diopter correction on the 10D..

[sequitur]

anybody feels that even after correcting the diopter, the manual focus still can't beat autofocus ?

it seems that i may have corrected the diopter to the sharpest image i can get, but when i MF, the sharpness of the image in my viewfinder is not accurate after i take the shot and examine it.


anybody has the same feeling ?

[Ah Pao]

Hmm...probably the design of the focusing screen doesn't help in MF-ing. To have precise MF you'll need a spilt-screen focusing screen or something similar.

Besides, I thought EOS cameras will light up the green spot upon "subject-in-focus" even when doing MF?

[behyx]

Originally Posted by Ah Pao Besides, I thought EOS cameras will light up the green spot upon "subject-in-focus" even when doing MF?

is that true??

[CaeSiuM]

Originally Posted by sequitur anybody feels that even after correcting the diopter, the manual focus still can't beat autofocus ?

Go on blaming the equipment.

[sequitur]

Originally Posted by CaeSiuM Go on blaming the equipment.

blame what equipment ?

i just happen to like to manual focus sometimes.

i mean, maybe one day you could try it out with my camera and you'll know what i mean.

[behyx]

Originally Posted by sequitur blame what equipment ? i just happen to like to manual focus sometimes. i mean, maybe one day you could try it out with my camera and you'll know what i mean.

Sequitur, don't despair, i'm in your shoes too, but mine is a D30.. my best solution is to auto focus at something with great contrast (because camera 'see' objects by their intensity of light.. that's why some cameras have problem focusing in low-light condition). then when u r sure your camera is confirm in focus already, u tune your diopter to the sharpest image you can see through the viewfinder. this way, your diopter is calibrated.

finally, manual focus on modern AF cameras is disaster. the best focusing screen for manual focus is split screen.. which, unfortunately, we D30, D60, 10D users cannot use.

[sequitur]

okay
i already have the "sharpest possible" image from correcting the diopter, in PROPER FOCUS. however this "sharpest possible" image is not the sharpest. turning a bit of the manual focus will lead to the sharpest image. however this sharpest image is OUT-OF-FOCUS when taken.

what's funny is that, yeah i can get that sharpest image when i manual focus, but however i turn the diopter, this sharpest image will never appear on autofocus.


note when i say sharpest image.. i mean from the viewfinder, not the recorded image.


anyway what's a split screen and all ? i don't have problems manual focusing with my eos33. in fact it's so much more fun to manual focus on my eos33 than anything.

[behyx]

Originally Posted by sequitur okay i already have the "sharpest possible" image from correcting the diopter, in PROPER FOCUS. however this "sharpest possible" image is not the sharpest. turning a bit of the manual focus will lead to the sharpest image. however this sharpest image is OUT-OF-FOCUS when taken. what's funny is that, yeah i can get that sharpest image when i manual focus, but however i turn the diopter, this sharpest image will never appear on autofocus. note when i say sharpest image.. i mean from the viewfinder, not the recorded image. anyway what's a split screen and all ? i don't have problems manual focusing with my eos33. in fact it's so much more fun to manual focus on my eos33 than anything.

i think your 10D is back-focusing or front-focusing.. i'm not 100% sure, others can help verify your problem here..

This is a split screen:


left one is out of focus, right one is in focus. very accurate and precise manual focus with this focusing screen!

[sequitur]

hmm ? no my body is not backfocusing nor frontfocusing

i mean the viewfinder image

oh so that's a split screen

okay thanks for the info

[ST1100]

The correct way to tune the diopter is not by viewing an image, but by viewing the information (ie shutter speed/aperture etc) inside the viewfinder. Once you get the diop to the point where the info is the sharpest, the diop is tuned for your eye.

[Kit]

The 10D has a built in focussing aid(Nikon call it electronic rangefinder). Notice everytime your object is in focus, a green dot will appear together with a beep(if you on it). Can try using that. Alternatively, use pre focus or hyper distance focussing.

[Ah Pao]

Originally Posted by behyx is that true??

RTFM.
At least it does on the EOS 300. It won't beep in MF, but the green dot will still show when subject is in deemed in focus.

That's provided the light condition is good enough for AF in the first place.

[jbma]

I manual focus most of the time. I like to manual focus. Gives me a sense of control. You should try what ST1100 suggest. It may be something else.

[RCheah]

I agree with sequitur.
When I switched to the D30 from my EOS 5, the viewfinder was such a world of difference. Firstly, there's the 1.6 crop. Next I could never achieve a "proper" diopter adjustment. One part of the view could be clear, but not another part.

It seems that the part of the viewfinder nearer the eye, where I presume the diopter adjustment is made, is not as precise.

IMO, with such a small area left after the cropping, MF will not be accurate unless it's a very bright scene.

[sequitur]

hmm

yup the focus points do light up.. they blink when your designated focus point (mine's the centre focus point) is in focus. for the 10D it's very quick to blink so actually it isn't much of a problem. however if you're in MF mode the green point lights up all the time i think. for my EOS33 it takes a very long time for the focus point to blink. as such MF (for speed shooting) is really how sharp you see the image and then snap.

ST1100, i'll try out your method and see how it works. for now i'll just stick to AF on the digital body. i think i'm more comfortable MF-ing on my film.

thanks all for replying.