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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Clovishound" data-source="post: 842107" data-attributes="member: 50197">I haven't really tried much macro with the D3400, but my experience with other cameras leads me to believe that using AF with a static subject like mushrooms is doable. The main issue, IMO, is it may difficult to get focus where you want it. You can use a single point focus mode and move that point to where you want focus, but, for me, that is an awkward situation. Manual focus is the technique of choice for many macro shooters. It's what I use most of the time. Try different methods and see what works for you. It's not a one size fits all. Given your subject, you might want to look into a focusing rail. They attach to your tripod head and give you the ability to rack the camera back and forth very precisely. You do an initial coarse focus using the focusing ring of the camera, and then fine tune with the geared rail which moves the camera closer or farther away from the subject. This might be a great piece of gear for focus stacking, since the D3400 doesn't support it in camera. When I am shooting insects handheld, I coarse focus, then just rock back and forth as needed until I have the focus point where I want it. This is the same principal as the focusing rail, without the precision. Of course with handheld macro, you have to shoot lots of images and pick the sharp ones out. You aren't going to nail focus every time, like you do with static subjects. I have been using AF more often for macro since I got my Z8 last year. The AF on it is very good, and with some subjects, I get a higher percentage of sharp images, as well as being easier to manage. I was unable to do that with my previous cameras, as the AF just wasn't up to it. Keep in mind, I am in my 70s, so I'm not as stable as I was 20 or 30 years ago.</blockquote>

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