3. Adjust Your Autofocus

One of the most important elements of a photo is focus. A crisp, sharp image is what most of us are after. Even when you want to creatively use a blurred subject, it’s important to know your focusing options. When it comes to the 6D’s autofocus (AF) modes, you have three options:

• One Shot: This setting is used to capture a subject that is not moving, such as a building or a mountain.

• AI Focus: This setting is used to capture subjects that might not be moving initially, but have the potential to move before you take the photo, such as a pet or small child. The camera’s AF system will track your subject once it begins to move.

• AI Servo: This setting is used to capture subjects that are constantly on the move. This setting can be used at a soccer game or while attempting to capture a bird in flight.

To achieve focus with your 6D, you have two options. If you press the shutter release button halfway, the camera will attempt to focus on a specific element within your frame. Or, you can press the AF-ON button on the back of the camera; if you press this button, your camera will attempt to find something to focus on, just as if you had pressed the shutter release button halfway (Figure 1.2). The benefit of using this option is that there is no way for you to accidentally take a photo, which could happen if you press the shutter release button too far.

Figure 1.2. The AF-ON button is found on the back of your camera.

In One Shot mode, the 6D will attempt to find focus only once—every time you press the shutter release halfway or engage the AF-ON button; if you realize that focus was not achieved, then you have to try again by pressing either button. With the AI Focus or AI Servo mode, you need to hold down the shutter release button halfway (or hold the AF-ON button) for the system to continue to track your subject while it is moving; if you let go of either button, focus will be lost.

Setting the Focus Mode

1. Turn the camera on.

2. Press the AF button just above the LCD screen on top of your camera (Figure 1.3).

Figure 1.3. The AF button is near the LCD screen on the top of your camera.

3. Use the Main dial to choose one of the three options.

4. Press the AF button one more time to exit the setting controls.

Now that you are familiar with the AF modes, we’ll go over how to select which AF point you want your camera to achieve focus with. The 6D has 11 AF points, as well as an Auto setting. Do note that if you are in the Auto (A), Creative Auto (CA), or Scene (SCN) mode, you will not have the option of selecting your AF point. All other modes will give you the option.

Selecting a Manual Focus Point

1. Turn the camera on.

2. While looking through the view-finder, press the AF Point Selection button (Figure 1.4).

Figure 1.4. The AF Point Selection button

3. The AF points in your viewfinder will illuminate red. Use the Main dial and the Multi-Controller to select an AF point. If you move to the edge of the AF point selection and then go one step farther, all the AF points will light up again and you will return to Auto AF point selection.

4. Once you have chosen the correct AF point, press the shutter release button halfway, the AF-ON button, or the AF Point Selection button to exit.