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

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Focus and recompose technique

Although most digital cameras offer a collection of AF points so that you can select the one that sits over your subject, there may not always be one exactly where you need it.

In these instances the camera ‘focus and recompose’ technique comes in very handy – and it can be quicker than selecting an AF point even if there is one over your subject.

Imagine, for example, that the central AF point is selected, but your subject is off to one side of the frame. All you need to do is move the camera so that the AF point is over the subject and half-press the shutter button so that the lens focuses.

Now, with the shutter button still half-pressed to keep the focus locked, recompose the image so that the subject is where you want it in the frame and press the shutter release home to take the shot.

This also a useful focus technique to use in low light, as the outer AF points tend to be less sensitive than the central one.
When using this camera focus technique, it is essential that the camera is set to single AF mode.

If it is set to continuous AF, the camera will refocus the lens on whatever subject is under the active AF point when you recompose the image.

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