Zone focus is only accurate if your subject is within the zone. If the subject steps out or is already out of the zone, you either give up or you have to move. In either of those cases, AF tracking is much better. This is especially true with large apertures that have a thin dof.
The point of Zone Focusing is to set the zone to the distance of the subject. You don't have to move if doing it correctly.
Zone focus is not for super fast moving subjects, or super shallow depth of field. But where it is appropriate is is the fastest most reliable for of focusing I have found. Including my Sony A1.
You are severally limiting the type of images you can produce using zone focus. You either have to have a very large dof in order to track a moving subject, giving you that large dof image, or you have to have a stationary subject with a shallow dof. Forget trying to acquire images of moving subjects ( not just side to side, but also front to back ) with a dof that isolates the subject.
You are not limiting yourself at all. In fact quite the opposite. Zone focus is a technique that expands your capability. Choose the right technique appropriate for the situation. In the proper situation zone focus is the best and fastest method. In other situations it is clearly not.
Given that there is only one plane that is truly in focus…can you honestly say you get the best focus using zone focus…or just good enough. And do you spend upteen thousands of dollars on your Leica gear just to get good enough focus?
I would not say zone focus is the best…it’s the best given the limitations.
I will say unequivocally that I get the image I envisioned and the result I wanted. In the same way that many of the best photographers in history got their most famous images.
No one said zone focus is the best. For many it is the best and fastest for some circumstances. That is a very different statement.
Zone focus is only accurate if your subject is within the zone. If the subject steps out or is already out of the zone, you either give up or you have to move. In either of those cases, AF tracking is much better. This is especially true with large apertures that have a thin dof.
The point of Zone Focusing is to set the zone to the distance of the subject. You don't have to move if doing it correctly.
Zone focus is not for super fast moving subjects, or super shallow depth of field. But where it is appropriate is is the fastest most reliable for of focusing I have found. Including my Sony A1.
You are severally limiting the type of images you can produce using zone focus. You either have to have a very large dof in order to track a moving subject, giving you that large dof image, or you have to have a stationary subject with a shallow dof. Forget trying to acquire images of moving subjects ( not just side to side, but also front to back ) with a dof that isolates the subject.
You are not limiting yourself at all. In fact quite the opposite. Zone focus is a technique that expands your capability. Choose the right technique appropriate for the situation. In the proper situation zone focus is the best and fastest method. In other situations it is clearly not.
Given that there is only one plane that is truly in focus…can you honestly say you get the best focus using zone focus…or just good enough. And do you spend upteen thousands of dollars on your Leica gear just to get good enough focus?
I would not say zone focus is the best…it’s the best given the limitations.
I will say unequivocally that I get the image I envisioned and the result I wanted. In the same way that many of the best photographers in history got their most famous images.
No one said zone focus is the best. For many it is the best for some circumstances.
Zone focus is only accurate if your subject is within the zone. If the subject steps out or is already out of the zone, you either give up or you have to move. In either of those cases, AF tracking is much better. This is especially true with large apertures that have a thin dof.
The point of Zone Focusing is to set the zone to the distance of the subject. You don't have to move if doing it correctly.
Zone focus is not for super fast moving subjects, or super shallow depth of field. But where it is appropriate is is the fastest most reliable for of focusing I have found. Including my Sony A1.
You are severally limiting the type of images you can produce using zone focus. You either have to have a very large dof in order to track a moving subject, giving you that large dof image, or you have to have a stationary subject with a shallow dof. Forget trying to acquire images of moving subjects ( not just side to side, but also front to back ) with a dof that isolates the subject.
You are not limiting yourself at all. In fact quite the opposite. Zone focus is a technique that expands your capability. Choose the right technique appropriate for the situation. In the proper situation zone focus is the best and fastest method. In other situations it is clearly not.
Given that there is only one plane that is truly in focus…can you honestly say you get the best focus using zone focus…or just good enough. And do you spend upteen thousands of dollars on your Leica gear just to get good enough focus?
I would not say zone focus is the best…it’s the best given the limitations.
I will say unequivocally that I get the image I envisioned and the result I wanted. In the same way that many of the best photographers in history got their most famous images.
Money has zero relevance in this conversation.
Apr 16, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Previous versions of 1bwana1's message #17022170 « Considering a Leica Q3 43 but used to Sony »
