Manual Focus Lens: Why it is so stimulating in Digital Era

What the.....? Oh well, who cares of manual focus?! My camera got 19AF all cross type with 8fps on ultrasonic L glass. LIGHTNING fast! Undeniable, technology advances, yeah each day. The materialistic idealogy in the new era, everyone can afford to spend on an expensive camera and become a photographer wannabe. Things getting too easy and you even need not to worry on aperture, exposure or even focus point. But why there are people still stimulating with the Bloody Old Glass Manual lens with even have aperture ring on the lens?


My only Manual lens at this moment. (Expanding my arsenal gradually)


1. Fully Manual

Crap to some?! If you really appreciating photography, you enjoy all setting done on your hands. You have more settings to worry rather than just bump in Aperture Priority (AE) with Auto AF point select. Manual aperture setting, exposure, Focusing and everything is control manually. You will be more conscious to compose your shot, more details to be considered, especially composition. Every single shot needs effort to develop rather than just bump in continuous shot with 8fps. End of the day, filtering shots in 32GB (or even 64GB) CF cards, would be a real pain to most of the people. Photoshop to recover?! If the initial shots are not properly composed, Post Process doesn't give you miracle.

Manual aperture ring setting on Planar 1.4/85.

2. CHEAP

Pretty true. This is the primary reason why people abort the new fancy L glass, go for much cheaper option of M42. There are a lot of high quality lens like Olympus OM lens, Nikkor AI's, Pentax Takumar's and even some Soviet glass which is the favourite for all MF hobbyist. There are much cheaper than the Nikkor AF or Canon USM, with even better quality because of the less complexity construction without a AF motor.

However for some premium MF glasses, it is much more expensive than the current AF lenses. Exotic glasses like ZEISS Distagon 1.4/35, Distagon 2/28, Planar 1.2/85, Planar 2/135 and of course the blood sucker LEICA R lens. These lenses are so special and well known for the micro-contrast, contrast and sharpness which is comparable to modern lenses.

My most favourite Zeiss Contax lens, Distagon T* 1.4/35. It costs almost double of the used 35L market prices.





Most important, IT DOESN'T DEPRECIATE. MF lens is like an antique and collection item. It doesn't depreciate over times but even increasing with the local demand. Lenses like LEICA R and Zeiss (C/Y), there are much more expensive than newly launch as they are obsolete from manufacturing but the increasing demand of these MF lenses on DSLR or even M43 camera rises the prices.


3. You don't need AF

This is generally very true. Not all occasion you would require camera AF tracking. For landscape and Macro, AF plays no vital roles in these genre. Speaking on landscape, people speaking on HYPERFOCAL length (please read in DOF MASTER) rather than rely on the camera AF.

Landscape considers larger Depth of Field, selecting appropriate AF point for Hyperfocal length and Composition is much more important to ensure the maximum DOF to be achieved. That's the reason, most of the Landscape photographer prefer to go with Zeiss Distagon T* 2.8/21 and Tilt-shift lenses for the best of the Landscape output.

4. Fully Mechanical

That's why I love MF lenses. It doesn't have AF motor. No electronics, which means it lasts forever unless the physical damage to the lens. With proper handling on the lenses, even a lens aged 20 - 30 years, works much better than a 2 years old AF lens which keeps on having focusing issue.

YOU CAN'T BLAME ON FOCUSING ISSUE. Why? First, focusing is done with your eyes. Secondly, you bought it! With good focusing screen (I am using Super Matte Screen, EE-s on my 5D Classic) and programmable AF confirm chip, the focusing can be dead on even for my Planar.


5. Enjoy the route of Photography

All lens needs learning curve. MF lenses takes you longer time to get used with the focal length, focusing and etc. You have more time to spend with your lens to grow and eventually understand much more on the photography. Everyone loves photography, don't over rely on camera, enjoy most of the photography with your gears. That's the reason why film camera is so stimulating even in the digital era.




Last but not least, I prefer a good AF lens for events or anything that requires shots in split seconds. MF lenses are good as compliment to your existing arsenal. They can be very affordable and good route to enjoy more on camera's. I do not shoot for money, that's the reason MF lenses are best friend of mine.




HAPPY PHOTOGRAPHY and great year 2012 ahead.