Street photography with manual focus lenses

micromacro · 06-23-2014, 11:26 AM

Faces are not friendly. Scary!

I've practiced with 28mm on pentax. Actually, neck strap is very helpful to reduce shaking. After a while it's possible to feel where to focus while turning head away from a camera.

f/8 seems working when I can figure out the "blind" focus correctly.

**Kerrowdown** · 06-23-2014, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by OregonJim

Just set the distance scale on the lens to the approximate distance you'll be shooting from, and stop the lens down to f/8 or f/11. Aperture priority and ISO 400. You'll be fine.

Exactly the kinda way I work too.

Kozlok · 06-23-2014, 07:46 PM

I'd use Catch In Focus. Should work some percentage of time. At lease SOMETHING will be in focus.

Imageman · 06-27-2014, 08:57 PM

There is no issue.

Check the camera settings using aperture priority mode and adjust the ISO so that you get the reciprocal of your focal length as a shutter speed at f8 or f11.

Set the far depth of field marker of the chosen aperture so its on infinity on the focus ring scale.

Make sure your further away from your subject than the near depth of field mark reads on the focus scale.

Now just point and shoot.

**hjoseph7** · 07-09-2014, 01:55 PM

I use to shoot street photography back in the late 80's when I first got into photography. I don't think I could do it now. Developing film is way too expensive and with my old eyes I would say that 50% of the pictures on a roll would be out-of-focus. The good ting these days is that you can scan film and tweak it in PS. This was impossible back in the days.

scomatic · 07-09-2014, 06:30 PM

Hi,
I do use only manual lens on street... But sometime feel frustrate too due the object was moving away while we focusing. Anyway, I'm only use SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4 lens when in street photograph.

Here is example photo taken by SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4:

**hjoseph7** · 07-27-2014, 08:34 PM

For candid shots without being detected try using live view and pretend you are shooting something else. A quiet shutter is a must though.

Mattco26 · 07-27-2014, 10:43 PM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

Exactly the kinda way I work too.

Same for me. I use a K-01 with either a Ricoh 28mm f/3.5 or a Hoya 24mm f/2.8. Set at around 9 feet and f/8 then have at it. If the subject is further away I just turn the lens to infinity.

formercanuck · 07-28-2014, 08:28 AM

Hmm... that area looks familiar, Todd.

**todd** · 07-28-2014, 01:30 PM

Originally posted by formercanuck

Hmm... that area looks familiar, Todd.

By the AMC movie theaters in Burbank CA, crossing San Fernando Blvd...

06-23-2014, 11:45 AM	#17
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,815	Originally posted by OregonJim Just set the distance scale on the lens to the approximate distance you'll be shooting from, and stop the lens down to f/8 or f/11. Aperture priority and ISO 400. You'll be fine. Exactly the kinda way I work too. Last edited by Kerrowdown; 06-24-2014 at 02:43 AM.

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06-23-2014, 11:26 AM	#16
micromacro Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,722 Original Poster	Faces are not friendly. Scary! I've practiced with 28mm on pentax. Actually, neck strap is very helpful to reduce shaking. After a while it's possible to feel where to focus while turning head away from a camera. f/8 seems working when I can figure out the "blind" focus correctly.

06-23-2014, 07:46 PM	#18
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	I'd use Catch In Focus. Should work some percentage of time. At lease SOMETHING will be in focus.

06-27-2014, 08:57 PM	#19
Imageman Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 461	There is no issue. Check the camera settings using aperture priority mode and adjust the ISO so that you get the reciprocal of your focal length as a shutter speed at f8 or f11. Set the far depth of field marker of the chosen aperture so its on infinity on the focus ring scale. Make sure your further away from your subject than the near depth of field mark reads on the focus scale. Now just point and shoot.

07-09-2014, 01:55 PM	#20
hjoseph7 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,046	I use to shoot street photography back in the late 80's when I first got into photography. I don't think I could do it now. Developing film is way too expensive and with my old eyes I would say that 50% of the pictures on a roll would be out-of-focus. The good ting these days is that you can scan film and tweak it in PS. This was impossible back in the days.

07-09-2014, 06:30 PM	#21
scomatic Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 472	Hi, I do use only manual lens on street... But sometime feel frustrate too due the object was moving away while we focusing. Anyway, I'm only use SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4 lens when in street photograph. Here is example photo taken by SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4:

07-27-2014, 08:34 PM	#22
hjoseph7 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,046	For candid shots without being detected try using live view and pretend you are shooting something else. A quiet shutter is a must though.

07-27-2014, 10:43 PM	#23
Mattco26 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 118	Originally posted by Kerrowdown Exactly the kinda way I work too. Same for me. I use a K-01 with either a Ricoh 28mm f/3.5 or a Hoya 24mm f/2.8. Set at around 9 feet and f/8 then have at it. If the subject is further away I just turn the lens to infinity.

07-28-2014, 08:28 AM	#24
formercanuck Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: SoCal Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 518	Hmm... that area looks familiar, Todd.

07-28-2014, 01:30 PM	#25
todd Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,791	Originally posted by formercanuck Hmm... that area looks familiar, Todd. By the AMC movie theaters in Burbank CA, crossing San Fernando Blvd...

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