Focusing tips for Manual Focusing

[Click]

Does any one have any methods they swear by for manual focussing. Iam having some difficulty in manual focusing for slow shutter speeds in low light/dark environments.

For example, when taking time exposure (~20s) images at night how would you cope with focusing?

[MHD]

The d70 viewfinder is quite small... so pretty difficult..

As for night shots... you can focus on a light souce nearby, go to manual which will keep the same focal point....

[Matt. K]

Under difficult focussing conditions it can pay to "bracket" your focussing point. Take a number of shots at slightly different focussing points. The D70's viewfinder is not excellent for low light photography.

[Onyx]

It's always better to select a focal point too near than too far. Assuming you have sufficient depth of field (and when we're talking multiple second exposure, you're assumed to have a tripod so you can always gain DOF by stopping down), selecting a focal point nearer than desired might still render the subject sharp. NB: DOF 2/3 behind, 1/3 in front of focal point.

Also, the search keyword "Hyperfocal distance" might yield some interesting links - on here as well as Google.

[Matt. K]

Hey Onyx! Where's the depth of field scale on the 18-70?

[xerubus]

Click.... this is quite a broad question.... is what you want to focus on relatively close? or are you trying to get a landscape with star trails? Lots to consider here.

I always shoot manual, and obviously during the day this is quite easy.

At night, if I am shooting something such as star trails, i generally go infinity... you can't see what you are focusing on, but for subjects like this is doesn't really matter as the focal point you are after is a long way away.

If it shots of people, do as matt has suggested ... just bracket and you'll get the correct focus after a while.

It's all just a matter of practice.

Cheers