This month: Autofocus
With all the tech at our fingertips, there’s no excuse for out-of-focus shots
Nearly 40 years ago, the Minolta Maxxum/Dynax 7000 SLR changed the camera world with its in-body autofocusing skills. Seeing the subject zip into sharp focus at the touch of the shutter button was a technological marvel and one we continue to enjoy to this day. SLR autofocusing has come a long way since – but it probably isn’t going much further, with the majority of brands handing over the AF technology baton to their mirrorless cameras.
With mirrorless models having super-fast read-out sensors as well as near-instant communication between the body and lens, made possible with new lens mounts and advanced image processors, this camera type has made huge strides in a very short time. We’re already enjoying huge user benefits, with features such as eye-detect, subject-tracking and focus points covering most of the image frame, but there’s much more to come. Deep learning and AI are relative newcomers, but factor in the potential of huge advances here, and mirrorless photography is only going in one direction – and that’s forward. Quickly.
All we have to do is work out what we need and how to harness all this technology at our fingertips. Ultimately, what’s important is the destination – the final image. The journey is just something to be enjoyed – or endured – depending on your viewpoint. All this tech can help you achieve amazing things in the quest for great pictures, but you need to harness its massive potential.
It might seem overwhelming to start with, but we’re here to help you recognise situations where your intervention is needed and then apply the resources available to set you on the way to success.
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Autofocusing is incredibly good, but it’s fallible
Every camera brand has its own autofocus sensor technology: Canon has Dual Pixel CMOS AF; OM System has Quad Pixel AF; and Sony has Hybrid Phase Detect AF. Not every model has the latest tech, but it’s fair tothough, and it’s here that any performance shortcomings are likely to manifest themselves.
