Focusing, Sharpness, Depth of Field and Motion

Lessons in this course

1. 1

   Understanding Focus and What Makes an Image Appear Sharp

   Learn what focus really is, how the plane of focus works, and the different reasons a photo can look soft, from missed focus to motion blur and camera shake.

   7 min
2. 2

   Autofocus Systems, AF Modes and Subject Detection

   Learn how camera autofocus works, the difference between phase and contrast detection, what hybrid AF is, and how eye and subject detection help you focus.

   7 min
3. 3

   Selecting AF Areas and Focus Points

   Learn what focus points and AF area modes are, how single point, zone, wide and tracking differ, and how to choose and move the focus point for sharp photos.

   7 min
4. 4

   Single-Shot and Continuous Autofocus

   Learn the difference between single-shot and continuous autofocus, the names each brand uses, when to use each one, and how back-button focus can help.

   7 min
5. 5

   Manual Focus and Focus Assistance

   Learn when manual focus beats autofocus and how to use focus magnification, focus peaking, distance scales and pre-focusing to get sharp results by hand.

   7 min
6. 6

   Focus Distance, Depth of Field and Subject Separation

   Learn what depth of field is, the factors that control it, why focus distance matters so much, and how to separate your subject from the background.

   7 min
7. 7

   Shallow and Deep Depth of Field

   Learn when to use shallow or deep depth of field, what bokeh is, how to keep a landscape sharp from front to back, and how hyperfocal focusing works.

   7 min
8. 8

   Motion Blur and Freezing Movement

   Learn what decides how much a moving subject blurs, which shutter speeds freeze common subjects, and how to use motion blur on purpose to show movement.

   6 min
9. 9

   Panning and Controlled Motion Blur

   Learn the panning technique: the shutter speed to start with, how to move your body, the focus and drive settings that help, and how to fix common problems.

   6 min
10. 10

    Focus Problems, Missed Focus and Troubleshooting

    Fix common focus problems: camera won't focus, focus on the wrong thing, front and back focus, hunting in low light, and too-close subjects, step by step.

    7 min
11. 11

    Sharpness from Capture: Stability, Shutter Speed and Technique

    Learn how to avoid camera shake: the reciprocal rule, how crop sensors and stabilization change it, when to use a tripod, and habits that keep photos sharp.

    7 min