The importance of focus

[garrettwc]

With all the gadgets and tools associated with cameras these days, it's easy to forget the most important one.

Focus.

Yeah, I hear you out there saying "I have autofocus!". But have you tested it at various focal lengths with all your lenses? Is it accurate and sharp? Have you tried using your manual focus? Can you "see" in the viewfinder when the shot is properly focused? Do you know where the "sweet spot" for best focus is with your lens?

Focus, more than anything else will make or break your picture. I'm not talking about just "not blurry". I'm talking about tack sharp perfect focus. The kind of focus that gives you shots that almost three-dimensional effect.

For some examples of what I mean, you can look in this thread:
http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=70405

[bakerchris]

I often find myself turning the AF feature off on my lenses. It is easier for me to manual focus on closeups and shots of things where i want to focus on a specific part of the subject.

I am still getting into photogrpahy having only taken serious interest in feb. my first good camera is my nikon d40 and I took a free class at the camera shop after purchase. the instructor works there and did a great thing by starting the class with "I would like you all to turn autofocus off now...we will learn to focus manual and then apply af after a solid understanding of focus has been achieved" that was probably the most important photography tip I have received thus far.

[bakerchris]

Dr. t's hawaii thread is good example of excellent focus too...his focus made a bunch of those pictures really outstanding.

[garrettwc]

the instructor works there and did a great thing by starting the class with "I would like you all to turn autofocus off now...we will learn to focus manual and then apply af after a solid understanding of focus has been achieved" that was probably the most important photography tip I have received thus far.
That's a good instructor. I'd check around and see if he has any other classes coming up.

[John]

Oh man, Garrett you are so right.

This morning, I first tried the F5 with various lenses. Now so far, I am used to the standard, age-old focusing screen with the split-image center, that real Nikons used to have. The F5 doesn't have that of course. Instead it has the 9 (or 99) squares for the auto-focusing system. Which is great and groovy with the 28-80mm AF Nikkor zoom or my 20mm f/2.8 AF, but when I mounted the 105mm f/2.5 well, I did miss the split image. The good thing is though that the camera is still showing you some LED indicators showing you the direction you should turn the focusing ring and a green LED lights up when everything is A OK. Neat! Thanks Nikon!

But it is definitely more difficult to focus than the F2A with the same lens. Time to look for a different focusing screen for that beast.

[garrettwc]

But it is definitely more difficult to focus than the F2A with the same lens. Time to look for a different focusing screen for that beast.
Yeah, from what I've read, the F4 is the same way. You have to swap out for the older style focusing screen to get the most of the AI-s lenses.

[Hunter]

Dr. T's photography is very well composed and the quality of the images puts me there.
I agree focus is very important, I find myself switching back and forth from manual to auto focusing.
I believe the newer DSLRs do a good job on a lot of the functions.

[cmurphy]

I find myself switching to Spot Metering all the time to help control what I want to focus on. It helps cut down on hunting too when I am running at longer focal lengths.

[patriotic]

Oh yes, focus. I remember when I first started taking wedding pictures for profit, I started out with a Yachica Mat 124 twin-lens reflex camera. It was necessary to have that larger film format for 8x10 prints. Nice camera and served me well until I could get something better. I also had an old Speed Graphic (yeah the one with the bellows) with a 6x7 and 6x9 roll film holder. I then bought a Mamia RB67, picked it up on a Friday, shot a wedding on a Saturday and returned it on Monday. Beautiful camera but not for weddings, especially in dim light. It was almost impossible for me to focus it quickly in low light situations. I picked up a Rapid Omega (new version of the Koni Omega after Mamia bought them out). I used that for many years, the split image two color range finder was perfect for quick focus along with the larger format (6x7).

When the auto-focus 35mm cameras came out, I would use it for candid shots at the reception then have the negatives scanned into digital files to work with in Photoshop. At the time, commercial photo labs offered limited services and cropping for 35mm.

Ever hear about hyperfocal distance? Basically if you set your aperature at f/22, focus dead on at about 12 feet (for a 50mm lens) your focus will be acceptable for a range between 6 feet and infinity. That is the theory behind those inexpensive fixed cameras. Zone focusing is basically the same for distances closer than infinity that also uses the depth of field principle of the lens and aperature combination. Good stuff when you can turn that expensive SLR camera into an Instamatic.

Sharp focus is good for some things and not good for others. For example in portraiture, a man’s face looks better with sharp focus where flaws are considered “distinguished looking” and adds “character” to the subject where as in a woman a soft focus is more desireable.

[John]

Sharp focus is good for some things and not good for others. For example in portraiture, a man’s face looks better with sharp focus where flaws are considered “distinguished looking” and adds “character” to the subject where as in a woman a soft focus is more desireable.

LoRL, that reminds me of my first shot with my first 105mm f/2.5 Nikkor. I took a picture of my mother. When she saw it, she said "Is that how old I look????".

Some times it's better to leave things a little ... out-of-focus. :D

[Tedb]

Also keep in mind the depth of field is as important as the focus to get everything you want in the picture in focus. When shooting at a low f stop the focus plane can be very thin.
With my Nikon 85 f/1.4 it is razor thin.

My daughter at 85mm f/1.4 in natural light.
http://tblankenship.zenfolio.com/img/v5/p81456234-4.jpg

70-200vr at 200mm f2.8 for some great bohka
http://tblankenship.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p656637992-4.jpg

Volkmann at 85mm 5.6 the focus plane is less than the barrel length.
http://tblankenship.zenfolio.com/img/v7/p595813655-4.jpghttp://tblankenship.zenfolio.com/img/v0/p224224374-4.jpg

Stopped down to f/14 with a pair of AB strobes
http://tblankenship.zenfolio.com/img/v8/p504464305.jpg

Great side forum!
Ted B

[patriotic]

John,

That is funny, I know what you mean. Many people don’t like their photograph because it is “too real” and they are self-conscious of their flaws. Me, I like staying on the back side of the lens.

Tedb,

Very nice young lady and beautiful eyes. Bokeh is the difference between a photograph and a snapshot IMHO. DOF is a very useful tool to concentrate attention as you did with the pistol or broaden the point of interest. Photography is a true art form.

Did you know Leonard Nimoy (Spock) also enjoys photography.