Confused: Best way to use Auto-Focus.

Hello Everyone.

Forgive the complete newbie aspect of this question but this has been bugging me a lot lately.

I come from a background of using full manual camera as far as the focusing goes such as the old Pentax line. (Yearbook, Newspaper etc.)

I have been shooting my poor little XS now for about 2 years and one thing is still troubling me. I cant seem to get good solid focus on it no matter what I do. There is no focus indication in the viewfinder like I was accustomed to on the old SLR bodies I would shoot ages ago and none of my old P&S digitals had it either due to the rear screen shooting usually done with those.

I am needing a more reliable method of getting consistent focus in my shots. I know the XS has a pretty weak sauce AF system compared to newer and better cameras. Is it just that I have a low end camera or is there any technique I am somehow missing the boat on or something?

Need help to really step up my game here folks. I have missed a lot of very well composed shots due to being off on the focus and having to pitch what would have been a fantastic image due to things not focusing as well as I thought it was through the viewfinder. Is there some trick to it? Or am I just blind? lol

The first thing you should do is set the camera to only use the center auto focus point and see how that works for you. if you are allowing the camera to decide where to focus then it could be focusing on who-knows-what.

First thing, pick a single focus point and use it. Dont let the camera pick for you. What focusing mode are you using? Try one-shot and see how that does.

Thanks for the quick replies.

I usually shoot in One Shot mode for most things so that part is good to go probably. I just checked the camera and it looks like I had some how goofed up and knocked it off of center point only and into auto AF point mode.

I just recently discovered the wonders of using the rear button focus instead of shutter release button and have been loving it. I must have fumbled the button next to it on accident. We will see how that helps and I will pay closer attention to things from now on.

Thanks again for the help!!!! This has been driving me nuts. Was afraid something had gone screwy with either my camera or my eyes.

How about for using manual focus? I am used to having the split ring or similar indicators in the viewfinder to give me an indication of the image being in focus. Any suggestions or tips for making sure I get things in proper focus using a viewfinder or screen with no actual focus indicators other than the tiny picture?

Arcsylver wrote in post #12707839
How about for using manual focus? I am used to having the split ring or similar indicators in the viewfinder to give me an indication of the image being in focus. Any suggestions or tips for making sure I get things in proper focus using a viewfinder or screen with no actual focus indicators other than the tiny picture?

http://www.katzeyeopti​cs.com …g-Screen--prod_1000D.html

There is a Green Dot that should appear in the bottom right of the viewfinder when the camera locks focus in Oneshot AF or AIFous AF. The focus confirm won't show in Servo Mode though as that mode never actually "Locks" focus. The focus confirm will also work in MF mode with EOS lenses, or with MF lenses when using an AF confirm adaptor.

Alan

Arcsylver wrote in post #12707839
How about for using manual focus? I am used to having the split ring or similar indicators in the viewfinder to give me an indication of the image being in focus. Any suggestions or tips for making sure I get things in proper focus using a viewfinder or screen with no actual focus indicators other than the tiny picture?

Generally, I wouldn't try that if the subject is moving as you don't have a big focusing screen that's designed for MF. It just isn't even close to as easy to use as the one on my Nikons.
But AI Servo is pretty accurate IF you put the focus point on a part of the subject that has some contrast for it to work with. I even use it to focus on the eyes of people just standing there because they move a little bit & so do I.

-=What to do if you suspect a focus problem=-