Camera Focus Modes Complete Guide
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.พ. 2025
- Camera Focus Modes Complete Guide - In this easy to understand video, I explain how your cameras focus modes work.
I teach photography daily at my studio in West Yorkshire and I find most students don't actually know or fully understand their cameras focus settings.
Having a basic understanding of how your camera focus settings work will greatly increase the number of in-focus shots you'll achieve!
Watch the video and let me know what setting you use and why!
COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!
THANK YOU
Gary
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Credits:
Presented By: Gary Gough
That first tip about the cars really helped me. I have a canon 6D mark ii and all the focus points(dots) are in the center area. And for myself I’ve always loved how photos with subjects sometimes be focus to the side of photos and I was trying to figure that out with my camera with the focus points not being able to get to the side of the frames. Now with this video I can focus on a point and move the camera to the left or right and take the shot. I was literally saving up to buy a camera with more focus point’s because of that reason. Thank you so much for this!
Glad it helped 👍👍
wonderful explanation. Thanks for making it clean and simple and not full of excess fluff.
Hello Gary, I believe that you are the first vlogger to carry out this subject in so much fine detail
Cheers Allan
Excellent as usual Gary, thanks, Bob 😎
Cheers Bob
I'm going to look up if square space is on the stock market. Exciting. This is a vid I'd come back to. What a guy.
It should be Jeff :)
Thanks for another - EASY TO LEARN Video Gary
Very useful, thank you. I hope you enjoyed your time in my home city, York. I nearly always use One Shot, single point, back-button on my 5Dmark3. When I'm working on a tripod I'll use manual focus; when on the move auto focus. I guess since I rarely do sport of wildlife I'll just stay as I am but at least now I know why!
Great video. Easy to understand and straight to the point
Thank you
Always look forward to your videos, fantastic instruction.
Cheers Andy
Thank you, Mr. Gough! I needed a refresher on my Canon focus modes.
Gary, I love watching your teaching videos. A really good friend suggested you to me and I have really enjoyed you. I personally use continuous focus mode on my Nikons because I can back button focus, release, recompose and take the shot without losing focus.
Only just found you Gary..... awesome learning vids .... love your York and Lincoln vids!!! keep em coming dude...
at last, someone who explains it perfectly, subbed
Back button, single point !!
Been taking pic’s for over 40 years & have never been able to get my head around Camera makers having the shutter button dual purpose !?!?
I think BB is the best thing they ever invented, just sayin’ !!
Great video Gary !! 👍👌✅😊
Very informative. What a great AND CLEAR explanation of back button focus. You have tempted me to try it at last. Thank you.
Give it a go Wendy, you might well enjoy it :)
Am delighted with demos,thanks.
Loving your videos, straight to the point and easy to understand.
GOOD ONE! Easy to understand and well explained...
Simple, easy to understand, no useless talking.
Very kind, thank you
Exactly!
Which is rare on YT ;-)
I always use a single point or one for for focusing and thought maybe I was doing it wrong since camera companies are trying to cram as many focus points as possible in the frame, good to know you use single point, so I must be doing something right....
I maybe wrong but I think you can also focus via touch screen if you have one and move your focus wherever you want it to be
Great video as always, simple and easy to get your head around
Many thanks
John
I always use a single point for focus. Touch screen is becoming more and more popular these days
Nice and easy to understand. It took me awhile to adjust to back button focusing but now can't imagine going back to using the shutter button. Good video.
Thank you Gary Easy to follow "AND" Clear Keep them coming
Thanks for the upload Gary . Good , clear easy to understand information please can you do more of these type of topics you put it over so well.
Cheers Jeff 👍
Thanks! Good stuff! Humble presentation.
Excellent. Lucid and helpful.
Great vid Gary. Always used AF-C in the past but started using back button focus more recently. Didn't know that back button automatically changed from AF-C to AF-S. I do now and will be using it an awful lot more. Keep up the good work!
It doesn't change anything. Set your BBF to AF-C and if you only tap it then shoot it works the same way as AF-S
A very clear and concise tutorial, Gary. Pleased you covered BBF as this is the mode I use the whole time except for landscapes. Thank you.
Cheers Tony. A few people have mentioned they use BBF for landscapes too. Why don't you use it for Landscapes? Manual mode?
Gary Gough like you, I like to use the x10 magnification and find manual is more straightforward.
comprehensive & beautiful video
Excellent tutorial, thanks for sharing. 👍🏻
You're welcome, thanks
Guess not too much love for the DB5 then Gary. :D Great video as always. Keep 'em coming.
I love it. It's from my Corgi collection. It cost me a fortune
This is why I like your channel, straight forward, easy to understand explanations for an inexperienced photographer like myself
Cheers Bob, very kind of you to say
I use single point for wildlife with AV mode to compensate for changing light, but I’d completely forgotten about the half button press and recompose for landscape, that’s why I’m a numpty, but most of the time I get there to late, and have to focus on what I can, great tutorial, and I’ve learnt from it
Cheers Paul
Grrreat video! Thank you for including both canon and nikon settings
Nice one Gary 👍👍👍
Thank you John
Good Video Gary. At photography 15 years but it is still nice to have focus options well explained
Thanks Gary an excellent video.
Good sound advice from a good sound teacher, many thanks Gary.
Cheers Peter
Very good information on how to use all the focus modes Thankyou
I can't believe how much I learned! Thank you Gary.
Thank you Pam
Another great explained video I use AF C 5 focus points but going to try AF S and back button. Your tutorials are explained in simple terms for us fairly new to photography
Just subscribed after watching a clear and concise guide, thank you. Back button, single point focussing for me, as its single and continuous rolled into one. I just go to manual in night photography as the contrast focus system cannot see so well.
Great video Gary! and very well explained, so easy to understand, it helped me a lot, that back button focus is brilliant! I would never have known about it had I not watched this video. Many thanks mate!!
Excellent tutorial! This is one I will revisit just to have it stick in my pea brain!
great guide many thanks
Cheers Chris
Thanks Gary really enjoyed your explanation,picked up some useful tips,great stuff
Cheers 👍👍
Thank you for the video! You are great!!
Excellent refresher coarse Gary, always a pleasure watching your presentations. Years ago now, I went with BBF & single point focus & never looked backed! However your preferred method works perfect for you & the proof is in the pudding, you take excellent photographs! I also utilize " Spot AF " for my up close & personal shots on flowers, bees, abstracts, etc...
I clung to my tried & true method of photography for (30) years shooting film right up until 2010. Bought my 1st computer in 2010 & have shot digital ever since with a T3i, 7D & now the 5DM3...
Cheers,
Bill on the Hill,
Vermont, USA... :~)
Gary your photos never cease to amaze me. Thank you for your tutorial it was enlightening. I do appreciate that you don't waffle. Could you please do a run down on the Pentax K1 and explain past the basics of the in's and out of it, for us old fokes , that came from the 1950''s(and younger people). I love to pieces my K1 but I know I'm not using it to its full potential. Once again it was a pleasure to listen to you: Regards Brian
Great, easy to understand instructional video Gary, the focus and recompose explanation was a big help for a beginner like myself 👍
Very informative video, would you use the same modes when shooting video ?
Great video Gary.
You just taught be about back button focus. Never knew about it, but it makes perfect sense and is something that I think will be part of my shooting style. Going to try it today~~ Appreciated!!
Great video there Garry, the different focus modes very easily explained even I could understand them. I usually use Back Button focus myself for Landscape stuff, I was really interested about the numbers of points that you were saying about, the impression I got was perhaps the best method would be just single spot focus I will give it a try and see what happens, many thanks Ian
Thank you Gary for this wonderful, very informative and clearly explained video. One shot, bbf is what I use.
Great clear information once again, top job!
Great video Gary. Simple to follow no bs just straight forward and to the point. For landscape, I use One Shot, for sport and wildlife I use AI Servo, as you can tell I am a Canon user. Oh yeah and, I always use Back Button focus, it's so much easier. Can you please please please do a video on metering modes, these are the modes I have the most trouble with. With you simple no bs straight forward style I'm sure I'll get it afterward.
Cheers
Tim
Great video as always Gary.
AF-s, single point using BBF for landscapes, I find BBF brilliant when using the 10 or 15 stop ND Filters. AF-c for Weddings/ moving subject again using BBF. BBF does take time to retrain your muscle memory in my opinion but for me well worth it.
Good choices all around John 👍👍
Excellent tutorial Gary. For me it's one shot AF single point.
Cheers Jim. Me too btw :)
Gary Very informative You cleared up a few things for me ... Like the comments I did below DSLR's really don't work for my type of VIDEO and this is a VIDEO EDITOR channel but thanks for the informative narration . I edited a previous comment after your comment. so I'll ask again where's a power zoom parfocal lens for DSLR's . Also what am I doing wrong that I can't seem to get BBFocus to work when in Video mode with my little Canon T5i? Thanks ....
great tutorial Gary, thank you.
Very helpful, thanks Gary. Learning wildlife photography, so using continuous (on Nikon)
Cheers Kieron
Good tutorial Gary, one dot focus for me - you taught me well.
Any chance of a similar vlog on metering modes and how or if they are linked to focusing modes?
Cheers MJ
Great video Gary, thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge and skills. Ai servo, have to remember that, been trying to get that volleyball service shot of my niece, an kept getting soft images, now I know why. Thanks again from us newbies.
I use back button focus all the time. Partly because the shutter release button on my K3 is a bit too sensitive but mainly because of the reasons you described.
Awesome and informative Gary, I never new about the dots, I always thought more focus points was a good thing, some companies use this as a selling feature, thanks for the heads up. Love your no bullshit videos.
Easy to follow. BBT and single focus and manual for me
Brilliant! I think that’s the clearest explanation I’ve ever heard on focussing. And over the years I’ve watched a lot and been to classes! I might actually remember your version. Thanks very much. Added to my playlist for future ref. Exposure compensation would be great for another tutorial.
Thank you Val, very kind of you to say
I use the back button technique when photographing horse events - with a longish delay before the camera refocuses. I tend to manual focus for landscapes
Good choices Mark 👍
Top info Gary, clear to understand
You read my mind Gary! That was a great video so thanks for that. I was actually just wondering what focus settings pros used. I usually shoot with af-s as that suits my style. Keep up the great work 👍🏻👍🏻
Cheers Heath. I use a mixture but I never use back button Focus. I just don't like it :)
@@GaryGough I actually quite liked it on my last dslr. Cheeky question - I'm after a mid range, used dslr and ideally one 'allrounder' lens for street/landscape photography. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance
Excellent video Gary. I will join your Facebook group. I would love to show you some of my candid street photography shots to see what you think of them. All my photos are taken from a wheelchair as I go round the streets of Leeds City centre. You can find my amateur photos by searching MAMF photography on Google. I love your interesting videos.
Hehehe That what I always say about the Canon 1 DX , the Gatling gun among camera's
My favorite set up is: Single point focus , back button lighting , just in case (single point too) and preferred Manual by dials or Aperture priority with auto ISO till 3200 and then drop the shutter-speed !
This works great also for B/W shooting !
Hi Gary, my name is Tony and I've just started following you and enjoy your videos, including this one about focus.
I Cant wait to try the back button focus.
For me, I never know how sharp focus has to be, to be considered "sharp"? If you zoom in enough to any digital image it will lose sharpness and pixelate at some point, so what is considered "sharp" when you describe "pin- sharp" in your flogs?
Great stuff Gary - as usual. Keep up the good work !
Great video, Gary, very clear. I use manual focus when I am doing close-ups as I find the movement of flowers or insects causes the camera to constantly be trying to find focus. Otherwise I am typically in spot metering mode.
Great video - keep up the great work and videos...
Thank you
Brilliant video Gary. Can't wait to try it all.
-Borneo Geezer-
Awesome video as always, I myself tend to use back button focus with AF-S most of the time...
It's a very popular choice amongst the experienced photographers 👍 Cheers Marc
You can also focus in the alleyway using back button focus which i find better than using manual focus as you don't have to switch the lens to manual to pic the point of focus and the extra benefit is that if something that comes into your line of sight that you want to take. It is quicker to refocus on that object and then go back to the alleyway without having to refocus manually all over again just refocus using the back button once more time saver. the only time i use manual focus is macro and astrophotography. unless your lens is back or front focusing. but it does no harm to practice. Great explanation the focusing programs though thanks Gary looking forward to you next blog. If that's your studio awesome.
Nice presentation Gary, BBF all the way. Single point.
Love it Ian 👍👍
this gave me 3 times WOW!!! thank you for this video.
Great presentation Gary, love your style, really easy to follow and understand :-)
Cheers Stephen 👍👍
Hi Gary thank you for great advice on focusing I have used AFS on my Pentax k3ii for fast moving trains a d find it works well.
LOVED IT!!!
With my Sony a7 III, I use back-button focus and almost never need to leave af-c. If it’s having trouble, I can do a quick center focus by pressing in the joystick to focus and then recompose. Works beautifully for me.
Hi Gary. Please can you explain the difference between Canon’s Continuous Auto Focus (A-FC) and AI Servo as on the 7d mk2 (A-FC is defaulted to disabled do I need to enable it to work with AI Servo. Your help would be much. Great channel, Gary.Thank you.
AI Servo is the same as AFC 👍👍
Bloody great Gary!!! Can you go through the rest of the functions now....🤔😂
📸🎞📹👏🏻
:) What next James? Let me know
You could carry on this with a ‘how to series’ ISO, shutter speed etc’ There are many videos out there as you know, now doubt a fe on your channel.
You just explain things clearly! 😊
Shame I couldn’t meet you at the photo nerds event, especially as I live in Huddersfield, had to leave early, Dads Taxi
Excellent.
Nikon D810 set up for back button focus with a single point. Feels very natural to grip the camera this way with the thumb on the AE back button and roll the forefinger over the shutter button. Never did like pressing the shutter button half way down...
Gary is it right that if your using back button focus there is no need to use manual focus doing street photography?
What did you do at around 13:23 to 13:30? every thing in the video is in focus, great Depth Of field in video I love it the bike sceans it seemed in focus to infinity but when single framing they had motion bluer. Would a much faster shutter speed take out the Motion bluer?
Back button focus (with single point) for me always, two modes taken care of just using your thumb.
Agree totally. I'm a creature of habit so I use it the normal way :) I totally get it though 👍👍
AF-C is really continuous... Good video !
Interesting vlog Gary. I always use AI servo when shooting moving aviation and One shot for statics and Landscapes. I have tried back button focus but tend to prefer what i call the normal shutter button focus. Interesting note about having 1 point active as i tend to use groups of focus points when shooting formations though.
Thank you Douglas. I only ever use a single point of focus, no matter what I shoot. That's just my preference, of course, I'm not preaching :)
Great video
Thank you 👍
I've tried back button, but stick with the normal way.When I use back button I tend to pull my eye from the viewfinder because I'm not sure I'm on the AF-AE button or the menu button. Fiddley. Perhaps if Nikon had a texture on the button I'd like it. I've always had success with single point focus ,but you've reminded me AFC is good for birds -so I'll try it again.
Manual is fine on lenses that have some sweep to the focus - but if you get zero to infinity in a ninety degree twist it's hard to fine tune.
Cheers. BBF is definitely fiddly, I agree :)
@@GaryGough thanks man, so nice to have you answer back.You are good to your followers. Respect to you!
I always reply and thank you 👍
I use one shot for the most part, I always forget to switch when I come across wildlife and hope they stay still for a second :) This clears up slight confusion I had on the third option which appears to just do the same as servo so yeah been ignoring that one.
I do find manual focusing a very fine line and find myself racking back and forth trying to find the sweet spot.
Cheers Trev 👍👍
shooting Canon i use manual, 1 shot and ai servo 9(back button), fuji i set to manual but have the rear dial set to back button for single shot and AFC using shutter button for focus, ½ press.
Nice one Gary, but for instance you’re photographing a wedding and your taking a group shot, how do you get them all in focus?
I use AF-S (ONE SHOT) As long as everyone is in a line it doesn't matter, they'll all be in focus. Is that what you men?
Gary Gough cheers Gary but also if you’ve got a group photo where you got people from front to back how do you keep them all sharp and in focus use f11 and considering the light an higher ISO?
@@ianlivermore2981 yes.
Hi Gary. Great vlog as always. Any focus mode tips for salmon run on a waterfall. Thanks.
Thanks Lee. Difficult one. AF-S should be good enough. Use limited focal points in the centre of the frame. A good lens should react quick enough to capture the leaping fish.
@@GaryGough Thank you Gary. Will try. Good Luck.