What is focusing in photography and how do you do it ?
Before thinking about framing or lighting, there is one essential step to taking a successful photo: focus. It's that little click that makes a face perfectly sharp or brings out a specific detail in a landscape. We don't always think about it, especially with modern cameras that do a lot of things for us. And yet, understanding how photo focus works can help you avoid unwanted blurring... and really improve your skills.
Focus in photography: a question of sharpness
Before adjusting your camera or activating autofocus, you need to understand what focusing really means. And above all, why it is essential for successful photos. It's a simple concept, but one that makes all the difference between a failed image and a successful shot. It's not just a technical adjustment, but a real visual choice that guides the eye of the person looking at your photo.
What does it mean to focus?
Focusing means choosing what you want to see clearly in a photo. It's a bit like looking through a window. If your eye focuses on what's outside, the inside becomes blurred. Conversely, if you focus on the reflection in the window, what's happening behind it becomes less clear. A camera works on exactly the same principle.
The lens “accommodates” so that the main subject appears sharp in the image. It moves its internal lenses forward or backward, just as our eyes adjust their vision according to distance. It is this small, sometimes imperceptible movement that allows the camera to focus.
Let's take a simple example. If you photograph a person in front of a landscape and your camera focuses on the mountains behind them, the face in the foreground will be blurred. If, on the other hand, you focus on the face, the background will be softened, which enhances the impact of the portrait. Focusing therefore allows you to direct attention where you want it.
What is focus in photography?
In photography, focusing means guiding your camera to identify the correct distance for sharpness. The lens adjusts so that the light entering the camera is focused precisely on the sensor. This ensures that an element of the image will be well defined, with sharp contours.
This adjustment is all the more important because the area of sharpness can be very narrow, especially if you are using a large aperture (such as f/1.8 or f/2.8). Even a slight misfocus can be enough to blur an eye in a portrait or a close-up of a flower.
Conversely, good focus can produce a very beautiful artistic effect. When only the subject is in focus and the background is blurred, it creates a sense of depth that is very pleasing to the eye. This is called the bokeh effect, often used in portraiture, food photography, or even to highlight an object. If you're intrigued by this effect, you can read our dedicated guide: How to create a blurred background (bokeh effect)?
How do you focus your camera properly?
Focusing depends on the subject, the light, and the type of camera. Depending on what you want to photograph, it can be very simple... or require a few adjustments. Here's how to activate, adjust, and optimise it in everyday situations to gain sharpness and confidence with every shot.
How do you focus a camera?
Most cameras, whether compact, bridge or hybrid, follow a common principle for focusing. No complex settings are required; a simple press is all it takes.
Here's how to do it:
Turn on your camera.
Frame your image, then gently press the shutter button halfway.
Wait for the camera to focus. A small beep or a coloured square on the screen usually confirms that the subject is in focus.
Then press the shutter button fully to take the photo.
This method works equally well for stationary subjects and more dynamic scenes. It is particularly useful for capturing spontaneous moments, such as a child's smile or an animal playing. In these cases, responsiveness is essential, as is the choice of focus point. For these types of situations, check out our 5 tips for taking great photos of children, even if you're not a pro.
What is focusing?
Focusing is choosing how the camera will manage sharpness. There are different modes for this, which can be activated or deactivated as needed.
Automatic mode (AF) is the most commonly used. It allows the camera to decide for itself where to focus, often in the centre or on the face if recognition is activated. This is handy for quick shots, but can sometimes be inaccurate if the subject is not properly framed.
Manual mode (MF) lets the photographer control everything. By turning the lens ring, you can fine-tune the focus area yourself. This is very useful for macro photography, landscape photography, or when autofocus has difficulty, especially in low light.
Finally, some cameras allow you to choose between several focus points or to track a moving subject. These options offer greater precision, especially with an optical zoom, which reduces the depth of field. To find out more, see our article: What is an optical zoom? And why is it better than a digital zoom?
How do you get the focus right?
Good focus does not depend solely on the mode you choose. It also depends on a few simple reflexes, which often make the difference between a successful photo and a blurry one.
Here are three tips to remember:
Use the centre focus point
This is usually the most reliable. It allows you to focus on the centre and then crop if necessary, while keeping the subject in focus.
Choose the right lighting conditions
A camera will always have more difficulty focusing in the dark or on a subject with little contrast. Consider moving closer to a light source or using the assist lamp if your camera has one.
Choose the right mode for your subject
For a stationary subject, such as a portrait or landscape, use AF-S (single focus) mode. For a moving subject, use AF-C (continuous focus) mode. And if you have time or if the autofocus is not responding well, try manual mode (MF).
These settings are available even on simple cameras and are good habits to get into from your very first photo shoots. To take it a step further, you can also follow our other tips. In particular, how to hold your camera to avoid blurry photos or how to take a clear photo without shaking.
How does a camera focus?
Focusing, even though it seems instantaneous to the eye, relies on very precise internal workings within your camera. To ensure that the subject you are aiming at appears sharp, the lens and sensor work together in real time to adjust the internal lenses to the correct distance. Here's what happens in practice.
What is autofocus?
Autofocus, or AF, is the system that allows the camera to focus automatically. It detects areas of high contrast in the scene you are framing, then moves the lens elements to achieve optimal sharpness at that point.
There are several types of autofocus, depending on the camera model:
Contrast detection AF, often used on compact cameras or smartphones, which measures differences in brightness to find the sharpest point.
Phase detection AF, which is faster and used on many SLR and hybrid cameras.
And more advanced systems such as face or eye tracking, which are very useful for portraits.
These technologies allow the camera to interpret the scene and assist you in choosing the best focus point. Some models, such as those offered by AgfaPhoto, offer simplified settings that make this process easier. Even for a first camera.
How does a camera focus?
When you press the shutter button halfway, the camera sends the information to the sensor. The sensor analyses the scene, detects sharp or blurred areas, and sends a signal to the lens to adjust its lenses accordingly.
This internal mechanism allows the light to be focused precisely on the sensor. In a fraction of a second, the image becomes sharp. But if the scene is too dark or too uniform, this process can slow down. This sometimes explains the feeling that the camera is ‘searching’ for focus without finding it immediately.
For example, if you are photographing an object indoors, with little light and no sharp contrast, the camera may hesitate. The autofocus activates, slips, and then finally locks on... or gives up. This behaviour is normal, but it can be circumvented by choosing a more suitable mode.
To fully understand what happens in these situations and why the image appears blurry or grainy, you can read our article: What is a pixel? Resolution, megapixels and sharp photos
Why does my camera have trouble focusing?
Sometimes the autofocus does not work as expected. This does not necessarily mean that your camera is faulty. In most cases, it is due to the shooting conditions. Here are the most common situations where focusing can be a problem, and some simple solutions to remedy them.
A subject that is too close. Some lenses have a minimum focusing distance. If you are too close, the camera simply will not be able to focus. All you need to do is move back slightly.
Low light. In dark environments, autofocus has difficulty detecting contrast. Consider activating AF assist if your camera has this feature, or using a fill light.
A subject with little contrast. A white wall, a uniform grey sky or a plain fabric are difficult for the sensor to analyse. Try aiming at an edge or an area with more texture.
The wrong focus mode is activated. If your camera is set to an inappropriate mode (such as continuous mode for a stationary subject), it may search continuously without ever finding the right focus. Always check that you are in the correct mode (AF-S for stationary subjects, AF-C for moving subjects).
When these tips are not enough, temporarily switching to manual mode can help. This setting is available on most cameras, even entry-level models.
If you are just starting out, be sure to read our guide on mistakes to avoid when buying your first camera. You will find other useful tips to help you master your settings.
Focusing is the first step to a successful photo
Knowing how to focus is the basis for a sharp, clear image. This simple, often automatic gesture is worth paying attention to, as it determines the overall quality of the photo.
By choosing what you want to be in focus, you guide the viewer's eye. You construct your image. The camera can help you, of course, with its various autofocus modes. But it's always you who decides what's most important.
Once you understand the basics, the settings quickly become familiar. Between manual focus, subject tracking, focus points and continuous focus mode, you have everything you need to adapt your camera to any situation.