Are you waiting until you want to shoot before autofocusing the subject? Many people do and it's just as wrong as starting manual focus only when you're ready to shoot. Instead, press the shutter release slightly as soon as you see the subject.
If it's not a moving subject, you should be in single-focus or focus-priority mode. The camera will focus, warn you that focus has been reached, and then lock in focus. Keep pressure on that shutter-release button to maintain focus! If you don't, the camera will have to start autofocus (and expose calculation) all over again when you want to make the picture!
Keep that pressure on. When the subject's right, press the button and you'll have your picture in short order.
One of the first things I've done on all the few DSLR's I have is to take the AF off the shutter release. Gives me total control over when and if I use the AF cycle ... shame that Pentax missed the AF button off the K10d grip, it really messes up using the grip for me. Just hope they make a fudge in the next firmware so I can use it.
Posted by: Michelle Knight | June 17, 2007 at 03:24 PM