How to Focus a Camera

This article was co-authored by Stephen Cardone. Stephen Cardone is the COO of NY Headshots, a New York City-based studio that specializes in shooting and producing headshots for individuals and businesses. Stephen has over four years of professional photography experience and over six years of documentary filmmaking experience. Stephen also works extensively as a photographer at NY Headshots. His work includes events, environmental photography, as well as headshots for actors, models, and corporate. He holds a BA in Non-fiction Writing from The New School.

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This wikiHow will teach you how to focus your camera whether you're using a DSLR or a smartphone. Getting the focus right in a photograph can make or break the shot, and the good news is it's actually really simple to do once you know how the different features and settings work. Below we've covered everything you need to know so that you can get out there and capture the perfect shot.

Using Manual Focus on a DSLR

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Flip the switch on your lens to “MF.” Check the side of your DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) or SLR lens for a small switch labeled “AF - MF” or “A - M.” If the switch is set to “AF,” or automatic focus,” flip it to “MF,” or manual focus. [1] X Research source

While you're getting used to shooting in manual, try photographing still subjects, like flowers or other objects. It will be a lot harder to focus manually if you're shooting moving objects or people. [2] X Expert Source

Twist the focus ring until your subject is sharp. You’ll find 2 rings around a DSLR zoom lens. The one closest to the camera’s body controls zoom, and the one toward the end of the lens controls focus. Peer into the viewfinder, twist the focus ring, and watch different parts of the shot come into focus. [3] X Research source

• Play with the focus function as you observe how the shot changes to get a feel for manual adjustment.
• Look for 2 scales of numbers labeled “ft” and “m” around the focus ring. The number displayed through the viewing window or aligned with a mark tells you where the lens is focusing. If you see 1.25 on the viewer or aligned with an arrow, objects 1.25 ft (0.38 m) away from the lens are in focus.
• When you're focusing on your subject, try to make sure the focus is on their eyes, so their eyes appear nice and clear. Then, you can create different looks by adjusting the aperture. [4] X Expert Source

Stephen Cardone
Professional Photographer Expert Interview. 5 May 2020. If you use a wide aperture, you can create a soft focus in the background. That way, the subject will still be in focus, but the background behind them will be blurred. [5] X Expert Source