take too much practice to become decent at manually focusing.
Thanks for the patronizing comment. I am familiar with manual focusing, and even consider myself decent at it. But I consider Paul very, very good at it. This isn't an assumption based on viewing a couple of photos, I have seen hundreds of his, many in very difficult situations. A lot of people would find it very difficult to go from never manually focusing to getting razor sharp manually focused images at f/1.2 in the dark.
helimat wrote:
Thanks for the patronizing comment. I am familiar with manual focusing, and even consider myself decent at it. But I consider Paul very, very good at it. This isn't an assumption based on viewing a couple of photos, I have seen hundreds of his, many in very difficult situations. A lot of people would find it very difficult to go from never manually focusing to getting razor sharp manually focused images at f/1.2 in the dark.
Mat, I think kakomu was just trying to help provide some inspiration and confidence to those who may feel MF is too difficult.
When I started, I found it challenging. I just forced myself to persevere and it has paid off, big time. Just like most things in life.
So, "easy"? Maybe not. Possible? Maybe more so than people would first think.
cogitech wrote:
When I started, I found it challenging. I just forced myself to persevere and it has paid off, big time. Just like most things in life.
So, "easy"? Maybe not. Possible? Maybe more so than people would first think.
Very impressive for using MF @ f/1.2 and get such sharp images in the dark...
Any chance that you have any gymnastics or fast moving pictures @ f/1.2 and MF?
cogitech wrote:
85mm f1.2, 5D, Ee-S, manual focus, hand held. I do it all the time.
[...]
No experience?
Apparently you have no idea.
Paul, I respect your MF capabilities and your passion for a manual focus process. Your examples clearly show your skill.
But with all due respect, I fail to see how these images show anything that could not have been done equally well with center point AF. In fact, most of them are focused at or close to the center point and provide enough contrast for the AF sensor to lock on reliably.
lidesun wrote:
Very impressive for using MF @ f/1.2 and get such sharp images in the dark...
Any chance that you have any gymnastics or fast moving pictures @ f/1.2 and MF?
Thanks
I do not shoot gymnastics, and if I did, I would not shoot them at f1.2.
Nearly all of the shots in that series are of moving subjects, many of them were moving at a good clip.
I am not sure what gymnastics has to do with the OP's desire for critical focus in portraits. Surely if I can shoot Cirque du Soleil performers in the dark, then anyone can manage a portrait.
Zara wrote:
Paul, I respect your MF capabilities and your passion for a manual focus process. Your examples clearly show your skill.
But with all due respect, I fail to see how these images show anything that could not have been done equally well with center point AF. In fact, most of them are focused at or close to the center point and provide enough contrast for the AF sensor to lock on reliably.
I was merely replying to Markle's stupid insinuation that I had no experience manually focusing 85mm f1.2, as if it simply cannot be done.
I agree that Canon 1-series bodies might be capable of producing these results with AF (and the proper AF point selected), but I would not trust my 5D to do it, and I would not enjoy the process at all. I also disagree about the central focus point. It would not have worked in many of the shots at f1.2. Maybe you should look at them again.
cogitech wrote:
I do not shoot gymnastics, and if I did, I would not shoot them at f1.2.
Nearly all of the shots in that series are of moving subjects, many of them were moving at a good clip.
I am not sure what gymnastics has to do with the OP's desire for critical focus in portraits. Surely if I can shoot Cirque du Soleil performers in the dark, then anyone can manage a portrait.
No, no any purpose to offend your ability etc., just curious that how MF will work for the fast moving objects, like sports etc...
The shots you posted were moving objects, but I didn't see them as fast moving objects, even with ONE SHOT mode might get the shots, no AI SERVO needed....
helimat wrote:
If that is the case, then I apologize. For some reason I am a little 'edgier' outside of my usual stomping grounds.
I didn't mean any harm. I just hear a lot of people on the Canon forum talk about MF as though it's either form the stone ages or that it's totally obsolete. If you read my posts around here, you'll note that I typically encourage people to pick up some cheap MF lenses to try out and that, generally speaking, manually focusing isn't too difficult to pick up. That's all.
kakomu wrote:
I didn't mean any harm. I just hear a lot of people on the Canon forum talk about MF as though it's either form the stone ages or that it's totally obsolete. If you read my posts around here, you'll note that I typically encourage people to pick up some cheap MF lenses to try out and that, generally speaking, manually focusing isn't too difficult to pick up. That's all.
mttran, dude, fix your post to eliminate the "reply" portion that includes Cogitech's (awesome but copious) photos which are plainly visible earlier in the thread.
@$@#$ I feel like Sister Mary Angelina, schooling people and rapping knuckles.
And Cogitech, whoa, have you been drinking? I mean, you are fired up in your postings, here. Very nice available light series, by the way. Canon should research your retinas for AF-confirmation algorithms.
Finally: I shoot some indoor sport(s) with the 85 1.2 and it's a pain in the butt to use anything other than single shot, center AF point and a super-twitchy thumb that pulses on the AF-ON button. Then again, it's a 40D I've been using >_< and that's the only way I know how to capture the finer tones of Adult-League Dodgeball.
sirimiri wrote:
mttran, dude, fix your post to eliminate the "reply" portion that includes Cogitech's (awesome but copious) photos which are plainly visible earlier in the thread.
Simiri and lidesun, thanks as well, and I will be the first one to agree that AF is the right way to go if one is shooting sports (particularly indoor sports). I too would use AF for this, but not with an 85L (I think the EF 85/1.8 is better suited).
The OP asked about portraits, which present only a small challenge for the manual focus shooter and is a great place to begin getting some practice. Portrait work can really benefit from manual focusing because you can spend your time and attention on your subject rather than be fixated on what the AF system is doing, where that active AF point is vs. where it should be, etc. With a high precision focusing screen, you can compose first, ignoring AF points, and then very accurately focus on whatever you wish. All the while you can talk to your subject and wait for the next expression and then "click."
It is such a relaxing, satisfying way to work, and it will show in the photos, guranteed.
).
to suggest someone like cogitech has little or no expeirence MF'ing just about any lens is laughable