2.6 Suggested Configuration for shooting portraits

Here’s an unobvious yet very useful configuration when shooting portraits. If you’re like most users, you’ll autofocus on the subject just before you take the picture – each and every time you take a picture. Kind of wasteful since the distance between the camera and the subject isn’t changing. It makes sense to just focus once, and then you’re always ready to shoot the instant the expression is genuine. Then you only need to focus again should the camera-to-subject distance change.

I find this combination of settings is great in this scenario:

• Fn --> Focus Mode --> MF (Manual Focus)
• MENU --> 7 --> Custom Key(Shoot.) --> AF/MF button --> AF/MF Control Hold (usually I set it to AF/MF Control Toggle)
• Fn --> Focus Area --> Flexible Spot (and choose an AF point closest to the eyes)

When you’re ready to start shooting, move the AF point over the eyes and press the AF/MF button (make sure the lever is in the “up” position!) until autofocus is achieved. Then let go of the button and shoot away. Did the model move, or you change position? Just press the AF/MF button momentarily to re-focus again. This is much faster than any other AF/MF switching method I’ve ever used.

TIP: I've used the above technique for years to get great portraits in the studio. Regretfully there's no way to have it work with Eye AF; however because you're using a small AF area and are telling the camera what to focus on, the results should be identical.