Mastering Focus: Canon 500D Tips And Tricks

The Canon 500D is a DSLR camera with a range of autofocus and manual focus options. To tell the camera what to focus on, you can use the autofocus system, which has different modes such as One-Shot AF, AI Focus, and AI Servo. You can also use the manual focus ring to adjust the focus distance. The camera also has a Live View mode, which allows you to use the LCD screen on the back to frame your shot and focus using the autofocus or manual focus.

Adjust the viewfinder focus

Adjusting the viewfinder to your eyesight is critical. Scenes that appear out-of-focus through the viewfinder may actually be sharply focused through the lens, and vice versa.

To adjust the viewfinder focus on your Canon EOS Rebel T1i 500D, follow these steps:

• Remove the lens cap from the front of the lens.
• Look through the viewfinder and concentrate on the focusing screen. The focusing screen is the collective name for the group of nine autofocus points that appear in the viewfinder — the little squares with the dots inside.
• Rotate the viewfinder adjustment knob (dioptric adjustment control) until the autofocus points appear to be in focus. Don't worry about focusing the actual picture; just pay attention to the sharpness of the autofocus points.

If you are unable to get the autofocus points to appear sharp by using the dioptric adjustment control, you can purchase an additional eyepiece adapter. This accessory, which you attach to the eyepiece, enables further adjustment of the viewfinder display. Look for an adapter called an E-series dioptric adjustment lens.

Use autofocus

To use autofocus on your Canon 500D, you must first ensure that your camera is in autofocus mode. To do this, locate the lens focus mode switch on your camera, which is usually found on the lens barrel, and slide it to the 'AF' setting.

Once autofocus mode is enabled, you can then choose your desired autofocus method. The Canon 500D offers three autofocus methods: Live Mode, Live Mode with Face Detection, and Quick Mode.

Live Mode uses the image sensor to focus. To use Live Mode, follow these steps:

• Turn on your camera.
• Set the shooting mode by turning the Mode Dial. For still photos, select a mode in the Creative Zone (Live View shooting cannot be used in Basic Zone modes). For movies, select the Movie shooting mode.
• Ensure your camera is ready to take shots, then press the MENU button.
• Select the correct menu tab using the Cross Keys. For still photos, select the < > tab. For movies, select the < > tab.
• Select the [AF mode] item. For still photos, select [Live View function settings], then press the SET button, followed by [AF mode] and the SET button. For movies, simply select [AF mode] and press the SET button.
• Select the AF mode, then press the SET button.
• When the camera is ready to shoot, press the Live View shooting/Movie shooting button. The Live View image will appear on the LCD monitor with an AF point.
• Use the Cross Keys to move the AF point to where you want to focus.
• Aim the AF point over your desired subject and hold down the shutter button.
• When focus is achieved, the AF point will turn green, and a beeping sound will be heard.

Live Mode with Face Detection is similar to Live Mode but includes face detection. To use this method:

• Follow steps 1-6 for Live Mode.
• When the Live View image appears on the LCD monitor, the camera will detect and focus on any human faces.
• If multiple faces are detected, use the Cross Keys to move the frame over the desired face.
• Press the SET button to focus on the selected face.
• When focus is achieved, the AF point will turn green, and a beeping sound will be heard.

Quick Mode uses a dedicated AF sensor to focus, allowing you to focus on the desired area quickly. However, the Live View image will be interrupted momentarily during the autofocus operation. To use Quick Mode:

• Follow steps 1-6 for Live Mode.
• When the Live View image appears, you will see small boxes, which are the AF points, and a larger box, which is the magnifying frame.
• Press the SET button to bring up the Quick Control screen.
• Use the Cross Keys to select the AF point you want to use.
• Aim the AF point over your subject and hold down the shutter button.
• The Live View image will turn off, the reflex mirror will go down, and autofocus will be executed.
• When focus is achieved, a beeping sound will be heard, and the Live View image will reappear. The AF point used to focus will be displayed in red.

It is important to note that your Canon 500D also has a 'One Shot' mode, which is different from the 'AI Servo' mode. In 'One Shot' mode, the camera prioritizes focus before allowing the shot to be taken. In 'AI Servo' mode, the camera prioritizes releasing the shutter, taking the photo immediately, regardless of whether the camera has focused or not.

Face detection autofocus in live view mode

• Turn on the camera by switching the power button to "ON".
• Set the camera to Live View mode by pressing the Live View shooting/Movie shooting button.
• Ensure that the lens focus mode switch is set to "AF" (auto-focus).
• Compose your shot and ensure that your subject is facing the camera.
• Press the shutter button halfway to activate the autofocus. The camera will detect the face and display a frame over the face to be focused.
• If multiple faces are detected, use the cross keys to move the frame over the desired face.
• Press the "AF" button to focus on the face within the frame.
• When the camera achieves focus, the AF point will turn green, and the beeper will sound. If focus is not achieved, the AF point will turn red.
• Adjust the focus manually if needed by turning the focusing ring on the lens.
• Once you have achieved the desired focus, press the shutter button fully to take the picture.

It is important to note that face detection autofocus may not work in certain conditions, such as low lighting, or if the face is too small, too bright, or partially hidden in the frame. Additionally, this feature may take slightly longer to focus compared to other autofocus modes.

Manual focus

To use manual focus on your Canon 500D, you must first turn on your camera. Then, set the lens focus mode switch to MF (Manual Focus).

Now, look through the viewfinder and turn the focusing ring on the lens to adjust the focus. You can also use the magnifying feature to help you focus more precisely. Press the magnifying button to magnify the area within the frame. Each time you press the button, the display format will change: normal view, 5x, 10x, then back to normal view.

While looking through the viewfinder, rotate the Main Dial (usually located on the rear of the camera) to focus on your desired subject. When the subject is in focus, press the shutter button.

If you want to shoot an object that's moving in a predictable fashion, some people find that manual focus allows them to track the subject faster than Servo focus. However, this does take practice, and the Canon 500D's Servo focus is very good, so you should experiment with it before you switch over to manual.

Focus confirmation

The Canon EOS 500D is a 15-megapixel entry-level digital single-lens reflex camera. It has a Live View shooting function, which allows you to shoot photos while viewing the image on the camera's LCD monitor.

To change the focus mode for Live View shooting, follow these steps:

• Turn the camera on.
• Set the shooting mode by turning the Mode Dial. For still photos, select a mode in the Creative Zone (Live View shooting is not available in Basic Zone modes). For movies, select the Movie shooting mode.
• Set the lens focus mode switch to AF.
• Press the MENU button to access the menu.
• Select the appropriate menu tab using the Cross Keys. For still photos, select the < > tab, and for movies, select the < > tab.
• Select the [AF mode] item. For still photos, select [Live View function settings], then press SET. Then, select [AF mode] and press SET again. For movies, simply select [AF mode] and press SET.
• Choose the desired AF mode and press SET.

Now, you can proceed to use the Live View function to focus on your subject. If you are shooting still photos, you can use the Cross Keys to move the AF point to the desired location within the frame (it cannot be moved to the edges of the picture). Once you have aimed the AF point over your subject, hold down the shutter button. When focus is achieved, the AF point will turn green, and a beeping sound will be heard. If focus is not achieved, the AF point will turn red.

It is important to note that the Canon EOS 500D has two independent auto-focus systems: one for normal mode (viewfinder) and another for Live View mode (LCD screen). If you are experiencing issues with autofocus, it is recommended to switch to Live View mode and ensure that your camera can focus using this method.

Additionally, you can enable the focus confirmation light to appear in the viewfinder. This light indicates when focus is achieved. To enable this feature, ensure that the lens focus mode switch is set to AF, as autofocus will not operate when set to MF. Also, make sure that you are not too close to your subject, as the camera has a minimum focusing distance.

If you are having persistent issues with autofocus, it may be due to a faulty lens or camera settings. Ensure that your camera settings are optimized for autofocus, and consider trying a different lens to determine if the issue is lens-related.

Frequently asked questions