Manual Focus

jaxx419 · Mar 3, 2012

Well, my AF decided to poop out on me for no apparent reason and I need to send my 35mm 1.8 prime to Nikon to get repaired. I was planning a trip to the Dallas arboretum later this month and don't want to risk not having it back in time so I'm practicing with manual focus.

Is the in-focus indicator on my Nikon d5100 pretty accurate for me to go off of or should I worry about adjusting after I see that it's in focus (according to the little focus dot)? I don't want to rely/trust my eyes either!

MTVision · Mar 3, 2012

jaxx419 said:
Well, my AF decided to poop out on me for no apparent reason and I need to send my 35mm 1.8 prime to Nikon to get repaired. I was planning a trip to the Dallas arboretum later this month and don't want to risk not having it back in time so I'm practicing with manual focus.

Is the in-focus indicator on my Nikon d5100 pretty accurate for me to go off of or should I worry about adjusting after I see that it's in focus (according to the little focus dot)? I don't want to rely/trust my eyes either!

It's accurate. There is also a rangefinder mode for manual focus. I can't remember exactly how to set it but it's in your manual. I think - if you go into your menu and just look around you'll find it. I know it's in the same place as where you'd go to assign different functions to different buttons.

It works pretty well - I have a full manual lens and I used the rangefinder in the beginning. You get use to it pretty quick. Live view does work really great for manual focus - you can zoom in and adjust until focus is sharp.

jaxx419 · Mar 3, 2012

MTV -- thanks! I'll get out my manual and read up on the rangefinder. I used to use the manual focus a lot on my old nikon slr but I'm not too sure back then that I even knew if my photos were in correct focus or not! I was just a kid and adjusting the dial made me feel like more of a photographer!

cepwin · Mar 3, 2012

jaxx...I have the D3100 which (I just checked the manual) doesn't have an in focus indicator. My "go-to" lens lately has been a lovely Sigma 28-80 that doesn't have AF so basically I try to find something to focus on (a line, writing, etc) and just try to get it pin sharp. Obviously if you're shooting at a low f-stop the DoF will be small so you have to be very careful what you're focusing on. I've found it's not as difficult as one would think.

jaxx419 · Mar 3, 2012

Cepwin-- I played with a friends 3000 before I bought my 5100 and I thought it had a focus indicator... It's a dot in the viewfinder and makes a beep. Unless that doesn't mean focus.... I thought the 3000 had one and the 3100 should too? But maybe not.

Thanks for the MF tips!

cepwin · Mar 3, 2012

You're very welcome! humm...I'll have to check again...I went to the "manual focus" page in the manual and they didn't say anything about it.

jaxx419 · Mar 3, 2012

Might be in the auto focus page. If you manual focus with the shutter half down it will show you the focus dot like it does in AF. I don't think it will show it without holding down the shutter button.

MTVision · Mar 3, 2012

cepwin said:
You're very welcome! humm...I'll have to check again...I went to the "manual focus" page in the manual and they didn't say anything about it.

It's a little green dot in the left corner (I think) of the viewfinder. It's there with autofocus as well as manual focus. Next time you use it look for the green dot....

jaxx419 · Mar 3, 2012

Should beep too unless there's a setting to make it silent.

cepwin · Mar 3, 2012

Just took the camera out and tried it....Didn't see any green dots, any beeps. It does have an electronic rangefinder that I need to read about. That supposedly helps with manual focus.

Update: Looked up the rangefinder and you can turn it on and the exposure indicator can be used as a focus indicator....(reference manual pg 144) There is a beep that can be turned on when AF is being used...didn't indicate that it applies to MF. I'm going to have to try the rangefinder.

jaxx419 · Mar 3, 2012

What happens when you hold she shutter button half way down?

MTVision · Mar 3, 2012

cepwin said:
Just took the camera out and tried it....Didn't see any green dots, any beeps. It does have an electronic rangefinder that I need to read about. That supposedly helps with manual focus.

Update: Looked up the rangefinder and you can turn it on and the exposure indicator can be used as a focus indicator....(reference manual pg 144) There is a beep that can be turned on when AF is being used...didn't indicate that it applies to MF. I'm going to have to try the rangefinder.

There is a focus indicator

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/D3100/D3100VIEWFINDER.HTM

This link has a picture of the viewfinder. On the bottom left corner is a green dot. You will see it when you have focus. It might blink or not show otherwise

MTVision · Mar 3, 2012

MTVision said:
There is a focus indicator

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/D3100/D3100VIEWFINDER.HTM

This link has a picture of the viewfinder. On the bottom left corner is a green dot. You will see it when you have focus. It might blink or not show otherwise

It's labeled 2

cepwin · Mar 3, 2012

Yes, I'll have to see if that applies to AF only or MF as well. Man, I have learned a bunch just from this discussion!

jaxx419 · Mar 3, 2012

Works for me if I hold the shutter down halfway while manual focusing. Soon as its focused there will be a green light. Move the dial slightly and it will go away. Glad it helped!

I'm still bummed my AF is broken.