Locking focus on 5D3?

I'm using a tripod with a 24-105 lens. I want to take panoramas with a shot to the left and one to the right of the central shot. I can use exposure lock to make sure that each shot is exposed the same.

However, if in the first shot, I tilt the camera down and focus at the hyperfocal distance, lock the focus and return the camera up to the original composition, how can I maintain that focus point in the left and right shots?

Is there a way to lock focus for several shots, just as you can lock exposure in the custom functions?

Just set your focus then switch the lens to MF. The camera then won't alter focus. Alternatively, use back button focus and it will only focus when you push that button.

If you don't want your focus to change, switch the lens to manual focus after you have focused or use back button focusing to separate the metering and focusing process.

sandpiper wrote in post #15721508
Just set your focus then switch the lens to MF. The camera then won't alter focus. Alternatively, use back button focus and it will only focus when you push that button.

jocau wrote in post #15721512
If you don't want your focus to change, switch the lens to manual focus after you have focused or use back button focusing to separate the metering and focusing process.

Didn't think of manual focus, too used to AF!

Also, will the back button hold the focus in AF until I hit it again, or just for one shot?

tvphotog wrote in post #15721525
Also, will the back button hold the focus in AF until I hit it again, or just for one shot?

Yes, the camera focuses normally whilst you press the button but won't focus if you aren't pressing it. So, just set the focus as normal, holding the back button down then, once you release the button, focus is locked until you decide to change it.

Avoid all this by turning off "focus" on the shutter button.
Go into custom functions and do as described here;


Step by step:

Menu;
Spin little dial until you highlight the 5th Icon to the right,
Spin the big dial down to select custom controls, press set.

There is a bunch you can configure here, but to finish up quickly;

Highlight the first icon, (this is supposed to be a picture of the shutter button) press set
Spin big dial to select the 2nd icon in, for "Metering Start", press set.

Spin big dial to go down one icon to the AF On button, press set.
Select 1st Icon for AF, press SET.

Now, you will change focus only when you pres the [AF ON] button.
Shutter is left for metering and taking the photo.

If focusing using the [AF ON] button seems unnatural at first, try to get used to it. Give yourself a month or so before giving up on it. It's advantages are considerable in the extra control you have during shooting.

There is a VERY long discussion on the advantages of separating the metering and shutter from the AF control here;

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=46965

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #15721551
Avoid all this by turning off "focus" on the shutter button.
Go into custom functions and do as described here;

Step by step:

Menu;
Spin little dial until you highlight the 5th Icon to the right,
Spin the big dial down to select custom controls, press set.

There is a bunch you can configure here, but to finish up quickly;

Highlight the first icon, (this is supposed to be a picture of the shutter button) press set
Spin big dial to select the 2nd icon in, for "Metering Start", press set.

Spin big dial to go down one icon to the AF On button, press set.
Select 1st Icon for AF, press SET.

Now, you will change focus only when you pres the [AF ON] button.
Shutter is left for metering and taking the photo.

If focusing using the [AF ON] button seems unnatural at first, try to get used to it. Give yourself a month or so before giving up on it. It's advantages are considerable in the extra control you have during shooting.

There is a VERY long discussion on the advantages of separating the metering and shutter from the AF control here;

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=46965

Thanks for the link, Jake. But let's say I want to keep the focus function on the shutter button. Will using the back focus button override the shutter button focus, and maintain my focus until I push the back button again? Or will shutter button half focus override back button focus?

tvphotog wrote in post #15721586
Thanks for the link, Jake. But let's say I want to keep the focus function on the shutter button. Will using the back focus button override the shutter button focus, and maintain my focus until I push the back button again? Or will shutter button half focus override back button focus?

Back button AF replaces the shutter button AF, it is either one or the other. You are simply assigning the whole focus operation to another button. Once you set back button focus, the shutter button has nothing more to do with focusing, that is the whole point.

It is the point, yes, and how one would get it to lock,...

.. but just to be clear, you can set up a camera so both actions will start auto focus.

...but it won't lock, which is the intended result, so it's no help here.

tvphotog wrote in post #15721586
Thanks for the link, Jake. But let's say I want to keep the focus function on the shutter button. Will using the back focus button override the shutter button focus, and maintain my focus until I push the back button again? Or will shutter button half focus override back button focus?

Yes, shutter button half-press will override whatever you have done with BBF.