Focus

Controlling How the Camera Focuses

Focus—Photographs Taking

This section describes the options that control how your camera focuses: focus mode, focus-area selection, and AF-area mode.

Focus Mode

 

 

Focus mode is controlled by the focus mode se-

 

lector on the front of the camera. Two modes are

VIDEO

 

 

VIDEO

 

 

OUT

available:

 

OUT

 

 

Option

Description

 

Camera focuses automatically when shutter-release button is pressed halfway. Operation depends on option selected for Custom Setting 2 (Autofocus; 139):

•AF-S(single-servo autofocus): When camera focuses, beep sounds and in-focus indicator (●) appears in viewfinder. Focus remains locked

 

while shutter-release button is pressed halfway (focus lock). Shutter

 

can only be released when in-focus indicator is displayed (focus pri-

AF

ority). If subject was moving when shutter-release button was pressed

halfway, camera will track subject until focusing is complete and the

Autofocus

shutter can be released (predictive focus tracking;

65). If subject

 

stops moving before shutter is released, in-focus indicator will appear in viewfinder and focus will lock at this distance.

•AF-C(continuous-servo autofocus): Camera focuses continuously while shutter-release button is pressed halfway. If subject moves, fo-

cus will be adjusted to compensate (predictive focus tracking; 65). Photographs can be taken whether or not camera is in focus (release priority).

Camera does not focus automatically; focus must be adjusted manually using the lens focusing ring. If maximum aperture of lens is f/5.6 or

Mfaster, viewfinder focus indicator can be used to confirm focus (elec-

Manual

tronic range finding; 74), but photographs can be taken at any time,

 

whether or not camera is in focus.

Choosing single-servo AF ensures a sharp, focused image. Continuous-servo AF may be a better choice with erratically-moving subjects. Manual focus is recommended when the camera is unable to focus using autofocus.

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