Manually focusing

I was trying out some of my old manual focus lenses (very briefly as it turns out) I have the K-r, I have already set the dioptre with the kit lenses so I could rule that out, but I am finding it extremely difficult to get the focusing nailed manually, the view finder without the split circle in the middle is for me an awkward faff, back and forth for an eternity it seems.

What tips and tricks are there out there for this?

Cheers

You could use 'live-view' and zoom the LCD screen to where you want the sharpest point of focus
Andy

You are not alone as I have the same problem, both with my K10 and K5, but with my Pentax Spotmatic II, purchased back in 1974, I have never had a problem with focusing.
I think the Spotmatic focusing screen was much better, with the shimmy circle in the centre, (I have forgotten the correct term for that circle).

Sorry that has not answered/ solved your problem, but I am sure some one will have a answer/solution.

Take care

If my eyes let me down, I find the green hexagon is a pretty accurate indication of focus with my K-r and manual lenses. Also 'catch in focus' works very well too.

Hello

I have a few mf lenses and it depends whch ones you are using for example my pentax M200mm f4 and vivtar 28mm 28mm f2.8 are used in 'm' mode the apeture is held at it's widest aiding focus and the green button is used for metering then the camera stops the lens down to take the shot

My m42 lenses are a little more tricky but still useable.

As for the actual focus bit I find I can trust my eye or the little green hexagon focus confirmation works pretty well too - some how you get a feel for it - not always right though

I know this sounds condecending, it is not meant to, but practice and taking your time is the best way IMHO - I went from useless to ok quite quickly - not sure I am any better than ok but my flickr link has some photo's from my mf lenese if you want to take a peek

Regards


stu

Practice, practice and more practice - you do improve over time. Good eyesight obviously helps and the focus confirmation is sometimes used, but generally I just trust my judgement and most come out in focus.

Regards
David

It may be just practice and technique, it may not be. When I first started to use manual focus I was useless. I use manual focus for nearly all my macro shots, and have manual lenses which I use fairly regularly, all on a K-r.

For landscape shots, when using manual focus, I tend to rely on the camera, but when taking macro shots, I rely on my eyesight, as I know which small part of the shot I need in focus. After a year of macro photography, I'm still improving, which, in a way, shows how useless I was to start with.

It's a lot easier with a magnifying eyepiece. I use a KPS 1.3x

Thanks for all the tips, like most things it looks like it will have to be more practice.

Have to admit Andy I never really thought about the live view, but could see this would be handy with the tripod shot where there is no real rush, but hardly ever used the live view on my bridging camera either.

Went through your flickr Stu very nice shots in there, also re-enforces my need for practice.

darkskies, the macro work is one of the reasons I am trying to work on the MF, so will just have to get plenty of practice when I get back.

Algi, the eyepiece is an interesting thought, when using these do you lose anything on the sides when looking through the viewfinder? but something to follow up none the less.

Thanks all
H

Cheers H

I was having real problems focussing with my Samyang 85mm f1.4 so I bought a Pentax O-ME53 magnifying eyepiece. Only 1.2x magnification but it has definitely made manual focusing easier. I can still see all the viewfinder information, in fact I keep the the thing on the camera all the time now.

Well, in that case, I would think that it is practice. It's an art, and not as easy as it first seems. Because the dof is so narrow, it's so easy to be out of focus, either by not getting it perfect, by movement of the subject, by your movement and hand shake.

Have a look at my Gallery, as all the macros have been manually focussed. also have a look at my Butterflies thread for some very recent ones.

It's also a matter of persuading yourself that it can be done, and can be done better. I look back at my first attempts and cringe now!!

I use manual focus all the time - my k-r lies so I don't trust the beep.

As most of my work is really, really close I've recently bought a Pentax magnifying eyepiece it has helped I think, although I've still got a lot to learn and a lot more practising to do.

I'm not sure whether you lose anything on the sides with the eyepiece but the k-r doesn't have 100% sight anyway.

It might help you to get your 'eye in' if you parctice on static objects and a tripod or some other form of support to start off with until you trust your eye sight. It's difficult to start off with photographing living creatures because when they move instinct tells you to move with them. A lot of 'out of focus' shots aren't actually out of focus it's sometimes down to camera shake or the air moving the subject (or the subject moving itself).

Keep at it - nothing worthwhile ever comes easy, that's what my grandad always used to tell me anyway.

So as has been said practice enough and it becomes second nature.

God - I don't half go on sometimes.

this is how I take quite a lot of my pictures

Charlotte, followed your links and yet more amazing photos, really impressive macro shots, something to really aspire to.

Looks like I will get one of these magnifier pieces to help out with all the practice I need