Best camera focus techniques: 10 surefire ways to get sharp photos

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Single shot autofocus

Often abbreviated to single autofocus or single AF, this camera focus option sets your camera to focus when the shutter release is depressed half-way and to keep the lens focused on the selected subject until the shot is taken and the button is released.

If you need to refocus you have to lift your finger off the shutter button and then depress it a second time.

Single focus mode is useful for static subjects such a s still life and landscapes.

Continuous autofocus

When this camera focus option is selected the camera will continue to focus the lens as long as the shutter release button is half-pressed, or the AF button is pressed.

This makes it a very good option when photographing moving subjects because the camera will adjust the focus distance as the subject moves.

Advanced cameras such as the Canon EOS 7D and Nikon D7000 have options that enable you to specify which AF points the camera will use to track the subject as it moves about in the frame.

Some even allow you to specify how quickly the camera should respond to changes in subject distance to avoid the subject going out of focus when a stadium pillar, for example, momentarily blocks the view.

When using continuous AF it’s usually best to set the starting AF point manually so the camera knows what the target is before it starts to track it.

If you like shooting sport or fast action then make sure you check out your camera’s continuous AF options.

PAGE 1: Manual Focus
PAGE 2: Single AF, Continuous AF
PAGE 3: Automatic focus point selection, Manual focus point selection
PAGE 4: Face Detection AF
PAGE 5: Focus and re-compose technique
PAGE 6: Back button focusing
PAGE 7: Hyperfocal distance focusing
PAGE 8: Focus stacking