How I Nail MANUAL FOCUS Every Time - Manual Focus Like A Pro
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ค. 2024
- In this video I talk about why manual focusing vintage lenses is made easy on mirrorless cameras and some techniques on how you can use it to your advantage.
#filmmaker#manualfocus#sonymirrorless
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So, manual focus….love it? Or hate it?
I think as mirrorless cameras evolve (higher resolution EVF’s and improved phase detection) the manual focusing aides are going to improve exponentially for vintage lens shooting.
There are adapters available now that will AUTO FOCUS your vintage lenses (I know I’m blown away as well). Fotodiox makes a PRO PRONTO Adapter, but your camera needs to have a phase detection auto focus system for it to work. It looks really promising for those who can’t make manual focus work for them, but still want to shoot with vintage lenses.
Here is the video break down for those who are short on time:
FOCUS PEAKING: 1:24
FOCUS ZOOM (Magnification): 2:40
WAFFER THIN ;) : 3:18
TECHNOLOGY PLUS TECHNIQUE: 3:56
TWENTY YEARS???: 6:17
manual focus is my favourite!
Mine too!
i always shoot full manual and i only shoot with vintage glass i don't even own a native E-mount lens for my sony a7Riii
My only native lens for sonynis the Zeiss 16-35 F4...I rarely use it. I sold off my 35-70 variable zoom because now I NEVER used it. Sony is my vintage lens camera through and through.
Definitly more fun!!
Got my first 'vintage lens' a couple of days ago, so also started learning how to use manual focus. To be honest I like shooting in manual more now. It's more fun and rewarding if you nail a shot perfectly in focus.
Same, I love it. It’s weird. So much of my life is automated it’s nice to slow things down a bit and just work the craft.
It feels like immediate positive feedback and control! It’s really nice to be honest. You just know when somethings cool.
Absolutely ✊
I just bought my first mirrorless camera 2 months ago and I could say my manual lens is making my experience a lot more exciting. Thank you for these tips!
I love manual focus. I only started taking photography seriously about a month ago. Bought my first real camera, Sony A7iii, and I have found manul focus to be a lot more rewarding and reliable. I use manual focus in 90% of my shots. Also helps that I use the Miops trigger a lot and it only works with Manual focus... thanks for the video man! Very useful information 👌
Fantastic! I’m so glad you’re bringing your next level talents to the vintage lens education community. This vid was so slick and engaging and really informative. I totally agree with everything you said here. Nailed it. Cheers Mark.
Tim! Thanks so much! You’re always so supportive. I appreciate it! The 135 3.5 review Ian coming down the pipeline. I can’t explain the process amd order I decide to these videos. I linger on a few for a few days waffling back and forth then I lock onto one for some reason.
A target rich environment that’s for sure.
Glad i discovered your channel. I just bought an A7SII and got into vintage lenses. Thanks for informative stuff!
LOVE THIS VIDEO! I just got a 55mm macro Nikon manual lens and this is really helping me with focusing issues! THANKS
They say you learn something new everyday. Had my Sony A7rii for over a few years now & have just discoved thanks to you there's a digital zoom button on top! Now these lenses will never come off. Instead of just using focus peeking this has opened up a whole new avenue of photography for me.
This video is probably the most instructive I’ve ever seen on this subject, I learned so much about manual focus and settings on my alpha 6000, I could never thank you enough
My pleasure Fred! Best of luck with it!!
Yep same here ! Rocking a Minolta 50mm 1.4 on a Sony a6000 and loving it
Helpful tips for sony mirrorless shooting. Having started on a fully manual 35mm slr 18 years ago its been fun going back. Always been a manual focus user but peaking is a game changer, great tool didn't know i could make it red. Thanks for the tips.
I got a 14mm Samyang lens for my a7iii just a few days ago and I'm glad that you are teaching how to use a manual lens... Thanks so much Mark.
WEHHFAIR THEEEEEN 😆 Love this video man. The lighting is so on point! Keep crushing it!
Bon appétit.... lol. Thanks mate! Going to test out your LUT's with this setup, it's been a trial and error system for me, but I think i'm onto a setup I like. Shoot SOON!
I love manual focus! I'm also shooting on a t5i with vintage and lower end modern lenses so auto focus is only useful for me when shooting myself and I cant really see. Even then, its only really useful on the 18-55 kit lens because STM is much faster . I would also like to note that on some older and some lower end canon DSLRs, Magic Lantern firmware gives you peaking and zebras (and a buncha other goodies for free!). It opens a whole new world of possibilities given the time constraints placed on us by ....um...external forces lol. It can get funky at times but the more you learn it the more you can advance, especially if you're on a budget and can't afford newer tech
Second time I watched this video and enjoyed and appreciated it even more the second time. Legit. A standout.
Thanks Paul!
Another great video that can help people discover the joy of using vintage lenses, and save money too.
Thanks Minhaj! Joy, creative potential ON a budget....they're the BEST VALUE in photography hands down. (IMHO)
I learned to pull focus on my 60D through eyeballing and using magnification. My world was flipped upside down when I got my GH5 with that sweet, sweet focus peaking. I use it so much (almost to a fault). It’s because of these (and many other features of modern mirrorless cameras) that I’m planning on switching to a primarily vintage glass kit. Loved how you thoroughly explained it!
I never thought I would go full, but my Sony is full. Only lenses I’ve been getting have been old SLR lenses. Doable on DSLR’s but definitely much easier on mirrorless. Thanks for the comment mate!
GH5 is a boss camera!
bought my first new mirrorless sonya7rii for $1299 in oct 2020 ,sony lens too expensive so I bought super takumar 50mm 1.4 for 8 element $180,and your Mark Holtze vedios taught me so much and I no longer have to look anywhere else. Thank you for your hard work .
So stoked to have helped inspire you
mate! Enjoy that combo, and whatever else comes down the pipe ;)
My go-to camera is an SLR Sony and i can say i wouldn't want anything else at this point - light to carry around and produces beautiful images! Manual all the way!
Finally got a mirrorless camera the other day and really having a good time using some vintage glass on it
I use DMF (direct manual focus) on my auto lenses, to fine tune after the camera achieves autofocus. really helps to nail your image sharp. But when I shoot with vintage adapted lenses, I do exactly what you do! good vid, subbed!
Just enabled my camera to use Focus Zoom! I always used focus peaking but sometimes thats not enough. Great video Mark, Stellar quality as always!!
Thanks mate! Yes combine and form voltron, Devastator or Superion (whatever 80’s cartoon characters you identify with) ;). The two together are epppppiccccc.
very interesting review Mark!
I don't know if this sounds weird or not but the ending to this kind of gave me goosebumps yes 20 years ago wow great tutorial Mark as always interesting informative and a visual pleasure to watch. Happy New Years
Happy New Years to you Joe! Thanks for your comment. Funny I put that in last minute and cut out this other banter that wasn’t no as good. I was like “nobody is going to watch this far in”. Gave me bumps as well. My physics teacher there exempted me from my final exam even though I kissed the Jan exam. “After what I just did for you know”.That was the last day of high school (OAC’s) so it’s the reason it started pretty lax ;)
Happy New Year, Mark. Great vid to start 2019. Manual focus w/vintage adaped lenses, and some current 3rd party manual lenses, is the only way to go when you have the time and shoot fixed subjects. For moving subjects, it can help to prefocus via lens depth of field guide for given aperture. Tips; Shoot raw but set picture style to b&w and use peaking color other than white -- easier to see peaking in b&w in evf/monitor and recorded image will still be in color. Next, try thinnest peaking display because it is more precise than the thicker lines that show deeper depth of what might be in focus.
I wish Sony had the Fugifilm manual focus assist features of split image and pentaprism. Some classic film slrs had interchangeable focusing screens. I don't recall if Pentax had those.
Good suggestions about getting to know lens focus throw and direction. Love your reference to "custom hot key", like hot wiring a car😁.
The PENTAX SLR I have has such a big bright eyepiece that I don't miss the split. I can manually focus really easily on that camera for some reason. It's WAAAAAAAY easier than trying to do the same on my Canon DSLR that's for sure. I just took a look, looks there is some sort of split going on there. It's very subtle vs my PRAKTICA which uses split for focusing...but the eye piece image is SO dark it makes manual by eye really hard. Need to really trust that prism split aide.
Thanks for the comment Paul, you always contribute in meaningful ways! Happy new year to you! All the best!
Getting my First Vintage Lens this wednesday! Minolta rokkor-X 50mm 1:1.7 :) Thank you for the quick tips! Hi from Florida! - Hunter
The Meaning of Life , One of the Best Movies !!!!!!!!!! Great Job !!
ABSOLUTELY! My first Python was Holy Grail...I woke up late in front of TV after watching Ren and Stimpy...the Knight infinitely running toward the guards made me FALL IN LOVE with it. It was obsession from that moment, I think that was 1992....the repeating of that Lancelot running shot with the guards wondering what was going on .... made me fall in love with EDITING and how you can use it in humous and unconventional ways.
Meaning of life though........."I AM THE GRIM REAPER".....
Man I Love your channel. It’s crazy informative. Great job 🤙
Thanks Homey! Appreciate that! Thanks for watching.
Mark Holtze anytime good sir 🤙
I laughed harder than I should have at the Monty Python bit.
Thanks for posting Mark. On my A6300 I'm learning to use manual focus more often and use it to my advantage, such as focusing on a subject then pulling out, having the ability to reverse the clip in post. I didn't even have focus peaking on! Lots of value in this video.
Monty is always good for a laugh mate! I'm still laughing all these years later at the SAME jokes lol.
Ya the reverse technique is so good. Start on a nice shot locked on and pull out and let the subject in frame slowly BOKEH out (bow out, fade out whatever) hehe.
There are SO many techniques to use focus.
Thanks for watching mate.
I had no idea my Sony came with Auto Focus...
LoL , I don’t know what the different modes do...i’ll Admit that ;)
Dope Video!
I literally thought that I was sent a faulty lens...until I saw this video.
Thanks!
Peaking & magnify is my best friend, even on a af lens!!
Sir, would you like an after dinner mint, it is but wafer thin? 😆😆😆
I got so freaking pumped when I saw the notification, the best way to spend 10minutes on a Saturday. The video was slick, stylish and amazingly put together, as always!! Loved it dude. And 20 years... damn does that technically vintage too? 😆😆
P&M...BEST OF FRIENDS! I do the little body shift as well (slight move in or back) to find that focus point, especially when shooting macro where a turn is JUST a little too much lol.
Fetch Monsieur a BUCKET.........man that skit had me in stitches when I first saw it. (More than 20 years ago)
Thanks for watching guys and yes that footage and since my high school graduation is definitely vintage. I'm VINTAGE as F....man, i'm okay with it I guess, ask me again about it in another 20. ;)
Fuck off, I'm full.
This video the most informative thanksss❤
Is manual focusing intimidating? Hell yeah! I started practicing on a Pentax K1000 years back and 9 out of 10 times the picture was like seeing something through hangover eyes. Just bought a Sony a7r and looking into a rokinon 14mm lens. Watching this video helped take away the anxiety. Fingers crossed.
Happy New Year to you.
Auto focus in video intimidates me.
Happy new year Tony! Face that FEAR! (Like every cliche hero movie)...manual focus in feature films to this day so it definitely has value. Of course they have a DEDICATED and TRAINED focus puller....but they're still pulling that focus...they miss, RETAKE! Imagine THAT pressure.
Thank you for your video! I have been recently switched from Canon 5D Mark2 to Sony a7ii and was looking for different options for lenses. But I am definitely going to try manual lenses!!! You have given me confidence that i can switch from fully automatic to manual focusing! Thank you!
My pleasure, I have one native Sony Zeiss lens and the rest are all these SLR lenses. I just use them ALL the time. SMC Takumar's are really great, decent prices and really nice ergonomics. I've done a few lens reviews if you want to check them out to give you some ideas what you can expect.
Good luck mate!
@@MarkHoltze Thanks! I have been watching many TH-cam videos on vintage video and your videos helped me out the most please keep going!!!
It seems as though the vintage lens are mostly 50mm are there any wide angle lens with less than 28mm and f.2.8 or f2.0?
28mm f 2.8, pentacon made one. Canon FD 24mm 2.8 as well. 2.8 is considered “Fast” for moderate telephoto and wide angles. Just how they were made back then. 35mm you start to see faster f1.4 ranges. Super expensive though.
Good vid. Lots of similar videos by other youtubers act as if focus peaking is all you need to get sharp images.
Props for the meaning of life reference, lol. Wafer thin, lol. I got manual focus lenses because I'm on a non budget and since I got a camera that has focus peaking and zoom I've been a bit intimidated by the thought of strictly manual focus. I like the feeling of it and the whole manual experience. I just worry about being too slow for actual client work, portraits, events, etc. But watching this helps with the anxiety of it all, lol. Keep up the great content!
Such a good film! It's understandable to be cautious with it. If you miss focus for client work than ... well you won't get work with them again. I think for some things it's so good, more abstract photography where you want to select your focus point. Nothing worse than waiting around for the AF to nail exactly what you're trying to focus on in the composition.
Hi Mark! Great Video. THX!!
Hi Albert, thanks mate!!!
Very interesting..thank u for posting this
My pleasure
I love your style so much! Amazing video as always, and Happy New Year! 😁
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Thanks so much mate. The style thing is definitely a process, I kind of just let the content speak to me...that's weird to say, but it's a big thing that I carry through even to my professional work. "Let the EDIT SPEAK TO YOU"....if you listen, it gives you almost all you need. I should probably do a deep dive into that, I think there might be some value in it. Thanks for watching as always.
@@MarkHoltze Yeah, that definitely sounds interesting. You could also go more in depth about how you blend different pieces of music into your videos' "timeline" (does that make sense?). The way you work with music and create mood while advancing the story, even if it's a simple idea like in this video, is seamless and pretty amazing. Much better than that cheesy vlog music that makes me shudder 😂
@@TechTekker I've got a music one "in the works' so to speak lol. I Just had a great idea tonight for an intro for that one so the behind the scenes creative process of developing that is happening. I've been wanting to do that video forever, but I also want it to be good so I kind of waffle around with a few ideas until it hits me. It's been hitting me lately, I have a few others I need to get done, but definitely in the next 5 FOR SURE! Not the NEXT one, or the NEXT NEXT one...or even the NEXT NEXT NEXT one...but the one after that or after after that mAx :)...did I confuse you? I think i'm confused.
A lot of what I'm trying to do is pay attention to MY process, how I use music in series I cut. Usually I just do what's instinct, but in order to articulate it, I have to study the step by step process I take. That's what I've been doing a lot of, it's really interesting actually being fully aware of your process. I need to do this more.
@@MarkHoltze Wow, I guess something done over and over again can become instinctual in a way that makes it hard to think about. Anyway I'm excited for any video you make regardless of the exact topic, so have fun creating man! 😆
@@TechTekker That's just it. I was explaining the concept of music on this series I was working on to a Jr Editor who wasn't quite "getting it". He kept getting "music not working" notes and I went to see if I could help him, editor to editor. I rambled on seemingly aimlessly and in the end he was like THANK YOU THANK YOU Lol. It helped, so seeing his reaction made me realize oh I guess I can articulate it. I need to refine that process though so it's clear and concise.
Thanks so much by the way, if there's anything you'd like to see drop me a line. I can't promise I'll know how to do it, but who knows lol.
Thanks for hanging around, speak soon mate.
I'm an old man, I learned photography in high school with 24 frames of B&W film. The ISO was the film stock and auto focus was a nerdy pipedream (kinda like the cheerleader you just couldn't work up the nerve to ask out)!
Manual lenses make you slow down, compose your image, and make it just right. More people should go get a manual lens and master it.
I can't remember the last time I took a modern lens outside and during the last year a take my camera out at least 5 days a week, I don't even consider auto focus, it would take away all the fun!
Awesome! Thank you!
Good luck!
Love manual focusing. I'm primarily using manual focus lenses now, don't remember last time I used any of my auto focus lenses. Considering just selling them and only using adapted manual focus lenses, letting them be what defines my gear, and the cameras being what they are, mere tools used as needed.
This is my world right now. It’s more active than it was before because of it as well.
Great video Mark!
In 1999 I was shooting film on a Yashica Camera, getting the film developed, and then scanning my prints to my Gateway Computer! LOL
I was using auto cameras back then! Film was huge though, manual slr’s in
College fall 99
Hey Mark, just dug up your great tutorial for manual focusing.
Just got a new Canon FD 85mm 1.8 and will now try to shoot a small clip with that lens and the FD 50mm 1.4 only. Let's see how that will work, but got extremely inspired by your latest video 🙂
Wicked! Let me know how it goes mate!
I focus manually, predominantly. But autofocus is helpful for shooting moving subjects.
Отличное видео! Очень понравился кодак гармошка!!!!
Спасибо! Ценить это!
Awesome video. And yes, I love the focus zoom feature as I use a canon dslr. It doesn't have focus peaking but its fine to focus.
Peaking on it's own isn't that useful, it's a general area kind of deal and combined with zoom is where you nail the actual focus. How do you find using the back screen in bright daylight? I have a hard time manual on my 6DMII because I would rather use the eyepiece (more detail, less light leak) to really ensure my shot is in focus.
It works nicely in certain lighting conditions, but I have just found it hard to be consistent in all scenarios.
What Canon are you shooting on?
@@MarkHoltze I'm shooting on Canon 100D. I didn't get a chance to go out shoot in bright daylight with my manual lens. But once when I tried, the zoomed in box is really helpful, but the focus peaking(that I got from magic lantern) doesn't help as much. It would tell me that the sub is in focus while its not. But I've gotten used to it and got a bit faster in focusing as well.
Wonderful, very helpful video. Thanks.
Hi Michael! Glad you found some value in it! Good luck out there :)
Hi, Mark! Thank you for the video! Can you tell something more about zone focusing? Especially with Takumar 135mm.
Happy New Year, Mark. Great video on vintage lenses. I saw one great tip on DPReview a number of years back about using the B/W creative style while shooting RAW+JPEG. The focus peaking color shows up clearer on B/W, which helps you control the focus more easily and possibly more precisely. The JPG photo is in B/W, but the RAW photo is still in color.
That IS super cool! I remember back when eyepieces on video cameras were black and white. I asked our professor about that and he said the eye can pick up the focus contrast much better on a black and white image. This idea kind of combines with that one, I should see if I'm even capable of switching the color on my EFV's. Thanks so much and HAPPY NEW year to you as well!
Man I've been thinking about making the shift to mirrorless. Cool to get some focus tips for when that day comes. Have a rocking weekend.
I'll admit it was a bit of an adjustment looking through the EVF on on a traditional SLR/DSLR camera body, but I quickly warmed up to it. Now it's hard to go back to the optical view finder as the mirrorless gives you the EXACT FRAME that you will shoot. How the light dialed in from your lens and settings will look, it removes the need to snap a photo and look at the image to see how the bokeh is rendered. The image you see is the image that's captured 1:1.
What are you shooting with now? What models are you looking at? So many good models available. Mirrorless DO work a bit better with vintage lenses as well. Getting rid of that flipping up mirror gives infinity focus capability (without a lens on the adapter) on ALL lenses.
@@MarkHoltze Hey Mark, I shoot with a Canon XA10, which is about 7 years old now. I like the clarity of the mirrorless camera. The XA10 is an awesome run and gunner...but would like to have some options to use different lenses now that the kids are a bit older and I have a little more free time. I'm about 2 years away from making the purchase...but seems like Sony has some great ones in and around the 2 k mark...which is what I'm leaning towards now. What models of mirrorless would you recommend?
@@21Swayzee XA10, that's the camcorder right? 2 years is a long time, so cameras and camera tech right now is making waves in terms of evolution. So what's good now maybe be completely changed by then. You looking for a full frame? Sony's are great, the A6500 for an ASP-C sensor right now is amazing, the A7 series is also great if you want full frame. Fuji XT-3 looks pretty capable as well, but I don't think FUIJ make any full frame cameras at the moment. (I COULD BE WRONG). With Nikon and Canon now out with miriness they will be also options to look at as they evolve.
Switching from a camcorder to a more traditional DSLR/mirrorless form factor is a bit tricky, but the transition is quick...it's REALLY weird at first though, at least it was for me. Shooting video on XL1, XHA1, Sony FS5, Canon C series etc was a big transition for me personally.
@@MarkHoltze thanks! Yeah things are evolving so quickly these days... Use to be every 5 years, but now things are flying. Yep a camcorder. Nice and easy to use. Good to hear the transition could be quick. Thanks for all your insight! I know where to come a few year from now...when the time comes. Look forward to what you put up next.
Keep doing great work man... ❤️❤️
Thanks Chris!
What a brilliant vid Mark. I'm going to have a play with my g7 more. 😁😁
Thanks mate! Yes G7 GO!!! I need to get my hands on a GH4 or something micro 4/3rds...I'd love to compare APS-C, FULL frame and M/43 sensors with vintage. I have a few rogue M4/3's to M42 adapters I got sent accidentally that I need to giveaway as well lol. SOON *TM*
For close to medium distanses, casual or street-kinda photography, i focus on the color aberrations. In the focus area, green tind from background of the subject and magenda tind from the foreground are meet. So aberrations are almost eliminated in this area. The only preparation is to set the maximum aperture, then focus, set desired aperture (if needed) and shoot. The same on takumar and minolta lenses that i have.
Speaking of "wafer thin" DOF, an added bonus in using those older lenses is that you can get an adapter that tilts the lens a few degrees. This changes the plane of focus so it's no longer perpendicular to the sensor (see Scheimpflug principle). Although often used for the so-called "miniature" look, I prefer tilting it the other way to select more of the subject in focus. This is not the same as focus stacking that you can achieve in post-processing.
I love that you shoot with vintage lenses! I do as well and I swear by it haha love this channel!
It's really hard NOT to love....I mean...patience helps if you're new to photography, but I HONESTLY feel like using them will rapidly increase the rate at which photographic theories and practices will really land. How you adjust the settings ON THE LENS and how it translates to the image you see directly. Plus, affordable prime lenses with fast aperture speeds....everybody gets to play, not just those with $1500 spare change ;)
Preach bro preach!!! I always tell beginner photographers to just learn the basics and I feel that vintage lenses help with that!
Definitely! It’s tough a lot of their hero’s probably shoot on fancy gear. It’s so on your face these days with social media influencers specced by big camera companies.
Totally agree though!
@@MarkHoltze So true! So stoked on your channel and future content!
@@tylerdooghan Thanks for hanging around Tyler!
Great video. I'm about to pick up a couple of SLR Magic CINE lenses, but I have always been a manual focus person, in general. Getting these lenses for my Sony a6400. I just shot a feature length film completely on my LG V40 smartphone, and used manual focus most of the time. I usually set the manual focus near what I want to be the subject of the frame, and it always seems to work out, as the images definitely move slightly out of focus, but in a way that looks like real life, at least to me, meaning it's not disruptive to the story. ;) I DO use auto focus sometimes, but only when the situation is really a controlled one, and I know I am not challenging the camera to be smarter than me. ;) I haven't gotten my following-a-subject-and-keeping-him/her/it-in-focus skills at a high level yet, but I find, depending upon the lens, and keeping it open to a reasonable amount, manual is usually a better way to go, to keep subjects in focus, unless of course you pixel peep, which I never do, because, who does that in the real world while they're watching a film? Nobody, except for filmmakers. lol. Great video, thanks for sharing, and keep up the awesome work. I subscribed. And now, as I'm leaving this, it's 2021, so 1999 was 22 years ago. ;)
Where the HECK does time go?? lol. Auto focus works well for certain things, but nothing beats a good manual focus pull lol. That's my excuse anyway.
@@MarkHoltze ;)
I absolutely love my G7 for the focus peaking and magnification, its one of the best features to get on a camera. Its amazing that it has features a full frame camera has too especially for its price. I personally have my focus peak in blue, I wish it had red as it seems to stand out more.
Absolutely, I've seen BLUE used through the Ninja FLAME external recorder. I kind of like it actually, red just stands out. White is pretty useless as it gets lost in the whites in a shot, yellow isn't BAD, but red is just so !!!!!!.
The G7 is a great camera, focus peaking and zoom should be on all mirrorless really. Panasonic has always delivered great value for the money.
@@MarkHoltze the only thing the G7 lacks in my opinion is the megapixel and a battery grip which no one has made which is odd because the G80 and G85 are almost identical
@@tomsvintageoptix Ya, do they use the same battery type? It's weird how they have different grips per the body. I don't fully understand how that works. I DO know that battery grips are insanely expensive (the name brand ones). It blows me away, like $400USD and they don't even include a battery. Something is off there as per my understanding, but they're crazy handy to have. Both in terms of ergonomics and of course, battery life.
@@MarkHoltze different batteries I think but i know the g80 amd 85 have grips. I know the G7 uses a BLC12E battery.
thank you, this was really helpfull.
my pleasure!
For me focus peaking always has been distracting. However as I practiced more with the lens I have now learned to control my focus. I will be shooting with my friend the fourth part of our film next month.
Ya can see how it can get distracting.
@@MarkHoltze oh and happy new year BTW :)
Same to you my friend! All the best, health and happiness this year! :)
Mark
I photograph with Pentax DSLR 's and they give me focus lock with a green dot in the viewfinder when in focus its fast and easy with vintage lenses. They also have focus peaking in live view which I never use as I can focus faster in the viewfinder. You are right the Takumar 50mm 1.4 can be challenging wit its shallow depth of field
I REALLY need to get my hands on a Pentax DSLR, I hear AMAZING things about them. Their users are fiercely loyal, must be for good reason. I know my Canon 6D mark II is a huge pain to focus with vintage. The optical viewfinder makes it pretty hard to nail when wide for sure.
I only use manual focus lenses. I love the Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestor 135mm f2.8 but the focus throw is looong but it also has a nice adjustable aperture lock so I can switch from 2.8 to ex 8 without even looking at the numbers. Then some lenses have the focus scale reversed and even the aperture placement can be infront of the focus so know the lens if truly key when photo moving objects!
Why couldn’t they just make it a universal direction. Lol I now thay feeling, oh damn I’m on Russian glass I need to reverse this. Muscle memory really goes a long way; it doesn’t take much from it being completely disorienting to almost second nature. I love that; the mechanical motion vs that by wire system as well.
Thanks for your comment and insight mate!
today I got vibtage canon fd 28mm 2.8 for wide angel ,it does good job
Informative yet so funny. Subbed!
Balancing both is a challenge. Thanks mate! Glad you enjoyed it!
Amazing
Great video Mark - I think you know I love the MF.
But I learned some things about the focus-assist on the new bodies that will help - thank you.
And a really nice ending too with the old footage... 👍
Happy to hear it mate, manual focus GO!
I need help. I got a samyang lens for my canon 60d and all I need is the beep or the red dot that lights up in the middle to tell me it's in focus. THAT'S ALL I NEED PLEASE
I have quite a few vintage lenses so I'm so used to manual focus I rarely use AF when I use native lenses.
Does anyone know whether the Nikon Z50 has the focus Zoom function Mark talks about?
Good one, again!!
Thanks Luis, thought I would try to break down some possible barriers that might be holding people back. :)
I started with a Zenit camera which had a manual focus Helios lens (sharp but hard to focus) then I upgraded to Canon A-1 and also got a rangefinder. I used a friend’s EOS 2000D and I found really hard to manual focus with that camera (had a kit lens of 18-55 I guess). The focus ring just turns too much.
I have the a6300 and focus peaking and magnification features are godsent. But i find that using them simultaneously can be tiring. So i adapt old lenses like Pentax 50mm f1.4 or Vivitar 135mm f3.5 and just use focus zoom. Also manual is no challenge if you know your hyperfocal distance 😎
Absolutely!
I wish the split screen we had on film cameras worked with manual focus on digital cameras. I agree that manual focus makes a huge improvement in the quality of the photos, but it can be cumbersome to have to use the screen for setting focus. It's part of the deal with my mirrorless, of course, but on the DSLR, I sure wish that split screen thing worked. I have a fully manual Zeiss 50mm I LOVE, but I have to zoom way in to set focus and then set the exposure and then take the picture. It doesn't flow as well as simply being able to focus the picture and take it, you know? I guess for some things, we just have to go back to analog. Great video! I will look and see if any of my cameras offering peaking, but I kind of don't think so. 🌿
That split screen thing is so handy on those film cameras. I agree focusing manually through the eyepiece is tough on a modern DSLR. They offer NO aides really, just mark I eyeball and it's tough to land without any real help. The Mirrorless which gives you that digital 1:1 image based on your settings leaves little room for uncertainty. You can see visually if the shot is exposed correctly, how sharp it is and how the background/foreground is going to be rendered based on your aperture. It really makes shooting MUCH easier which in turn makes going back to manually dealing in those settings easier (less to worry about as you can see in real time how those changes affect your shot).
Thanks for watching Patty! Happy New year!
@@MarkHoltze Thanks for the interesting videos Mark! I really enjoy your take on things. I'm not overly technical, but I love learning about putting vintage and modern things together. My mirrorless is kind of a lower end camera, so I only use it for a handful of specific things. Like photographing projects for my blog. It's wonderful for super close up things with the filter I have for it. But it's not the greatest sensor. It's not expensive, so I can only expect it to do but so much. I haven't tried putting any vintage lenses on these cameras yet, but someday I would love to try it. My DSLR is a Nikon d600, so it's getting a wee bit old now, but it does what I need. I have a Nikon FM10, but not a great lens for it. I should invest in something that will let me use it and get the results I like. And Happy New Year to you as well!
Pattymac Knits from what I know Fujifilm has something like that
Ya they do I just saw that today actually! Super cool!
Dawid Piaskowski thanks for the tip! I’m not currently in the market for any camera gear, but I’m so glad to hear someone is bringing it back in.
Me(2 years ago): ah yes auto focus
Me(2 years ago): * drops 18-55 *
Autofocus: adios
Me(1 year ago): i have become a manual focus GOD
Me(now): hmm, neat video
sony a7 are the best cameras for vintage lenses. dont let me wait for a long the next video mark!
They are pretty great! The Full frame helps with the 1:1 lens focal length and really takes advantage of those fast aperture speeds and BOKEHHHHHHHHHH lol. I'd love to test these out on a Canon R or Nikon Z series. The newest of the mirrorless from the BIG photography giants.
@@MarkHoltze sont cameras technology is getting better all the time
Hi Mark, love the videos. You have inspired me to shoot with vintage lenses. I was wondering if you could give me a few recommendations. I would prefer a metal construction over something like plastic. Do you have any brands you recommend that have this high quality feel to them? Thanks.
Will Garrison SMC Takumars for sure. They’re inexpensive and they have the best ergonomics. Optics are pretty great as well! M42 mounts!
Hi Mark Good looking and great cont videos you have! Question. I just tried the focus zoom on my A7R2 with the Hellios 58 and the camera tells me that the function is invalid or the lens is not installed corectly... or something like that. Any ideas? I does work on my sigma 24 mm when the AF is turn of on the lens.
Try in your settings “shooting with lens off” or something along the lines. It’s looking for the lens connection and not detecting it (dumb adapter) so you can turn that off and on in the Sony menu. I just can’t remember what it’s called or where it is. Shoot with lens off or something like that.
Great video thanks! I love manual focus. For me, a SLR is better than a mirrorless for manual focus. With SLR you have all those helps in live view: focus peaking and zoom, and the viewfinder is on another level of the mirrorless :D. Plus, I don't know other brands, but pentax have focus confirmation with manual lenses, and even a function call catch in focus, that just fire when the subject is in focus, so you press the shutter, move the focus trough and automatically fire when it is on focus. I don't really like the focus peaking on sony´s, prefer the pentax focus peaking. On film, is other story, but you have helps two, with the focusing screens: split screen or micro prism, like both, micro prism for street or fast focus, split for more precision and calm shots. Cheers, nice lenses you got ;D
The last couple of videos I shot I found that I was craving manual focus. Auto wasn't doing it for me. This video is good for me.
Takes practice but I always choose it over auto now. Just need to work the technique and muscle memory. Best of luck mate!
@@MarkHoltze I'll definitely get in alot of practice. The only lenses u own are vintage so no auto anywhere even where I want it. I really appreciate your videos.
Great video thanks for this, I got a 45mm prime Olympus lens for my m-10 mk II and noticed that even with all image stabilization on, video can still bounce.
I'm pinning it down to the contrast only autofocus, so gonna have to learn me some manual focus in video ;)
The ergonomics of a camera like that I find are tough to naturally keep a steady shot. You need to use a lot of technique. Cinema cameras and ones like it are much easier, but still.
Technique can go a long way. It's hard to describe, but look up some video shooting techniques for smooth camera movements.
Might help mate.
@@MarkHoltze ok thanks mate :)
hi.. i want to know focus peaking option is available with manual lens adapers??
Yes it is.
Congrats my friend on 6k BOOM, it's time i bought you that beer. Sunday in the Distillery district .....let me know.
Hello, nice video! Can i ask you what lens was on in 5:30? Love the bokeh there. Thanks for answer.
Thank, Super Multi Coated Takumar 35mm F2. I reviewed it on my channel if you want to see more examples of it.
@@MarkHoltze Thanks (will chcek it for sure, even that i have in thar range CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4) im planning to buy few takumars too. Im from Czech Republic, so i mostly colected Carl Zeiss Jena, MOG, and russian lenses which are more common here. Now i wait for sony A7III (just sold eos 5dII) so the spectrum of usable lenses would be broadened. :-) To nail focus on my Canon with fast lenses was almost impossible (even with changed focusing screen) unless i used live view and magnification. I trust that with mirrorles i will finally be able to shoot through viewfinder too. (hope my english gives a sense). Good luck.
I've trained entirely on digital cameras, which all had auto focus capabilities.
However I never liked using the auto cause it usually wasn't picking the right thing.
So picking up a vintage lens the first time was actually more intuitive than I'd expected.
It is, especially with mechanical focus that has weight and limited rotations. It’s very Intuitive
Learning to pull focus was a necessity on the GH5. However, as much as I love how good the AF is on the X-T3 I now use, I still flip to M when I'm about to get really artsy fartsy. 🧐
Great video!
Perfect example of how sometimes restrictions force you to adapt and overcome. It's the FILMMAKING WAY really. Problem, fix it (especially when you can't just throw money at it). X-T3 looks like a fantastic camera. Never shot with a Fuji before but tried one out at a big trade show here in the fall. REALLY love the tactical feel of that camera, the switches and dials, classic look with modern bones.
Thanks for watching mate!
hi bro thanks alot for this awesome video :) I have a little question tho! I'm trying to shoot youtube videos (talking head) but I have nobody to assist me with the manual focus! I wanted to get a focus lens but they're quite expensive since I'm using a Sony full-frame camera, I'm only using manual lenses! please if you have any tips that would be superb ^^ have a good day!
It's tricky, i use a stand in and def record to a monitor I can see from my sitting position. I'm within arms reach of the lens so I can adjust the focus easily, but then when i''m talking I need to keep fairly still so as to nose lose that focus. Depends i guess if you're shooting wide open or stopped down, F/2.8 is probably the widest i'd go.
First, nice Monty Python bit.
Second, I found your video because I'm thinking about adding some vintage lenses to my Olympus m4/3 kit
I am thinking of getting 50mm manual lens for street photography. Zeiss Mivus or Rokinon 50mm f1.2 sp. It would be challenging for me and it will require lots of practice as well but I have a feeling that it will make me become a better photographer. I recently bought the Rokinon 85mm F1.2 fully manual lens and it is actually very fun and rewarding once I got the hang of it. Using auto focus lens for so long and it made me to take photos in centain way. I think using manual focus lens will be huge plus for me for the long run.
Totally feel the same as you do mate! The Rokinon, are those the Cine lenses?
@@MarkHoltze it is Rokinon EF 85mm F1.2 SP for Canon only. (Not the Cine lens)I knew that it had a fantastic optical quality and I use it with Canon EOS R. Focus peaking and the Manual focus assistance made my life much easier =) If I get the 50mm F1.2 from Rokinon, it would be SP series as well.
With the new technology, especially Sony, shooting video with auto-focus makes life so easy. But once you start to explore manual...life gets more interesting!
Spot on, Mark. Like you I use peaking and magnification on my Sony FF cameras. It's also worth mentioning that mirrorless cameras will also boost the screen brightness to make focusing easier. With a DSLR you can also replace your focus screen with a film style split image rangefinder, to make MF MUCH easier. FocusingScreen.com sell re-purposed new old stock screens cut specifically for each DSLR including any necessary spacers. I replaced the screen in my Pentax K5, and it works perfectly. AF still works normally too. There are so many choices now that make the use of vintage MF lenses a snap.
Jules! That is SO interesting I had NO idea! I'm going to check those guys out! I just realized i've been using too many !!!'s ;). Your knowledge is valuable! Thanks so much for these options!
I had no idea, thanks for telling us! My eyesight is going and I need all the help I can get!
My pleasure! What camera are you using?
Mark Holtze I have several Panasonic cameras and love them! Also a Canon which stays home a lot because of size and weight.
@@jonlouis2582 You can never have TOO many! That's awesome Jon, happy new year my friend!
1999 was a wild one for you mark hahaha
I'm legally blind in my left eye and when I shoot my own stuff I tend to shoot in auto focus for 90% of my shoots. However now switching to shooting on vintage lenses it's certainly a challenge hoping everything is IN FOCUS. The zoom button definitely helps if having an extra few moments before rolling cameras. But I shall give these tips a try next shoot I do tomorrow. Thanks for the tip Mark!
totally understandable mate, a lot of people who have not so great vision tend to find manual focusing tricky and that's totally understandable. I think as long as camera makers continue to offer some manual focusing solutions it will help everybody. Of course auto focus in photography was a MASSIVE shift for the better, it's what made Canon FD switch to EF (Electro-Focus) in 1987.
Hopefully these tips help you out mate, if not...all good!
Happy to offer whatever assistance I can, take care!
@@MarkHoltze thanks man your videos been helpful lately. Just got an Industar 50-2 and a Super Takumar 1:2 / 55mm lens this week and a Vivitar 85-205mm is on its way for my Canon 70D and T7is for the M42 mount. Looking forward to having fun with them! Keep it up!
@@vinnielangdonshow that's quite a haul mate! Your Vivitar, and Industar, what mounts do those take?
@@MarkHoltze M42. Grabbed a EOS-M42 Adapter on Amazon US for $7 and change from Fotiox.
@@vinnielangdonshow Nice mate! Enjoy those!
I just bought a vintage 135mm lens 2.8 and made some photos in the park. What I noticed is that even though i had focuspeaking on I could not always see red parts lighting up. When using focuszoom it zoomed so far that my view began to shake, so that is not always a solution. I managed to make some good shots but also a lot of fails. Maybe it was also because of the weather, overcast skies and it was already getting a bit darker, so I had to raise up the iso and the shutterspeed and had to use a more open aperture.
How would you focus with a 135mm lens?
Peaking just zero's in, I mostly use focus zoom though. Can always shift the amount of zoom I get and just use my eyes to dial it in further. I don't have any issue doing it, but i've been doing it for awhile and i'm accustomed to it, so check your focus zoom amount see if you can drop it back a bit so it's not quite so close. Practice, practice, practice. The 135 is almost my fav focal length with these lenses, but I guess it just depends on a few factors lol. Everybody is different.
@@MarkHoltze thanks Mark! I did notice when I would stand further away from my subject also helped a bit. I already have a 50mm 1.7 pentax, my favorite vintage at this moment. Which lens would you recommend to add to my gear?
I own quite a bit of vintage lenses. I use focus peaking on my Pentax K70 in Live View. I am surprised by how soft some of these lenses are.
Merci 👍👍👍👍 😁
My first camera was and is an a6400 and I couldn't afford but one lens sigma 30 and I purchased a ton of adapters not knowing what they were and so I started searching for lenses and I swear they are sharper I recently got the a7iv and I haven't tried it yet
Optical designs haven’t changed much, auto focus and coatings are the biggest advances. So the lenses should still hold up. Not perfect, but close ;) enjoy! The A7iv is a great cam
@@MarkHoltze yes it has been I do portraits and I need a better lens but hopefully I don't have to give up a cam for lenses
Very detailed video sir!! Can you provide some suggestions (Link and Name)for manual vintage lenses for Sony E mount? It would be much appreciated!
I would start off cheap and cheerful. Helios 44M 58mm F2 goes for around $30-$50. M42 camera mount so it uses an M42 to NEX (nex is Sony) adapter. Fotodiox makes the best ones imho.
If you love it than we can talk more. Check out some of my lens reviews to get more info and see if you like the images they render.
Seeing is believing.
Here if you have any other questions mate. Good luck!
@@MarkHoltze Thanks a million !!! I will check it out and let you know. Watching some more of your videos now, you have very good content. Thank for the quick reply! Have a good one.
My pleasure Toby. Thanks so much! I’m on twitter and Instagram if you have any questions and want to DM.
Hi Mark!
Here learning manual focusing skills, thanks for the awesome content!
JoseTheVegan on TH-cam c u in 2021 hehe
Focus peaking is a must with vintage lenses. I usually set mine to green as I find it pops in most situations. Bottom line manual focus takes time to get used to. Pick one lens and use it manually for a month and you will be quite skilled compared to when you started. 😉
Definitly! It’s amazing how quick you get accustomed to it. Wish the Sony did green. Panasonic?