Auto Focus Continuos Mode

Digital Camera Autofocus Continuos Mode

Understanding Autofocus Modes in Digital Camera

Photo Tip Friday March 13

The Auto Focus modes in Digital cameras can be very confusing, and some photographers do not want to spend any time in understanding pros and cons of each mode. In this article I am going to cover one of the basic, yet important modes.

Did you know that your camera has different Auto focus modes?

Do you know how to get the best result by selecting a correct auto focus mode?

Almost all new digital cameras have very sophisticated autofocus system, but you don’t need to know all the technical specification to benefit this advanced technology. All you need to know is how to select the best autofocus mode for your application.

Choosing correct autofocus mode is very important and unfortunately many photographers do not pay enough attention to autofocus modes and its potentials in their photography. That is why I added Selecting correct Autofocus Mode as part of our new Digital Camera Bootcamp and I dedicated a full 30 minutes of classroom session to this topic (with lots of practical hands on in our field trips). In this article I write about the three major autofocus modes which almost all digital cameras are equipped with.

Last week I introduced the Auto-Auto Focus and Single Auto Focus. Here is a summary of last week article

Introduction to Digital Camera Auto focus Modes 

These three modes are presented in all digital camera from an entry level all the way to pro level cameras. By understanding the capability of each settings, your photography experience will be smoother and the result will improve more.

Auto Auto focus

This is the default setting of camera. In this mode you allow the camera to pick up the focusing points. When you select Auto Autofocus, camera selects the closest and brighter part of the scene or the closest face to focus on which may not be exactly the point that you want to focus on.

Single Auto focus

You select the focusing point and force the camera to focus on that point. It is advised to use this mode and lock the focusing by pressing the shutter button half way down and then recompose. If you use spot metering the camera will read the exposure from where the focusing point is. Make sure to lock the exposure as well if you shoot the spot metering. This Autofocusing mode is for still subjects.

Now let’s dig a little dipper in to Auto Focus modes by looking into Continuos or AI and AI Servo modes:

Continuos Auto focus 

In Auto Focus Continuos, you can lock the focus to your moving subjects
In Auto Focus Continuos, you can lock the focus to your moving subjects

If you have a moving subject and want to keep subject in focus, you should use continuos autofocus mode. For instance you want to take photos of your pet running around in the park. New digital cameras senses the movement and predicts the direction of movement, then keeps focusing on your subject. The Continuos Autofocusing mode is suggested for moving subject. You press the shutter button half way down to activate the autofocus and keep pressing it down, when your subject starts to move camera will change the focusing to keep the subject in focus.

Auto Focus continuos allows you to pay more attention to your moving subject to take the right composition
Auto Focus continuos allows you to pay more attention to your moving subject to take the right composition

(most cameras are equipped with a back autofocus button. To get the best result it is suggested to use this button and use this button to activate autofocus and keep camera focusing on your subject)

Auto Focus Continuos and Back Botton Focusing is the key in sport and action photography
Auto Focus Continuos and Back Botton Focusing is the key in sport and action photography

That is all for now, as there are more information about Autofocus system in  different cameras.

Do you want to learn more about these features?

Register for our upcoming Digital Camera Bootcamp for beginners If you’d like to learn more about the many different hidden features in your digital camera consider joining us for our Digital Camera Bootcamp workshop.  There are only 3 more spots available for this workshop. Please see information for registration included below.

 

Scroll to Top