Depends on the camera. Some have this feature, some don't, and those that do have restrictions -- but it certainly helps if your camera has that feature.
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Using auto focus will allow the shooter to view the selected area and move it if needed,
Whilst I enjoy my manual focus Nikons and Mamiya's my aging eyesight nudges me to re consider the autofocus cameras I once sold off to pursue a 'purists ' life of photography!
Has anyone else suffered this remorse?
TB
No, but AF has convinced me with performance. My Nikon AF cameras focus better than I could possibly do manually and I wish there was an AF-option for Hasselblad. For image sharpness, nothing is more important than accurate focus and AF delivers that speedy every time.
I had my first cataract surgery on my right eye in 2020 and had the left eye done a month ago. I too can now use my cameras with either eye and read without reading glasses.
There is a middle ground. First, auto-focusing cameras can focus on things in the scene that you would not focus on -- so they can get it wrong just as easily as you can. Plus, lots of auto-focusing cameras (all the ones I use) indicate with a light in the viewfinder, a beep, or whatever, when the subject is in focus -- even when focusing manually.
Third, when was the last time you had your glasses prescription updated?
Whilst I enjoy my manual focus Nikons and Mamiya's my aging eyesight nudges me to re consider the autofocus cameras I once sold off to pursue a 'purists ' life of photography!
Has anyone else suffered this remorse?
TB
my AF cameras (Nikons) indicate where they focused on and the focus is always on target. I never could achieve that accuracy manually with any camera(many brands) but that was my problem; nothing wrong with the cameras. Anyway, AF all the way since then.
I now need to wear reading glasses and the worst thing about that is that without them I can't see camera controls on most of my cameras (and with them I can't see framelines on most of my cameras). I'm often counting down the steps from top shutter speed to arrive at the desired setting. I always preferred small cameras and lenses and that might now be over. For example, my Ricoh Caddy is an Olympus Pen W killer at a fraction of the price, but using it is no fun at all now...
Bifocals.
Half clear for distance?
Bifocals.
I'd still need to take them off to comfortably use the camera as I can't see the framelines with glasses on since I can't get my eye close enough to the viewfinder.
I know, I'm not the first or the last that needs to adapt to the "new normal". It just sucks, you know...
If yours is like my father's, your right index finger will hate it. Sharp serrated control wheels, stiff too.I might even start shooting my Argus 'Brick' just because I can now, see well through it.
Whilst I enjoy my manual focus Nikons and Mamiya's my aging eyesight nudges me to re consider the autofocus cameras I once sold off to pursue a 'purists ' life of photography!
Has anyone else suffered this remorse?
TB
You could possibly buy an appropriate strength pair of cheap $10 pair of readers from a convenience store, cut a lens down to size and tape it to the viewfinder eyepiece.If it is possible, get diopter correction lenses for the viewfinder. If your eyesight is clear but you are not able to accomodate.
I have the same problem; I can only use my Canon F-1 with the magnifying loupe of the waist-level viewfinder, not very handy for shots in portrait format.
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