Improve Focus In Your Photos Surprisingly Fast

For photographers focus never more important than when it's not there. So, to improve focus in your photos surprisingly fast make sure you're following the advice laid out below.

Improve Focus In Your Photos

The following advice will help you to dramatically improve focus in your photos, especially if this is an area where you're currently struggling. However, first I'd like to discuss things that can impact your focus so you understand what problems you're solving.

In fact, besides getting your brightness (exposure) correct focus is often the first thing that people notice. Especially if it's not there.

Exposure Settings Impact on Sharpness

If you're going to improve the focus in your photos then you need to understand how exposure settings impact that sharpness. If you're still unclear about exposure settings get my e-book that will teach you everything you need to know about exposure for only $25.

Shutter Speed and Sharpness

First, understand that shutter speed will impact how sharp your subject is. This is because shutter speed controls time. If your subject is moving, then they won't appear sharp. This is true no matter how much you've nailed your optical focus.

Aperture and Sharpness

Aperture is a factor when it comes to sharpness. Of course, depth of field is effected by aperture. However, depth of field is not the only consideration you need to make. In fact, there is also diffusion.

What is Diffusion

Diffusion happens when the aperture is too small. The hole the light passes through has edges. As a result, some light will strike these edges and be scattered.

With a larger aperture this isn't an issue. After all, there is enough light not striking the edges that it overpowers those that do.

However, with a small aperture the overall amount of light is reduced. Therefore, the percentage of light striking the edges is higher. As a result it can begin to appear in your photos.

ISO and Sharpness

Your sensitivity, aka your ISO, is also a factor. This is because higher ISOs reduce resolution and increase gain. As an aside, higher ISOs are also typically used with lower amounts of light. Therefore the ability of the camera to find focus can be impacted.

This isn't a product of ISO. However, if you're using a higher ISO then just know that the camera is going to struggle when it comes to focusing. So, to improve focus in your photos aim for taking photos in as much light as possible.

The impact of ISO and how bad it gets varies from camera to camera. Watch my latest video on the Nikon D850 you'll see that it's low light capabilities are incredibly impressive. In fact, it produces usable photos up to ISO 12,800. However, other cameras fail to provide usable photos above ISO 3200.

Your Lenses Impact on Focus

Obviously your lens impacts focus. However, it does so in ways you may not understand.

Even today's kit lenses tend to be plenty sharp. However, they might not be so sharp on the edges or at specific distances.

Too, they usually offer a smaller maximum aperture (see above). Both of those are factors in the sharpness of your photos.

Non-kit Lenses

I hear what you're saying. Don, I'm not using a kit lens but I still need to improve the focus in my photos. All lenses are manufactured to be within specific tolerances. In other words, they're never fully perfect. As a result, they can be slightly off in one direction. Paired with a camera that is slightly off in the other direction and you've got a lack of sharpness.

In addition your lens may or may not have in built stabilization. Of course, the same is true of your camera. Let's discuss how those impact your focus.

Lens and Camera Stabilization

Also called vibration reduction, lens and camera stabilization systems allow you to use slower shutter speeds without experiencing camera shake. However, you need to understand how to use them. Plus, if you're using a tripod or monopod you need to follow recommendations on doing so with these systems.

As with anything mechanical, these systems are prone to break. In addition they can act "quirky" or fail in strange ways with no consistency. So, always test your gear. Make sure that your photos are sharp with and without stabilization.

Improve Focus With These Techniques

You've read the above but you are left wondering what to do in order to improve focus in your photos. First, I strongly believe that understanding things that impact it are vital to diagnosing issues. That said, here are some techniques to help you improve your focus.

 Pay Attention To Your Exposure Settings

You can't fix a problem if you don't know what's wrong. Therefore, the first thing to check is your exposure settings.

Is your shutter speed too slow to freeze your subject's motion?
Have you set your aperture to f22 or smaller? 
How dark is it and how high is your ISO?

Overcome Exposure Setting Limitations

You can overcome (some) exposure setting limitations. First, overcome shutter speed issues by tracking your subject's motion. This takes a lot of practice. However, nail it and you create a more honest photo of the situation. After all you're showing your subject in motion - which they were.

Aperture and ISO

When it comes to aperture and ISO there aren't as many choices. However, a slower shutter speed gives you the ability to drop your ISO and/or open your aperture.

Upgrading Gear

That said, if you can afford to buying a camera body with better high ISO capabilities is a good idea if you find yourself struggling to improve focus in your photos.

Of course, buying a faster lens may work too. However, it isn't always going to give you the results you want. After all, you are exchanging depth of field for additional light. As a result, you'll gain light allowing you to decrease your shutter speed. But, the tiny depth of field might show up in unwanted ways. In addition, wider lenses can be heavier and are more prone to chromatic aberration.

Use A Tripod Or Monopod

A solid tripod or monopod allows you to use long lenses and to avoid camera shake. As a result, you can use slower shutter speeds but still have improved focus. Tripods are especially helpful for landscape, astrophotography, and portraiture. Monopods are great for sports photography and nature and wildlife photography.

Use your Viewfinder

If you're not already then be sure to use your viewfinder rather than the rear screen. Your viewfinder gives you a darkened closer view of your scene. This can be a huge help. So, if you're just using the screen on your camera switch to the viewfinder.

In fact, if you're using a DSLR this is especially important. In live-view DSLRs need to drop the mirror back down in order to take a photo. This takes time and stops the focus motor from moving. So, it's best to not use live view with a DSLR.

Advanced Solutions To Improve Focus

There are additional solutions to improve focus in your photos.

Adjust your diopter

There is a small dial on DSLRs that allow you to change the focus in your viewfinder. If you wear glasses then adjust this to match your prescription. Doing so will allow you to take photos without your glasses. Too, you can get your eye closer to the viewfinder. As a result, you have a closer view to check that you're focused correctly.

Mirrorless Camera Advantages

Adjusting your diopter is the only trick DSLR users have. However, mirrorless cameras have a ton of advantages to improve focus in your photos.

First, Sony and a few other manufacturers offer a focus magnifier. Personally, I hate it. However, if you want to ensure perfect focus try it out. The focus magnifier shows you a zoomed in area. This allows you to check and make sure your subject is sharp.

Focus Peaking

Nearly all mirrorless cameras have focus peaking. That said, some only allow you to use it in manual focus. Focus Peaking outlines what is in focus in bold colored lines. Much like the magnifier this bothers the heck out of some people. However, other people love it.

Focus Peaking helps you to make sure your subject is in focus. In addition, it shows you your depth of field as well. Thus, it's a great help when you need to get multiple subjects in focus.

Where These Fail To Improve Focus

These advanced techniques fail to improve focus if you're not using them with the earlier ones. Focus peaking isn't going to matter if your shutter speed is way too low. The same is true of focus magnifiers. Also, no matter how great you've got your diopter dialed in, a high ISO and slow shutter speed will not result in improved focus.

Continue To Improve Your Focus

The biggest way to improve focus in your photos is to keep practicing. That said, even professional photographers like myself take loads of out-of-focus photos. We just don't show them to people.

Additionally, understand that the amount of light you have available makes a tremendous difference.

If you feel frustrated then try the above techniques. Then, if you're still frustrated talk to other photographers. This helps you to understand how far off from others you are. In fact, I promise you that if you ask a pro you're going to find that we miss focus more than you think.