charjohncarter
Veteran
I use them both: AF with wide lenses, manual with normal of mid-tele lenses.
Bill Clark
Veteran
Digital cameras all auto focus capable.
Film cameras all manual focus.
Film cameras all manual focus.
ChipMcD
Well-known
35mm SLRs 100% AF
35 mm rangefinders 100% MF
Medium format 100% MF
Digital cameras 100% AF
35 mm rangefinders 100% MF
Medium format 100% MF
Digital cameras 100% AF
Finglas
Established
Only ever used lens manual focus.
The rangefinder lens are 2 Leica and 1 M Hexanon are manual.
The lens for Nikon SLR all manual (even the old zoom lens too)
The very last zoom lens I had was an AF - but used it with full manual overide as it couldn't be used any other way on a Nikon FE or FM2n.
The rangefinder lens are 2 Leica and 1 M Hexanon are manual.
The lens for Nikon SLR all manual (even the old zoom lens too)
The very last zoom lens I had was an AF - but used it with full manual overide as it couldn't be used any other way on a Nikon FE or FM2n.
Takkun
Ian M.
90% MF on my end. Shoot RFs most of the time, plus a Bronica and a Nikon; for the latter I only own 1 AF lens. Similar to others, when I do shoot a DSLR, it's with old MF lenses. Electronic focus confirmation is nice.
My own declining eyesight (mild strabismus, farsightedness, astigmatism in my dominant eye) was one of the reasons for the switch to RFs. When I used SLRs, as cameras upgraded from 3 to 5 to 11 to 51 AF zones, I found it a lot more difficult to actually figure out what was being focused on. Camera smarter than the operator, I guess. Even with a good focusing screen, like the matte/microprism/RF spot one in the SQ, it's still pretty tough, but doable, though not fast. Mostly I don't always trust the AF but can't see well enough to determine if man and machine agree.
Every so often I take out the nikon street shooting, thinking AF will help, and I get everything but what I want in focus. Camera hunts and hunts, and while with MF I probably would have lost the shot anyway, it's more frustrating when you can blame the camera. Or maybe more satisfying?
AF was nice for a project I did a while back involving cats. Mine, at least, does nothing but sit all day until a camera is pointed at her, then it's warp speed.
My own declining eyesight (mild strabismus, farsightedness, astigmatism in my dominant eye) was one of the reasons for the switch to RFs. When I used SLRs, as cameras upgraded from 3 to 5 to 11 to 51 AF zones, I found it a lot more difficult to actually figure out what was being focused on. Camera smarter than the operator, I guess. Even with a good focusing screen, like the matte/microprism/RF spot one in the SQ, it's still pretty tough, but doable, though not fast. Mostly I don't always trust the AF but can't see well enough to determine if man and machine agree.
Every so often I take out the nikon street shooting, thinking AF will help, and I get everything but what I want in focus. Camera hunts and hunts, and while with MF I probably would have lost the shot anyway, it's more frustrating when you can blame the camera. Or maybe more satisfying?
AF was nice for a project I did a while back involving cats. Mine, at least, does nothing but sit all day until a camera is pointed at her, then it's warp speed.
Sumarongi
Registered Vaudevillain
RFs, VFs and SLRs: 100% manual focus. 
My only AF camera is a Nikon Coolpix L120 -- exactly the same experience!
Every so often I take out the nikon street shooting, thinking AF will help, and I get everything but what I want in focus. Camera hunts and hunts, and while with MF I probably would have lost the shot anyway, it's more frustrating when you can blame the camera. Or maybe more satisfying?
My only AF camera is a Nikon Coolpix L120 -- exactly the same experience!
Contarama
Well-known
I don't like auto anything... autofocus, auto exposure, automatic transmissions, etc
Michael Markey
Veteran
I don't like auto anything... autofocus, auto exposure, automatic transmissions, etc
You`re very lucky that your subject matter allows you to do that.
d_c
Established
I only have a manual focus rangefinder so 100% MF here. Having said that I have only ever found AF gets in the way, but that might just be me.
Contarama
Well-known
You`re very lucky that your subject matter allows you to do that.
I tend to shoot wide/normal and stopped down regardless of the subject (typically stationary) so lucky somewhat I suppose but also good old fashioned technique which makes manual focus not so much of a challenge
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