Mikes Photography

mr_tone · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:32 pm Post subject: zoom question

right im stuck,

you know the switch on the lens to alternate between manual and auto focus, does anybody on here leave it in autofocus "A" and twist the lens to adjust your zoom?

or is this a big no no? i never see anyone else changing the switch over before they adjust zoom when im out and about,

reason i ask is because someone i was talking to mentioned this and im terrified of breaking my camera but its gettin annoying and i can see me missin a "moment" soon cos im faffing trying to the switch out

ive not yet looked in the manual, i will do of course i just wondered if anyone on here leaves it on "A"

thanks

Tony
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creators · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:45 am Post subject:

Tony, I assume you're talking about the kit lens, mines an 18 - 135mm, and I never use that lens in situations where I would use manual focus, so it is always on the A setting. The zoom is quite independent of the autofocus. On my Nikon lens the focus ring is a small ring closer to the camera, whilst the main body is the zoom. You aren't going to be doing any damage at all to the lens keeping it on A.
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mr_tone · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:48 am Post subject:

thank you very much, it just seems silly from what i was told that you cant change zoom (twist the lens) when its in "A" Smile

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A good photograph is knowing where to stand. - Ansel Adams

creators · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:09 am Post subject:

No, you're right it's nonsense.
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jonH · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:43 pm Post subject:

you're perfectly allowed to override the focus and twist the focus ring on nikon lenses. it's fairly pointless if you have autofocus set to activate on a half shutter press though

if in doubt, rtfm ;)
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creators · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject:

Thanks for putting that up Jon, I realised later that you could do that and was going to put it up.
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Gilly · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject:

Using a Canon lens, its (from what i've been told) bad practice to set the lens in AF and then to turn the focus ring. But the zoom ring is an entirely independent fuction, and can be twisted at will.............

Smile

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jonH · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:58 pm Post subject:

downwards · Amateur Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 190

mr_tone · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject:

thanks for all your help Laughing

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A good photograph is knowing where to stand. - Ansel Adams