A really good and useful insight into your focussing method. A bit disappointing to see some of the negative comments regarding manual focussing and your deliberations. Sure, anyone can nail focus with all the latest auto focus/detection/tracking but then who is taking the photo, you or the software engineer behind the processor ? For me a massive part of the enjoyment of photography is in the process of taking the photograph and enjoying the camera as much as the resultant image itself. And the enthusiasm you show in your videos for learning the craft always encourages me to get out and about with my own camera and try things out. So cheers Gareth, great video.
I primarily use a z6 II for street photography. The z lenses do not have any markings. I have to focus on front of me the way you do when using auto focus. I recently got back into shooting film. I bought a Canon AE-1 camera back in April. It came with a 50mm lens and i bought a 28mm lens on fb market. They have distance markings on the lenses. Up to this point i have been manually focusing but on the roll of film that's loaded i have been trying to use a zone focus using that method. This is hard for me to do because I can't see my results until i have the film developed. I'm putting complete faith in my settings for both the exposure and the focus.
I was just getting the hang of zone/range focusing on my Leica Q (116) with mixed success. But then I got a Lumix S1R and now set continuous shooting with human detect continuous focusing and my hit rate has improved hugely. As I use a 24-70 too, I can focus so fast at different focal lengths and a variety of distances. I can finally stop worrying about focusing and leave it to the camera. So much easier than gambling on zone / range And yes, the larger camera and lens is perfect for street if you are confident and friendly. I am getting better interactions with people than when I took my Q. But it’s all down to personal preference of course
100% right.. if i was doing portraits or variable focal lengths id use my fuji/sony too.. i just prefer the simple aspect of the fixed lens and zone focus.. thanks for the comment
@@GarethDanks sorry if that sounded negative mate! Not meaning to be overly critical. Maybe its just because you're vocalising what I'm probably thinking but in an unconscious way so I'm taking it for granted, not sure. I just tend to leave in aperture priority and rarely think about settings. Maybe we take different kinds of photos YMMV all the best
Love my old Q. But the focus throw is simply to short for zone focusing. Never understood why 2 meters and infinity are only a couple of mm apart on the focusing scale. It is practical useless.... On M lenses you often have 2, 3 and 5 meter settings before infinity. Even the Ricoh GR is easier and more precise to zone focus with.
Just wondering why you wouldn't stop down to f/16 to take some of the zonal indecision out of the equation? Yeah diffraction will have set in a bit but who's going to notice, especially on a Leica lens?
Because in a low light situation f/16 wouldn't let enough light in. Plus you start to get defraction at f/16 which makes your images softer. It really depends on the lens you use as well.
@@carlmcneill1139 F/16 just means 1 stop more on ISO, which is nothing in bright light, especially on a full frame sensor. Plus street photographers tend to care significantly less about absolute peak lens performance, and most modern lenses are perfectly fine at f/16
hey dave.. yeah if i lived in spain maybe haha.. what yuo save on changing focus zones youd make up in changing shutter speeds and apertures when the light drops.. f8-f11 gives. a large enough dof on a 28.. but tbh im still learning the process myself so im no expert =. hope your ok dude
Why not just use face detection and auto focus ? I personally switch between Zone focusing ( just to keep on the ball with it ) and auto focusing, I don’t miss anything.
Some people intentionally move away from cameras that have all these gizmos. My latest camera has no autofocus, let alone face detection or so. It’s like some people preferring a 6 cylinder with manual transmission and no electronic distractions - while others are happy with their self-driving Tesla.
@@swampscott2670 We are all different in our approach to photography, my philosophy has always been, Keep it simple , I’m 70 next week and it’s served me well for many years .
hey mate.. so if id have the camera on afc when the lady walked down the steps with the yellow wall, you think the camera would have hit focus? - if im stood waiting for a shot as i was then it makes no sence (to me) to AFC when you can focus in advance where you want them to be.. hope your good anyway mate - sell you lens after?
what do i make difficult? it prob seems that way because im explaining my thought process.. if the camera is set up to focus correctly in advance it couldn't be more simple. thanks for the comment
Mate, you're really making hard work of this. It always amazes me that people spend ten grand on equipment then override everything that 100 years of research and development has taught the engineers of camera companies.
what am i making difficult? i dont know what the problem is? i use a sony and fuji for work when i need afc.. for street i like to zone focus with an old fashioned approach.. sorry if you disagree
With all due respect, but I don't understand why anyone would want to use AF in a hectic and chaotic street photography situation. 20 years ago, a counter-argument would have been the camera's poor ISO performance, but you can hardly say that today. I understand that zone focusing can be intimidating at first, but give it an honest shot and you'll never go back to traditional AF.
A really good and useful insight into your focussing method. A bit disappointing to see some of the negative comments regarding manual focussing and your deliberations. Sure, anyone can nail focus with all the latest auto focus/detection/tracking but then who is taking the photo, you or the software engineer behind the processor ? For me a massive part of the enjoyment of photography is in the process of taking the photograph and enjoying the camera as much as the resultant image itself. And the enthusiasm you show in your videos for learning the craft always encourages me to get out and about with my own camera and try things out. So cheers Gareth, great video.
really useful video as ever mate.. thanks for your content
thanks mate! really appreciate it
What a great video!! Love your videos anyways lol...but this was another entertaining and information one, really good thanks 👍👏🙂
Much appreciated mate. Thank you
No worries mate, phptos are amazing btw!! Thanks for replying too, difficult to respond to everyone I know so I really appreciate it 👍 🙂
Disappointed you don't respond to unflattering comments @GarethDanks
finally after 3 Years of using my Leica Q I get the manual zone focus system and scale on the lens :-) Thanx Gareth
Great to hear! im still getting my head around aspects of it too
I primarily use a z6 II for street photography. The z lenses do not have any markings. I have to focus on front of me the way you do when using auto focus. I recently got back into shooting film. I bought a Canon AE-1 camera back in April. It came with a 50mm lens and i bought a 28mm lens on fb market. They have distance markings on the lenses. Up to this point i have been manually focusing but on the roll of film that's loaded i have been trying to use a zone focus using that method. This is hard for me to do because I can't see my results until i have the film developed. I'm putting complete faith in my settings for both the exposure and the focus.
nice way to shoot tho.. once you get more familiar! keep it up!
I was just getting the hang of zone/range focusing on my Leica Q (116) with mixed success.
But then I got a Lumix S1R and now set continuous shooting with human detect continuous focusing and my hit rate has improved hugely. As I use a 24-70 too, I can focus so fast at different focal lengths and a variety of distances. I can finally stop worrying about focusing and leave it to the camera. So much easier than gambling on zone / range
And yes, the larger camera and lens is perfect for street if you are confident and friendly. I am getting better interactions with people than when I took my Q.
But it’s all down to personal preference of course
100% right.. if i was doing portraits or variable focal lengths id use my fuji/sony too.. i just prefer the simple aspect of the fixed lens and zone focus.. thanks for the comment
why are you not using the lens hood?!
Great video, are you planning on doing anymore Landscape vlogs,I used to really enjoy them ?
yeah sorry i did too.. too many doing them.
Not withstanding your excellent photographs, I love the camera 🤣📷👍
Love your videos mate, but sometimes I think you need to relax a bit about your settings! 😊
Like what? which part do i need to relax about? wanting the images to come out as good as possible?
@@GarethDanks sorry if that sounded negative mate! Not meaning to be overly critical. Maybe its just because you're vocalising what I'm probably thinking but in an unconscious way so I'm taking it for granted, not sure. I just tend to leave in aperture priority and rarely think about settings. Maybe we take different kinds of photos YMMV all the best
Love my old Q. But the focus throw is simply to short for zone focusing. Never understood why 2 meters and infinity are only a couple of mm apart on the focusing scale. It is practical useless.... On M lenses you often have 2, 3 and 5 meter settings before infinity. Even the Ricoh GR is easier and more precise to zone focus with.
:))) i was meant to go to that concert
i wish i could have!
@@GarethDanks If I went there and bumped into you, that would've been better than even seeing Morgan Wallen 😁
I find the focus scale on my Q2 to be inaccurate. Drives me nuts.
Interesting you say that. My mate says the same. I’ll look into that. Explain how mate.
@@GarethDankswell... 2m on the lens clearly isn't 2m when you focus on something 2m away. It seems to sort itself out by infinity
Yee Haaaa, not Hawk Tua! (The whole video was great - so of course, this is the dumb comment I leave.)
Just started playing around with street photography, my God its far more difficult than it looks. Where the bloody hell do you start?!!
Buy a few books.. look for what you like and how you think it was taken.. :-)
@@GarethDanks Can you recommend any please? I went out today and felt completely over-whelmed. Its ridiculous. I'm not even new to photography!
Just wondering why you wouldn't stop down to f/16 to take some of the zonal indecision out of the equation? Yeah diffraction will have set in a bit but who's going to notice, especially on a Leica lens?
Because in a low light situation f/16 wouldn't let enough light in. Plus you start to get defraction at f/16 which makes your images softer. It really depends on the lens you use as well.
@@carlmcneill1139 F/16 just means 1 stop more on ISO, which is nothing in bright light, especially on a full frame sensor. Plus street photographers tend to care significantly less about absolute peak lens performance, and most modern lenses are perfectly fine at f/16
@@davidellinsworth3299 I just noticed whose comment I was replying to lol.
@@carlmcneill1139 oh yes it is I 😂
hey dave.. yeah if i lived in spain maybe haha.. what yuo save on changing focus zones youd make up in changing shutter speeds and apertures when the light drops.. f8-f11 gives. a large enough dof on a 28.. but tbh im still learning the process myself so im no expert =. hope your ok dude
Zone 2 would be my arm length.
id love to see that.. youd certainly get some attention!
i focus with pinkie finger for ease 1 hand quick
i can too with my left hand.. hard when i have my video camera in that hand
Why not just use face detection and auto focus ? I personally switch between Zone focusing ( just to keep on the ball with it ) and auto focusing, I don’t miss anything.
Some people intentionally move away from cameras that have all these gizmos. My latest camera has no autofocus, let alone face detection or so.
It’s like some people preferring a 6 cylinder with manual transmission and no electronic distractions - while others are happy with their self-driving Tesla.
@@swampscott2670 We are all different in our approach to photography, my philosophy has always been, Keep it simple , I’m 70 next week and it’s served me well for many years .
hey mate.. so if id have the camera on afc when the lady walked down the steps with the yellow wall, you think the camera would have hit focus? - if im stood waiting for a shot as i was then it makes no sence (to me) to AFC when you can focus in advance where you want them to be..
hope your good anyway mate - sell you lens after?
for work i love my fuji and sony afc.. for street i like that its a different tool and shooting exp
Goooood Lorrrrrrrd you make it so difficult. Just take the flippin picture.
what do i make difficult? it prob seems that way because im explaining my thought process.. if the camera is set up to focus correctly in advance it couldn't be more simple. thanks for the comment
Thanks for the video Gareth ...
What's happened to instagram? I can't find you!!
thats strange.. no reason for me to be hiding haha @garethdanks.photo
Mate, you're really making hard work of this. It always amazes me that people spend ten grand on equipment then override everything that 100 years of research and development has taught the engineers of camera companies.
what am i making difficult? i dont know what the problem is? i use a sony and fuji for work when i need afc.. for street i like to zone focus with an old fashioned approach.. sorry if you disagree
Is it a hack or a technique ? Confusing title.
Its a technique your right! does it really matter?
With all due respect, but I don't understand why anyone would want to use AF in a hectic and chaotic street photography situation. 20 years ago, a counter-argument would have been the camera's poor ISO performance, but you can hardly say that today. I understand that zone focusing can be intimidating at first, but give it an honest shot and you'll never go back to traditional AF.
Are you just making a tangential point? Cause the video is all about zone focus- not AF.
I guess because with modern cameras they focus with lightning speed you can get away with it. And not be locked into a distance
@@AshBashSneakers zone focus isnt locked. you change at will with perfect accuracy.
not sure i understand the comment buddy..
yup hes lost me too