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Advanced Features
3

FOCUSING (DISTANCE)

PHOTOGRAPHY FUNCTIONS
3Advanced
Features
Exposure refers to the light that hits the CCD or the total amount of captured light and determines
the brightness of the image.
The exposure is determined by the combination of aperture and shutter speed. In AE (Auto-
exposure), the camera determines the correct exposure, allowing for factors such as the brightness
of the subject and the sensitivity setting.
Closed Open
When shooting a moving subject, you can either “freeze the motion” or “capture the sense of
movement” by adjusting the shutter speed.
Freezes the motion of the
subject.
Photographs the traces left
by the subject’s movement.
By adjusting the aperture, you can change the depth of focus (depth of field).
The area in front of and
behind the subject is also
in focus in the shot.
The background is out of
focus.
Fast Slow
Shutter speed
Aperture
The graph at left shows the way the aperture and shutter speed settings can
be changed while maintaining the same exposure level.
hWhen the aperture is decreased by one step, the shutter speed also
decreases by one step (the dot moves upper left).
hWhen the aperture is increased by one step, the shutter speed also
increases by one step (the dot moves lower right).
hCombinations that result in the shutter speed or aperture being outside the
available range of settings cannot be selected (white dots).
hIn the “N”, “M” and “<” Photography modes, it is easy to select different
settings along this line.
hSelecting settings that run parallel to this line by adjusting the brightness of
the photographed image is referred to as exposure compensation.
OpenClosed (Aperture)
Slow (Shutter speed) Fast
◆When you cannot get the correct exposure ◆
Exposure compensation:
This function uses the exposure level set by the AE
function as a reference (0) and then brightens (+) or
darkens (–) the image. By selecting Auto bracketing,
you can shoot 3 frames, one underexposed (–), one at
the reference exposure (0) and one overexposed (+).
(–) (0) (+)
Main subject

EXPOSURE (SHUTTER SPEED AND APERTURE)

PHOTOGRAPHY FUNCTIONS
The distance from the subject to the camera is referred to as the shooting distance.
When the shooting distance is set correctly and the image appears sharp, the image is focused.
■Three focusing methods
There are mechanisms for focusing: (1) Single AF (S-AF); (2) Continuous AF (C-AF); and (3)
Manual focus (MF).
S-AF : In this mode, the camera focuses each time the shutter button is pressed down halfway.
Select the AF mode when the Mode dial is set to “N”, “M”, “<” or “>” mode.
C-AF : When this mode is set, the camera focuses continuously on the subject in the center of the
screen. Use this mode to photograph moving subjects. See P.47 for details.
MF : With the “D” button held down, press the “T” or “W” button to focus the shot. See P.48 for
details.
■Causes of focusing errors and the solutions
The subject is not suited to AF. Use AF lock (AF mode: AF (CENTER))✽1 or MF.
The subject is outside the shooting range. Turn Macro mode on or off.✽2
The subject is moving too quickly. Use MF (pre-setting the shooting distance for a shot).
Cause Solution
◆Subjects not suitable for autofocus ◆
hVery shiny subjects such as a mirror or car
body
hSubjects photographed through glass
hSubjects that do not reflect well, such as hair
or fur
hSubjects with no substance, such as smoke
or flames
hDark subjects
hFast moving subjects
hSubjects with little or no contrast between the
subject and the background (such as white
walls or subjects dressed in the same color as
the background)
hShots where another high-contrast object (not
the subject) is close to the AF frame and is
either closer or further away than your subject
(such as a shot of someone against a
background with strongly contrasting
elements)
✽1 Taking pictures using AF lock Press the shutter button down
halfway to focus.
Recompose the shot and take the picture.Capture the subject
Main subject
✽2 Turning Macro mode ON/OFF
Approx. 90 cm (3.0 ft.)
to infinity
(fixed at wide)
Approx. 10 cm to 2.0 m
(3.9 in. to 6.6 ft.)
(fixed at wide)
Macro OFF Macro ON