Does AF make you lazy?

[michali]

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1 minute ago, SrMi said:

Using single focus point (moved with joystick to the right place) and focus area about the size of leopard’s nose: there is nothing in the focus area to confuse the AF. It is much more difficult in Jaap’s example. You are not letting the camera determine where to focus, tree or animal, are you?

I was just editing my post when you posted yours. 

[SrMi]

3 hours ago, michali said:

I was just editing my post when you posted yours. 

It may depend on the camera as well. For wildlife I have used mostly Nikon D5/D850/D500 and 500mm f/4 or 200-500 f/5.6. My experience may not map to SL/SL2.

[jaapv]

3 hours ago, SrMi said:

Using single focus point (moved with joystick to the right place) and focus area about the size of leopard’s nose: there is nothing in the focus area to confuse the AF. It is much more difficult in Jaap’s example. You are not letting the camera determine where to focus, tree or animal, are you?

That is exactly my gripe with AF in a situation like this. Moving a point by joystick is much more difficult and slow than just focusing manually, and if the subject is moving it is well-nigh impossible, you'd have to switch to tracking focus, which is less precise than spot focus - and liable to get confused by moving objects in front of the subject.

So much easier, reliable and faster to go manual.

[Leicaiste]

This is exactly the type of situation when the BBF is so important. No need to change any setting to switch to manual. 

[SrMi]

45 minutes ago, jaapv said:

That is exactly my gripe with AF in a situation like this. Moving a point by joystick is much more difficult and slow than just focusing manually, and if the subject is moving it is well-nigh impossible, you'd have to switch to tracking focus, which is less precise than spot focus - and liable to get confused by moving objects in front of the subject.

So much easier, reliable and faster to go manual.

I think it is a matter of practice and the quality of joystick... and you need a possibility to move the AF point in larger steps, something that mirrorless cameras often do not offer.

Edited January 19, 2020 by SrMi

[sillbeers15]

53 minutes ago, SrMi said:

I think it is a matter of practice and the quality of joystick... and you need a possibility to move the AF point in larger steps, something that mirrorless cameras often do not offer.

There is limitation to all AF system regardless on how capable it is. There is also a lot to do with user practice and on optimising the AF capability on each camera and lens.