Was wondering if you guys are using focus ring when shooting macro, let’s say for example with 105mm or 85mm.

Until now was not using but I was thinking in buying one.🤔

Thanks

Why ? It is allready difficult to make (nice ans good) macro with autofocus... manual.... euh... not for me.

Can you explain the possible benefit of a focus ring ?

Sometimes when I am at minimum focus distance maybe it would be useful to have a focus gear, not for using only focus gear and not AF obviously but for an extra help.

Or for example to focus at the minimum distance manually and work from there, without having to AF at some element.

I know that you can always move a little bit.

I have never used a focus gear but I suppose that if the focus gear exists in the market it would be for some use. That’s why I was asking if people are using it.

I have a buddy that likes to use some exotic manual focus lenses from LensBaby. I think 56mm and 24mm. He used them with out a focus ring for a while, but then i got a 3d printer and made a few zoom rings for myself. Pretty soon i was able to make focus rings for his lenses. There are none made or sold for these lenses, so it's the only way to go.

Edited July 6Jul 6 by Dave_Hicks

It can be hard to tell if you re 1:1 and a regular DSLR type lens you can wind it out there and then move in on the subject knowing you re at max magnification. With AF it can be fiddly to get there as i=you could drift inside min focus. Not all mirrorless lenses work this - the Olympus 60mm macro focus just keeps turning with no stop at minimum and it's also slow to change focus. It depends on which particular macro lens you are using. Some camera systems have full time manual focus in AF which would be ideal, switching back and forth between MF and AF.

16 hours ago, Chris Ross said:

It can be hard to tell if you re 1:1 and a regular DSLR type lens you can wind it out there and then move in on the subject knowing you re at max magnification. With AF it can be fiddly to get there as i=you could drift inside min focus. Not all mirrorless lenses work this - the Olympus 60mm macro focus just keeps turning with no stop at minimum and it's also slow to change focus. It depends on which particular macro lens you are using. Some camera systems have full time manual focus in AF which would be ideal, switching back and forth between MF and AF.

Yes, I was thinking of using manual focus while on AF. Using Nikon 105 or 85mm you can use manual focus in AF. And in top of that I use the thumb focus button.

I like to have a manual focus gear to complement AF, but it is not really essential. Sometimes, when very close and/or using diopter, it can take quite a while until AF comes into the appropriate range (A7R5 and Sony 90mm). Then I quickly adjust to the coarse range by hand and let C-AF&tracking do the rest...

It also depends on the lens used: It works well with Sony 90mm macro or the adapted Canon 100mm IS macro on A7R5, but it is practically useless with Zuiko 60mm and EM1II (turning the AF wheel leads only to very small changes in AF position; only usable for fine-tuning AF position)...

Edited July 7Jul 7 by Architeuthis

For fine-tuning wouldn't it be easier to lock focus and move the camera in and out slightly?

1 hour ago, Stig said:

For fine-tuning wouldn't it be easier to lock focus and move the camera in and out slightly?

In case one can find a good hold, where I can be sure not to harm any UW life, it may be a good method. In most cases I do not dare to place my left arm on the substrate and hold the setup firmly against it - then the setup is quite labile. In addition, not seldom the critters (e.g. gobies) by themselves are moving. At least then C-AF&tracking works quite good with the A7R5 (and also with Oly EM1II). I am not sure I could achieve equally good AF results by moving the camera, even when I have a solid hold...

Edited July 7Jul 7 by Architeuthis

With most camera having now focus assistant like on-screen magnifier or even better peaking options, IMHO fine tuning the focus on your subject manually can make a big difference between an okay and a superb picture.

I shoot macro video. I use manual focus most of the time rather than autofocus (the only notable exceptions are for me blackwater and wide angle on wrecks).

Edited July 7Jul 7 by eocean-eu