Coin Pics..Autofocus or Manual?

beartracks42

What do you use with your DSLR? I recently purchased a Nikon D40X and am in the process of picking a 105mm lens to use on it. It will only be used for coins, so if the more expensive AF lens is not needed, I will buy one for manual use only.

What say you folks who take such fine pics??

Thanks

Animalkeeper

Auto-focus. Couldn't imagine not using it.

GFourDriver

Manual all the time.

messydesk

Manual. On a tripod with a patient, stationary subject, there's no need for AF. Also, you will have issues if the coin needs to be tilted at all or if there's not much detail in the AF sample area of the coin. I bought a ca. 1979 mint, manual focus 105/4.0 AI Micro-Nikkor for $180 that is insanely sharp, as others here with the same lens will attest. The current 105/2.8 AF VR Micro-Nikkor weighs in at $750. VR is contraindicated with a tripod, so you don't need that, either. Also, while the 105/2.8 can focus down to 1:1, as you focus closer, the focal length of the lens drops quickly, thus reducing your working distance to that of a 60mm lens. Finally, I'll send you to Bjørn Rørslett's lens survey page where he compares all 105mm Micro-Nikkors, auto and manual focus, that he could get his hands on.

DJCoinz

Manual.

PrivateCoinCollector

With slabbed coins the automatic cannot do as good of a job.

speety

Both...I take both sides with autofocus once and then take many shots in manual. When reviewing i compare the shots, whichever is better i use. I've gotten so that most of the time the manual shots are better.

notwilight

I find I don't get the best focus when I do it manually, perhaps because I now need reading glasses. So I use autofocus. I also use Aperature priority mode to force the f/ stop up a little (or a lot) for depth of field. Eventually I want to buy the stuff to preview on the computer on the 21" screen and then I'll try manual focus again. --Jerry