Autofocus...

Certainly among - if not - the most important feature of your DSLR/Mirrorless Camera, and something most just take for granted these days.

Well there's a reason your camera has a thousand AF settings and options. It's because AF is the foundation upon which all most all photos are taken. So it's pretty important to have it setup just the way you like it, and certainly the way that makes it as fast and smooth as possible.

This is where my little tip of the day comes in. Lots of people have their autofocus setup completely wrong if you ask me. If you have your camera setup to perform autofocus when half depressing the shutter, I would wager your current AF setting means you are missing out on wanted shots every once in a while.

Having AF assigned this way forces you to select - before any photo is taken - how your AF should operate:

• Single shot AF
• Continuous AF
• Manual AF

Do you know what AF setting is best before a random photo situation arises?
Do you have time to change the setting if you need it setup differently?

For all of you, the answer is: "NO, you don't"
Sure, sometimes you do, but all of you have been in situations where you didn't.

"If you have your camera setup to perform autofocus when half depressing the shutter, I would wager your current AF setting means you are missing out on wanted shots every once in a while"

For once there is only one solution that universally is faster, better and more effective - no matter what argument you have.

So, if you do not follow my advice, the only explanation is: You’re getting too old... Change is too difficult to process, and you'd rather just do like you have always done. You have basically given up on improving.
A bit provocative - I know - but this is such a game changer, that I'd hate for you to miss out just because it easier to do as you have always done.

Soo... what is that wonder tip of mine?

1. Simply disable/decouple AF from your shutter button in your camera's custom settings/AF Settings.
2. Use the dedicated AF-ON button if you have it. Otherwise most camera's custom settings allows for assigning AF to the Auto exposure Lock button or a Custom Function button.
3. Make sure your camera's AF selector is permanently setup for Continuous AF (and never touch that setting again).

From now on AF will never activate when pressing the shutter - instead you have to activate AF by pressing a button. That's it! As simple as that :-)

This means that in ANY and ALL future situations you could elect to:

1. Not press the button - the same as manual focus, or no focus if you are already pre focused.
2. Press the button briefly - the same a single shot AF
3. Hold the button depressed for as long as needed - the same as continuous AF

Independently of this, you press the shutter for taking images at will - and you have the added bonus of controlling when your lens's Image stabilization is engaged (if you have it) by half depressing the shutter.

Like I said, this is a WIN WIN situation - so do the work, use the two weeks and accept lots of missed photos in that period to retrain your muscle memory for independent AF.
You'll permanently increase your keeper rate with this one little change :-)

Merry Christmas!