No, dont worry about it. Its like driving an auto car with manual abilities..

OK for macro work you need manual..

Kobus..

But it's possible to do macro without manual as well right?..

In some situations the AF can be fooled:.

1) in dim or low light, 2) tiny things in your picture you want sharp, 3) photos of two people and the AF focus on the background between their heads, 4) using shallow depth of field you sometimes focus sharp on something in the foreground or the background. This seems to violate many auto focus programs in cameras and is done much quicker manually..

Still, most of the above can be handled using AF if the camera is good enough, i.e. can lock the AF or use different AF strategies. Usually DSLR's have these options and some of the better compacts. A minor problem is that the AF lock also locks the exposure (AE). You may want a different exposure setting for the entire picture.With manual focus you avoid these problems..

Erik.

Shoockei wrote:.

I'm new to photography and is just wondering if manual focus isimportant or not. When would I need to use it over the auto focus andhow good is auto focus? I've noticed that some good cameras don'thave manual focus, should I be concern about that?.

Thank you..

Ordell wrote:.

In some situations the AF can be fooled:1) in dim or low light, 2) tiny things in your picture you wantsharp, 3) photos of two people and the AF focus on the backgroundbetween their heads, 4) using shallow depth of field you sometimesfocus sharp on something in the foreground or the background. Thisseems to violate many auto focus programs in cameras and is done muchquicker manually..

I've not encountered the above problems. But they are a legitimate concern..

Still, most of the above can be handled using AF if the camera isgood enough, i.e. can lock the AF or use different AF strategies.Usually DSLR's have these options and some of the better compacts. Aminor problem is that the AF lock also locks the exposure (AE). Youmay want a different exposure setting for the entire picture.With manual focus you avoid these problems..

As a birding photographer I've switiched over to all manual. I do this because when you photograph in brush or forrest, you can kiss auto goodbye. It's an absoute failure. The target is rarely locked onto, and the miss rate is depressing... .

And I can certainly imagine many other similar situations..

However, taking a stroll though city streets, on a nice sunny day, AF is a real pleasure..

Dave.

Erik.

Shoockei wrote:.

I'm new to photography and is just wondering if manual focus isimportant or not. When would I need to use it over the auto focus andhow good is auto focus? I've noticed that some good cameras don'thave manual focus, should I be concern about that?.

Thank you..

Chato wrote:.

As a birding photographer I've switiched over to all manual. I dothis because when you photograph in brush or forrest, you can kissauto goodbye. It's an absoute failure. The target is rarely lockedonto, and the miss rate is depressing... .

You illustrate one of the major flaws of AF very nicely. I spend almost as much time bumping the little AF sensor around my D200 as I do to manually focus..

AF has value, just as AE has. But I've noticed from my own experiences I engage more with the subject when I'm focusing manually. And just like driving a stick it becomes reflex and not noticeable..

'Nice pen, bet you write good stories with it.'..

Practically it's like that:http://forums.dpreview.com/...forums/read.asp?forum=1002&message=24091446One of these shots AF ruined was bumblebee in flight... .

And AF lock solution is quite tricky with insect macro, since you chase these things with camera, AND try to mantain half-press....

I guess you also may place something nicely autofocusable behind the critter, but it is again in "easier said than done" realm...