Might swap D60 for D80.

[eastley]

Hey guys..

So I just got the Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8D lens right, which means on my D60 I have to manual focus. I was focusing on my partners face, I got the teeth to focus but the nose and eyes would be out of focus. WHY? If it really that sensitive to focusing? If so I might see if I can swap for the D80 so I can AUto Focus with the lens.

[Jeff Perry]

eastley, how much of your subject is in focus has nothing to do with the camera body and everything to do with the aperture (f/stop) setting of the lens. It will also make no difference whether you are focusing manually or with an AF function turned on.

Thru the viewfinder you are seeing the widest aperture depth of field (DOF) of the particular lens you have mounted, that is the distance in front of and behind the focal point that is in focus. Focus on the tip of your partners nose and depending on the focal length of the lens and how far away from the subject, at some distance behind and in front of the tip of the nose, the image will begin to fall out of focus. An f/1.8 lens is considered a fast lens by DSLR standards and at 1.8 it will have a pretty narrow (shallow) DOF. Stop down the lens to say f/5.6 or f/8 and the DOF widens (gets deeper) so more of your subject is in focus.

You won't see it in the viewfinder, though because the camera generally only "stops down" to that setting at the instant of shutter release. There is usually a depth of field preview button (usually the small black button on the right side, down low next to the lens mount) that when pressed will stop down the lens so you can see a dim view of the DOF you are getting (stopping down the lens, i.e., larger f/stop number, reduce the amount of light entering the camera hence the dimmer view at f/8 than at f/1.8 when the DOF preview button is depressed).

Jeff

[Loa]

Yep, as Jeff said: 1.8 is really nice for low-light, but the depth of field is *very* narrow.

Also, on the topic of the D80 upgrade: rumours are flying wild that a D90 is just around the corner. So if you still want the D80 regardless of focusing on your 50mm, you could wait a month or two and get the D90. (well, probably!)

Loa

[eastley]

Originally Posted by Loa

Yep, as Jeff said: 1.8 is really nice for low-light, but the depth of field is *very* narrow.

Also, on the topic of the D80 upgrade: rumours are flying wild that a D90 is just around the corner. So if you still want the D80 regardless of focusing on your 50mm, you could wait a month or two and get the D90. (well, probably!)

Loa

Actually been using it a little got the focusing down well now, I sort of rather even like it more than AF, a lot more flexibility.

[Loa]

Originally Posted by eastley

Actually been using it a little got the focusing down well now, I sort of rather even like it more than AF, a lot more flexibility.

I agree, but the ultimate flexibility is being able to use both, when they're appropriate!

Manual focus can be fun or very useful, but AF also has it's place!

Lo