switching from autofocus to manual focus underwater?

[Kyle 1]

I have a Nauticam housing and a canon 70d with an L series 100mm macro lens.

 

Is there any way to switch from manual focus to auto focus and again while underwater? If not, does anyone know of a housing that can?

 

Thanks in advance!!

[Gudge 58]

This is how I do it with both my 7D and 7D MkII in Nauticam housings:

I setup one of the custom mode settings (there are three on the 7Ds mode dial but only one on the 70D) so that Metering Start only is assigned to shutter release at half press. When I want to shoot with manual focus I switch to this mode so that I can focus manually and when I press the shutter release AF will not occur. Note that you can always do auto focus in this mode by using the focus now button on the back of the camera. When I want to go back to normal shooting I just turn the mode dial back to the setting I normally use (Manual) so that AF is once again possible with a half press of the shutter release.

Edited April 15, 2015 by Gudge

[Kyle 1]

Ok cool thanks for that. I'll have to try it out!

 

I guess i should specify too, is there an accessory, that I can buy for my nauticam, that allows me to physically move the af/mf switch on the lens? I don't think so bit just making sure... Or are there any housings that do this?

Also what do most ppl shoot in? Auto focus, manual?

Edited April 16, 2015 by Kyle

[Gudge 58]

I guess i should specify too, is there an accessory, that I can buy for my nauticam, that allows me to physically move the af/mf switch on the lens?

No, the placement of the AF/MF switch is such that the manual focus gear covers the switch making it inaccessible.

[TimG 62]

Hey Kyle

 

I can switch from AF to MF on my system: a Nikon D800 with Subal housing. I do it quite a bit when using the Nikkor 105mm lens and the Subal flat port designed specifically for that lens. A switch on the housing flips the camera between AF and MF - and then a control dial on the port allows the lens to be focussed manually. It works a treat.

 

If I can I use AF but for a variety of reasons, (low light, convergence of subject and background, low contrast) I might switch to MF.

 

The 105VR port was kinda pricey but I'm really glad I have the option.

 

I very rarely use MF with any other lens/port combination.

[Tom_Kline 137]

There is no Canon camera body counterpart to the MF-AF switch found on Nikon camera bodies. Instead, EF lenses have an AF-MF switch on the lens itself - a fundamental difference between Nikon and Canon. I have both so I know.

T

Hey Kyle

 

I can switch from AF to MF on my system: a Nikon D800 with Subal housing. I do it quite a bit when using the Nikkor 105mm lens and the Subal flat port designed specifically for that lens. A switch on the housing flips the camera between AF and MF - and then a control dial on the port allows the lens to be focussed manually. It works a treat.

 

If I can I use AF but for a variety of reasons, (low light, convergence of subject and background, low contrast) I might switch to MF.

 

The 105VR port was kinda pricey but I'm really glad I have the option.

 

I very rarely use MF with any other lens/port combination.

Edited April 16, 2015 by Tom_Kline

[Kyle 1]

I dunno why, but my topic double posted in the forum. Now there's ppl writing to 2 of the same topic. Sorry everyone.

Thanks so much for writing tho guys. I find it interesting to see that ikelite and subal both allow to switch between af/mf.

I'm actually surprised (and saddened) with nauticam, they seem to have such a high reputation with their housings and yet they don't give photographers the choice of changing af/mf uw. But maybe it's just me that wants this option?? Haha

And Gudge, thank u, you answered my question. Damn you manual focus gear!!

[TimG 62]

Yeah, I'm surprised too that the Nauticam design doesn't allow for this. Curious.

 

Tom, is not possible to make the Canon camera switch between AF/MF through a setting in the Menu? Forgive the ignorance, I've always been a Nikon kinda guy.

[Kyle 1]

Tim, I'm newer to my own camera.. But as far as I know the only way to select the mf/af is a switch on the lens. If however, there's a way to override this and change it digitally thru the camera, then I'll be quite happy.

[TimG 62]

Hmm, yeah, sorry Kyle, I can be of no help there - but Tom knows his Canon stuff (hi Tom!) and may be able to offer some help - as do of course tons of other Canonites on this site. Isn't Gudge's workaround a way of doing this?

 

Odd though I would have thought if there is no other way of doing it short of mechanical.

[Stewart L. Sy 12]

Any USM EF lens can be over ridden using the MF ring on the lens. I use this method using my Aquatica housing. I have the AF/MF Macro port. If I want to use MF, then I turn the external knob on the port body, this is in turn connected to the MF gear mounted on the lens. I have back button AF enabled so if I want to use the manually focused image then simply triggering the shutter release works. If I want to go back to AF then simply re-engaging the rear AF button starts the camera to AF. Aquatica also has a MF port extension for use with the Canon 16-35/17-40L Wide Angle zooms.

 

Regards

 

Stewart

[Tom_Kline 137]

Hi Tim!

If a given lens has full time manual focusing (FTMF) one can do both AF and MF without having to use a mechanical switch, which is similar to Nikon G lenses with FTMF lenses like the 105VR. The mechanical AF-MF switches are quite different since Nikon has to deal with the legacy screwdriver AF - the switch withdraws the focusing screw into the body as you no doubt know. Canon has some non-FTMF that are useful for UW photo such as the 50mm macro. One has to configure that lens for one or the other when setting up the housing. The Nikon 14D lens is similar in that regard. FYI, I have only used my 14D (my #2 lens after the 10.5) in AF mode.

Hmm, yeah, sorry Kyle, I can be of no help there - but Tom knows his Canon stuff (hi Tom!) and may be able to offer some help - as do of course tons of other Canonites on this site. Isn't Gudge's workaround a way of doing this?

 

Odd though I would have thought if there is no other way of doing it short of mechanical.

Edited April 17, 2015 by Tom_Kline

[Tom_Kline 137]

One uses the menu to decide which button starts AF. Possibilities vary with camera model. With Seacam housings one should use the * button to start AF separately from the shutter release. The external housing control for this is right under ones right thumb when the housing is held by the grip. Index finger on the trigger. Very ergonomic.

The EOS-M has a menu item where one decides between AF, MF, and, AF + MF. The EOS-M, though, is pretty weird in the camera control department as there are very few non-menu controls.

 

Yeah, I'm surprised too that the Nauticam design doesn't allow for this. Curious.

 

Tom, is not possible to make the Canon camera switch between AF/MF through a setting in the Menu? Forgive the ignorance, I've always been a Nikon kinda guy.