Just a question?

pest22o

pest22o

Well-known member
I noticed alot of you like autofocus lenses why is that? I always shoot manually because I'm afraid teh auto focus wont do it right, or maybe it's just the fact that I don't know how to use my camera. But the question is which one do you think produces better results?
 
I don't think there is a better result. It is either in focus or it is not.

Having both kind of lenses, I would say it has more to do with what you want from the shot. For instance, if I know that I am outside and using a f/10 stop, I'll prob use my auto-focus kit lens. I'm always in focus with it. Very crisp and clean. If I am in low light, I might use my 50mm f/1.8. It has to be manually focused, but since digital cameras aren't really setup to help you with manual focus....I would be lying if I said it was always in focus. Of course it has a very narrow DOF anyway which makes it hard even if you are auto-focusing. That said, I know there are shots I can only do with it and it is super crisp!
 
Most lenses you buy today are autofocus. The benefit is that it allows focus points to be illumiated even when using manual focus. I hardly ever use autofocus unless I don't have an extra hand, can't look through the viewfinder or don't have time to focus on my own. If you don't need autofucus or want the focus assist points, then save the money (if you can) but it is mighty hard to get good focus with a standard manual lens on most digital SLRs without swaping out your cameras focusing screen. With a lot practice you can probaly only get perfect focus 75% of the time (not acceptable for most types of photography.)
 
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I don't own any autofocus lenses, but my camera still flashes for me when I hit the focus dead on. I love my old lenses because they were made when people used to make lenses out of metal and glass. :thumbsup:
 
I do travel photography, for example daily life action, if i had to focus manually i would lose the moment. I keep my autofocus in the center, i point to the part of the subject i want to be in focus then i lock it by keeping the finger half way on the trigger, then i frame and push the trigger down. I have a 40d and the autofocus is very very fast. It works very well for me.
It all depends in what context you take your pictures.
I guess manually focusing is giving you more a traditional authentic photographic experience. I find that on the canon af lense i have, the focus ring does not give me a good feeling, it is different then the one you find on the older metal lense.
 
I would not call the system I use "autofocus", rather "auto assisted focus". I choose the focusing point in the picture and the focus sensor I use, half press the release to focus, reframe if needed, fire.

For me "autofocus" would be just framing and pressing the shutter release and have camera take care of everything. That I use only occacionally, either when using small aperture or shooting fast action with follow focus engaged (EOS-1d series bodies).

Basically my "auto assisted focus" is not much faster than manual focus, but it IS more reliable...
 
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