MF is better than AF! Canon EF 1.8/85 vs Nikkor 1.8/85 @1.8

[yalcinaydin]

Below 100% crops speak for themselves but seeing AFC assist chip (non programmed, default, tago-tech product) helpless really suprised me, I just shot when AFC red light blinked and the result is just crap.

Canon's AF is not accurate for the sample that I got, MF result is way better but when we use MF, 50Euro priced my Nikkor competes very well against this modern AF lens having a 325Euro price tag...

I guess AF system of my 5D is not that precise at wide apertures

[LucisPictor]

Well...

- you have tested one of the best MF lenses you can buy (Nikkor 1.8/85)
- you got this lens for a bargain price (really €50,-??)
- I have made the same experiences with my chipped adapters, at f1.8 they are not reliable. That's why I have decided to put a splitscreen into my 350D. After the final adjustments it works like a charm!!

[Bruce]

Take "this" shot using the "live view" Canon, youll be Razor sharp in one second... no adjustments.

[hk300]

[yalcinaydin]

[orly_andico]

AF can have issues with different lenses.

I used "debug mode" on my K10D to correct the AF but it only has adjustments for 1 lens (unlike the K20D, Canon 5D Mk2, Canon 50D which have multiple settings). So my 16-45 needs +80 to +120um but my 100mm macro needs -40um

So it's not really "AF is crap" but those lenses are adjusted against a particular body at the factory, if your body has slightly misaligned AF sensors or whatever, lenses will front- or back-focus on your body.

So the solution is (1) use MF; (2) have a Live View body; or (3) have a body with per-lens back/front focus correction. It's not inherently an "AF sucks and MF rocks" kind of situation.

[A G Photography]

With Canon 1ds MkIII you can adjust AF for every lens you use because they're aware of these kind of problems.

I'm a great user of MF lenses, and also my AF Nikkors is 90% of the times are used in manual mode. But I'm mainly a still life shooter.

AF has its uses though, just try to catch fast action with a MF lens.

Problem is that real good AF is made for expensive pro-camera, the ones that pro sport or news shooters use.

So it's like the dispute between film and digital, they're just instruments and there's no absolute.

[Schnauzer]

My Yashica 50/1.7 took a + 16 adjustment for the adapter to be spot on with the micro-adjustment on my 5DMII. I don't remember what the adjustment was with the flek 35/2.4 adapter but as I remember it was a lot closer. Maybe I got it backwards but one adapter was not too far out and one was quite a ways out on this camera. My EF 85/1.8 took -5. It all depends on how the camera and lense are calibrated. If the camera is within specs but to one end of the calibration and the lense is within spec but to the other end of the calibration they can be way off. The same with the focus confirm adapters. Unfortunately I think all the manufacturers tolerances for cameras and lenses are quite loose. If a camera has live view M/F can be razor sharp. Some with better eyes than I, can get it in the viewfinder.

[yalcinaydin]

I'll reprogram the chip for focus adjustment I'll inform you with the results, I guess it will be much more usefull.

[yalcinaydin]