If you are using Canon EF series lenses you should get the AF
confirmation light in manual focus. If you don't then there is
likely something wrong with your technique, the lens or the
camera. If the confirmation light doesn't seem to agree with what
you see through the viewfinder then consider the following:
In most autofocus cameras, light has to get to 3 different
places: the film plane, the viewfinder, and the AF module.
(Usually, the exposure is determined from light bled from the
viewfinder image.) It is possible that they are not perfectly
aligned, resulting in differences in the length of the light
path, and ultimately, disagreement as to what is "in focus".
The disagreement between the AF module and the focusing screen
may be more readily apparent in cameras with optional split image
focusing screens (600 series or EOS-1), or when using long lenses
with large apertures (i.e. shallow depth of field). If your
camera is under warranty, it's probably worth calling Canon
service to see if they can check the alignment for you.
If you must test it yourself, try any of the "home brew" lens tests.
Set yourself up with high-resolution (i.e. slow) film, a tripod, and a
target of some kind (a page from a newspaper with varying type sizes is
the cheapest). Try shots with AF, using MF, and maybe a few others
around the distances selected with either of the first two methods.
TAKE DETAILED NOTES! A large (24"x36") resolution test target is
available from Edmund Scientific (609 573 6259) if you want to do more
scientific tests and actually put numbers on the "sharpness" of the
images. It is their part number A83001, "Resolving Power Chart", and
costs $17.95 (+ shipping etc.).
Then, decide for yourself if you have any focusing problems and
whether you want to take your camera in for adjustment. Both the
AF sensor and viewfinder screen can be adjusted. For example the
screen on the 10s is adjusted by shims and its poition can be
changed in 50 micron steps (1/20mm). You should probably be
prepared for about a $100 charge for this kind of adjustment
(type B repair), but that would include a full cleaning of the
camera.
EOS cameras with interchangeable focusing screens seem to have
better correlation between AF and MF. This may be because Canon
assumes that someone who wants interchangeable screens wants to
use a focusing aid and manual focus at least some of the time.
Cameras with fixed matte screens are assumed to be manually
focused rarely, if at all. On the other hand maybe our sampling
is too small to really establish a good correlation here.
ACS&RMA
Note that the "green dot" AF confirmation light will only work
as a manual focus "in focus" indicator when manually focusing EOS
EF compatible lenses, i.e. lenses with the EOS electronic
interface. It will not work with fully manual lenses, such as,
for example, Tamron MF lenses used with the Tamron EOS compatible
Adaptall mount, or mirror lenses like the Sigma 600/8.
RMA
On most of the non-professional lenses, the focus throw is short
to allow for quicker AF. To keep costs down, only a simple
gearing mechanism is provided for MF, making the throw slightly
longer, but still not that precise.
On some "L" lenses with USM, there is "electronic gearing" with
the "electronic focusing ring".Indeed, the gearing can change
depending on the focal length setting of the zoom lens. On "L"
lenses with AFD, a more sophisticated gearing mechanism is
included to give longer throw.
ACS
1) To get more precise movement of the focusing ring grip the
ring towards its back edge so that your fingers also touch the
lens barrel. This will give more friction, a slower turning
speed, and therefore, more precise focusing. By varying the
amount of pressure put on the lens barrel with your fingers, you
can vary the amount of "braking force", and therefore the
precision of focus. [This is the technique I used for precise
adjustment of Apple ][ game paddles in my "youth". :-)]
2) Another technique is to use just one finger to focus. Gently
tap/nudge the focusing ring in the direction you want it to
travel The theory is that you shorten the amount of time you are
manipulating the ring, and thus don't "overshoot" the zone of
precise focus. This technique can be combined with the first.
[This second technique was told to me by a salesman at a local
camera shop. I've never gotten much out of it, but it is included
"just in case".]
ACS
Speed is the reason. There are times when the AF sensor does not
detect any obvious detail upon which to focus. This tends to
occur when the lens starts out far out of focus or when there is
no detail available to the AF sensor. To cover the case of the
lens simply starting at a bad position, the AF system will "hunt"
(scan back and forth through the entire focusing range) in the
hopes of putting useful detail on the sensor.
By having ranges on the AF switch, the photographer gives the
camera extra information to allow the camera to reduce the amount
of hunting. This can help reduce the time the AF system takes in
finding focus. This feature is particularly useful on lenses
which may be used in action situations (like the 300/2.8L for
sports), or lenses which are slow focusing (like the old
100-300/5.6).
ACS
