Is Your Photo Game Being Sabotaged By Focus Issues?

In this video, Karl Taylor discusses the importance of focus in photography, explaining the difference between manual focus and autofocus.
Older cameras had manual focus, but modern cameras have autofocus. Karl explains how autofocus works and demonstrates focus selection using coloured pens. Different focus points can be selected to focus on specific areas of the image. The video also mentions the option to use custom buttons for focusing. Other topics covered include focus tracking and depth of field.
Chapter Highlights
⏱️ 0:00 - Focus in photography.
⏱️ 0:21 - Manual focus on older cameras.
⏱️ 0:45 - Autofocus on modern cameras
⏱️ 1:46 - Focus selection using coloured pens.
⏱️ 2:06 - Activation of focus point.
⏱️ 4:20 - Custom buttons for focusing.
⏱️ 4:38 - Focus tracking for moving objects.
⏱️ 5:00 - Focus range and depth of field.
Key Insights:
🔍 Importance of Focus: Having the subject or a specific part of the subject in focus is crucial for capturing sharp and clear images in photography. Modern cameras offer autofocus capabilities, but manual focus is still an option.
📷 Autofocus Systems: Today’s cameras, both mirrorless and DSLR, use autofocus systems that utilise focus selection points visible through the viewfinder. These points can be manually selected or automatically predicted by the camera. Some advanced systems can even track subjects like a person’s eye for portrait photography.
🎨 Focus Selection Demonstration: The video demonstrates focus selection by using colored pens as subjects. By moving the focus point in the viewfinder and activating it, each pen is independently captured in focus.
🔘 Focus Activation: Typically, pressing the shutter button halfway activates the focus on most cameras. The lens barrel adjusts to find focus, but it requires contrast or something to lock onto for accurate focus. Custom buttons, like the back focus button, can also be used for focusing instead of the shutter button.
🏎️ Focus Tracking: Modern cameras offer focus tracking capabilities that allow continuous focus on moving objects. This is useful for capturing sports events or wildlife photography.
🔍 Focus Range and Depth of Field: The video briefly mentions the concept of depth of field, which refers to the range of focus on either side of the focus point. Understanding depth of field is essential for controlling the sharpness and blur in a photograph.
Additional Resources:
📚 FREE 10 Chapter Photography Course:
visualeducation.com/free-phot...
📚 FREE 90 Page Photography Guide:
visualeducation.com/free-90-p...
📚 Quiz: Challenge Your Skills:
visualeducation.com/peq/

[@peteanddrake4242]

I have recently had to use FoCal software to calibrate the autofocus on my older Nikon bodies and lenses. It cost $100 and it greatly improved the accuracy of my autofocus. Interestingly, the adjustments were not the same from one body to the next even though the lenses were the same. Just one of my lenses could not be brought into compliance with either body.

[@apocalypse487]

I just redid my telephoto lens. I need to reach out to their support center to figure out why I can't get the aperture portion to work.

[@peteanddrake4242]

@@apocalypse487 what lens / body were you trying to calibrate?

[@Krmelj]

Heh, adjust your date on the Nikon. 😀