A Look at The State of Camera Lenses In 2012

Manual Transmission

Surprise! we found four NEW MANUAL-focus optics: Leica's 21mm f/3.4, Rokinon's 35mm f/1.4, Rokinon's 85mm f/1.4 and Zeiss' 25mm f/2.

Did you really expect a resurgence of manual-focus lenses? Neither did we. Until DSLR video caught on.

This matters because even quiet AF motors can transmit audio noise to video, most DSLRs can’t effectively autofocus in video mode to begin with, and the manual focusing on many AF lenses isn’t fine enough for smooth focus pulls. So now we have great glass like the Zeiss Planar T* line, with their long-turning-radius manual focus and beefy all-metal barrels.

But it’s not all about video. Many still photographers appreciate these lenses not just for their old-time feel but for their sharpness and quality of construction. In the case of the 21mm f/3.4 Leica Super Elmar-M, manual focusing is a moot point, given that it is for the very manual Leica M rangefinders.

If you’re willing to forego most or all autoexposure modes, you can get high-quality manual-focus lenses on the cheap by way of upstart Rokinon, whose sharp f/1.4 primes start at $270, street.

Tech Talk: The focusing screens in digital SLRs are designed for clear, fine-grained viewing, not for optimal manual focusing. And today’s cameras lack the microprism or split-image focusing aids of SLRs gone by. Many midlevel to high-end DSLRs, though, have user-interchangeable focusing screens that, in some instances, can be swapped out for a matte screen designed for fine manual focus. Check your camera’s specs and manufacturer’s website to see if your camera qualifies. If your camera doesn’t have swappable screens, or you just can’t be bothered, note that the live-view function lets you magnify a portion of the LCD image for fine focusing. This hardly lends itself to speedy handheld focusing, though. In the end, the best alternative may be to use the focus-confirmation indicator in your camera’s existing viewfinder.{C}