Adjusting Focus. Automatic and manual ways to set the focus.

ProCamera gives you full control of focus, for both photos and videos. You can let the app set focus automatically, tap to focus on a specific spot, or set focus by hand for macro work and precise depth-of-field control. This article covers every way to set the focus in ProCamera.

Ways to set focus in ProCamera:

Auto focus:

• Fully automatic focus

• Tap to focus (Focus Square)

Manual focus:

• Manual Focus dial

• Slide gesture on the viewfinder

Auto focus

Fully automatic focus

By default, ProCamera focuses fully automatically. Point the camera at your subject and the app sets focus and exposure for you. The focus and exposure control elements sit in the center of the viewfinder and fade out after a couple of seconds.

Using the Focus Square

To focus on a specific spot rather than letting the app decide, tap that spot in the viewfinder. The Focus Square moves there and ProCamera focuses immediately. You can move the focus and exposure control elements together by simply tapping on an area, or position each one independently by dragging the desired control element.

Manual focus

Manual focus is available in semi-automatic SI mode and manual M mode; the automatic A mode does not support it. These manual modes use a single lens at a time, which is what makes manual focus possible. To switch, open the Control Panel (9-dot menu button, bottom right), tap A and then select M or SI mode. ProCamera then gives you two ways to set focus by hand: the Manual Focus dial as well as a slide gesture on the viewfinder.

Manual focus with the Manual Focus dial

Tap the MF button on the Manual Controls panel. The Manual Focus dial appears in the bottom panel of the Capture Screen, just above the Shutter button; move the dial to set focus. With the dial there is no blue Focus Square or magnifier. Instead, Focus Peaking highlights what is sharp across the whole viewfinder, which makes this method well suited to macro work and precise focus pulls.

Manual focus with a slide gesture on the viewfinder

First, enable this method: go to Settings > Focus and turn on the 'Manual focus' and 'Always active' options.

Then, on the Capture Screen, place the Focus Square where you want it and slide up or down on the viewfinder. The spot under it is magnified so you can judge sharpness precisely. To fine-tune, keep your finger on the screen and slide left or right. Fine-tuning only works as a sequence in this order: slide up or down first, then left or right.

Focus Peaking

Focus Peaking makes manual focus easier: as you adjust, it outlines the in-focus edges of your subject with a bright colored line, so you can see exactly what is sharp. To turn it on, go to ProCamera Settings > Focus and turn on the Focus Peaking option. The highlight color is customizable on the same settings page.

From then on, the highlighted edges appear over whatever is in focus while you adjust the focus manually.

For a full walkthrough of each manual focus method, see Manual focus. To learn how the focus and exposure control elements work together, see Adjusting Focus and Exposure.