do you work with auto zoom or manual?

[tsabary]

i guess the answer is that to be proffesional you work work with manual right?

the thing is that i try to work with manual, and even though i have great vision and i'm far from needing glasses, 30% of the photos i take are not 100% focused (they're not totally out of focus but not great).

so whats the answer to my problem? they look focused when i take them..

 

[Derrel]

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY how you are using your terminology, nor do I have ANY idea of what kind of camera you have. Cameras can be tricky to learn to use. If you told us what camera you are using we'd probably be able to give you a better idea of what remedies might be available. Some cameras have a focusing option, often called something like S-focus, meaning Single-shot focusing, where the camera will simply NOT SHOOT until the camera has determined the focus is spot-on accurate.

Speaking of spot-on...many cameras focus at more than one spot...OR, they can be set so that there is a focus bracket located somewhere in the frame--often right in the center of the frame...when the subject is placed right under that bracket, which usually looks like this ( ) or this [ ] or even [+], then whatever is under that bracket will be the best-focused.

Practice, and learning the way the camera is set-up, and what its modes are, can really,really help get focus into the 90-95% or better ranges for you! Keep at it!

 

[tsabary]

thanks for the quick feedback!

i'm using the nikon d5000.

basically do you usually work with complete manual focus, or one of the auto-focus modes you just described? or you constantly change it depending on what you're shooting?

 

[Benco]

Autofocus is pretty damn good on a decent camera. Manual focus has it's uses but I think you'll find that pros rely on autofocus just as much as amateurs do, manual exposure on the other hand....

 

[Overread17 5]

Manual focusing and auto focusing are simply two different tools the camera has. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and you are indeed right that which you choose to use will vary depending upon both what you shoot and how you shoot.

Most modern DSLRs are very good at autofocusing, indeed for the most part in most mediums many people will be using auto focus to focus their photos. The camera is typically both quicker and more accurate, but you have to understand its limitations and work within them. Sometimes this means just changing the AF mode or the selection on the screen, other times it means slipping into manual focusing.

Manual focusing in itself can be more tricky with a DSLR because the viewfinder image is smaller (esp on crop cameras) than in the past typical 35mm film cameras. In addition the mirror assembly saps some of the light as its split down into the AF sensors (even if you are not using them). Finally you lack the built in manual focusing aids, although many DSLRs can let you swap the mirror assembly out partly to allow you to install some (although this can come with its own downsides).

Two typical examples of where manual focusing tends to beat auto focusing would be macro photography and landscape photography. For macro the close distances and reduce light tend to mean that the AF sensor is just not good enough to get a lock without missing and then hunting; whilst the use of manually focusing and then moving the camera closer/further to put the focus where you want it is far easier (note AF sensors are getting better at this all the time of course and for close up work like flowers AF will be good enough most of the time).
Landscape where one is using the hyperfocal focusing point to maximise depth of field also trumps the AF sensor since you're focusing to a distance instead of to a point. If you look up and read more about hyperfocal points and focusing you'll find far more information on this topic if it is of interest.

 

[OfMikeandMen]

I am a newbie as well, but this is what I do based on some reading. If the shot I am taking allows me to take the time to focus the photo, I will do so. However, in many cases, I simply don't have the time to sit there and adjust the focal to get it how I want. In these instances I will use auto with continuous shoot. I'd imagine with still life, landscapes, etc. you can use manual, but for me, it just depends on the situation. The majority of the time I use auto unless my camera seems to be having difficulty focusing. Then again, I am a total newbie, so don't take my word.

 

[Robin_Usagani]

I can't auto zoom. Not that I have any zoom lenses at this moment, but when I did... none of them could auto zoom. I had to manually twist it with my hand.

 

[KmH]

Auto focus has limitations.

See page 55 of your D5000 users manual (the PDF file on the software disc)

Your D5000's kit lens sends distance info to the auto focus module in the camera, and will light the in-focus indicator in the viewfinder when focus has been achieved manually.
Your D5000 also has Rangefinder mode (user manual page 156) that is also a manual focusing aid.