Manual focus

[480sparky]

IIRC KatzEye introduced some other problems.

P.s.: Hmm cant find anything about this. Not sure. Of course it would be a huge help with manual focus but I remembered some problem with either metering or autofocus introduced by it ... ?

If you use a slow lens and spot metering, it may not be accurate.

Metering Information
The KatzEye™ focusing screen for the Nikon D7000 shows only a very minimal effect on light metering. In our testing, the KatzEye™ screen tested within +/- 1/3 stop of nominal (factory tolerance). The only exception is when using spot metering mode with lenses having a maximum aperture slower than f3.5 (higher numerical f-stop). With lenses slower than f3.5, it is advisable to use either center weighted average metering or matrix metering to preserve accurate meter response. In the event that spot metering mode must be used with a slow lens, it is advisable to set an appropriate exposure compensation by reading the histogram of a test shot. Approximate exposure compensation values are as follows*:

Aperture	Matrix	Center-Weighted	Spot
1.4	0	0	0
2.0	0	0	0
2.8	0	0	0
4.0	0	0	-0.6 EV
5.6	0	0	-1.3 EV

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[Solarflare]

Ah thanks ! Yes that was it.

[bratkinson]

Has anyone here actually USED a Katz-eye? I'm toying with putting one on my 60D, as I run into low-light situations (indoors) where the AF -insists- on picking the wrong focus point(s). This happens most often with my 135 f2 L trying to focus on one individual out of a group of people - some near, and some far. When I hit it right (manually), the results are absolutely stunning!

...

I know...I need more practice! Funny thing, though. Back in my 35mm SLR days, manual focusing was never a problem, as every picture had to be manually focused!

[480sparky]

Has anyone here actually USED a Katz-eye? I'm toying with putting one on my 60D, as I run into low-light situations (indoors) where the AF -insists- on picking the wrong focus point(s). This happens most often with my 135 f2 L trying to focus on one individual out of a group of people - some near, and some far. When I hit it right (manually), the results are absolutely stunning!

...

I know...I need more practice! Funny thing, though. Back in my 35mm SLR days, manual focusing was never a problem, as every picture had to be manually focused!

I'll let you know in a couple days. Mine should be delivered today.

[Derrel]

Has anyone here actually USED a Katz-eye? I'm toying with putting one on my 60D, as I run into low-light situations (indoors) where the AF -insists- on picking the wrong focus point(s). This happens most often with my 135 f2 L trying to focus on one individual out of a group of people - some near, and some far. When I hit it right (manually), the results are absolutely stunning!

...

I know...I need more practice! Funny thing, though. Back in my 35mm SLR days, manual focusing was never a problem, as every picture had to be manually focused!

Have you tried manually choosing the active AF point on your 60D? I most often use manual AF point selection in indoor or low-light work.

[Fred Berg]

Has anyone here actually USED a Katz-eye? I'm toying with putting one on my 60D, as I run into low-light situations (indoors) where the AF -insists- on picking the wrong focus point(s). This happens most often with my 135 f2 L trying to focus on one individual out of a group of people - some near, and some far. When I hit it right (manually), the results are absolutely stunning!

...

I know...I need more practice! Funny thing, though. Back in my 35mm SLR days, manual focusing was never a problem, as every picture had to be manually focused!

I don't want to scare you but you seem to be displaying the first signs of digital dementia. Only a return to using film can save you now!

[480sparky]

I don't want to scare you but you seem to be displaying the first signs of digital dementia. Only a return to using film can save you now!

I disagree. I believe the ailment to be Auto-Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Primary cause is over-reliance on today's Automatic settings, symptomized by failure to recognize the ability to change anything manually, or just a primal fear of doing so will result in consistently horrible focus.

Ideal treatment is to start out in photography with a camera that has no Automatic settings of any kind. Aperture, shutter, ISO, white balance, focus, use of strobe/flash, etc. to ALL be manually decided on and set. Only when a firm grasp of these fundamentals is exhibited will the patient be allowed to upgrade to a camera with Green Letters.

[bratkinson]

digital dementia[/I]. Only a return to using film can save you now!

Maybe that's why I keep hearing Napoleon XIV one-hit-wonder song from 1966 "They're Coming to Take Me Awayyyy" playing over and over in my head!

[bratkinson]

[QUOTE=Derrel;2665511...
Have you tried manually choosing the active AF point on your 60D? I most often use manual AF point selection in indoor or low-light work.[/QUOTE]

Derrel - THANK YOU!!!!

Your comment made me go back and check the book again...RTFM scores again! Although I had read the book several times over, the focus selection button somehow 'went right past me'. Now that I understand it (hey, even figuring out what all the buttons do sometimes escapes me at my old age!) I think you have pointed me in the right direction! Thank you again!

[bratkinson]

I don't want to scare you but you seem to be displaying the first signs of digital dementia. Only a return to using film can save you now!

I disagree. I believe the ailment to be Auto-Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Primary cause is over-reliance on today's Automatic settings, symptomized by failure to recognize the ability to change anything manually, or just a primal fear of doing so will result in consistently horrible focus.

Ideal treatment is to start out in photography with a camera that has no Automatic settings of any kind. Aperture, shutter, ISO, white balance, focus, use of strobe/flash, etc. to ALL be manually decided on and set. Only when a firm grasp of these fundamentals is exhibited will the patient be allowed to upgrade to a camera with Green Letters.

Actually, it's more like Automatic Incompetence and Dependency Syndrome. I sometimes find it hard to believe I used to develop and print my own film, too! Perhaps I should go back to the 616 format bellows-style Kodak I started with about 1958 and start over! I still have it, too! If I could only remember WHERE!

There's just too many bells and whistles to get figured out and I'm already planning on blowing next years tax refund on a 5D3! Then it's start over AGAIN!

[Derrel]

Derrel - THANK YOU!!!!

Your comment made me go back and check the book again...RTFM scores again! >SNIP>Thank you again!

Post of the day: "RTFM scores again!" And I thought self-deprecating humor was only the province of stuffy,old-fashioned, vertical-portrait-shooting losers like ME! lol! Glad I could help you out. How about a return favor: How are you with Chrysler automatic transmissions???

[480sparky]

Has anyone here actually USED a Katz-eye? ..........

Well, mine showed up today. Took all of 3 minutes to swap it with the factory screen, and that includes all the 'prep' time.

Will be doin' some testing in the next few days.

[bratkinson]

How about a return favor: How are you with Chrysler automatic transmissions???

You mean the old push-button drive kind? I've had nothing but Chrysler products since 1972 and only since '96 have there been ANY problems of any kind with them. I learned, however, to change the transmission fluid every couple of years. It was like having a new transmission! Also, don't trust the local "quick oil change" place to check your transmission fluid levels. That one cost me a tranny 7-8 years ago.

Other than that, I did help a friend rebuild 2 manual tranmissions about 50 years ago...

[SYZahran]

Lifeview is no help either. The D5100, unlike my previous camera, the G11, doesnt display a 100% crop of the central area. So I cant really see more than in the viewfinder.

actually i think there is a way to focus in manual mode using the LifeView. if you press the zoom/magnifier while in LifeView you can digitally enlarge what ever you want to focus on, this will help with fine tuning of your manual focus. you can even move the "yellow box" around using the arrows in case your focus point is not in the middle of the frame before zooming in.

i don't know if its a 100% crop of central area but it does help.

i hope this can be of any help. if i'm wrong or misunderstood what you meant i will be happy to be corrected.

[MTVision]

Uh-hu.

There is nothing to "learn".

My viewfinder is so small I cant even see the picture completely when looking through it. I have to move slightly up and down to see the borders, or the information displayed below it. Granted, I wear glasses, so somebody who doesnt may move closer and actually be able to see whats going on in there. But thats how it is for me.

And manual focus on my D5100 is like this : you move until whatever you want is sharp, then you continue to move until its blurry again. Then you try to find about the middle of the area that looks sharp. Then you better take multiple pictures at different positions that look sharp. And then on the computer you still might find out that you have missed focus in every single instance.

Lifeview is no help either. The D5100, unlike my previous camera, the G11, doesnt display a 100% crop of the central area. So I cant really see more than in the viewfinder.

Actually It's super easy to manually focus in live view with the d5100. Use the little zoom button (magnifying glass) to zoom in on the area you want to focus on.