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Focusing using manual lenses

Started May 22, 2017 | Questions thread
klimbkat
klimbkat Senior Member • Posts: 2,659
Re: Focusing using manual lenses

gaetanonline wrote:

Hi!

I love my Pentax and I sometimes use manual lenses with it.

I have da problem about focusing. I use catch-in-focus and all settings are fine.

I see camera always use center point to focus.

When I shoot half-lenght portraits at f.2/8 eyes are out of focus.

I tried to "focus and recompose technique" but I still have the same problem.

In my opinion that's because the focus point is not the head (the eyes) but it's lower, so even if focus plane is in focus, focus point is not.

Maybe I could solve the problem using smaller apertures f.5/6 or shooting only headshot for portrais

How do you suggest to solve the problem if I want to go on using manual lenses?

Consider changing your in-camera focus point to one closer to the eyes.  Also, consider experimenting with a model (anybody) to see where on a person you should focus to achieve the desired result when you recompose.  Finally, experiment with each lens more generally with varied targets to determine whether or to what extent the focal plane is curved, knowledge that will help you with your recomposition.

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