topic Re: DISABLE the AUTO FOCUS on a Canon G3 X ? in Point & Shoot Digital Cameras

DISABLE the AUTO FOCUS on a Canon G3 X ?

DogzPhoto — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 00:59:15 GMT

I want to use my G3 X for macro work and would like to disable the auto focus and focus manually. The camera seems to require that the shutter button be held down half-way in order to focus manually which is extremely difficult, especially in the field. Is there a way to use manual focus without having to hold down the shutter button half-way? In other words, can I turn off the auto focus and let the camera capture the image from the manually set lens when pressing the shutter button? (The problem is that one can manually focus the lens, but then pushing down the shutter button will RE-focus - auto focus - the lens unless the shutter button is already half-way down.)

Re: DISABLE the AUTO FOCUS on a Canon G3 X ?

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 01:27:17 GMT

Try engaging back button focus.

Re: DISABLE the AUTO FOCUS on a Canon G3 X ?

DogzPhoto — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 00:10:40 GMT

PROBLEM SOLVED! The solution to the question of how to disable the auto focus came from the folks at Canon. For anyone out there who may want to use the G3 X in macro work, this might be useful. I photograph wildflowers in the field (not a studio). I always work from a tripod and need to focus very precisely, for example, on a slim stamen. The autofocus invariably will miss the tiny stamen and focus BEHIND the item I want at precise focus. While in manual focus mode, the autofocus system can be disabled by turning off the "Safety MF," found on camera menu 4. With Safety MF OFF, one can use the manual focus, adjusting the ring on the lens, then press the shutter button to caputure the image. In doing so, the lens does NOT REfocus. In fact, one can take several photos, sequentially, without the autofocus funtioning. Press the manual focus button on the lens to return to normal operation.

Re: DISABLE the AUTO FOCUS on a Canon G3 X ?

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 00:18:24 GMT

Looks like the info on the Canon Learning Center is incorrect.