Sort of in a way and you can also include white balance for elimination as well...different films have different kelvin temperatures (at least this is the case for color films) There is no focus peaking in any of the films cameras I have ever used. I believe modern AF film units from the majors (they still make them too!) are very capable of nailing focus consistently. Yes a small notebook is one way of doing it and a good method as well.
Not to try to persuade you in any fashion but I will contrast my previous paragraph concerning film with what I think digital in the same sort of terms is like. One of the great advantages of digital is that you can snap away snap away at a much lower cost per image than with film. I refer you to a saying by the great photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. HCB said "Your first ten thousand photographs are your worst." Modern AF capability and low light performance in digital cameras is sort of in a golden age nowadays IMO. The newer cameras are simply outstanding. A good analogy might be flight envelopes. A P51 Mustang has a great flight envelope...a F4 Phantom has a superior one. Still they will all get one where one needs to go. With a modern digital wifi capable camera and a digital notepad or laptop or whatever one can drop snaps on these devices and have the data recorded faster than snapping your fingers almost.
I intend on using manual focus since I wouldn't be doing any sports shots. But that's a surprise, they still manufacture film cameras? I always thought there's only antique and refurbished ones now. Any you know of(slr/rf) that's fully mechanical in those? I'm totally the type that adores mechanical structures. I've seen some film camera reviews where in the middle of the frame lines there's misaligned lines to help with focusing. How does those type work? I assume not all viewfinders work in that way right? Im gonna assume in those type the manual focus assist lines work only for the middle of the framing? Be patient with me haha I know that's a crap load of question)