A-DEP - what's it for again?

I have got to grips with Av, Tv, P and am forcing myself now to shoot all in Manual mode as much as possible but have no idea what the A-DEP setting is for. I'll probably never use it but can someone please remind me?!

A-DEP is "auto depth of field" -- it turns on all of your focus points and selects an aperture that attempts to bring all selection points into focus ... Like if you're taking a group shot and want everyone in focus - e.g., a larger depth of field.

So does this mean that there's sort of a simple DoF calculator in the camera? And when the camera (auto)focuses on a certain AF-point, does it precisely know the distance it has focused on, for example 7.64 meters / 25.1 feet?

Yes. Might be time to break out that manual. On 1 series cameras it's a bit different. You select subjects to focus on then it "sets" settings. I'm not sure what other Canon cameras do.

Hmmm...sounds quite interesting. Might be worth setting it for at least 1 group shot at the wedding I'm shooting on Saturday. Good info so far chaps.

(Sorry if I'm hi-jacking the thread a bit, by the way)

English isn't my native language, but if by "time to break out the manual" means "finally taking and reading the manual book", I have and knew what A-DEP is for. It's just that I enjoy shooting landscapes so I'm curious of any possibility of more camera-implemented DoF-features, such as showing the DoF-range for current settings, and automatic focusing (with a separate button) to hyperfocal distance based on current settings. The amount of DoF is based on four factors:

1. Crop factor / CoC
2. Focal length
3. Aperture
4. Focusing distance

Camera knows (or could know) its own crop factor / CoC, camera knows the current focal length (see EXIF), camera also knows the aperture in Av- and M-modes, and if the camera can measure the focusing distance as well, we got all four factors covered.

But I'm just ranting. Camera automatically turning the focus ring to hyperfocal distance? I don't know if that's technically possible, you tell me.

Maybe not but it is refreshing to see ANY well phrased reply, such as yours.

IIRC, in ADEP mode, all the AF points are active and when you focus, the AF points with the most contrast are selected and light up and the camera selects an aperture value to keep the selected AF points in focus.

yea, what TeeWhy said ..