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FOCUS POINTS, FOCUS DRIVE MODES, AND HOW TO USE THEM

Quick Guide
Written by Jo Plumridge
 I think we can all agree that a blurry
image with bad focusing is something we
want to avoid happening when we’re out
shooting! Fortunately, the autofocus on
modern camera systems is astonishingly
good, but as with many things, it will
only work properly if you know how to
use it. In this guide, I’m going to discuss
autofocus points (more commonly known
as AF points) and show you how to use
them to ensure sharp shots every time
you press the shutter.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

· What are focus points?

· Types of AF points

· AF-Area Modes

· Focus Drive Modes

Photograph by Oscar Ivan Esquivel Arteaga · What can impact autofocus

Make sure your lens is switched to AF; otherwise, you won’t be able to access any of the autofocus features. performance?

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 WHAT ARE FOCUS POINTS?

When you look through the viewfinder of your of the frame, but you’ll find that the number available
camera, you’ll see empty squares or dots. These vary enormously between manufacturers as well as
are your focus points. You can also see them on camera models. Increasingly we’re seeing cameras
your viewfinder if you’re shooting in live view. When with more and more AF points, which makes it far
you half-press the shutter to focus your camera, easier for both the photographer and the camera to
the points will light up. Each of these focus points get sharp images. Do note that mirrorless cameras
are used by your camera’s AF (autofocus) sensors work slightly differently, using phase detection AF
to detect contrast (known as Phase Detection AF). points alongside contrast AF on the sensor.
Focus points are intentionally laid out in certain parts

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 TYPES OF AF POINTS

As well as the number of focus points available, you with a DSLR in particular, the more cross-type points
also need to be aware of what type of AF point they you have, the easier it will be to get images in focus.
are. There are two types of AF point sensors: vertical
and cross-type. Vertical sensors are one dimensional Recommended Reading: If you’d like to
and can only detect contrast on a vertical line. Cross- master camera settings to create gorgeous,
type sensors are two dimensional and can detect creamy, blurry backgrounds, grab a copy of
contrast on both vertical and horizontal lines. This, of Photzy’s premium guide: Beautiful Background
course, makes them more accurate. If you’re shooting Blur.

FOCUS POINTS, FOCUS DRIVE MODES, AND HOW TO USE THEM // © PHOTZY.COM 4
 AF-AREA MODES

Most DSLR and CSC (mirrorless) cameras will

give you various options on how to control
your AF points. These are known as AF-Area
Modes. They will vary slightly among different
cameras and manufacturers, but these are the
main ones you can expect to come across.

SINGLE/MANUAL POINT AF-AREA MODE

In this mode, your camera will only use one

focus point at a time. You control which focus
point is being used by moving it up, down,
left, and right. This means that your camera
will detect contrast only on your chosen focus
point, whether it’s vertical or cross-type. This
mode is particularly useful for portraits, in
my opinion, as you can set your focus point
in between the subject’s eyes (a bit like a
bullseye!). You can also use it for landscapes
and architecture, where you’ll be using a larger
depth of field and probably want to use a
Photograph by Zdeněk Macháček central AF point.
Dynamic AF-Area Mode works well for capturing subjects such as birds, which move quickly.
Canon cameras also have Spot AF mode,
which looks like a square within a square
and gives the smallest and most precise area
control you can have on a camera.

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 DYNAMIC/AF POINT EXPANSION AF-
AREA MODE

This mode also allows you to pick one

focus point, which the camera will initially
acquire focus on. However, once focus
is acquired, the camera will utilize the
surrounding AF points if your subject
moves. You need to track the subject by
panning the camera along and making
sure that it stays close to the initially
chosen AF point. Some higher end
cameras will also allow you to choose the
number of surrounding AF points to use
in this mode; for example, 9 points, 21
points, or even all AF points available.

3D-TRACKING AF-AREA MODE

Some cameras will also have 3D-Tracking

mode. This is similar to the Dynamic
mode but uses a special scene-
Photograph by Tim Carey recognition system that reads colors and
The 3D Tracking AF-Area Mode utilizes all available focus points, allowing you to track subjects right across your frame. tracks your subject automatically. The 3D
mode will use all available focus points on
the camera to track with. However, some
users do report that it’s not quite as quick
as Dynamic mode.

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 AUTO-AREA AF/AUTOMATIC AF POINT GROUP-AREA AF MODE
SELECTION MODE
Later Nikon cameras come with a Group-Area mode,
Auto-Area is the automatic mode of focusing. which activates five AF points to track subjects.
Essentially, the camera should automatically pick up On the viewfinder you’ll see four focus points
on what it should focus on. It is a complex mode with the fifth one in the middle hidden. But when
which will recognize the skin tones on a person and pointed at a subject, all five points will be activated
automatically focus on them. If there are multiple simultaneously, with the priority given to the closest
people in the frame, it will focus on those nearest to subject. No preference is given to any single one of
the camera. If you’re photographing without people, these five points, making it easier to focus on your
the system will usually focus on the closest and subject.
largest object in the frame.
FACE PRIORITY AF MODE
ZONE AF MODE
This is an extremely common mode on mirrorless
Canon cameras have a Zone AF mode, which gives cameras, which allows the camera to automatically
you a wider AF sensitivity area, but requires you find any faces in your scene and focus on them.
to hand over some of the AF point control to your Some cameras may also include an Eye Priority
camera. This mode will look at several AF points mode.
and take data from them all to average a result. This
is particularly useful if you’re shooting with smaller You may find that your camera has a few other
apertures and aren’t so concerned about depth of modes, particularly if it has video capabilities, such as
field. Wide-Area AF, Normal-Area AF, and Subject-Tracking
AF.

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 FOCUS MODES

As well as AF-Area modes, cameras also come with AI SERVO/CONTINUOUS/AF-C

several focus modes to cope with static or moving
subjects. Let’s take a look at the different modes The AI Servo (Canon) or AF-C (Nikon) mode is for
available. use with moving subjects (such as sports or wildlife
photography). It works in the same way as all
ONE SHOT/SINGLE SHOT/AF-S MODE focusing modes as you must start by half-pressing
the shutter button to activate focusing. However,
This is the most commonly used of the focus modes in the continuous mode the camera will keep re-
and will generally be what your camera is defaulted focusing as you move it and track your subject. You
to. Single shot mode is designed for use with static need to remember that in this mode there will be
subjects, such as landscapes, still life, or a posed no beeps from the camera or lights in the viewfinder
portrait. It’s an easy mode to use, but you must when you focus. And the camera will only keep re-
remember that the camera will need to be re-focused focusing if you keep the shutter button half-pressed
every time you or your subject moves. By the way, if at all times.
you mount a flashgun with an AF-Assist red beam, it
will only work if the camera is in this mode.

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 Photography by Tope A. Asokere

AF-A focus mode allows the camera to switch from a single to continuous shot when a subject starts moving.

FOCUS POINTS, FOCUS DRIVE MODES, AND HOW TO USE THEM // © PHOTZY.COM 9
 AI FOCUS/AUTOMATIC/AF-A

This is undoubtedly the most useful of the

three modes, but as mentioned above,
not all cameras have it. It is simply an
automatic mode that remains in single
shot mode until a subject moves, at
which point it automatically switches
to continuous mode. Note that the
camera will usually emit a soft beep once
focused. It is particularly useful for using
when photographing small children or
pets, both of which have a tendency to
suddenly start moving!

Recommended Reading: If you’d

like to master camera settings to
create gorgeous, creamy, blurry
backgrounds, grab a copy of
Photzy’s premium guide: Beautiful
Background Blur.

Photograph by Ali Yahya

Low light can impact a camera’s ability to autofocus and you may find you need to switch to manual focus to get your image sharp.

FOCUS POINTS, FOCUS DRIVE MODES, AND HOW TO USE THEM // © PHOTZY.COM 10
 WHAT CAN IMPACT
AUTOFOCUS
PERFORMANCE?

The biggest issue for autofocus is

available light. When you shoot outside
on a bright, sunny day, your autofocus
will sail along without any issues. But
bring it inside to dingy lighting and it
could struggle to focus. This is because
it’s much harder for your camera to detect
contrast in low-light conditions. If you
find that your lens is continually searching
for focus, you may find it easier to switch
over to manual focus and set it yourself.
In a similar vein, the autofocus will
struggle if you try and focus on a block of
color (e.g. a white wall) as there will again
be no contrast for the camera to pick up
on.

Photograph by Jo Plumridge

FOCUS POINTS, FOCUS DRIVE MODES, AND HOW TO USE THEM // © PHOTZY.COM 11
 CONCLUSION

Autofocus is undoubtedly one of the most useful understanding the different modes, as well as being
features on modern camera systems. However, to get able to pick the right one for different situations, is
the best out of it you need to remember that it’s not key to getting great shots.
as simple as just pressing the shutter! Knowing and

FOCUS POINTS, FOCUS DRIVE MODES, AND HOW TO USE THEM // © PHOTZY.COM 12
 Self-Check Quiz:

1) What are the two types of AF points?

2) Name the seven types of AF Area Modes mentioned in this guide.

3) When would you use the Single AF-Area Mode?

4) Does 3D-Tracking AF-Area Mode use some or all of the available AF points?

5) Name the three different Focus Modes.

6) Why do cameras struggle to focus in low light?

FOCUS POINTS, FOCUS DRIVE MODES, AND HOW TO USE THEM // © PHOTZY.COM 13
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Congratulations! You’ve completed
this Photzy guide!

If you’ve found this photography tutorial

helpful, you may be interested in this Photzy
premium guide on how to master your
camera to create gorgeous, creamy, blurry
backgrounds: Beautiful Background Blur.

Jo Plumridge is a UK-based freelance writer and photographer.

She writes photography, travel, and opinion pieces for
magazines, websites, and books, and specializes in portrait and
corporate photography. You can view some of her work on her
website, www.joplumridge.co.uk, and follow her on Twitter at
JoPlumridge. IF YOU’D LIKE TO CONTINUE
LEARNING AND IMPROVING
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