Accurate focusing

Get more precise with AF point selection

Focusing on the point that you want to be critically sharp in the frame is, of course, crucial. If there’s a person or animal in the frame, then that detail is likely to be the eyes. Cameras that come with advanced subject detection and Eye AF, such as the EOS R6 and EOS R5, can be trusted to take care of this for you. They are accurate at tracking the subject as it moves, and if they can’t pick out the eyes, they’ll prioritize the head.

For total control over where the camera is focusing it pays to select a single AF point and use that to highlight the point on the subject that you want sharp. To do this you can press the AF point selection button to change the AF point or AF method and then select the single AF point that you want to use. You may also be able to customize your camera so you’re able to select the AF point in a different or more streamlined way.

If you’re shooting active subjects it can be hard to keep a single AF point on them. In which case, it may be better to leave all the AF points active. With a more advanced EOS camera, you’ll be able to select an expanded AF point or small groups and zones, which can enable more precise tracking in specific parts of the frame.

Manual focusing can be a better option for picking out details. In close-up shots, for example, even with Spot or 1-point AF enabled, the camera may struggle to focus when faced with fine details. Use the magnified view available on the Live View display, or in the EVF of a mirrorless camera, to make manual focusing easier.

The difference between sharp and blurred may be just a few millimetres or so in close-up photography