Am I nuts for wanting manual focus primes?

heinamj · 11-20-2020, 07:15 PM - **1 Like**

This summer I got the Samyang 135mm F2 ED UMC with manual focus and I LOVE it! Now I want the 35mm F1.4 AS UMC... (Lens Buying Addiction never quits)

I figure, why not? Pentax AF may never equal C and I almost always shoot center spot anyway.

Feels like Back to the Future for me...

**luftfluss** · 11-20-2020, 07:20 PM

Many of us enjoy manual focus.

**david94903** · 11-20-2020, 07:23 PM

Nope, I think you're just fine. I have a number of manual focus lenses that I love using. And if I'm shooting macro with my AF lens, I put the camera on MF mode. I often use Live View with manual focus, which almost always will give me a sharper image that using AF. Plus I enjoy the MF workflow when shooting in the field.

dbs · 11-20-2020, 07:23 PM

Nuts .. no

maybe to those that prefer auto focus

**disasterfilm** · 11-20-2020, 07:45 PM

You're sane. Those lenses are absolutely incredible. The 35mm is a Sigma ART killer.

Also their 24mm f/1.4 is a marvel, and their 20mm f/1.8. And their 16mm f/2. And definitely the 85mm f/1.4.

I know it's a popular position on this forum to advocate for Pentax-only lenses, and I get it. But Rokinon/Samyang provide so much that Pentax just doesn't do by itself yet. In fact, them making these in K-mount is pretty much what kept me in the system.

ChristianRock · 11-20-2020, 07:47 PM

I enjoy manual focus lenses quite a bit so no, I don't think that you are crazy

**ismaelg** · 11-20-2020, 08:06 PM - **1 Like**

Welcome to the club!

**luftfluss** · 11-20-2020, 08:09 PM

Choosing manual focus lenses is also an effective way of obtaining glass that is otherwise unavailable or prohibitively expensive; in my case, 300/2.8 + 400/4 + 500/4.5, in total less than the cost of a used DFA 150-450.

**manishved** · 11-20-2020, 08:10 PM

I used to enjoy them with older Pentax digital bodies - since AF was so slow and kept hunting. Sometimes I used MF even during event shoots because I was worried about losing the shot due to show AF. With the K1-II we are a lot better off with AF. Of course, I still have some of my Carl Zeiss MF lenses - they are just incredible.

stevebrot · 11-20-2020, 08:18 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by heinamj

Am I nuts for wanting manual focus primes?

Yes, you are nuts, but not so crazy as me. I just thought you would find that comforting in some perverse way.

Steve

(...took delivery today of a Samyang 14/2.8 ED AS IF UMC...)

**ramseybuckeye** · 11-20-2020, 09:01 PM

Nope! Not saying I don't use autofocus and love my autofocus lenses, but in some cases manual focus is just better. I prefer manual focus on the tripod and nearly always use it.

**Just1MoreDave** · 11-20-2020, 09:11 PM

Yes, you are nuts. Current AF is great! Except of course in a few months it will be obsolete when the K-3III is out. It will be able to track a mosquito in flight at 18mm.

**FozzFoster** · 11-20-2020, 09:20 PM

entirely depends on what I am shooting.
I sometimes depend on AF as the subject is moving way too quickly for me to focus upon.
Sometimes manual focus is easier and can be more rewarding during the process.

**pepperberry farm** · 11-20-2020, 09:30 PM

Originally posted by heinamj

This summer I got the Samyang 135mm F2 ED UMC with manual focus and I LOVE it! Now I want the 35mm F1.4 AS UMC... (Lens Buying Addiction never quits)

I figure, why not? Pentax AF may never equal C and I almost always shoot center spot anyway.

Feels like Back to the Future for me...

no more than I am.....

prime, prime, everywhere a prime... - PentaxForums.com

that thread is over 750 pages now and is nothing but my obsession with my next prime, almost all of them manual focus....

**Gorgarath** · 11-20-2020, 10:54 PM - **1 Like**

I'm trying to get better with MF. Do love my A50/1.7 and my Tokina 28mm is nice as well. May have a 500mm mirror lens on the way soon too. Was also looking at a M135.

I do have a 70-200 MF zoom that I'm not fond of. Not sure why, but I just dislike using that one.

11-20-2020, 07:15 PM - 1 Like	#1
heinamj Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Photos: Gallery Posts: 366	Am I nuts for wanting manual focus primes? This summer I got the Samyang 135mm F2 ED UMC with manual focus and I LOVE it! Now I want the 35mm F1.4 AS UMC... (Lens Buying Addiction never quits) I figure, why not? Pentax AF may never equal C and I almost always shoot center spot anyway. Feels like Back to the Future for me...

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11-20-2020, 07:20 PM	#2
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Many of us enjoy manual focus.

11-20-2020, 07:23 PM	#3
david94903 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Rafael, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 806	Nope, I think you're just fine. I have a number of manual focus lenses that I love using. And if I'm shooting macro with my AF lens, I put the camera on MF mode. I often use Live View with manual focus, which almost always will give me a sharper image that using AF. Plus I enjoy the MF workflow when shooting in the field.

11-20-2020, 07:23 PM	#4
dbs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Clare Valley S A Photos: Albums Posts: 7,563	Nuts .. no maybe to those that prefer auto focus

11-20-2020, 07:45 PM	#5
disasterfilm Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 406	You're sane. Those lenses are absolutely incredible. The 35mm is a Sigma ART killer. Also their 24mm f/1.4 is a marvel, and their 20mm f/1.8. And their 16mm f/2. And definitely the 85mm f/1.4. I know it's a popular position on this forum to advocate for Pentax-only lenses, and I get it. But Rokinon/Samyang provide so much that Pentax just doesn't do by itself yet. In fact, them making these in K-mount is pretty much what kept me in the system.

11-20-2020, 07:47 PM	#6
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	I enjoy manual focus lenses quite a bit so no, I don't think that you are crazy

11-20-2020, 08:06 PM - 1 Like	#7
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,681	Welcome to the club!

11-20-2020, 08:09 PM	#8
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Choosing manual focus lenses is also an effective way of obtaining glass that is otherwise unavailable or prohibitively expensive; in my case, 300/2.8 + 400/4 + 500/4.5, in total less than the cost of a used DFA 150-450.

11-20-2020, 08:10 PM	#9
manishved Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N. Calif Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,651	I used to enjoy them with older Pentax digital bodies - since AF was so slow and kept hunting. Sometimes I used MF even during event shoots because I was worried about losing the shot due to show AF. With the K1-II we are a lot better off with AF. Of course, I still have some of my Carl Zeiss MF lenses - they are just incredible.

11-20-2020, 08:18 PM - 2 Likes	#10
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by heinamj Am I nuts for wanting manual focus primes? Yes, you are nuts, but not so crazy as me. I just thought you would find that comforting in some perverse way. Steve (...took delivery today of a Samyang 14/2.8 ED AS IF UMC...)

11-20-2020, 09:01 PM	#11
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	Nope! Not saying I don't use autofocus and love my autofocus lenses, but in some cases manual focus is just better. I prefer manual focus on the tripod and nearly always use it.

11-20-2020, 09:11 PM	#12
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Yes, you are nuts. Current AF is great! Except of course in a few months it will be obsolete when the K-3III is out. It will be able to track a mosquito in flight at 18mm.

11-20-2020, 09:20 PM	#13
FozzFoster Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	entirely depends on what I am shooting. I sometimes depend on AF as the subject is moving way too quickly for me to focus upon. Sometimes manual focus is easier and can be more rewarding during the process.

11-20-2020, 09:30 PM	#14
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,678	Originally posted by heinamj This summer I got the Samyang 135mm F2 ED UMC with manual focus and I LOVE it! Now I want the 35mm F1.4 AS UMC... (Lens Buying Addiction never quits) I figure, why not? Pentax AF may never equal C and I almost always shoot center spot anyway. Feels like Back to the Future for me... no more than I am..... prime, prime, everywhere a prime... - PentaxForums.com that thread is over 750 pages now and is nothing but my obsession with my next prime, almost all of them manual focus....

11-20-2020, 10:54 PM - 1 Like	#15
Gorgarath Total n00b Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 735	I'm trying to get better with MF. Do love my A50/1.7 and my Tokina 28mm is nice as well. May have a 500mm mirror lens on the way soon too. Was also looking at a M135. I do have a 70-200 MF zoom that I'm not fond of. Not sure why, but I just dislike using that one.