I need to learn how to use the manual focus properly, auto sux.

So many of my shots from yesterday were out of focus on the the WRONG EYE!! Gah!
And this shot - although it was shady where it was taken has turned out too bright?
I was shooting in AP, so i think i need to work on when to use what ap better lol.
Composition wise, is this ok?
And I tried getting down to her level to shoot the pics - its hard when I'm a six ft giant and she's literally half my height at 90cm!

I think shooting at f2 was the issue, since the eyes are not on the same focal plane, one is going to be out of focus at f2. I like everything else about this shot.

Yeah, I agree with Rick. I would have used f4 and shot it at 1/120. Nice composition though. sweet looking little girl. And it's not overly too bright....just a shade or two off. That can be fixed using Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro or Lightroom or even Picasa. Allow me to demonstrate using Picasa 3.

This is what I've read in another forum: "Unfortunately, modern DSLR viewfinder screens are designed solely for image brightness, and not with manual focusing in mind. The "ground glass" surface isn't really rough enough to properly focus on and is a bit too transparent. This lets your eye partly see through the screen to another plane of focus, thus fooling the eye into thinking the image is in focus when it isn't. To put it more simply and bluntly, the viewing (you can't call them focusing) screens fitted in most DSLRs are rubbish. You might want to see if any replacement screens are available from a 3rd party supplier."

I know that I personally find it easier to manually focus with the D700 than the D 7000. I got no idea why, but that's what I feel. I haven't tried with the D90.

Very nice picture by the way.

This is one of the things I miss the most from my old slr...the rangefinder.
I don't know how I can possibly manual focus accurately by just using the viewfinder. (And without using the electronic focus indicator on bottom left).

Obir said:

This is one of the things I miss the most from my old slr...the rangefinder.
I don't know how I can possibly manual focus accurately by just using the viewfinder. (And without using the electronic focus indicator on bottom left).

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Did you mean the split-screen? There are some available for our D7000. Seems not too hard to replace as they come with instructions. Try googling Katzeyes.

Interesting... I've never seen these before.
I'll have to read up on them.
Thanks Marcel.

I almost immediately gave up focusing with the viewfinder...I'm trying to use the Live View function and having a sort of rough go at it...

Eye-level said:

I almost immediately gave up focusing with the viewfinder...I'm trying to use the Live View function and having a sort of rough go at it...

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Well, I find it very difficult to manually focus with all my DSLRs. Even with the 55 1.2, I have to rely to the focusing confirmation light, and even then, I get a lot of rejects because of focusing error.I'm very tempted to go out and get the new 50 1.4G just to get the autofocus with it. I'll always keep the 55 1.2 though since it has a magical glow at 1.2. It looses some contrast, but it has magic.

Here's an example

Don't you guys have a viewfinder focus diopter function on your cameras? Right next to the viewfinder?

fotojack said:

Don't you guys have a viewfinder focus diopter function on your cameras? Right next to the viewfinder?

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Oh yes I do and it's well adjusted as well. If you read my previous post, it apparently has to do with the transparency or the focusing screens nowdays. They are NOT matted enough to be used like good old days focusing screens. I'm still pondering with the Katzeyes but I'm a little reluctant to replace it myself.

I'll be damned Jack...you're right! I always thought that diopters were for people who wear glasses...well I wear glasses...guess I better check this out more thoroughly...

These are two different issues though.
I also wear glasses and need to adjust the diopter to compensate for my hyperopia (far sighted) and be able to see through the viewfinder without everything looking blurry.
But to actually take a shot while focusing the lens fully manual (that is like in the old days-no help from camera electronics) it's just extremely hard.
I read up on the Katzeyes focusing screen and it does look like a good solution, but like Marcel said, I'm not sure if I would want to tackle this myself (or mess with my camera at all). Also, I don't know if I would be able to do a better job than the camera on focusing.

I wear glasses, too, and I learned that to adjust the diopter, you focus on the numbers you see in the viewfinder...not on an object seen through the viewfinder. As soon as you see those numbers as sharp as possible, set the diopter there and leave it. Now whatever you focus on is in focus through the viewfinder. I learned this the hard way, as I, too, was used to the old fresnel split screen viewfinder of my film cameras.

The Katzeye is not a bad idea at all. I went through the installation pdf's, and it's not hard at all....if you're not afraid of such things, and have deft hands.

On a funny note....every single camera type they list there....$105. lol They could have used a lot less web space just by saying all their lenses cost $105. Just saying.