Photographers, Autofocus is Overrated.

[@torb-no]

I *just* got my first manual focus lens (for digital anyway) and this video was a big part of what convinced me to give it a shot. I thought it would be incredibly hard, but it ended up being way easier than I thought, especially once I set up my camera to be in black and white but have red peaking. In some ways it was easier than using autofocus lenes, because instead of trying to finagle the AF system to focus where I wanted I just… focused where I wanted! And I didn't need to focus and recompose, I didn't need to move the focus point, I didn't need to pray to the face tracking gods that it would be reliable… I just focused where I wanted. Sure, I did get a lot more out of focus than I usually do, but I got plenty of shots enough in focus that things worked. Interestingly it also made me respect aperture more, and I got more concious of narrowing it down more often to get more in focus (esp. for groups of people), which I should be doing anyway! So thanks for helping me along on this journey with this (and other) videos! I think I'm kinda hooked now.

[@doriyancoleman]

Getting to this one a bit late, but thank you! Manual gives you that extra bit of involvement that makes you "one with the camera and scene." It's definitely a bit tough in the beginning, but I'm glad that you stuck with it. Once you start you can't stop! 😄 I appreciate the support!

[@TryingtoLearntheuke]

Another wonderful video Doriyan. Thanks for putting it out.

[@doriyancoleman]

thank you so much Pam! glad you enjoyed it

[@martinlawrence8427]

Great points Doriyan, about Fujifilm (still love my X-T1) and manual focusing!

[@doriyancoleman]

thank you! manual focus is so fun

[@bendroege]

Nothing beats the feeling of nailing a shot with manual focus. Especially with digital cameras these days, it's refreshing to add at least one limitation back into the mix to mimic even a portion of that film photography experience. Great video as always Doriyan, always the most insightful and inspiring

[@doriyancoleman]

completely agree man! adding that control back to things is so fulfilling. i appreciate the love bro!

[@el0blaino]

Loved this video so much! For me, manual focus has been an unexpected part of the journey. When I first bought my x-t30, I wasn't sure if I would like zooms or primes, and wasn't sure if I could manage manual focus, so I got the kit zoom 18-55 and a manual focus 35mm. What I found as I started learning my way around the camera was that thinking about exposure took up too much of my brain, and so did having focal length choices with a zoom. Paring down to AF primes was pure heaven. I shot aperture priority so there again, fewer decisions. But I found that as I got better, I wanted the control that came from full manual exposure ... and now, just like you said - I want the control of manual focus. It occurred to me that for the past year or so, my frustrations and growth have all been centered around "learning to get my autofocus to do what I want it to do." Wait, what? And THAT'S going to be my journey? Flick that switch and go into manual, and just immediately go get what you want! You still might need autofocus for sports or something, but I think understanding a room, distance, depth of field - wow, that seems like you are really in command of your vision for a photograph.

[@doriyancoleman]

It’s crazy how things come full circle isn’t it! Glad you’ve found engaging and rewarding ways to proceed in your photography journey. Thank you for watching!

[@Donaldpoephotography]

You are 100% right about when signing a contract with manual focus. If you miss, it’s on you for missing and can show where you can improve. When you hit and “ come up strong” it is quite the greatest feeling in the world ! Great video Dorian! It is always a blast to watch your content and observe your art

[@doriyancoleman]

glad this (and more) has resonated with you! thanks for watching 🙏🏾

[@trevorbrooks813]

I grew up with manual focus, now I'm growing old with auto focus and occasional zone focus. Love your enthusiasm and emotion. Thanks.

[@doriyancoleman]

thank you Trevor! 🤝

[@sammy_sam_leonardo]

Great video, as always my guy. We might have been on a similar journey this past year or two you know… 18months ago, when I started taking my product photography more seriously I slowly realised manual focus, even with the Fujinon glass, was quicker and got me better results - funny that will all the technology in our hands, manual focus with focus check and red peaking got me the best results. End of last year I picked up the same Voigtlander 23mm f1.2 to use for just fun personal photos… and actually it’s changed my whole perspective. Autofocus is no longer a crutch, it’s very useful for certain things; but, there is another way… a more involved, more conscious way that allows us to make photos not just take photos. It’s cool following your journey. Have a great weekend 👍

[@doriyancoleman]

thanks! so many great points, and i’m gonna have to agree. manual focus not only puts you in control, but sometimes (often times) we know better than the machine. and yeah! you learn a lot about yourself/style using manual. while autofocus is a great achievement, getting better everyday, etc, our application of ourselves as artists is supreme imo, and manual is one way to actualize that 🤝

[@jacobmakes_jpg]

Keep up the great work Doriyan! Reminds me why I love to shoot manual.

[@doriyancoleman]

much love! and yes it’s so enjoyable and engaging.

[@SemajP514]

Cameras nowadays are definitely doing more of your work. While it does alleviate the workload, it takes away the creative satisfaction of completing an image yourself. Hence why I still lean on my 5D Mark III and dslrs. The mark III can't focus dark objects even with a blickey to my head. You definitely do become more aware of your surroundings when shooting manual for sure.

[@doriyancoleman]

completely agree. there’s a whole different level of engaging with both your creativity and where you’re at when using it!

[@khaliljamarr]

Shot grad photos this year completely manual with a Voigtlander lens on Fuji and medium format film and I 100% agree with everything you said. I felt like the cameras were truly an extension of my mind, rather than just a tool.

[@doriyancoleman]

much respect on the work! and it’s truly a special feeling to have that connection in your process.

[@lsamoa]

I started doing photography when auto-focus wasn't really a thing yet so I'm very comfortable with manual focusing. But I must say I like both equally. In some situations AF feels more useful, in others it's easier to just focus manually. What I do is set up my cameras so that I can easily switch between the two without much faff. Best of both worlds! Another nice thing with manual focus is that it reminds you that you need to vary your aperture depending on what you're shooting and not get into the bad habit of always shooting wide open hehe.

[@doriyancoleman]

fair points! and yeah manual really tells you “you’re on your own” and that’s very exciting. but both definitely have use cases 👍🏾

[@christophergibbons8748]

Great vid, once the Voit 27m comes out I'll deffo be trying manual focus for fun.

[@doriyancoleman]

thanks! seems like a lot of us are waiting for that lens.

[@peerlessportraits]

I take a mental snapshot of the scene and then close my eyes and manually focus. The only peeking I use is when I open my eyes for a split-second to check whether I’m turning my focus ring in the right direction. Then it’s back to closed-eye memory focus. Sure, my keeper rate is just over 4 percent, but there’s nothing better than being in tune with the universe and with the camera at the same time. But when money changes hands, I have to use the quickest and most efficient focusing system available to me so that I can divide my extremely limited mental capacity amongst the other contemporaneous aspects of making the image like lighting, posing, timing, angle, background management, encouraging the subject, discouraging the distractions, the exposure triangle with respect to the storytelling aspect of that image, and managing our time so that the client can get on with their day and I can fully prepare for my next appointment. I’m bound by contract to do so, but as the person who drafts those contracts, I suppose I brought this all on myself.

[@doriyancoleman]

That’s fair! Everybody has a different style and approach depending on the situation

[@devincutter_]

DLD4L!! Doriyan, Lee and Dee 4 life! I'd love to go on a street walk with you the next time im in town this summer!

[@doriyancoleman]

those are my guys! and for sure 🙏🏾

[@then_comes_dudley]

I shoot mostly street on an A7Riii with a Sony 50mm prime, and very rarely find myself wanting to use auto focus. I'm much happier setting my focus distance & mentally trying to measure the distance and gauge when to take a shot, rather than hoping & praying the (already slow) auto focus gets me there. But then even in settings where I could switch to auto focus I usually don't see a good reason to. Do I scroll through a menu to turn a setting on that I'm gonna turn off immediately afterwards anyway, or do I... turn the damn focus ring? (and even when the focus is a little soft, I remind myself that, like Henri Cartier Bresson said, "sharpness is a bourgeois concept," before crying myself to sleep)

[@r3dwheel]

Very good video. I agree with you totally. What do you suggest for those who don't have any focus peaking or assist on old cameras like Fujifilm x-pro1 ?

[@doriyancoleman]

street-wise, because of zone focus, go without it! assignment-wise, personally i’d do it if i had to, but that’s up to your comfort level.

[@r3dwheel]

@@doriyancoleman Thank you Man 🤝🏾 Yeah zone focus will be the solution 📸

[@heldercosta9514]

Exactly my experience as well. I used to think mf only cameras and lenses would be a nightmare experience, but as soon I learned and tried them on the school I realized the older the technology the better regarding, not only but mainly, focusing. The problem is technology is beeing made to make people lazier instead of learning the craft, evolving in that direction and not caring about those who want the best tool for the job. Nothing wrong making equipement like that to give artistic expression for anyone regardless of technical skill but then again, when im shooting digital i often feel like a digital canon a1 with a real scale on the lens was better than my r5.

[@doriyancoleman]

i think you really touched on it in the last part. auto / express settings are great for opening things up so people have the most accessibility, but when it comes to the feeling, engagement, enjoyment etc. manual and even film to a degree provide that on a higher level for people like us

[@coryirvin6651]

Would love to hear about lenses that you find enjoyable to use with manual focus.

[@doriyancoleman]

Just posted a few minutes ago about the Voigtlander 27mm F2!

[@dunkkid23]

This is the take we needed! 😎

[@doriyancoleman]

it had to be said! 💯

[@DeeRosa]

LETS GOOOOOOOO 😮‍💨😤

[@doriyancoleman]

thanks for always showing love 😭

[@emmanueltsI5]

Sold any digital dslr stuff a decade ago. Since then, I use only a film camera, without a light meter and just manual focus. In todays digital and fast world, that slow manual film photography helps (talking about the hobby here). Professional photographers surely have to be fast and autofocus helps, however I need to slow down after the normal daily madness at work and have some fun. Thankfully we can still shoot film with manual focus cameras. Wishing we had more offers from Epson, Voigtländer, Canon, Nikon and Fuji though, cause Leica prices are crazy.

[@doriyancoleman]

i agree from top to bottom, especially depending on the field of professional photography. slowing down definitely helps things as far as engagement and enjoyment, and yeah thank goodness manual focus is still being supported in general! also agree about wishing for more options, i’m surprised voigtlander and fuji aren’t more aggressive about providing options

[@quattro30]

I'm right there with you. Even my Leica SL with manual lenses give me a higher level of satisfaction..

[@doriyancoleman]

there’s just something about it! 📸

[@RyanTroy]

Great Video Bro!

[@doriyancoleman]

thank you bro! hope all is well!

[@peteslowtwitch9121]

Hi Doriyan, Being a frugal kind of guy, I have acquired a few ... ok a lot of manual lenses :) Recently found a Nikon d700 and the only Nikon lens I had for it was an old manual 50mm E series. It's been a blast using it. Being an old man, I don't mind the slower pace and I don't feel like the camera is doing all the work for me. pete

[@doriyancoleman]

i’m with you Pete! the fact that many of them (maybe not including voigtlander 😅) can be had for cheap, is such a big benefit

[@ekofotoz8260]

It'sDee! I love shooting manual.

[@doriyancoleman]

the homies Dee and Lee! some of our 60+ GB of video 😅

[@denislaroche3957]

nice video and insights, I do get the prideness factor when I make an image by myself in MF with manual exposure etc... I found that I enjoy MF mostly with a focus tab and a short focus throw (you know the 3 brand names...) where I can focus by feel even before putting the camera to my eyes (need at least 5.6 for it to work), do I miss sometimes ? yes but I am a hobbyist, so NO money or client on the line... Generally speaking I think more automatism on a camera = more chance to have a standardized image which I dont want. I think AI in photography could make people want to go back to more manual cameras that make mistakes, human mistakes, just a thought ... 😁 cheers from Montreal

[@doriyancoleman]

using some of Dee and Lee’s lenses for me hooked on a proper focus tab. and yeah sometimes we’ll miss, but honestly it’s not the end of the world. and fair take on the AI part! thanks for watching.

[@don7117]

The nice thing about shooting manual is that it forces me to s l o w d o w n and take the time to really pay attention with whatever I am shooting, rather than taking the spray and pray approach of AF. I always get better results that way. Fewer shots. Move keepers.

[@doriyancoleman]

agreed 100%!

[@n-kphotographyandstudio8774]

Well stated.!

[@doriyancoleman]

Much appreciated!

[@taniyageorgeolds1258]

Great video!

[@doriyancoleman]

thanks! 😁

[@thatchadmiller]

You from San Antonio?

[@doriyancoleman]

I’m from Cleveland shawty

[@donaldmfalls]

2014-2018 I was shooting on manual focus on all shoots. Af isn’t what made us better photographers, it just make us lazier

[@doriyancoleman]

definitely agree that AF doesn’t make us better!

[@christopherrodriguez7223]

Love love love manual focus/zone focus.

[@doriyancoleman]

it’s completely changed my approach to photography!

[@alyhazzaa]

Hey Dorian, do use focus peaking ? or other assist mode ? and if peaking High or low ? and I finally bought the lens after a 6 month of reviewing and second guessing

[@doriyancoleman]

focus peaking is heaven sent

[@francisbombus3949]

Word!

[@valdiskrebs566]

Autofocus IS overrated! I like to pick exactly what my camera focuses on. 😉 My favorite kit right now is my Olympus Pen-F with either the 25mm or 50mm TTArtisan f/2 manual focus, near-pancake lenses. Focus on exactly which part of the scene needs to be sharp, let the rest go to blur. If you want to point and shoot, set it at f/8 and 3m.

[@doriyancoleman]

same here. down the line, Olympus is one camera brand I’d love to try. to your point, even on the X-H2s (which is excellent), I’ve been manual focusing 😂

[@valdiskrebs566]

@@doriyancoleman Olympus Pen-F is great if you like shooting JPGs, like film-sims on the Fuji. But finding a good used Pen-F is a challenge. (Yes, Pen-F's shoot RAW also.) One day I would like the compare my Kodachrome film sims on the Pen-F to Fuji Kodachrome film sims ...

[@valdiskrebs566]

@@doriyancoleman Funny, as the world charges forward with AI and computational photography, I find myself inching backwards -- cameras from 2014-2018 and manual focus lenses. Very happy with those kits. 🙂

[@Lorak669]

Fujifilm and (reliable) autofocus does not work together

[@doriyancoleman]

while i prefer manual, that’s just not true

[@Lorak669]

@@doriyancoleman I get the manual feeling. It's beautiful, but You just mention about he 'hunting' in low light in Your video. Continues autofocus waaay behind competition. Face recognition algorithms all over the place. I know it's a small company but it's 2023. My canon 400D from 2007 has faster autofocus. When using sigma lens try to zoom in and out, look what is happening on the screen and focus. It's just disappointing.

[@doriyancoleman]

yeah, but i’ve experienced hunting from every camera brand i’ve used; absence of bright light can be tough in general i built 95% of my street catalog and portfolio using fujifilm cameras and their AF, to say it isn’t reliable would just be wrong

[@Lorak669]

@@doriyancoleman Fuji autofocus just ruined few potentially good shoots for me. Yes I was harsh with that judgement. Thanks for the video!

[@tobytobyson]

Why do we still bother, AI is already today so advanced that in a couple of years maybe even months or less you don't have to go out and deal with cameras in order to create (or let create) art and incredible creative and sharp photos

[@doriyancoleman]

AI art could become unstoppable within the next ten minutes, it still wouldn't be "real life". I think many people misunderstand the value of artistry and the blend of aesthetics and documentation that photography, in particular, is. plus, why would that make YOU stop taking pictures?

[@tobytobyson]

@@doriyancoleman very good question. It might not stop me on a fun and private level however it might limit me significantly on a professional level where an AI powered picture with its unlimited possibilities brings the money.

[@doriyancoleman]

@@tobytobyson how would AI replace forms of photography whose fundamental value is based on the fact that it’s centered around real life? also, making money from photography is exponentially more than just making a pretty image.

[@tobytobyson]

@@doriyancoleman with real life also being massively affected and changed by AI all what we consider as real life today will vanish and get beyond our imagination. When life moves into virtuality, what happens to the way we see photography today

[@doriyancoleman]

@@tobytobyson that doesn’t address my question but agree to disagree

[@NumberOneBlackGuy]

4th 😂

[@doriyancoleman]

insane profile name but thank you 😂

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

I've only clicked on this video to tell you that I've asked KZbin not to recommend your channel for making a video with this title.

[@doriyancoleman]

everybody watch out for this guy