How can I get sharp self-portraits when handing off a camera with a manual-focus lens?
Asked 4/2/2019
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I use manual-focus lenses and sometimes want to be in the photo, so I hand the camera to someone else to press the shutter. Explaining how to focus usually takes too long, and even people familiar with manual focus often miss it. Is there a practical way to set up the camera so focus is likely to be correct when someone else takes the shot?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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You've probably already figured out that you should prefocus, and don't mention that it's manual focus or you risk having it changed inappropriately. But the camera is changing hands, and people are moving about, so how do you get the focus right?
This is where your knowledge of depth of field comes in. Stop down the aperture until you're reasonably confident that you'll be within the depth of field when the shutter is fired. Consider using a stop smaller than you think you'll need. If you really have no idea and lighting is good, try the hyperfocal distance at F8.
With less lighting, such as indoors, you should still attempt to prefocus and stop down the aperture, but you'll be limited by ISO and shutter speed. In these cases, if you increase distance and decrease focal length you can further increase depth of field. You can always crop later, provided the image is acceptably sharp.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
7y ago
0
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Yes: pre-focus yourself, then use depth of field to cover small errors.
Set focus in advance at the distance where you’ll be standing, and avoid drawing attention to the lens being manual focus so the person taking the picture doesn’t try to adjust it. Then stop down the aperture enough that you and the camera operator’s slight movements still fall within the depth of field.
If light is good, using a smaller aperture such as around f/8 and setting focus near the hyperfocal distance can give a large zone of acceptable sharpness. If you’re indoors or light is limited, still pre-focus and stop down as much as you can, but balance that against shutter speed and ISO so the image isn’t blurred by motion.
You can also improve your odds by standing a bit farther from the camera and/or using a shorter focal length, since both increase depth of field. In short: pre-focus, stop down, and compose so depth of field works in your favor.
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