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Aiding Manual Focus
#1

I've been using manual lenses. I find precision focus difficult without a focussing screen (like the film slrs all had). I have ordered a magnifier to enlarge the viewfinder as an aid to focussing. It hasn't arrived yet. What do you guys do to improve manual focus. The D40 does not have a good focus indicator.


Nikon D3100 with Tokina 28-70mm f3.5, (I like to use a Vivitar .43x aux on the 28-70mm Tokina), Nikkor 10.5 mm fisheye, Quanteray 70-300mm f4.5, ProOptic 500 mm f6.3 mirror lens. http://donschaefferphoto.blogspot.com/
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#2

I only use manual focus if the camera cannot cope. (dim lighting. not enough contrast, etc..)

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#3

That's a good question… I've never found an answer to it that will help. I'll use film cameras with proper manual focusing systems, or the live view LCD preview with the DSLRs that have it. For those that don't have it, I stick with autofocus.

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#4

Live view is wonderful for manual focus in my case. Perfect ring shots every time.

Canon stuff.
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#5

I know you get can get some focusing screens that make it easier to determine focus through the viewfinder, but am not sure whether they are available for the D40.

Found some after a quick search - not recommending them in any way, they're just the first few I found:
http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/item--Katz-...d_D40.html
http://www.virtualvillage.com/split-imag...6-023.html
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#6

I think you're spot-on already Don: different focusing screen. Remember that we're nowadays so spoiled by AF: it's quite a "nromal" part of non-AF shooting to have fewer well-focused keepers.

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#7

Thanks Zig. I am going to pass on a focussing screen. I'll try a viewfinder magnifyer instead.

Nikon D3100 with Tokina 28-70mm f3.5, (I like to use a Vivitar .43x aux on the 28-70mm Tokina), Nikkor 10.5 mm fisheye, Quanteray 70-300mm f4.5, ProOptic 500 mm f6.3 mirror lens. http://donschaefferphoto.blogspot.com/
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#8

(Apr 1, 2012, 16:07)Don Schaeffer Wrote:  I've been using manual lenses. I find precision focus difficult without a focussing screen (like the film slrs all had). I have ordered a magnifier to enlarge the viewfinder as an aid to focussing. It hasn't arrived yet. What do you guys do to improve manual focus. The D40 does not have a good focus indicator.

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#9

I've recently bought converters, from Hong Kong via E-bay, so I can use my old fully manual (no auto diaphragm) Olympus, Tamron and Soligor lenses on my Canon D60. They have a chip glued in the back that sends focus confirmation to the camera and they work fine. It is hard holding a 500mm refractor lens still though - it takes 2 tripods and a focussing rack used sideways on.
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#10

PS., I upgraded to the NIkon D3100. This camera has a Fresnel focusing ring which makes it a lot easier to focus.

Nikon D3100 with Tokina 28-70mm f3.5, (I like to use a Vivitar .43x aux on the 28-70mm Tokina), Nikkor 10.5 mm fisheye, Quanteray 70-300mm f4.5, ProOptic 500 mm f6.3 mirror lens. http://donschaefferphoto.blogspot.com/
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