Beginners Guide to Manual Focus for Sharp Photos in Tricky Light (VIDEO)
If you’re struggling with blurry images or unreliable focus, it may be because you never turn to the Manual Focus setting on your camera whenever AF fails. We’re going to change all that today with this comprehensive beginners guide designed for those who don’t understand how MF works.
Instructor Benjamin Jaworskyj is a self-taught German travel and adventure photography pro whose popular YouTube channel offers how-to shooting and post processing tutorials for inexperienced shooters. Here’s how he introduces today’s 14-minute episode: “In this lesson we teach you how to master manual focus so you always get sharp, professional-looking photos—even in tricky lighting conditions.”
Ben insists that the more you take advantage of your camera’s MF mode, the more you’ll find it useful. In fact, he claims it’s the most accurate way to achieve sharp images in difficult light, like when shooting after dark. You’ll also learn the benefits of this approach when macro photography is the task at hand.
Surprisingly, Ben says he also uses the MF mode for 99% of his landscape photographs—especially when making long exposures or using neutral density (ND) filters. Then he demonstrates three straightforward techniques for achieving precise subject acquisition by focusing yourself.
So grab your camera, switch the Focus mode to MF per Ben’s instructions for different brands, and follow along. Ben notes that some lenses require flipping a switch on the barrel before proceeding further. Now you can focus by rotating the focus ring on the lens, which may be at the very front or further back.
Ben has another important tip, specifically for users of Sony cameras, which is to dive into the menu and disable the “annoying” Manual Focus assist setting for reasons he explains. You’ll also learn how the camera’s Focus Magnifier will provide greater control for getting the job done.
Now that you’ve configured everything properly, all you have to do is sit back and watch Ben demonstrate his trio of favorite techniques. He promises that your batting average for successful shots will increase dramatically. Then take a look at his instructional YouTube channel for more transformational tips and techniques.
We also recommend watching a tutorial we featured last week with a highly acclaimed wildlife expert who demonstrates how to capture amazing bird photographs in harsh midday light and quickly edit them to perfection.