30D Tip for AE Lock

Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 10:21 pm

The old way to shoot: Select the center square as your selected focus point. Look through the view finder and place the center square on the model's eye or your desired point of focus. Press the shutter button halfway to focus. Hold the shutter button down half way and recompose your shot.

The way I shoot. I select the center square. Look through the view finder, place the center square on the model's eye or point of focus. Press the AE/LOCK button to focus. Recompose the shot and press the shutter button.

No matter how I press the shutter button the focus will not change. The only way for the focus to change is if I press the AE/LOCK button again. It will then focus on whatever happens to be behind the center square.

Now you ask how do I set the auto focus to the AE/LOCK button? Simple. Goto your menu and look for Custom Functions(C. Fn). From there look for custom function #4. it should be called Shutter/AE lock button Set that to setting #1. TaaDaaa... Now your AE button is your auto focus button.

This is even more amazing for you action shooters.. Why? Set your camera on AI Servo focus, select the right or left most focusing square. Now place that square over the receivers face and hold down the AE button. It now continuously focuses on his face even as he moves, just as long as u have the focus square following him correctly. Then you just press the shutter as you are following him. You will not get that lag of pressing the shutter only to have the camera try and focus for u and then take the photo.