Catch In Focus (Almost a great Idea) Sorry for beating a dead horse

photolady95 · 05-09-2017, 07:49 AM

Albert, my Vivitar M 200mm is coupled with a Sigma AF 1.4x TC, are you saying that CIF won't work with the TC attached?

**brightseal** · 05-09-2017, 07:53 AM

Originally posted by photolady95

200mm

Funny you mentioned , Have an idea to try my 200 f/4 with a Raynox DCR 250

photolady95 · 05-09-2017, 08:10 AM

Actually, donlass, for long lenses more than 100mm you need the Raynox I have. The DCR-150. The DCR-250 works better on short lenses. I can attest that the 150 doesn't give the magnification on a lens like my 50mm that I could get if I had the DCR-250 but alas, I sold that one to a member here, thinking I wouldn't ever need it. Now I could use it, I don't have it.

BrianR · 05-09-2017, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by donlass

It is very annoying I can not use CIF with DFA 50 or DFA 100. What was Ricoh thinking? Some engineer guy got paid a lot of money for this, but on the bright side it gives me a reason to use some old glass......

Engage the focus clamp... It's supposed to work for CiF on the dfa50 and definitely works on the Dfa100mm (the earlier non-WR version has a clamp).

Some folks will use the lens release button to disengage the AF of a DA lens, if it's not quite fully mounted you can make the camera think it's a MF lens.

I've also been confused for years why the cameras don't have menu overrides to allow CiF with any da lens.

photolady95 · 05-09-2017, 08:20 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by BrianR

Some folks will use the lens release button to disengage the AF of a DA lens,

I don't know if I'd trust that method. I'd be afraid my lens would fall out.

I think someone mentioned that to me when I asked about using AF lenses for CIF.

**brightseal** · 05-09-2017, 08:22 AM

Originally posted by photolady95

The DCR-250 works better on short lenses

Thanks for that. Well I have 2 cheap cheaps , M 50/1.4 and an A 50/2. Wish me luck!

---------- Post added 05-09-17 at 11:28 ----------

I don't know how these things work but I wonder if it is possible for Ricoh to update the firmware to allow CIF to work with any lens?

---------- Post added 05-09-17 at 11:29 ----------

Originally posted by BrianR

Engage the focus clamp

Seriously?

BrianR · 05-09-2017, 08:29 AM

Originally posted by photolady95

I don't know if I'd trust that method. I'd be afraid my lens would fall out.

I think someone mentioned that to me when I asked about using AF lenses for CIF.

It's a method for people who don't drop things... Hence, I don't trust it either

. I thought it was worth mentioning though

photolady95 · 05-09-2017, 08:35 AM

Originally posted by donlass

A 50/2

The A 50mm f2 is what I shot the fly with.

BrianR · 05-09-2017, 08:35 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by donlass

Seriously?

For realsies. Manually focus to where you want, engage clamp, proceed with CiF. The clamp adds massive friction to the focusing ring AND tells the camera that the lens is MF, so the AF will not engage when the clamp is on.

**brightseal** · 05-09-2017, 08:40 AM

Originally posted by photolady95

The A 50mm f2 is what I shot the fly with.

Ok, but somehow I doubt it's going to work the same for me.......

photolady95 · 05-09-2017, 08:46 AM

Originally posted by donlass

Ok, but somehow I doubt it's going to work the same for me.......

With the DCR-250 attached to the end of the lens, it should work if you setup CIF.

The reason I was using a TC was because I didn't have the 250, this setup helped because with the TC it essentially extended the focal length of the lens. Though even that setup still didn't give me the magnification I was looking for, if I'd had the 250, I wouldn't need the TC.

photolady95 · 05-09-2017, 08:50 AM - **1 Like**

I thought I'd search the forum on the clamp idea. I found this thread from 2010 and member creampuff gave an excellent response, if you care to read it here's the link.

lens clamp - PentaxForums.com

**brightseal** · 05-09-2017, 08:54 AM

Originally posted by photolady95

it should work

I meant I doubt I can achieve results I'm happy with. For whatever reasons I can not get these razor crisp sharp images I see all over this forum. I don't have the experience. Maybe CIF will help......

photolady95 · 05-09-2017, 09:01 AM

CIF and an fstop of more than f8. The fly was shot at f16.

And practice. It doesn't cost anything to practice, except time. Be patient, it takes time to get it right. I didn't start out getting them in focus first try at macro, it took years.

And when shooting insects, never let your shadow fall across the subject.

**jatrax** · 05-09-2017, 09:32 AM

Originally posted by photolady95

What's the big deal of back button focus when you still have to press the shutter button to take the photo? With catch in focus, you hold the shutter button all the way down, not half press to achieve focus, then when your subject is in focus, the camera trips the shutter for you.

If the camera is set to BBF then CIF will not work. Since my camera is set to use back button focus the only way to use CIF is to change the settings in the menu back to shutter button focus. Not impossible, just cumbersome. I wonder if you can set a user mode up for CIF?

05-09-2017, 08:29 AM	#22
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	Originally posted by photolady95 I don't know if I'd trust that method. I'd be afraid my lens would fall out. I think someone mentioned that to me when I asked about using AF lenses for CIF. It's a method for people who don't drop things... Hence, I don't trust it either. I thought it was worth mentioning though

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05-09-2017, 07:49 AM	#16
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Albert, my Vivitar M 200mm is coupled with a Sigma AF 1.4x TC, are you saying that CIF won't work with the TC attached?

05-09-2017, 07:53 AM	#17
brightseal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 629 Original Poster	Originally posted by photolady95 200mm Funny you mentioned , Have an idea to try my 200 f/4 with a Raynox DCR 250

05-09-2017, 08:10 AM	#18
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Actually, donlass, for long lenses more than 100mm you need the Raynox I have. The DCR-150. The DCR-250 works better on short lenses. I can attest that the 150 doesn't give the magnification on a lens like my 50mm that I could get if I had the DCR-250 but alas, I sold that one to a member here, thinking I wouldn't ever need it. Now I could use it, I don't have it.

05-09-2017, 08:17 AM	#19
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	Originally posted by donlass It is very annoying I can not use CIF with DFA 50 or DFA 100. What was Ricoh thinking? Some engineer guy got paid a lot of money for this, but on the bright side it gives me a reason to use some old glass...... Engage the focus clamp... It's supposed to work for CiF on the dfa50 and definitely works on the Dfa100mm (the earlier non-WR version has a clamp). Some folks will use the lens release button to disengage the AF of a DA lens, if it's not quite fully mounted you can make the camera think it's a MF lens. I've also been confused for years why the cameras don't have menu overrides to allow CiF with any da lens.

05-09-2017, 08:20 AM - 1 Like	#20
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Originally posted by BrianR Some folks will use the lens release button to disengage the AF of a DA lens, I don't know if I'd trust that method. I'd be afraid my lens would fall out. I think someone mentioned that to me when I asked about using AF lenses for CIF.

05-09-2017, 08:22 AM	#21
brightseal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 629 Original Poster	Originally posted by photolady95 The DCR-250 works better on short lenses Thanks for that. Well I have 2 cheap cheaps , M 50/1.4 and an A 50/2. Wish me luck! ---------- Post added 05-09-17 at 11:28 ---------- I don't know how these things work but I wonder if it is possible for Ricoh to update the firmware to allow CIF to work with any lens? ---------- Post added 05-09-17 at 11:29 ---------- Originally posted by BrianR Engage the focus clamp Seriously?

05-09-2017, 08:35 AM	#23
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Originally posted by donlass A 50/2 The A 50mm f2 is what I shot the fly with.

05-09-2017, 08:35 AM - 1 Like	#24
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	Originally posted by donlass Seriously? For realsies. Manually focus to where you want, engage clamp, proceed with CiF. The clamp adds massive friction to the focusing ring AND tells the camera that the lens is MF, so the AF will not engage when the clamp is on.

05-09-2017, 08:40 AM	#25
brightseal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 629 Original Poster	Originally posted by photolady95 The A 50mm f2 is what I shot the fly with. Ok, but somehow I doubt it's going to work the same for me.......

05-09-2017, 08:46 AM	#26
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Originally posted by donlass Ok, but somehow I doubt it's going to work the same for me....... With the DCR-250 attached to the end of the lens, it should work if you setup CIF. The reason I was using a TC was because I didn't have the 250, this setup helped because with the TC it essentially extended the focal length of the lens. Though even that setup still didn't give me the magnification I was looking for, if I'd had the 250, I wouldn't need the TC.

05-09-2017, 08:50 AM - 1 Like	#27
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	I thought I'd search the forum on the clamp idea. I found this thread from 2010 and member creampuff gave an excellent response, if you care to read it here's the link. lens clamp - PentaxForums.com

05-09-2017, 08:54 AM	#28
brightseal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 629 Original Poster	Originally posted by photolady95 it should work I meant I doubt I can achieve results I'm happy with. For whatever reasons I can not get these razor crisp sharp images I see all over this forum. I don't have the experience. Maybe CIF will help......

05-09-2017, 09:01 AM	#29
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	CIF and an fstop of more than f8. The fly was shot at f16. And practice. It doesn't cost anything to practice, except time. Be patient, it takes time to get it right. I didn't start out getting them in focus first try at macro, it took years. And when shooting insects, never let your shadow fall across the subject.

05-09-2017, 09:32 AM	#30
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by photolady95 What's the big deal of back button focus when you still have to press the shutter button to take the photo? With catch in focus, you hold the shutter button all the way down, not half press to achieve focus, then when your subject is in focus, the camera trips the shutter for you. If the camera is set to BBF then CIF will not work. Since my camera is set to use back button focus the only way to use CIF is to change the settings in the menu back to shutter button focus. Not impossible, just cumbersome. I wonder if you can set a user mode up for CIF?