Manual Focus vs Autofocus for Video - Why you shouldn't Auto focus

Manual Focus vs Autofocus for Video. Which is better!?
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Manual Focus vs Autofocus for Video
• Manual Focus vs Autofo...

[@markzola8142]

For the last 15 years of filming I use both, ceremony, speeches and first dance in manual, everything else auto, it hasn't failed me yet 🤞

[@AdamWingFilms]

If it ain’t broke..!

[@nicoleschlorff5985]

Thank you. This is literally the only video that made me calm down and feel comfortable in saying “I got this” for shooting video manually

[@AdamWingFilms]

You definitely do got this 💪

[@pki2127]

Next step is "AF/MF toggle" - if you master this function you have best of both worlds (autofocus and manual focus).

[@AdamWingFilms]

Yet to give it a try but will sure have a go!

[@dgerman1]

Great advice, I has the same problem using auto focus with my Sony a6600 during a wedding.

[@AdamWingFilms]

Best not to risk it!

[@PaulDoldenDetails]

Just got a Sigma 17-50mm for my Canon 700d yes it’s an old body now but found hunting issues with the Sigma and the kit lens on autofocus so switched to manual it’s saved me from binning a large percentage of my footage thanks so much for this video 🇬🇧👌🏻👌🏻

[@AdamWingFilms]

Great to hear! Nice work Paul

[@RockWILK]

Amen to all of this. I'm with you. Primes all the way, and manual focus, and interesting lenses with character. I come from the music business before my life became theater and film, and I always loved working on a Neve board, because it has its own sound, its own personality. This gritty, grainy perfect imperfection. Just like real life. Just like manual focus. Much more dynamic, and yes, if auto focus misses, it doesn't look like real life at all. It just looks like a digital experimental mess. I also use auto focus sometimes for my talking head video stuff, but even then, if the contrast is too similar, I have lost focus for a few minutes in a video, and it just looks stupid. Anyway, thanks for the great insight. Keep up the awesome work. I subscribed. Peace.

[@AdamWingFilms]

Appreciate the words, thanks for watching dude! Always nice to hear from like minded souls 👍

[@RockWILK]

@@AdamWingFilms 💯

[@ared18t]

Manual focus also completely frees you up with composition as well

[@nguyensdigitalvideoproduct7624]

Thanks Adam.

[@AdamWingFilms]

You’re very welcome!

[@SUBtrauma]

I tried doing some video at a festival using AF and it kept failing miserably.. I have 0 experience with video, so naturally I was hired to do video.. :/ Hoping to learn more and get better and better with video so i can keep getting festival gigs

[@AdamWingFilms]

Keep at it! I always think learning manual is like learning to drive. If you can manual you can do both.

[@edwardlindsay3501]

Vielen Dank! Sehr hilfreiches Video! (:

[@AdamWingFilms]

Thank you 😊

[@usmvnjaved]

Cool, now a part of me wants to shoot with manual where the other part is still resisting.

[@AdamWingFilms]

Do it do it 😈

[@samatardavidbndphotofilm]

My fujifilm XT4 with a 23mm f1.4 was all over the place during my last wedding. It couldnt figure out who to focus on when there was a crowd. I gotta figure out this manual focus thing or I will be out of a job soon lol.

[@AdamWingFilms]

Haha. don’t over think it. Pick a spot to focus on and let people move in and out of it. Boom, “cinematic” 🤣

[@samatardavidbndphotofilm]

@AdamWingFilms Thanks man. I appreciate the advice. The leap from photo to video is next level.

[@ken7el]

great video!!

[@AdamWingFilms]

Thanks!

[@FixItWithJon]

Interesting - thank you for sharing. Would you always use AF for shooting yourself e.g. vlogging?

[@AdamWingFilms]

Yeah probably for vlogging, if moving with camera etc. this is just specific to filming weddings

[@andricperez4872]

What are your thoughts about photography on this issue?

[@AdamWingFilms]

I’m just a videographer I’m afraid, no experience with photography but I’d imagine most would prefer autofocus where photo is concerned

[@BenHolbrookWeddingFilms]

Hi Adam, loving your minimalist style. I'm just wondering if you wear a dual camera strap so you can use two cameras/lenses at a time? Or do you just just lenses as and when needed? Cheers!

[@AdamWingFilms]

Hey thanks Ben! Nope i just use one lens at all times 👍

[@dingdong5601]

@@AdamWingFilms Is that an 85mm?

[@AdamWingFilms]

I use 55mm for 95% of everything, then a 24mm for wide angles of ceremony etc.

[@dingdong5601]

@@AdamWingFilms Hey thanks for the reply. Love your style, dude.

[@DG-Films]

Hey Adam, when your manual focusing, and for doing focus pulls doe the focus ring work based on the speed you turn it or the abgke of rotation?

[@AdamWingFilms]

yeah based on speed. Will make more subtle shift if turning slowly

[@DG-Vlogs]

Great video Adam - what do you recommend for your 2nd cam in a tripod which may be unmanned and depending on venue/church etc may not be accessible during the ceremony/speeches ie how do you guess the square on the screen to lock focus where you expect the bride and groom to be standing and hit record 5/10 mins before ceremony starts and hope that they remain in focus throughout a ceremony...any pointers would be great, shooting my first wedding this July and just not sure what to do with my 2nd cam Cheers Darren.

[@AdamWingFilms]

Hey D. Yeah I just have my 2nd cam set on manual focus. I’ll place the focus on where the groom will be stood just before the start of the ceremony, and always shoot this on f5.6 aperture so you have a deeper field of focus, a bit more leniency. Couple of quick still images as test shots, to check the frame and focus is right always helps. Best of luck!

[@PhilippeOrlando]

I totally agree with you. I have a Lumix GH4 and I'm using older Nikkor in manual focus. I'm actually looking to switch system and pick up a used Sony a7S II . Any think you'd want to say?

[@AdamWingFilms]

Highly recommend it! Great camera

[@PhilippeOrlando]

@@AdamWingFilms Thanks!

[@jdc2126]

For static shots, yes. But good luck manual focusing on a gimbal.

[@AdamWingFilms]

Oh yeah for sure that’s a skill and a half 🤣 I don’t use gimbals personally.

[@Allthingsvadya]

what brand is your t shirt

[@AdamWingFilms]

All saints 🙂

[@Scriptshepherd]

What would you say about using Sony eye tracking AF for unmanned cameras at the ceremony? For example, I often have an unmanned camera on the groom, and will manually focus on him, but he'll move slightly, and the shot will be unfocused later. Would eye tracking AF be more reliable in this scenario? I just got the A7siii

[@AdamWingFilms]

Possibly would work.. personally I set my unmanned camera to f5.6 so there’s a wider plane of focus. That’s always enough to cover the groom moving

[@Scriptshepherd]

@@AdamWingFilms Thank you for the quick response and insight mate. Appreciate you

[@Nasrmsaleh]

is a tripod necessary? I got a saymon 135 MF yesterday but I felt tha tmy hand is shaking a lot.

[@AdamWingFilms]

Tripod or monopod maybe in your case. Reduces the shake but still gives you freedom of movement

[@NomadAlex]

if you are doing video, won't manually adjusting the focus move your camera around and make the footage shaky? or if using a stabilizer, you wont be able to do both....

[@AdamWingFilms]

I would say on a gimbal it’s tricky to manual focus maybe, though it’s doable, but otherwise changing focus while handheld, on a monopod or tripod, shouldn’t move the camera. Especially if your camera has good ibis

[@KBFilms2]

What if you lens has a long throw?

[@hindsightweddingfilms8116]

60p all day? 24p? When do you use either? Do you use a wearable camera strap or lens bag?

[@AdamWingFilms]

50p all day for me. Or 48fps as equivalent. I just carry a camera on a strap for most of the shooting, I have a bag of course for all my over gear.

[@kuramafox1290]

Hi Adam wing, I'm thinking of buying a canon 6d with 50mm for the full frame look and low light. But it doesn't have autofocus. Is this worth it? I'm getting it used at 260 dollars

[@AdamWingFilms]

for photo or video? if video, go for it. Best to learn and master manual focus than rely on auto. Unless you're taking pictures, I'd think you would need auto for that

[@kuramafox1290]

@@AdamWingFilms video 📷

[@mathewsmith6321]

Do you use focus peaking? If so, low medium or high? (Sony shooter too). Thx!

[@AdamWingFilms]

Just medium mate, and yellow 😊

[@alexbusuioceanu]

one of the confetti shots has autofocus, you can see it hunting of a fraction of a second

[@AdamWingFilms]

Nope, I can promise you it’s all 100% manual

[@dskweddingraphy]

All point are fair but how can u be run n gun with it?

[@AdamWingFilms]

No different to auto, maybe half a second longer to focus 😅

[@williamthe3rd222]

Hi Adam, Just got my sony A7s and Samyang 50mm lens based on your suggestion. I want to do strictly manual focus but the lens is focus by wire. So this means even if I master manual focusing on this lens, it may not be transferable onto other lenses and building muscles memory would be impossible? So do you use focus by wire every time or am I missing something?

[@AdamWingFilms]

You’ll still find it easier going from FBW to full focus than you would going straight from auto focus. It’s more about the principles of how to focus, when to focus/when not to, the imperfection of it.. Also the idea of mastering one lens is not to change it often, mine hasn’t moved for 4 years or so now.

[@williamthe3rd222]

@@AdamWingFilms ahh okay that does makes sense then. Looks like I will carry on building that loyal relationship with my Samyang 😆. Highly Appreciate response and content mate 👍👏

[@eduardocortes-dv4lo]

Hi , are you 100 % handhell in this days or are you using the monopod ?

[@AdamWingFilms]

Monopod just for ceremony and speeches, handheld for all b-roll

[@nunooliveira4257]

Very nicely explained. I've been a pro photographer for a long time, and I always wanted to do video too, cause I love it. Do you manage to manual focus properly with say the small display on a A7S III ? I mean, we can not rely on the display of the best photography cameras for focusing purposes cause it's too small. We really need auto-focus. So how do you do it in video??

[@AdamWingFilms]

Yes I’m 100% manual focus. I use peaking to help and trust my eye a lot of the time. I find the EVF easier than display. For filming I tend to find a focal point and just let subjects move in and out of focus, if it doesn’t quite work then it’s an “artistic choice” 🤣

[@theburts]

Hi Adam, I vlog using a Song a5100 and am thinking of getting a 12mm to use with it in Manual focus, do you think this will work as a good set up? as i currently use the stock lens in autofocus. cheers

[@AdamWingFilms]

12mm fine, should work well. But I would go auto focus if you’re vlogging. You want it to keep you in focus at all times hands feee. Easier with AF

[@theburts]

@@AdamWingFilms oh ok cool. Cheers dude I will look for a 12mm AF lens

[@PhilipTopping]

I've been practicing manual focus this past while (quite tricky) as my auto focus is terrible (Nikon D750) ;)

[@AdamWingFilms]

All the more reason to work manually I guess!

[@PhilipTopping]

@@AdamWingFilms Just wondering how you record sound from the DJ?

[@AdamWingFilms]

As in a feed for speeches etc.? Nope. Only ever done it once or twice

[@PhilipTopping]

@@AdamWingFilms Meant more for music the DJ is playing

[@AdamWingFilms]

Ah ok. Nah

[@Yodd]

I dont even need to see the video to know this dude has an ego. As a filmmaker you should use whatever tool gets you the best end result. Saying dont use autofocus is just plain dumb. I can name 10 shots that are not possible or extremely hard as a one man crew without autofocus. But no, lets listen to this dude who says he will NEVER use autofocus even tho the techonlogy might absolute slap manual focus in 5/10 years time. “ look at me client i shot this by turning the focus ring! I can rotate my wrist!”

[@AdamWingFilms]

Your handle is ‘yourdaddy’ and you are judging the content of the video without bothering to even watch it, and I have the ego? 😂 Thanks for sharing 🙏

[@Yodd]

@@AdamWingFilms yeah because my handle is relevant for this argument😂. I love how people who have nothing to say on the topic try to look for something else to discredit the commenter. “Good point, but your profile pic is bad so your comment is bad too”.

[@AdamWingFilms]

Did you watch the video out of interest?

[@Yodd]

@@AdamWingFilms i did and it has a lot of bad info in it. I dont mind if you dont want to use autofocus thats fine. But dont give out horrible advice, and telling people to not use autofocus. Using autofocus doesnt mean you never mannually focus, it means you decide for each shot what is the best tool. Also i find it hilarious that you are using autofocus to record this video, but tell people not to use it in your title.

[@AdamWingFilms]

Appreciate your comment and opinion, cheers.