David Busch's Canon EOS R8 Guide to Digital Photography

5 Mastering the Mysteries of Focus

Modern digital cameras like the EOS R8 can identify potential subject matter, lock in on human faces (if present), and automatically focus faster than the blink of an eye. Usually. Of course, sometimes autofocus will zero in on the wrong subject, become confused by background patterns, or be totally unable to follow a fast-moving target like a bird in flight. While autofocus has come a long way, it’s still a work-in-progress that relies heavily on input from the photographer. Your Canon EOS R8 can calculate and set focus for you quickly and with a high degree of accuracy, but you still need to make a few settings that provide guidance on three of the four Ws of autofocus: what, where, and when. Your decisions ...