You can use manual focus to get sharp images. Manual focus may not be the best option for all situations. However, if your subject is relatively still, this is a good way to get a sharp image.
Here are some examples of how manual focus can benefit you and why. Let’s first look at how you can set your lens for manual focus.
You can set your lens to Auto or Manual on the lens, not in the interface of the DSLR.
Below is an Nikon Lens. “M” indicates Manual, and “M/A”, Autofocus. Canon lenses have “MF” letters for Manual Focus, and “AF” symbols for Autofocus.
Make sure that your lens is set on Manual focus.
The “Focusing Ring”, shown in the picture below, is a ring that can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise on the lens to focus.
When you open an image in your computer after taking a photo at f/1.8 you may find that the subject’s nose is perfectly sharp, but the eyes are slightly out of focus.
This is an autofocus problem that we have all experienced at some point.
This is because your camera and lens are focused on the closest thing to the lens. Your subject’s nose will always be closer to the camera than their eyes.
Manual focus will ensure your focus is where you want. This is particularly true if your camera has a large aperture.