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Which Camera Settings to Use for Sharper Images? on December 16, 2014 Posted in Photography Tips by Darlene Hildebrandt A common question I get from my students and readers from the website is: “How can I get sharper images?” In this article you'll get some tips on what camera settings to adjust to help you do just that.

As for any camera settings, if you are not sure how to adjust these on your camera, please consult the user manual. If you do not have the manual for your camera do a quick Google search using your camera brand and model and you should be able to find a PDF to download such as for the Canon 60D or Nikon D7000.

Drive Mode

The first setting you want to have a look at is your Drive Mode. There are three common ones: single frame, continuous (burst) low and continuous high (fast burst). For stationary subjects I recommend sticking with single shot, so when you press the shutter button the camera takes only one image.

Often beginners feel the need to shoot rapid fire or take multiple images in hopes of getting one in focus. The better approach is to slow down, shoot one at a time, and get it right the first time. Rushing more often than not results in nothing sharp, properly exposed, or well composed. Read more about slowing down in this artice: Do You Wait for the Decisive Moment or do You Spray and Pray? However, if you are shooting a moving subject then the game changes. In that case I would suggest using High Speed Burst mode (the most frames per second your camera can shoot). For example if you are photographing sports, a rapidly moving child, or doing a panning type of shot – these are all good examples of when continuous high speed is the better choice. But for most things, especially those not moving, stick to single shot. There are also options for self-timer, which allows you to press the button and the camera fires a few seconds later, or connecting a wireless remote (if your camera has one). This can be helpful if you are using a tripod as just pressing the shutter button can introduce camera shake, causing a blurry image. So use a remote trigger if you have one, or the self-timer, both of which allow the camera to fire without touching it, keeping your image nice and sharp.

Focus Mode

The next setting to look at is your focus mode. Most DSLRs have these three choices: Okay great, so what does that mean? Well in a perfect world you could just pick the last option and let the camera do all the work for you. But, if you've been using your DSLR for a while you've probably moved away from most of the auto settings for a reason – sometimes, and often, the camera gets it wrong. This is no exception. The combo setting is supposed to be the best of both worlds but in reality most photographers never use it because the camera usually chooses wrong. So it will try tracking focus on a stationary object and not lock focus for you – or it will not pick up a moving object properly.

So, your best choice for this setting is to pick according to your subject. If your subject is not moving (or is moving side to side but not changing distance to the camera) go with option #1 above, single shot. That will give you a nice clean focus lock and sharp image. If your subject is moving toward or away from you (or rapidly in random directions, like a child!) then option #2 or continuous focus mode is your best bet.

Of course there is also manual focus. I often see confusion between manual shooting mode and manual focus. Many times I hear my students tell me they've been told to shoot “all manual” and they took that to mean focus as well. Let me say this here:

Manual shooting mode and manual focus are NOT mutually exclusive!

You do not have to use manual focus if you are in manual shooting mode for exposure. Personally I almost never use manual focus as I find it really difficult to do so, especially on a moving target. Your camera has a sophisticate focusing system – don't be afraid to use it, you are not cheating. If your camera has live view mode, or you're using a camera with an electronic viewfinder (like a newer mirrorless camera) that has focus assist or focus peaking – then manual focus is a lot easier and usable. But if you're using a DSLR it can be challenging (especially for “mature” eyes like mine) so choose one of the other modes to help you.

Autofocus (AF) Area

This setting will vary greatly depending on your camera body and what choices it offers. Usually you will have at least two, possibly three, options. They are:

For general photography, assuming you are working with a still subject, single point focus is always the best option. This allows you to do critical focus right where you want it.

Side note: using the center spot is more accurate and faster to focus than the outer spots as it is usually a cross-type AF point (two-dimensional contrast detection, higher degree of accuracy). Some cameras have more than one cross-type AF point (why a lot of people were excited about the new Canon 7D), check your manual for more information.

Here’s a good article about autofocus that might help explain some of these terms: Understanding Camera Autofocus

Once again if you have a moving target you'll want to get off a single-point focus and go more to a zone or let the camera choose. If you have one small focus point it's really hard to nail focus on a moving subject accurately. Digital Camera World has a great cheat sheet on focus points to help you choose the right one for each situation.

Advanced Option: Back Button Focusing

One final option is one I use pretty much all the time – back button focusing. Say what?

Normally, pressing the shutter button on your camera halfway down activates autofocus. But many cameras offer customization of that function with something called back button focus. Essentially what this does is assigns the focus function to another button on the camera, usually one on the back,near the top of the camera.

Why would you want to use back button focus?

There are many reasons why you might want to consider shooting this way. Keep in mind I learned this technique from a journalist who did a lot of sports photography.

Once again check your manual for how to set this up in your camera. This option may or may not be available on your camera model, or it may be called something else entirely. Look for the term “back button focus” or “setting custom button functions”. Once you find it make sure that not only does it set one of the back buttons to focus but that it also turns off the focus function from the shutter release button. THIS IS KEY! You want the shutter button to NOT control focus.


Now it's your turn to try out some of these different settings. If you have comments or questions please put them in the section below. 
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