Chapter 2

Focusing on the subject

When you press the Shutter button halfway down, the camera searches for focus within the focus brackets. When it finds focus, the focus brackets turn green.

If the focus brackets do not frame your subject, use Focus Lock (see “Using Focus Lock”

on page 11).

Optimizing focus

When the camera cannot auto focus, the focus brackets turn red. This indicates the picture may be out of focus because the subject is out of the focus range or the scene has low contrast.

If you are recording a video or taking a picture with a shooting mode (see “Using the Picture Capture and Video Record menus” on page 14) other than Close-upand the camera cannot focus, it will still take the picture. Try releasing the Shutter button, reframing, and then pressing the Shutter button halfway down again. If the focus brackets are still red, try the following.

For pictures and video clips: If the scene has low contrast, use Focus Lock (see

“Using Focus Lock” on page 11) and aim at a point on the subject that has more colors or crisp edges.

For pictures only:

•Select a shooting mode more appropriate for the scene you are capturing (see Shooting Mode under “Using the Picture Capture and Video Record menus” on page 14).

•If the subject is too close (less than 300 mm or 11.8 in), move farther away from the

subject or use Close-up(see Close-upunder “Using the Picture Capture and Video Record menus” on page 14).

•If the camera is set to Close-upand cannot focus, the camera will not take the picture. Try one of the following:

•Move within the Close-uprange (50-300 mm or 1.9-11.8 in) or set the camera

to Auto (see Auto under “Using the Picture Capture and Video Record menus” on page 14).

•In low contrast scenes, use Focus Lock (see “Using Focus Lock” on page 11).

10 Taking pictures and recording video clips