NAIL YOUR MANUAL FOCUS - Why You Shouldn't Autofocus

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[gmolina]

On my A7III, for video mode, I turn the AF-ON button to "AF/MF Control Hold".
Then I switch to electronic MF (not the switch on then lens), and when I press AF-ON, it will grab focus wherever I aim the focus zone to, and when I release it goes back to MF preventing any shift of the focus plane. It's incredibly useful for run and gun situations as well, since at any given point in time you can just hold it and it'll be in AF until you release it. And it's vital when you don't have an external monitor with you.

When you're in AF mode, if you press it, it will go to MF. You can use the AF-ON button to hold that focus plane and then when you release it, it'll switch to AF. This is great for focus pulling as well.

Just thought I'd share this tip for hybrid AF/MF shooting. Cheers!

[j.tidwellphotography]

Mark, I dont usually comment on videos that I watch on youtube but after watching this video and your video about smoother handheld videography I am officially a lifelong fan! I've been searching all over for videos like this to no avail! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for making a youtube channel for novices and amature filmmakers like myself. Keep up the amazing work!

[keithabados]

That tire swing practice is actually a brilliant idea! Imma try that out for sure 👍🏼

[eifionjones]

5:30 zoom in to grab focus. Pretty sure this only works with a parfocal lens. 70-200 2.8 is close to parfocal but most zoom lenses aren't parfocal unless you're buying a broadcast zoom lens which costs a ton. Using magnification tool on your camera monitor or external monitor is a safer way to do the same thing.

[rafaelaoki]

Manual Focus still is the most natural way to work in cinematography, I work mostly in Weddings and love Using my Auto Focus in the 6Dmkii, it's an amazing feature, but my best shots, are using manual focus, the smoothness in the shots are decisive for an harmonic scene.... Great Video Mark! Keep it UP, Love your content!

[xmlthegreat]

I can never remember which direction to move the focus ring for farther or closer when the shot actually starts rolling. I think a follow focus is going to be really game changing.

[jbthementor]

Mark, I appreciate your knowledge you share with the YouTube universe. Your simple approach to getting the job done is amazing. When I see creators like you I'm so inspired to reach my maximum potential. Thank you

[adriansuter]

Thank you for actually teaching us real skills man and not just the usual gearjunky affiliate links BS! Priceless how you share your experience!

[ballermurph]

Since receiving my first DSLR, I have LOVED the control manual focus provides. I've been trying to practice manual focus techniques as much as I can. Thanks for the tips!

[BrianAndrewStephens]

Great tip on focusing on the tire swing. Perfect way to practice.

[ruled_by_third]

One of the best teacher and motivator of doc films! Thanks mark❤️

[HendrikusDeVaan]

Great advice on the tire swing thing, would never have thought of that.

In regards to zooming in to focus, I think most people shooting on dslr style cameras are probably not going to have parfocal lenses, so maybe doing a digital zoom in could be a good alternative (that's what I used to do back in my t2i days).

Love the channel!

[ononearts]

You have presented some of the best practical and well thought-out tutorials I have seen in this genre. Definitely a fan!

[ljtech]

I've been literally running away from buying a camera with not-so-good autofocus for doing the occasional videos I'm interested in. Your video just became gold to me! Subscribed!!

[dvampofo]

All the advice here is so valuable, especially the focus wheel and external monitor. I was having focusing issues and now will be switching to manual. Thanks for the great video :)

[Abatos]

This is the thing I've been working on, but still had no idea how to get even better until this video. Thanks!

[seanmacdougallsm]

Holy crap, the tire focus exercise is genius! I just finished shooting my major project for journalism school (a 10-minute short-documentary). I ended up having to shoot it on my Canon 6D w/ my 16-35mm F4. Since the 6D mark 1 doesn't have the fancy dual-pixel AF, I ended up doing manual focus for the entire project (about 8 hours of raw footage). Learning to do manual focus is such a skill and I think it is so valuable to learn and always be developing. I think the analogy of practicing follow focus as a camera person to an athlete that does training is spot

[phillipconleyjr]

Mark! Once again, great video. Manual focus has been intimidating for me, but something I know I have to tackle. I'd like to see a video about the difference shutter speed makes while filming (particularly when aiming for a certain vibe/mood/emotion in a film)

[nebvision]

What’s up Mark,

I love the channel man. You have a great balance of demonstration and information, and the lean toward focused cinematography is a breath of fresh air with so many “run-and-gun” type channels out there.

Keep killing it man!

[Aviciiz]

Manual focus is where we set the filmmakers apart from the Youtube vloggers