General

[C_losjoker]

any of you use manual focus lens, pointers, good/bad? fun to shoot with, forget it/not worth it???

I am thinking of trying some out, maybe a large zoom and a macro. any information, experience you can share would be great.

[Hobbes]

Depends what you want out of your photos I suppose, but generally photographers like to have total control over their cameras. With manual focus you can choose what is in focus and what is not. Oftentimes cameras have a hard time autofocusing in low light situations.

My suggestion is to definitely give it a try, and go out and experiment.

[Chaz]

Originally Posted by Hobbes

Oftentimes cameras have a hard time autofocusing in low light situations.

This is typically when I use mine.
The other time I use it is when I want to put something in the background in focus and the foreground in focus.
Manual focus let's you choose easier (and believe it or not) quicker the focal point. Auto focus does its best to pick the points and usually grabs the wrong ones for me

[Schmitti]

My fixed 400mm is manual focus... of course my subjects are always birds when I'm using it, so I just set it so I can pretty much click click click click and hope that I get a good shot in there.

E

[CJOttawa]

I use MF macro lenses (static subjects) and an MF ultrawide. It's so wide, depth of field is huge so focus isn't an issue.

[Steed]

Honestly if you want manual focus get a lens that's older or supports it more. A newer lens at least with Nikon doesn't have the old focal point in the center of the lens that lets you know if your subject is in focus so you rely heavily on your own vision. The more control you have over the image you take I guarantee you'll enjoy more. Manual focus lenses are actually coming back into style as photographers are looking to buck the automatic trend, there are even new manual focus lenses being built by smaller companies that are actually terrific, hit your local pawn shop and see what you find.

[dgorman47]

I second what steed said.

[C_losjoker]

Very cool guys thanks for replies. Any recommendations on which ones to look at for canon, older, new and even from the smaller manufacturer?
Thanks again

[Steed]

Best way is to hit up B&H and search by mount, if they don't have something you like try Adorama.

[wolf13]

I use manual focus a lot just so I can control the focus point, but I don't have specific lenses for it. I have thought about picking up some older glass though. I will say it takes practice to do well and quickly, and I have a hard time really telling if I am in perfect focus or not sometimes.