Hi Marnie, Long distance shots often don't require much in the way of critical focusing as the DOF range is extended quite a bit from close in subjects.
Getting good results using manual focus on moving objects requires both practice and a knowledge of your subject. Most photogs eschew practicing - even before autofocus and other aids built into cameras - as they don't see much need for it or they don't feel they have the time. However, the really good photogs are practicing every day. There is one fellow who has photographed eagles for decades. he knew his subjects very well (including individual birds) and would practice focusing on the license plates of cars driving past his home. Another photog would shoot hundreds of "exposures" every day even though the camera contained no film for most of those shots. He did it to stay familiar with his gear and to keep his reflexes sharp. Most people don't, for whatever reason, invest the time needed to hone their skills. That's a shame for their results suffer and they sometimes become frustrated by those poor results. Shel > [Original Message] > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Looking over my recent photos (I haven't shot that much lately, but say the > last eight months or so), it seems my focus is slightly off in many cases. Or > soft focused or something -- anyway, not as sharp as I would like. So I have > decided to try manual focus more. (Of course, having more expensive lenses might > help too. :-)) > > I like AF for animals -- which is why I wanted it. Sometimes that works. And > sometimes it doesn't. But it works better than if I was manually focusing on a > moving animal -- where you never know in which direction it will move or go > or how fast it go. > > But, overall, I am less and less satisfied with autofocus as time passes. > Long distance shots, yeah, AF is all right there. And necessary for animals as > stated above (probably sports shots too, although I don't do those). > > I used to be a fairly strong advocate for AF because I am increasingly near > sighted. (And I can't wear reading glasses when I shoot; I have found it much > too difficult.) > > OTOH, as time passes I am increasingly critical of my own photos. The bar > gets raised. Which is why you won't see any PAWs and PESOs from me anytime soon.
