How To Fix Focus On Canon Camera

A frustrating trouble that many new photographers experience is when the lens or camera won't focus. In this article, I'll comprehend six common reasons your camera won't focus and what y'all can do to solve this issue if it happens to you.

1 – Remove and remount the lens

This is probably the most common reason that your photographic camera won't focus.

The camera and lens both have metal contacts that must be in communication with each other in order for them both to function properly.

If the lens isn't attached properly the contacts may not exist touching. And so the photographic camera can't send the lens the message to focus when you press the shutter button.

Camera lens showing the lens contacts where it connects and communicates with the camera — Photo by Paul Skorupskas on Unsplash

An even worse scenario is that your lens could literally just autumn off and get damaged if it's not locked into identify correctly.

And then to cheque, just remove the lens and remount it. Listen carefully and you should hear a minor click when it's locked into place. Then effort the focus once more.

If that didn't exercise the play tricks, proceed following this list.

2 – Check the AF/Grand switch on the lens

The next place to look is on the lens itself.

Locate the switch on the side of the lens barrel that says AF/M and make sure information technology's set up to AF (Autofocus). M stands for Manual focus in this case which means you take to physically plow the focus ring on the lens.

Notation: Practise NOT confuse that with Manual Mode which is for exposure – the two are NOT the same and practice non have to be used together.

Additionally, if you use a Nikon camera at that place may exist a focus switch on the photographic camera body as well. For Fuji users as well, the focus style switch is on the photographic camera trunk not on the lens.

So make certain to larn all your photographic camera dials and buttons well so you know where to detect this setting.

3 – Aim your focus indicate at an area of contrast

Your camera uses contrast to decide the subject field and needs information technology to be able to focus the lens.

Take a await in your viewfinder and locate the focal bespeak that is active (it will light upwardly as a little red dot or foursquare usually). Then make certain that y'all place that spot carefully on something in the scene that has some dissimilarity.

example photo showing what focus points look like from within the viewfinder — You will run into something like this in your viewfinder when yous look in the eyepiece (you may come across more squares or you may see just dots). These are the focus points and the one that is red or lit upwards is where your camera will attempt to focus.

Read more nigh focus points and focus settings hither: Which Camera Settings to Employ for Sharper Images?

Try this as a test.

Betoken your camera at a plain wall with aught on it and printing the shutter button to focus. Notice what happens.

It couldn't focus, right?

That is because it can't "come across" anything there.

Make sure you find a line or office of the scene that has a dissimilarity betwixt lite and nighttime areas and place your focal point (that red dot) in that area.

And so if you need to, employ the "focus and recompose" technique.

Printing the shutter button halfway downwardly to focus.

Once it achieves focus (your camera should beep if you have that turned on), keep the same pressure on the button and recompose your image.

In one case you lot have it how you want, press the push the rest of the way downward to take the photograph.

4 – Use the eye focus signal

Your camera may have nine different focus points, or it may take over 100. That volition depend on your camera model.

Only every camera will have one that is in the center of your frame.

That one point volition always be more accurate because it is what's called a "Cross focus point" – meaning it can discover contrast in two directions, not just ane.

That means it will commonly have an easier fourth dimension finding focus, especially if it'south likewise a depression calorie-free scene you're shooting. Encounter betoken #half dozen below for more on that situation.

Your photographic camera may have several other such points, or non.

Read your manual and specs nigh your photographic camera to figure that out. Each 1 is dissimilar. But the constant is the center ane so it'southward a safe bet to use when you're using focus issues.

five – Make sure y'all aren't likewise shut

Every lens has a minimum focus altitude.

That ways it literally cannot focus on something that is closer to information technology than that distance.

For most not-macro lenses, that is nigh 1 foot or so (bank check the specs on your lens if you aren't sure). If yous are closer than that, your camera and lens will "hunt" or endeavor to focus by going dorsum and forth with no luck. You'll hear it working only it volition be unable to lock on the target.

If this occurs the fix is simple. Just back up a picayune and effort again.

6 – Information technology's too nighttime

When you are shooting in low light conditions your photographic camera may struggle to come across in the dark and find focus.

How to solve that is to cull a lens with a larger maximum aperture because it volition permit in more light for your camera to see meliorate. A 50mm f/one.8 or 35mm f/1.eight are groovy choices for such a state of affairs.

Did you go your lens to focus?

If none of these ideas solve the result, check to come across that the lens is working. You should be able to hear it working when you press the push.

If the lens is non working properly, endeavor another 1 to decide if it's the lens or the camera that's non functioning and take the detail that isn't working in for repair. Sometimes a drib or justle tin throw a lens out of calibration, or it could be a more serious issue.

Hopefully though, one of the steps above has resolved your issue and yous're off and running, happily photographing away.

If yous want more aid with camera nuts and exposure, sign upwards for our free beginner mini-email grade here.