Focusing for close-ups

Get closer and capture the finer details in photos

Accurate focusing is crucial for macro photography, as any errors will be magnified in the final shot. Leaving it to your camera to decide which part of the subject should be the sharpest is unlikely to produce great results, as the camera will try to focus on the nearest object. Manually selecting a single AF point might not work either; not only can an AF point cover too wide an area, but the autofocus system can struggle to lock onto detail.

Switching to manual focusing is usually the best for macro work, as you can take advantage of the magnified Live View display. Unlike an EOS M mirrorless, there’s no Manual Focus option on an EOS DSLR. You’ll need to set the slider on the lens to MF.

With Live View activated, position the small focus point over the detail you want to focus on and repeatedly press the Magnify button(s) on the back of the camera to cycle between x1 (no magnification), x5 and x10. If you’re unable to magnify the photograph, check that ‘AF method’ in the Live View menu isn’t set to ‘(Face detection) Live Mode’ or ‘(Face detection) + Tracking.’ These modes are not compatible with magnification.

You’ll need to focus in and out across the subject to find the sweet spot. You may find it easier to initially focus at x5 magnification before moving onto higher magnification. Reset to the full-screen view before you take the photo, or you may end with an inaccurate exposure.