Quick Focus Question

[echoyjeff2221]

I've been investigating more on autofocus area, and came across this article that pertains to my camera: https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com...e-af-area-mode-function-on-my-coolpix-camera?

Basically, I can still use "autofocus" but then also manually focus on an area of the scene? Isn't that manual focus?

Shouldn't I always use the manual autofocus area mode to have better control of what's in focus?

 

[tirediron]

Not really, kinda, sorta... the camera is still auto-focusing, but in the "Manual" mode, it's auto-focusing on a specific area that you want it to focus rather than the middle or closest subject. For example, if you were taking a picture of someone in a scene where they were neither in the middle, nor the closest thing to the camera, say standing beside a statue, then using the manual mode will let you place a focusing point on them (within limits) and the camera will focus on them, even though there are things that it would "rather" focus on.

 

[echoyjeff2221]

Oh, I see. So, other than in some weird scenarios, I should just stick with auto and it'll get the job done?

What about landscape? I heard somewhere that that manual autofocus (oxymoron ftw) was good for landscape. Is that true? If I point it at the 1/3 distance or hyperfocal aprx. will it actually focus at that distance?

 

[tirediron]

Those sorts of methods are much more effective on SLRs than on P&S cameras for the simple reason that the lenses on P&S cameras tend to be a lot more limited in their focusing options.

 

[echoyjeff2221]

Hey, watch it! My camera's not an official P&S