Shallow DOF Manual Focus Difficulty Through Viewfinder

[Neuner]

I feel funny asking this since I don't see anyone else having the problem. I have trouble using the small image produced by the viewfinder on the D80 to manual focus on a select object. I've tried out other brands & models and they seem to be the same for me.

I have the viewfinder adjusted correctly but if I have a shallow DOF, the viewfinder image is too small for me to tell if it is focused really sharp the way I want it. I wear contacts instead of glasses. I can get it close but not tack sharp.

I use the AF which can get it close most of the time but I feel I could do a better job manually if I could just see a bigger better view of the subject.

I've seen some of the magnifying pieces you can put over the viewfinder but not sure how well they work or if it would solve my issue.

Hope I'm making sense. Anyone else have this issue?

 

[Big Mike]

This is an issue, especially for those of us who were used to looking through the nice big viewfinders on film SLR cameras.

You could try using a viewfinder magnifier...I found this one with a quick search. http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/product.php?productid=16893

 

[prodigy2k7]

Ill be happy one day when full frame cameras dominate the market because they are cheap enough to produce. Woot big mirrors and sensors! lol...

 

[Big Mike]

Don't hold your breath :roll:

 

[prodigy2k7]

lol

 

[Coldow91]

you can still use the focus confirmation dot in the view finder

 

[usayit]

Ill be happy one day when full frame cameras dominate the market because they are cheap enough to produce. Woot big mirrors and sensors! lol...

Yes... but a FF camera body doesn't necessarily equate to a better viewfinder for easier manual focusing.

 

[ksmattfish]

All the 35mm DSLR viewfinders I've tried were significantly better than the APS DSLRs, but still lame compared to my older 35mm film SLRs. All I want is something as big and bright as what's on my Nikon FM2n. It's ancient technology; is it really asking too much?

You may be able to buy a focusing screen that's designed to help with manual focusing. If Nikon doesn't make one, somebody else probably does. I found I liked the after market brands (Katz Eye and SLRDaren.com) better than the ones offered by Canon for my DSLRs.

 

[prodigy2k7]

Okay Mr. Technical if u say so

 

[Bifurcator]

I feel funny asking this since I don't see anyone else having the problem. I have trouble using the small image produced by the viewfinder on the D80 to manual focus on a select object. I've tried out other brands & models and they seem to be the same for me.

I have the viewfinder adjusted correctly but if I have a shallow DOF, the viewfinder image is too small for me to tell if it is focused really sharp the way I want it. I wear contacts instead of glasses. I can get it close but not tack sharp.

It's a problem and camera manufacturers seem to want to answer this problem with live view zoom options.

See these Live View demonstrations:
[ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9IvsMlcuZ1Y[/ame] <-- from 5:45 in the video.
[ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YEcJsksxsOo[/ame] <-- from 5:25 in the video.
[ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xWHjZWvdtHw[/ame] <-- from 3:15 in the video.
[ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1vjBb-mHH-w[/ame] <-- from 4:35 in the video.
etc.

I use the AF which can get it close most of the time but I feel I could do a better job manually if I could just see a bigger better view of the subject.

I've seen some of the magnifying pieces you can put over the viewfinder but not sure how well they work or if it would solve my issue.

Loupes? Yep, they help! Allot depends on which kind it is. If it's an LCD loupe then the LCD dot pitch makes a huge difference in their effectiveness. Something like the D90 or D700 has almost 1 million dots in a 3" LCD so a loupe in that environment would make a huge difference! If it's the eye level viewfinder attachment type then the quality of the pentaprism or pentamirror, the diopter elements, and the loupe elements all come into question. But I guess all of them will probably be superior to the eye-level VF alone.

 

[Joves]

This is hwy I dont use manual focus much. Im used to the good old split prisms. You can get the katzeye focusing screen which alot of people love. http://www.katzeyeoptics.com

 

[danjchau]

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[Garbz]

you can still use the focus confirmation dot in the view finder

How often has this worked for you? They can be very temperamental.

I feel funny asking this since I don't see anyone else having the problem.

Believe me you are definitely not the only person with this issue. 90% of the people here don't know how to switch their camera to manual focus. And the other 10% either silently live with it or investigate focus assists.

You may find some luck with one of these:

Quick review on the KatzEyes Optics on here:
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108875

 

[Neuner]

Looks like the Katzeye is what would help the most since I'm use to it from my Dad's old A1. They say they don't have it for the D80 however.

Thanks everyone!

 

[epp_b]

Does the D80 have a focus confirmation dot you can use?

How often has this worked for you? They can be very temperamental.

As long as there's decent lighting (and sometimes even when there's not), pretty well most of the time. If it blinks at a consistent rate, you know it's too dark to focus anyway.