As photographers many of us have an overreliance on C-AF (continuous auto focus) and on occasion may sub-optimize our image capturing potential. Sometimes this happens when we lose sight of our photographic objectives, and fall into habitual ways of using our camera gear.
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When reading many camera reviews we can find a fixation with C-AF (continuous auto focus) performance. Some reviewers try to capture very long runs of images using C-AF.

They then examine those long image runs frame by frame, and report on how many times a particular camera missed acquiring auto-focus on various frames.

Often they report on the percentage of image captures that were in perfect focus, as well as those that were slightly out-of-focus, and those that were clearly missed. Then they make up some charts to compare C-AF performances between cameras.

Of course there is nothing inherently wrong or misleading with this type of assessment. Much of the work that we do when creating action-oriented images, like birds-in-flight, can require that our cameras have very good C-AF performance.

Like all things photographic there is a downside when we have an overreliance on C-AF. It blinds us to the potential of using other techniques, or capabilities that our cameras may have, that can increase our odds of capturing a precise action moment.

I can’t speak for other photographers about how they choose to use their camera gear. When out in the field my intent has always been to capture an exact moment in an action sequence. If I capture one, good useable frame from each image run, I’m a very happy camper.

I have very little interest in capturing long, uninterrupted image runs… instead choosing to shoot in short bursts of images… at precise times.

The only times that I have purposely captured very long runs of action-oriented images with C-AF is when I was trying to demonstrate a camera’s performance for an article.

When we have an overreliance on C-AF we can get obsessed with the frame rate that is available with this auto focusing approach. For example, many photographers would have a significant interest in cameras like the OM-1 and OM-1 Mark II that are able to shoot at 50 frames-per-second when using continuous auto-focus.

There is a caveat. A photographer must use a lens that is also capable of shooting in C-AF at 50 frames-per-second. Neither of my primary birding lenses (i.e. M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS or M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS) can operate in C-AF at 50 frames-per-second.

The focusing motors in those lenses are limited to a maximum of 25 frames-per-second with C-AF. So the C-AF performance of 50 frames-per-second of those OM bodies is not attainable for me with my primary birding lenses. In essence it is a non-existent advantage for me.

We need to check on lens compatibility when buying a new camera body like the OM-1, to make sure that some of the lenses we own can operate at the anticipated fast AF-C rates. Otherwise we may inadvertently disappoint ourselves with a camera body purchase.

On the other hand, a camera body like the OM-1 or OM-1 Mark II, can shoot at 120 frames-per-second… locking the focus and exposure with the first frame of the run, when using Single Auto-Focus. This could increase the chance of capturing a specific action frame by 240% over using C-AF @ 50 fps.

If I ever owned an OM-1/OM-1 Mark II, I would use S-AF at 120 fps far more often than I would ever use C-AF at 50 fps… even if I owned lenses that could shoot at that fast C-AF rate.

The reason is simple… the more in-focus frames I can get of an action sequence… the more opportunity I have to capture the precise moment that I have pictured in my mind. With my E-M1X the difference between shooting in C-AF at 18 fps vs. S-AF at 60 fps is a whopping 333% increased likelihood of capturing a precise image capture.

None of the images featured in this article were captured using C-AF (continuous auto-focus). All were shot using Single Auto-Focus with the first frame locking focus and exposure for all of the frames that followed in the image run. A frame rate of 60 frames-per-second was used for all of the photographs in this article.

Single auto-focus at 60 frames-per-second was also used for the image above, and the one that follows. These two photographs were captured using a Nikon 1 V2… a camera that was launched 13 years ago in October 2012.

It is possible that many owners of Nikon 1 cameras never shot at 60 frames-per-second when photographing birds in flight. Many would have used C-AF at 15 or 20 frames-per-second instead… and may have missed many potential precise image captures as a result.

It is important to remember that every image we create has a specific depth-of-field based on the aperture and focal length used, as well as our distance from the subject. That initial depth-of-field exists regardless of the auto-focusing mode we use.

Based on the shooting parameters in the EXIF data for the photograph above, the Cedar Waxwing would have had a depth of field of 0.23 metres (~ 9 inches) in which it could fly and still remain in focus.

In many cases the flying angle of a subject bird is such that it cannot fly out of the in-focus zone fast enough to result in out-of-focus images, as long as a very fast frame rate is used. A classic case is when a bird is flying parallel to the sensor in our camera body… as was the case of the Baltimore Oriole in the above photograph, captured at 60 fps.

Some photographers view their camera as little more than an image making slave. They expect their camera to capture perfect images all the time… and when they don’t… some photographers blame their camera gear. Not accepting any personal responsibility for failed photographs is not a path that leads to skills improvement and personal growth.

If we want to get the most out of our camera gear, we need to become partners with it. And, as a partner we need to assess shooting situations carefully, choosing to use techniques that will help our cameras be successful with their image making missions. Sometimes that means recognizing when we have developed an overreliance on C-AF.
Technical Note
Photographs were captured handheld using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. All images were created from RAW files using my standard process in post. This is the 1,487 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.

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Hola Thomas.
Te queria pedir, si fuera posible que en un próximo artículo pudieras abordar un tema que me da muchos dolores de cabeza. Seria, que expolicaras, qué configuración (todo y ser muy particular de cada fotógrafo) en diferentes temas, como por ejemplo: aves en vuelo, aves quietas, fauna en general y macro, para poder ponerlos en cada uno de los modos C1, C2, C3, C4.
Espero tu respuesta.
Un saludo y felicidades por tus consejos.
Hi Thomas.
I wanted to ask you, if it would be possible in a future article to address a topic that’s been giving me a lot of headaches. I would ask you to explain which settings (even though each photographer’s settings are very specific) for different subjects, such as birds in flight, still birds, wildlife in general, and macro, so I can use them in each of the C1, C2, C3, and C4 modes.
I look forward to your response.
Best regards, and congratulations on your advice.
Hello Xavier,
I probably use my camera quite differently than many photographers so I’m not sure how helpful it would be for you to know what settings that I use for various subject matter. Having said that here is an article that discusses how I set-up my C1 through C4 custom modes: https://smallsensorphotography.com/bird-photography-settings