Manual Focus lenses aren't dead!

jadedrakerider · 11-25-2009, 08:58 AM

This isn't so much news or a rumor as it is a musing.

I'm enheartened to see that there are still very high quality manual-focus lenses being manufacturer. I am thinking of the Japanese Zeiss brand and Voightlander by Cosina.

I'm very leerious now about autofocus lenses because I inherited a Sigma lens from the 80's for the EOS and I found that after two decades of autofocus advances, it didn't work on my Rebel XT.

Call me cheap. Call me old fashioned. But I really like using manual focus lenses for serious photography. I like the security in knowing that three decades from now, there will be no reason why I can't use the lenses I'm using now.

I'm not saying that auto focus doesn't have it's place. Candid portraiture, news and sports photography benefit greatly by the addition, but for everything else? Vive manual focus!

Peter Zack · 11-25-2009, 09:28 AM

You have a point but the new camera screens don't make MF as easy as the older film cameras were.

dragonfly · 11-25-2009, 09:39 AM

I still have to MF my kit lens because it never knows who I'm focusing on.

edl · 11-25-2009, 10:17 AM

Originally posted by dragonfly

I still have to MF my kit lens because it never knows who I'm focusing on.

Well how would it know? You have to show it what to focus on!

jadedrakerider · 11-25-2009, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

You have a point but the new camera screens don't make MF as easy as the older film cameras were.

Agreed. I've been playing around with getting a KatzEye for my Rebel XT, but it always seems like a waste since I'm planning on migrating to Pentax digital where I have a sizable arsenal of manual focus lenses.

KungPOW · 11-25-2009, 08:00 PM

You might notice that the Takumar thread is one of the largest on the forum.

pingflood · 11-28-2009, 07:11 PM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

You have a point but the new camera screens don't make MF as easy as the older film cameras were.

And the mirrors not reflecting as much light to the viewfinder doesn't help either.

As for your Sigma lens, thank Sigma for their reverse engineering efforts and refusing to pay Canon for official support.

**dadipentak** · 11-28-2009, 07:24 PM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

You have a point but the new camera screens don't make MF as easy as the older film cameras were.

My only film SLR was a Pentax Auto 110 so the DSLR viewfinders seem big & bright to me

spystyle · 11-28-2009, 07:36 PM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

You have a point but the new camera screens don't make MF as easy as the older film cameras were.

He says he's using a Canon EOS. You can buy (on eBay) an EOS to ___ (like M42) adapter that has a focus confirmation chip in the adapter.

With that chip focus is not done by eye, the viewfinder lights up when focus is achieved. So despite the dim penta-mirror viewfinder focusing is almost as easy as autofocus.

When you achieve focus with a manual lens the Canon's viewfinder's focus point lights up like this. I think it's great and fast.

This pic is my Nikon D40 with an AF lens (it only autofocuses with AF-S lenses so AF and AF-D are manual focus). The little dot at the bottom left indicates focus has been achieved, I don't like it much.

I really like the Canon with AF chip, it's really fast for manual focus lenses.

Cheers,
Craig

heatherslightbox · 11-29-2009, 05:09 PM

The issue you had with the Sigma lens is a pretty common problem with the older Sigma EOS mount lenses.

Another good resource for info on manual lenses of all kinds is Manual Focus Lenses :: Index. Like here, they're a pretty friendly crowd, as well. As a matter of fact, there are several people who post both here and there, so you'll recognize a few of the usernames.

I'm getting back into MF lenses for the first time since moving from Pentax to Canon, so I'm starting to collect old cheap M42 lenses. Last week, I picked up a Vivitar 35/2.8 and I just picked up a Sears 55/1.4 just this morning. I've already got the Vivitar, but I'm waiting on the EOS-M42 adapter (with focus confirm chip) to arrive before I can actually go out and play with my new toy.

Heather

FotoPete · 12-09-2009, 12:28 PM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

You have a point but the new camera screens don't make MF as easy as the older film cameras were.

...and thats why we shoot PENTAX. They some of the best viewfinders on the block!

stevebrot · 12-10-2009, 03:53 PM

Originally posted by FotoPete

...and thats why we shoot PENTAX. They some of the best viewfinders on the block!

That should be past tense. Compared to almost any film slr from the late '70s on, even Pentax viewfinders suck. (A small nod to the 100% coverage of the K-7)

Steve

Wheatfield · 12-10-2009, 04:42 PM

Originally posted by jadedrakerider

I'm very leerious now about autofocus lenses because I inherited a Sigma lens from the 80's for the EOS and I found that after two decades of autofocus advances, it didn't work on my Rebel XT.

It probably barely worked when it was new. Canon is famous for making "advances" to ensure that the third party manufacturers stuff isn't forwards compatible. You can be assured that any Canon EF lens ever made will work properly on any Canon DSLR ever made.

spystyle · 12-10-2009, 04:57 PM

Nikon does one even worse, they release cameras that can't meter their own lenses of the same mount.

ie : My Nikon D40 can't meter a nice manual Nikon AI-S lens. Even though they are both Nikon F-mount lenses.

pingflood · 12-10-2009, 09:33 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

It probably barely worked when it was new. Canon is famous for making "advances" to ensure that the third party manufacturers stuff isn't forwards compatible. You can be assured that any Canon EF lens ever made will work properly on any Canon DSLR ever made.

And Sigma is famous for not paying Canon the licensing fee and reverse engineering the protocol, rendering their lenses incompatible.

11-25-2009, 08:58 AM	#1
jadedrakerider Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mohave Valley, AZ Photos: Gallery Posts: 214	Manual Focus lenses aren't dead! This isn't so much news or a rumor as it is a musing. I'm enheartened to see that there are still very high quality manual-focus lenses being manufacturer. I am thinking of the Japanese Zeiss brand and Voightlander by Cosina. I'm very leerious now about autofocus lenses because I inherited a Sigma lens from the 80's for the EOS and I found that after two decades of autofocus advances, it didn't work on my Rebel XT. Call me cheap. Call me old fashioned. But I really like using manual focus lenses for serious photography. I like the security in knowing that three decades from now, there will be no reason why I can't use the lenses I'm using now. I'm not saying that auto focus doesn't have it's place. Candid portraiture, news and sports photography benefit greatly by the addition, but for everything else? Vive manual focus!

11-28-2009, 07:36 PM	#9
spystyle Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Maine, USA Posts: 424	Originally posted by Peter Zack You have a point but the new camera screens don't make MF as easy as the older film cameras were. He says he's using a Canon EOS. You can buy (on eBay) an EOS to ___ (like M42) adapter that has a focus confirmation chip in the adapter. With that chip focus is not done by eye, the viewfinder lights up when focus is achieved. So despite the dim penta-mirror viewfinder focusing is almost as easy as autofocus. When you achieve focus with a manual lens the Canon's viewfinder's focus point lights up like this. I think it's great and fast. This pic is my Nikon D40 with an AF lens (it only autofocuses with AF-S lenses so AF and AF-D are manual focus). The little dot at the bottom left indicates focus has been achieved, I don't like it much. I really like the Canon with AF chip, it's really fast for manual focus lenses. Cheers, Craig Last edited by spystyle; 11-28-2009 at 07:44 PM.

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11-25-2009, 09:28 AM	#2
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	You have a point but the new camera screens don't make MF as easy as the older film cameras were.

11-25-2009, 09:39 AM	#3
dragonfly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: on the wall Photos: Gallery Posts: 715	I still have to MF my kit lens because it never knows who I'm focusing on.

11-25-2009, 10:17 AM	#4
edl Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 457	Originally posted by dragonfly I still have to MF my kit lens because it never knows who I'm focusing on. Well how would it know? You have to show it what to focus on!

11-25-2009, 04:13 PM	#5
jadedrakerider Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mohave Valley, AZ Photos: Gallery Posts: 214 Original Poster	Originally posted by Peter Zack You have a point but the new camera screens don't make MF as easy as the older film cameras were. Agreed. I've been playing around with getting a KatzEye for my Rebel XT, but it always seems like a waste since I'm planning on migrating to Pentax digital where I have a sizable arsenal of manual focus lenses.

11-25-2009, 08:00 PM	#6
KungPOW Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,699	You might notice that the Takumar thread is one of the largest on the forum.

11-28-2009, 07:11 PM	#7
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169	Originally posted by Peter Zack You have a point but the new camera screens don't make MF as easy as the older film cameras were. And the mirrors not reflecting as much light to the viewfinder doesn't help either. As for your Sigma lens, thank Sigma for their reverse engineering efforts and refusing to pay Canon for official support.

11-28-2009, 07:24 PM	#8
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by Peter Zack You have a point but the new camera screens don't make MF as easy as the older film cameras were. My only film SLR was a Pentax Auto 110 so the DSLR viewfinders seem big & bright to me

11-29-2009, 05:09 PM	#10
heatherslightbox Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,599	The issue you had with the Sigma lens is a pretty common problem with the older Sigma EOS mount lenses. Another good resource for info on manual lenses of all kinds is Manual Focus Lenses :: Index. Like here, they're a pretty friendly crowd, as well. As a matter of fact, there are several people who post both here and there, so you'll recognize a few of the usernames. I'm getting back into MF lenses for the first time since moving from Pentax to Canon, so I'm starting to collect old cheap M42 lenses. Last week, I picked up a Vivitar 35/2.8 and I just picked up a Sears 55/1.4 just this morning. I've already got the Vivitar, but I'm waiting on the EOS-M42 adapter (with focus confirm chip) to arrive before I can actually go out and play with my new toy. Heather

12-09-2009, 12:28 PM	#11
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	Originally posted by Peter Zack You have a point but the new camera screens don't make MF as easy as the older film cameras were. ...and thats why we shoot PENTAX. They some of the best viewfinders on the block!

12-10-2009, 03:53 PM	#12
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by FotoPete ...and thats why we shoot PENTAX. They some of the best viewfinders on the block! That should be past tense. Compared to almost any film slr from the late '70s on, even Pentax viewfinders suck. (A small nod to the 100% coverage of the K-7) Steve

12-10-2009, 04:42 PM	#13
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,986	Originally posted by jadedrakerider I'm very leerious now about autofocus lenses because I inherited a Sigma lens from the 80's for the EOS and I found that after two decades of autofocus advances, it didn't work on my Rebel XT. It probably barely worked when it was new. Canon is famous for making "advances" to ensure that the third party manufacturers stuff isn't forwards compatible. You can be assured that any Canon EF lens ever made will work properly on any Canon DSLR ever made.

12-10-2009, 04:57 PM	#14
spystyle Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Maine, USA Posts: 424	Nikon does one even worse, they release cameras that can't meter their own lenses of the same mount. ie : My Nikon D40 can't meter a nice manual Nikon AI-S lens. Even though they are both Nikon F-mount lenses.

12-10-2009, 09:33 PM	#15
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169	Originally posted by Wheatfield It probably barely worked when it was new. Canon is famous for making "advances" to ensure that the third party manufacturers stuff isn't forwards compatible. You can be assured that any Canon EF lens ever made will work properly on any Canon DSLR ever made. And Sigma is famous for not paying Canon the licensing fee and reverse engineering the protocol, rendering their lenses incompatible.