Lesson 2.2: Know your camera: Focus and Drive Modes

Lovely pictures need good focus on the subject, so the subject can stand out from the other objects and looks sharp. For this, you need to know certain things:

Focus modes: In most DSLRs, you'll find 3 focus modes to help you focus automatically or manually or to focus both fixed or moving subjects.

1. Single AF (AF-S): In this mode your camera focuses and stays locked to the focus point until you press your shutter button half way down or unless the subject moves. If you in any case leave your shutter button, you have to re-focus.
2. Continuous AF (AF-C): In this mode, as long as you press and hold the shutter button half way down, camera will keep on focussing the subject whereabout it moves in the frame. This mode is quite good for macro, bird, sports photography. For macro photography, you need to remember to keep the minimum distance for focusing and use this mode at the same time.
3. Manual (MF): Very pro level option. Anyone who has mastered this part, is obviously able to gain the sharpest image. In this mode, you have to manually focus on the subject using the focus ring. Its the other ring than the zoom one on a lens. Its best for bad light conditions when you can not focus or may want some particular details which your lens can not grab. Even if you are shooting macro, you'll need to master this.

Focus points: In most DSLRs you will be given an option to focus controlling the whole frame along with cameras own automated focus system. Lets talk see the automated one first.

1. Single point AF: You will select one point from your camera to focus and when you press you shutter half way, camera will focus on anything on that point as long as you are in good light condition. For most users its the centre point which they use most. People normally use that point to focus then move their camera to compose.
2. Dynamic area AF: This mode is fast moving subjects (e.g. motion panning, sports, close ups). As you press your shutter button half way down focusing the subject in AF-C mode, if the subject moves or leaves on focus point, camera will re-focus on it at the nearest point. These days DSLRs have up to 50 AF points and this is how, AF points matters.

In these days DSLRs one more option is also available which is "Priority setup". It should be found in settings if you have a look. It has two options, AF and RELEASE. One its set to AF, how ever you press your shutter button, without acquiring focus camera wont record a thing. Where as, on RELEASE option, shutter is prioritised without acquiring sharper image.

Now lets move on to next part. Single or multi shoot. It's normally called as Single shot and Burst/Drive mode.

1. Single-frame shooting: Camera fires once only when you press shutter button. Best for landscapes, portraits where you don't have a chance to miss a thing.
2. Continuous shooting: In this mode camera will fire off at a speed of cameras maximum frame rate (depends on camera, e.g. 5 fps) as long as you press and hold shutter button. Ideal mode for sports or any sort of action!

Hope these helps. Best of luck readers!

Continue to lesson 2.3