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Focus/Exposure Lock

The camera focuses and sets exposure for photographs when the shutter button is pressed halfway and focus (AF) and exposure (AE) remain locked while the shutter button is kept in this position. Use focus and exposure lock to compose photographs with off-center subjects.

  1. Position the subject in the focus frame.

  2. Press the shutter button halfway to set focus and exposure. The focus frame will turn green.

    This process can be repeated as often as desired before the picture is taken.

  3. Recompose the photograph. Do not change the distance to the subject while the shutter button is pressed halfway.

  4. Press the shutter button the rest of the way down to take the picture.

The AE-L/AF-L Button

Focus and/or exposure can also be locked using the AF-L or AE-L button.

Focus and/or exposure will remain locked while the button is pressed, regardless of whether or not the shutter button is pressed halfway.

The role played by the AF-L button can be selected using the AF-LOCK MODE option in the shooting menu:

  • AF LOCK ONLY (the default setting)

    The AF-L button locks focus only.

  • AE/AF LOCK

    The AF-L button locks both focus and exposure.

If AE&AF ON/OFF SWITCH is selected for AE/AF-LOCK MODE, focus and/or exposure lock when the button is pressed and remain locked until the button is pressed again.

The roles of the AE-L and AF-L buttons can be reversed using the BUTTON/DIAL SETTING > AE-L/AF-L BUTTON SETTING option in the setup menu.

Autofocus

Although the camera boasts a high-precision autofocus system, it may be unable to focus on the subjects listed below.

  • Very shiny subjects such as mirrors or car bodies.

  • Fast-moving subjects.

  • Subjects photographed through a window or other reflective object.
  • Dark subjects and subjects that absorb rather than reflect light, such as hair or fur.
  • Subjects that show little contrast with the background (for example, subjects in clothing that is the same color as the background).
  • Subjects positioned in front of or behind a high-contrast object that is also in the focus frame (for example, a subject photographed against a backdrop of highly contrasting elements).
See Also