https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS-DSLR-Mirrorless-Cameras/Auto-focus-with-shutter-release-pressed-half-way-red-dots-appear/m-p/12549#M5941 <P>They indicate that you haven't studied the manual. They ALSO indicate what the AF has selected to focus on. If you're trying to get a sharp image of something closer or farther than those areas you'll need to learn how to select an active AF point &amp; put it on the target. Think of accurately focusing on a bird but there are branches between you &amp; the bird &amp; the red dots are on the branches instead of the bird.</P> Sat, 26 Jan 2013 14:11:16 GMT cicopo 2013-01-26T14:11:16Z https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS-DSLR-Mirrorless-Cameras/Auto-focus-with-shutter-release-pressed-half-way-red-dots-appear/m-p/12545#M5940 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 05:57:52 GMT https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS-DSLR-Mirrorless-Cameras/Auto-focus-with-shutter-release-pressed-half-way-red-dots-appear/m-p/12545#M5940 cobbwi 2013-01-26T05:57:52Z https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS-DSLR-Mirrorless-Cameras/Auto-focus-with-shutter-release-pressed-half-way-red-dots-appear/m-p/12549#M5941 <P>They indicate that you haven't studied the manual. They ALSO indicate what the AF has selected to focus on. If you're trying to get a sharp image of something closer or farther than those areas you'll need to learn how to select an active AF point &amp; put it on the target. Think of accurately focusing on a bird but there are branches between you &amp; the bird &amp; the red dots are on the branches instead of the bird.</P> Sat, 26 Jan 2013 14:11:16 GMT https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS-DSLR-Mirrorless-Cameras/Auto-focus-with-shutter-release-pressed-half-way-red-dots-appear/m-p/12549#M5941 cicopo 2013-01-26T14:11:16Z