How does macro focus work on a D-SLR without live preview?

[qfrisco]

I don't have experience with D-SLRs, but am considering lobbying for one for Father's Day. I do all my tank photography with a point-and-shoot Canon hacked with CHDK to enable manual focus and a host of other manual controls. The thing I find most difficult when doing closeup photography with a p&s is properly focusing the subject as the LCD screen didn't have near enough resolution.

I understand that most entry-level D-SLRs don't have live preview, so using the LCD screen for focusing isn't possible anyway. So I assume all focusing is done via the viewfinder? Is there enough resolution available in order to properly focus on a Blue Tort polyp, for example? Or is there still some trial-and-error involved as well as using focus bracketing?

Just curious, especially with the very narrow depth-of-field available via macro lenses how easily good focus is achieved.

Thanks!

 

[BlueCorn]

Re: How does macro focus work on a D-SLR without live preview?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15113959#post15113959 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by qfrisco
So I assume all focusing is done via the viewfinder?

Yes. Believe it or not but people have been focusing cameras that way for over 100 years.

 

[Blazer88]

All of the focusing is done via the view finder, which is optical and not limited to resolution but rather the size of the view finder. There is some trial and error involved but I never had a hard time using manual focus for macro shots on either my Canon 30D or older Rebel XT. After using my 50D w/live view, I will say that focusing is much easier than just using the view finder. Being able to magnify at 10x before taking the shot is great.

 

[jmarko]

I would highly recommend you check out the Canons with the newest high rez screens. I upgraded from the 5d to the 5d mk11 and one of the reasons was to get the live view. Its really awesome for macro to zoom in at 10x for the shot and see it clearly without squinting plus have all the other data on screen. the 5d mkii is kinda crazy expensive but check it out if its in the budget its very nice and its a full frame camera. Otherwise spend some time looking at the 50d and i think there is even a new entry level with the new screen and live view check out the canon forums or the ones at dp.

Good luck

one last tip is make sure you get a macro lens the canon 100mm is great bang for the buck if you go canon. you can take shots of the tank with a kit lens but macro lens has a 1:1 ratio and is really nice to play with.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Re: How does macro focus work on a D-SLR without live preview?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15113959#post15113959 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by qfrisco
Is there enough resolution available in order to properly focus on a Blue Tort polyp, for example? Or is there still some trial-and-error involved as well as using focus bracketing?

Resolution through the viewfinder of a DSLR is infinite.
When you look into a DSLR viewfinder, you are looking directly through the lens itself, which is the whole point. Your coral should look like you are viewing it under a magnifying glass, and the DOF will correspond to your widest aperture.