Nikon 35mm SLR: manual focus vs. auto focus
 

Dear Gurus,

Since an AF Nikon 35mm SLR will also have the capacity to do manual
focus, I am wondering what is the advantage in general of an MF Nikon
over an AF Nikon. I understand that an AF one probably will be bulkier
and heavier than an MF one, and the MF lense speed is faster. But in
addition to those, what are the benefits, image quality-wise, of an MF
Nikon? Are MF feature of an AF body the same as MF feature of an MF
body? Thanks in advance for help!

SS

A MF body has a nicer focusing screen for MF work and the MF lenses turn
more and with additional resistance. By nicer I am referring to the
microprisim screens vs what is basically ground glass for the AF bodies.
These features are desirable if you are into MF. If you do not need
the speed, MF is more accurate than AF. You can carefully pick the exact
point of focus where as the AF systems seem to get the focus point some
where inside of the DOF and go with it. The Nikon MF bodies are compact
and stoutly built. If you are into fast action shooting, the AF bodies
and lenses are great. But if you are more into things shot from a
tripod the MF system holds some advantages. I am sure that is why Nikon
still makes MF bodies. Not all of us are sports photo journalists. As
far as the MF lens speed being faster, f stop is independent of the
focusing method.

Perhaps if you were to mention what bodies/lenses you are considering...


S. S. wrote:
Dear Gurus,

Since an AF Nikon 35mm SLR will also have the capacity to do manual
focus, I am wondering what is the advantage in general of an MF Nikon
over an AF Nikon. I understand that an AF one probably will be bulkier
and heavier than an MF one, and the MF lense speed is faster. But in
addition to those, what are the benefits, image quality-wise, of an MF
Nikon? Are MF feature of an AF body the same as MF feature of an MF
body? Thanks in advance for help!

A MF body has a nicer focusing screen for MF work and the MF lenses turn
more and with additional resistance. By nicer I am referring to the
microprisim screens vs what is basically ground glass for the AF bodies.
These features are desirable if you are into MF. If you do not need
the speed, MF is more accurate than AF. You can carefully pick the exact
point of focus where as the AF systems seem to get the focus point some
where inside of the DOF and go with it. The Nikon MF bodies are compact
and stoutly built. If you are into fast action shooting, the AF bodies
and lenses are great. But if you are more into things shot from a
tripod the MF system holds some advantages. I am sure that is why Nikon
still makes MF bodies. Not all of us are sports photo journalists. As
far as the MF lens speed being faster, f stop is independent of the
focusing method.

Perhaps if you were to mention what bodies/lenses you are considering...


S. S. wrote:
Dear Gurus,

Since an AF Nikon 35mm SLR will also have the capacity to do manual
focus, I am wondering what is the advantage in general of an MF Nikon
over an AF Nikon. I understand that an AF one probably will be bulkier
and heavier than an MF one, and the MF lense speed is faster. But in
addition to those, what are the benefits, image quality-wise, of an MF
Nikon? Are MF feature of an AF body the same as MF feature of an MF
body? Thanks in advance for help!

Actually the MF will be the heavier given similar models. They tend to be
old designs with mechanical linkages and metal bodies. The only advantage to
them is that some equipment snobs will tell you that you'll learn more about
photography from them - they are wrong, and in fact actually don't have the
vaguest idea how wrong they are, but that's the way they are, and no amount
of evidence is gonna change them.
Go for AF - and take a look at Canon and Pentax while you're at it. Nikon
has been running on empty for a while now.

--
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com
home of The Camera-ist's Manifesto
The Improved Links Pages are at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/links/mlinks00.html
A sample chapter from "Haight-Ashbury" is at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/writ/hait/hatitl.html

"S. S." wrote in message
om...
Dear Gurus,

Since an AF Nikon 35mm SLR will also have the capacity to do manual
focus, I am wondering what is the advantage in general of an MF Nikon
over an AF Nikon. I understand that an AF one probably will be bulkier
and heavier than an MF one, and the MF lense speed is faster. But in
addition to those, what are the benefits, image quality-wise, of an MF
Nikon? Are MF feature of an AF body the same as MF feature of an MF
body? Thanks in advance for help!

SS

Actually the MF will be the heavier given similar models. They tend to be
old designs with mechanical linkages and metal bodies. The only advantage to
them is that some equipment snobs will tell you that you'll learn more about
photography from them - they are wrong, and in fact actually don't have the
vaguest idea how wrong they are, but that's the way they are, and no amount
of evidence is gonna change them.
Go for AF - and take a look at Canon and Pentax while you're at it. Nikon
has been running on empty for a while now.

--
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com
home of The Camera-ist's Manifesto
The Improved Links Pages are at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/links/mlinks00.html
A sample chapter from "Haight-Ashbury" is at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/writ/hait/hatitl.html

"S. S." wrote in message
om...
Dear Gurus,

Since an AF Nikon 35mm SLR will also have the capacity to do manual
focus, I am wondering what is the advantage in general of an MF Nikon
over an AF Nikon. I understand that an AF one probably will be bulkier
and heavier than an MF one, and the MF lense speed is faster. But in
addition to those, what are the benefits, image quality-wise, of an MF
Nikon? Are MF feature of an AF body the same as MF feature of an MF
body? Thanks in advance for help!

SS

Actually the MF will be the heavier given similar models. They tend to be
old designs with mechanical linkages and metal bodies. The only advantage to
them is that some equipment snobs will tell you that you'll learn more about
photography from them - they are wrong, and in fact actually don't have the
vaguest idea how wrong they are, but that's the way they are, and no amount
of evidence is gonna change them.
Go for AF - and take a look at Canon and Pentax while you're at it. Nikon
has been running on empty for a while now.

--
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com
home of The Camera-ist's Manifesto
The Improved Links Pages are at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/links/mlinks00.html
A sample chapter from "Haight-Ashbury" is at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/writ/hait/hatitl.html

"S. S." wrote in message
om...
Dear Gurus,

Since an AF Nikon 35mm SLR will also have the capacity to do manual
focus, I am wondering what is the advantage in general of an MF Nikon
over an AF Nikon. I understand that an AF one probably will be bulkier
and heavier than an MF one, and the MF lense speed is faster. But in
addition to those, what are the benefits, image quality-wise, of an MF
Nikon? Are MF feature of an AF body the same as MF feature of an MF
body? Thanks in advance for help!

SS

S. S. wrote:

Dear Gurus,

Since an AF Nikon 35mm SLR will also have the capacity to do manual
focus, I am wondering what is the advantage in general of an MF Nikon
over an AF Nikon. I understand that an AF one probably will be bulkier
and heavier than an MF one, and the MF lense speed is faster. But in
addition to those, what are the benefits, image quality-wise, of an MF
Nikon? Are MF feature of an AF body the same as MF feature of an MF
body? Thanks in advance for help!


This was recently discussed here.

http://tinyurl.com/5d9hw

--
-- rec.photo.equipment.35mm user resource:
-- http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--

S. S. wrote:

Dear Gurus,

Since an AF Nikon 35mm SLR will also have the capacity to do manual
focus, I am wondering what is the advantage in general of an MF Nikon
over an AF Nikon. I understand that an AF one probably will be bulkier
and heavier than an MF one, and the MF lense speed is faster. But in
addition to those, what are the benefits, image quality-wise, of an MF
Nikon? Are MF feature of an AF body the same as MF feature of an MF
body? Thanks in advance for help!


This was recently discussed here.

http://tinyurl.com/5d9hw

--
-- rec.photo.equipment.35mm user resource:
-- http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--

S. S. wrote:

Dear Gurus,

Since an AF Nikon 35mm SLR will also have the capacity to do manual
focus, I am wondering what is the advantage in general of an MF Nikon
over an AF Nikon. I understand that an AF one probably will be bulkier
and heavier than an MF one, and the MF lense speed is faster. But in
addition to those, what are the benefits, image quality-wise, of an MF
Nikon? Are MF feature of an AF body the same as MF feature of an MF
body? Thanks in advance for help!


This was recently discussed here.

http://tinyurl.com/5d9hw

--
-- rec.photo.equipment.35mm user resource:
-- http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--

"S. S." wrote in message
om...
Dear Gurus,

Since an AF Nikon 35mm SLR will also have the capacity to do manual
focus, I am wondering what is the advantage in general of an MF Nikon
over an AF Nikon. I understand that an AF one probably will be bulkier
and heavier than an MF one,

Not true- many budget AF Nikons are lighter than many MF Nikons, the N/F55
and N/F75 in particular.

and the MF lense speed is faster.

Not necessarily true- while there have been faster 35mm and 50mm (and
marginally faster 105mm and 135mm) lenses for MF Nikon, AF lenses are mostly
just as fast (and the 28mm f1.4 is available only in AF)

But in
addition to those, what are the benefits, image quality-wise, of an MF
Nikon? Are MF feature of an AF body the same as MF feature of an MF
body? Thanks in advance for help!

Image quality? No real improvement, although certain Nikon legends were
never brought over to AF (and some, such as the 180mm, were apparently
improved on).

The benefits of a Nikon manual focus camera are mostly ergonomic- to those
with a more patient approach, twiddling dials and knobs can be far more
satisfying than assuming that once the button is pressed everything will
just whirr into place. If you prefer to focus manually, an autofocus lens in
MF mode will feel somewhat loose and unpleasant.

If I may use an analogy (as I am known to), the manual/automatic issue is
something like climbing a mountain versus taking the chairlift- you get the
same result, and the view is still nice, and you can even spend the ride
marvelling at the technology that is getting you there so easily- but when
you get to the bottom again, it's easy to feel like you haven't actually
done anything.

OTT maybe, but a lot of people feel this way.

--
Martin Francis http://www.sixbysix.co.uk
"Go not to Usenet for counsel, for it will say both no, and yes, and
no, and yes...."