AF vs. MF

[DeadEyesSmiling]

Hey all.

I'm still doing research in the 35mm adapter area, and just want to clarify something. When looking at lenses, should I be looking for fully manual, or can they be auto focus and I just want to make sure they have the ability to be manually adjusted (such as this one: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005LENO/kenrockwellcom)? Thanks for any help!

-DES

 

[Huy Vu]

As long as focus can be adjusted manually, you should be fine even if the lens allows for automatic focus.

 

[davide]

Sometimes auto focus lenses have shorter focus throws (the barrel doesn't rotate as much to get from close focus to infinity) than their manual counterparts. Having a longer focus throw can make pulling focus precisely a lot easier.

davide

 

[Glen Gustafson]

I've found that autofocus type lenses usually work OK, but the mechanism has to work more freely than a manual focus and even new lenses sometimes have some play in the focus ring that can cause a little zooming if any force is applied off-axis.

Also I found the hard way that is you put an autofocus Nikon lens on a 35mm Mitchell GC and shoot 120fps, the vibration makes the focus ring drift. Camera-tape that thing down if it's a lockoff!

 

[DeadEyesSmiling]

Awesome, thanks for the advice!