Macro shooting - leaning in or hand focusing?

[amolitor]

Not quite what I was asking. Can you set it up to go CLICK automatically when it sees that the subject is IN focus. Then you just lean in until it goes CLICK.

 

[amolitor]

Huh, turns out Nikons will do it just fine:

Focus mode: AF-S
AF Area Mode: Single Point
AE-L Button: AF-ON

Use the AE-L button to focus someplace. Let it go.

Now press and hold the shutter button. Lean in slowly. When your single focus point finds something in focus, the camera will go CLUNK.

 

[Jad]

Always use a tripod if you want sharp pictures. Lock up the mirror and use a shutter release cable. Think about what you are trying to accomplish. You want to get a sharp focus of something that already has a very shallow depth of field. Use your depth of field button to determine if the important part of the image is in focus. You are probably best to use manual focus but if your camera can program the AF lock button on the back of your camera (Canon) to activate the focus then that is a good way to go also. I prefer to use the AF to focus rather than the shutter release button in all my of images made with a tripod. If you want good pictures you have to work for them. Doing things like leaning in or out will not help you to master macro photography. Make good habits and good pictures will follow.

 

[Dao]

I also use back and forth technique. And sometimes with the help of a monopod.

 

[o hey tyler]

Not quite what I was asking. Can you set it up to go CLICK automatically when it sees that the subject is IN focus. Then you just lean in until it goes CLICK.

Yes, you can.

 

[TCampbell]

Are there cameras these days that will fire when a focus point indicates in-focus? "focus trap" or something, maybe.

A Canon will not fire if out of focus while in Auto Focus mode. However, that is not the case in Manual Focus.

It depends... it will fire if it's in release priority mode. For example, if you switch to "AI Servo" mode, the camera will fire as soon as you fully press the shutter button whether anything is focused or not.

ALSO (and this is VERY important particularly when shooting macro) if you're in "One Shot" mode, then focus priority is enabled (btw, some high end bodies allow you to change these behaviors) and the camera wont fire until it's locked focus.... BUT... once it has locked focus, the focusing system shuts off and you're free to move around (to the point that you're no longer at the correct focus distance) and the camera will STILL fire.

Since DoF is so very shallow when shooting macro, it's very easy to lock focus, have your body move just a fraction of an inch, and now your subject is out of focus. When shooting macro, I prefer a tripod (serious macro photographers buy a focus rail) and if I don't have a tripod, I'm constantly aware of how easy it is to move my camera out of the focus distance... I'll either switch to a continuous focus mode or I'll re-activate the focus button to have the camera re-tweak focus before I take the shot.