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  1. #1
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    Manual Selection Focus question

    How can I test to focus my lens front/back? I see im trying to learn AF-mode manual selection instead of automatic but still struggling with it or more likely confused at all.

    ermm just a quick question how does manual selection actually work? is it like the lens will focus where ever the red mark is?

    taken earlier whilst its raining but i wasnt in the rain. mind give your comment on this image I tried to used the manual selection.
    forgot to mention something like when using manual focus/selection will you put the lens focus from AF to MF?


    can someone explain these modes thank you
    AF-mode:
    One-Shot
    AI Focus
    AI Servo
    Last edited by corei5; 08-25-2010 at 06:13 PM.

  2. #2
    n8
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    Re: Manual Selection Focus question

    I'll give this a shot,
    I'm thinking the manual selection you're referring to means you move the red mark around with the pad on the back of the camera. Yes, the camera will focus on what's in this mark. It sounds like you may be confusing af/mf a bit...or I may just be confused. When the camera/lens is set to MF, you do all the focusing. Any red marks you may see will be useless. If there's a manual selection mode, then the first sentence applies.
    mostly Nikon gear

    Feel free to edit my images for critique, just let me know what you did.

  3. #3
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    Re: Manual Selection Focus question

    Not gonna explain the modes, but this is a nice shot. With a bit of tone mapping and layer blending it would be gold. But it is really good as it is.

  4. #4
    Powder River Imaging EOSThree's Avatar
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    Re: Manual Selection Focus question

    I use a manually selected focus point when I have to. If the autofocus isn't focusing where I want it too I push the IIIII button and turn the dials to select the point of focus I want. Or sometimes when things are happening quickly, I'll focus and hold the * button or the half press and recompose.

    One shot: The focus is set up to achieve focus on a half press (or the * button if that's the CF you've selected) and then it's done until you:
    a) relax and half press again, or
    b) take the photo

    AI Servo: The focus is set up to track focus, as long as you're half pressed or * pressed (see above) the focus is constantly changing to follow (track) a moving subject.

    AI focus: This is kind of a combination of both of the above. It acts like one shot until the subject (or camera) starts moving, then it switches to tracking focus.
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  5. #5
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    Re: Manual Selection Focus question

    Not gonna explain the modes, but this is a nice shot. With a bit of tone mapping and layer blending it would be gold. But it is really good as it is.
    you meant editing it using photoshop or something?

    @EOSThree
    thank you for the informations about each modes, the thing that i dont get is when its already in focus and "recompose" what does it do?

  6. #6
    Powder River Imaging EOSThree's Avatar
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    Re: Manual Selection Focus question

    Say the subject in my composition is in the lower left hand portion of the frame. I would turn the camera toward that subject attain focus on that subject, hold the focus as described above, then turn back to my composition and fire.
    Rule books are paper they will not cushion a sudden meeting of stone and metal. --Ernie Gann--
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  7. #7
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    Re: Manual Selection Focus question

    oh okie so its like your going to move the camera away then put it back to the subject? reason? is it to know if the focus is already lock to the subject?

    Focus practice O_o
    Last edited by corei5; 08-26-2010 at 10:53 AM.

  8. #8
    Senior Member OldClicker's Avatar
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    Re: Manual Selection Focus question

    Quote Originally Posted by corei5
    oh okie so its like your going to move the camera away then put it back to the subject? reason? is it to know if the focus is already lock to the subject?

    Focus practice O_o
    On this shot, you don't want the spider centered and you don't want that stuff in the lower right. If you move the camera a little to the left and up, there is nothing to focus on. So:

    - Set it to spot focuss
    - Put the center focus point on the spider
    - Half press the shutter to lock the focus
    - Move the camera left and up to re-compose (focus stays the same as long as the shutter is half pressed)
    - Press the shutter all the way down.

    Terry
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  9. #9
    Senior Member Anbesol's Avatar
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    Re: Manual Selection Focus question

    Camera finds focus in the center easier than anywhere else, so the center spot focus, focus-then-compose technique is much more commonly practiced than adjusting focus spot after composing pre-focus. lol does that sentence make sense? I hope so lol

    *edit - okay yeah clicker said it better.

  10. #10
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    Re: Manual Selection Focus question

    oh okay thank you OldClick but i couldn't go elsewhere I took this because its raining and things are in the way and not really bothered to move them.

    but the focus on this one is alright? just the angle should be a bit off centered.

    Sorry newbie here O_O

    Thanks for the advice.

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