Nikon 4500 - Manual (Page 69)

59
Beyond Point-and-Shoot—Focus Mode
Choose the Center Focus Area
We recommend that you select the center focus area when using focus lock.
Autofocus
In autofocus and macro close-up modes, the camera adjusts focus automati-
cally. In
mode or at a scene setting of Close Up, the camera adjusts focus
continuously while the monitor is on (continuous autofocus; 111). When
the monitor is off, the camera does not focus until the shutter-release button
is pressed halfway (single autofocus;
111). In either case, focus locks when
the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, and remains locked as long as
the button is held in this position (focus lock;
60). In P, S, A, and M modes,
single autofocus is used whether the monitor is on or off, although the Focus
Options: Auto-Focus Mode item in the SHOOTING menu can be used to
enable continuous autofocus when the monitor is on (
111).
Getting Good Results with Autofocus
Autofocus performs best when:
• There is contrast between the subject and the background. For example,
autofocus may not perform well on subjects that are the same color as the
background.
• The subject is evenly lit.
Autofocus does not perform well when:
• You attempt to focus simultaneously on two or more objects at different
distances from the camera. For example, autofocus may not perform well
when photographing an object inside a cage, because the bars of the cage
will be closer to the camera than the main subject, and both the bars and
the main subject will be in the focus area.
• The subject is very dark (the subject should not, however, be too much
brighter than the background).
• The subject is moving rapidly.
If the camera is unable to focus using autofocus, the autofocus lamp next to
the viewfinder will flicker when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.
Use focus lock (
60) to focus on another subject at the same distance, or
use manual focus ( 61).