Face detection in digital cameras has been around for a few years, but it still seems like magic the first time you use it. When you turn on Face Detection focusing, the camera does an amazing thing: It zeroes in on any face and places a box around it (Figure 6.9). When you press the shutter button halfway, the camera focuses on the face.
Setting up Face Detection focusing
- Press the Menu button.
- Press the Down button to highlight the AF Frame option.
- Press the Right or Left button and choose Face AiAF (Artificial intelligence Auto Focus).
- Press the Menu button to exit the menu mode.
Shooting with Face Detection
- Point your camera at a person and watch as the frame appears over their face. If more than one person is in the scene, the camera identifies up to three faces at a time; a white box indicates the camera’s choice for the main subject, while gray boxes indicate other faces.
- Press the shutter button halfway to view up to nine detected faces.
- Press the shutter button fully to take the photograph.
Choosing One Person Using Face Select
- Press the AF Frame Selector button to enter Face Select mode. The camera focuses on just one face, identified by an orange box. (This mode works only if faces are detected.)
- Press the AF Frame Selector button again to select a different face.
- If you want to exit Face Select mode, press the AF Frame Selector button until the screen reads Face Detect: Off. Otherwise, press the shutter button fully to take the photograph.
Tracking a Person to Maintain Focus
- In the camera’s menu, set the AF Frame option to Tracking AF.
- Move the camera so the center target is on the person (or any object) on which you want to focus.
- Press the AF Frame Selector button to enable tracking and reframe the shot. Then press the shutter button to take the photo.