Photography

I honestly prefer manual focus for everything. I found it easier after taking a film photography class

Fireworks, aircraft.

NOTE: rear-button focus is very helpful!

Rear-button focus moves the auto-focus from the shutter button to a button on the back of the camera. It's useful for a lot of use cases, but is especially helpful with older DSLRs that have trouble focusing in low light, and subjects that are in (or moving around within) a crowded scene.

You set the focus with the back button, then snap away without waiting for your camera to refocus every time you depress the shutter.

For fireworks, I'll focus near where I expect them, then adjust manually with the first few displays.

Aircraft that are moving slowly or horizontally across your field of view, especially if there are a lot of background objects, can be easier to handle with manual focus (or at least back button focus).

When you wanna be retro.

Whenever possible. Almost always. Actions shots like sports photos are an exception.

With manual lenses

When my autofocus decides not to work.

All the time, the 1300D needs way to long to focus so I’ll just do it myself

Panning shots when there are obstacles between the camera and the subject.

I have a few manual focus film lenses for my Sony A7. It's easier to manually focus because you can zoom in with the electronic viewfinder. I guess it would be more difficult with a DSLR.

On a manual lens. Or in the dark. Or when there's a lotta movement but the subject is kinda stationary.

On my Nikon D850 never. The AF never failed me (unlike the Nikon D3 xD).

On my Leica M always. At first, rangefinder is weird and i‘m still learning but i get used to it. Actually i feel a bit more comfy with Rangefinder than DSLR alteady.

Mostly for video, Astro, and macro. And if I’m focus stacking which I do for both macro and landscape photography

When I’m trying to achieve focus through one plane to an object behind it. Through glass, a fence, a group of faces, etc.

THIS is why I will NEVER buy a lens that doesn’t have an Auto/Manual switch on the barrel. A lot of shots would have been missed.

When AF was first introduced, it was a boon to those of us with less than stellar eyesight.If I have to shoot in manual focus, focus peaking is the only way I can get a sharp image.

If you are shooting canon they have traded the ability to manual focus for a brighter image in the viewfinder. Other brands may have done the same.

I avoided af for a long time. Hated it when people who used it would win prizes in sports photo competitions. I’ve gradually given in as it has improved so much. I’m more inclined to manually position the focus point than manual focus. Especially with wide angle lenses.

Macro

I have no choice but to use manual focus because my AF isn't working (oof, ik) To get a crisp image, this is my process -find a point in the viewfinder that looks sharp (I think the viewfinder lies to me about focus) -hold the shutter down -rotate the focus ring slowly

Essentially, spray and pray, with extra steps

That way, even if I'm wasting space, I know at least one photo is focused the way I want it. It's tedious, but until I can purchase a new camera, it works for me.

Sometimes i can't get a lens to focus on the thing in the foreground that is my subject (like a leaf for instance) so i'll resort to manual focus. Also, my camera has a focus setting that allows autofocus but then the ability to manually adjust or fine tune focus.. the AF gets it in the ballpark, then I can make sure the details I want are dialed in.

Focus peaking is amazing for quick manual focusing. In dim light, it's a lot faster than autofocus.

my camera at times hunts while I am in the studio shooting - I do like to keep it dark in there though... so I sometimes have to switch it off