Focusing

There are a few different focusing modes to chose from. What you will choose depends on what your subjects is, and if it is moving or not.

• Continuous or AI Servo- This is for moving objects, the camera continuously readjust focus. This mode can be rough on your camera battery.
• One Shot or Single- This is for static, or mostly static, objects. It is usually more accurate and saves battery power.
• Autofocus-This is relatively new, it may not be on your camera. This mode will decide which of the above automatic focusing mode fits what the camera is sensing.
• Manual-You manually focus the lens.

A tip for manually focusing is to bring the object into focus, move past that until the object is just out of focus, then go back in the other direction, just past where it is in focus. Basically you focus back and forth with less and less movement on the lens until you find the spot in the middle that is perfectly in focus.

You can gain a little more control when focusing in an automatic mode by pushing the shutter button partway down (the camera will usually beep when it is successfully focused). When you lift your finger you will lose that set focus, so it can be readjusted, or give control back to the camera. You can use this for objects that are difficult to focus on. Just focus on another object close by, then move the camera to frame the image and press the shutter button down the rest of the way. Also there may be a AF-ON button on the back of your camera that will hold the focus even if you release the shutter button.

The little lights in your viewfinder that light up as the camera focuses are your focal points. Some modes use multiple points to set the focus, other modes will just use one. You can also manually set that point so that it is fixed.

In most cases you will use automatic focus, just because it is is faster. Just remember you are relying on the camera to figure out what is in focus, and that may not always be reliable. Particularly in dark environments. Be sure to check at least every other image to be sure that your camera is focusing correctly.