The focus area for autofocus is shown in the viewfinder. Choosing a different focus area shifts focus to another part of the frame. This selection can be made by the photographer or left up to the camera: what controls how the focus point is selected is AF-area mode.

The focus area display in the viewfinder shows the area of the frame that the camera will use to set focus. In 3D-tracking and single-point and dynamic-area AF, photographers can choose the focus area themselves.


Single-point AF
Select the focus point; the camera will focus on the subject in the selected focus point only. Use with stationary subjects.

Dynamic-area AF
Select the focus point. In AF-C focus mode, the camera will focus based on information from surrounding focus points if the subject briefly leaves the selected point. The number of focus points varies with the mode selected:

• 9- or 25-point dynamic-area AF
Choose when there is time to compose the photograph or when photographing subjects that are moving predictably (e.g., runners or race cars on a track).

• 72-point dynamic-area AF
Choose when photographing subjects that are moving unpredictably (e.g., players at a football game).

• 153-point dynamic-area AF
Choose when photographing subjects that are moving quickly and cannot be easily framed in the viewfinder (e.g., birds).

3D-tracking
Select the focus point. In AF-C focus mode, the camera will track subjects that leave the selected focus point and select new focus points as required. Use to quickly compose pictures with subjects that are moving erratically from side to side (e.g., tennis players).

Group-area AF
The camera focuses using a group of focus points selected by the user, reducing the risk of the camera focusing on the background instead of on the main subject. Choose for subjects that are difficult to photograph using a single focus point. If faces are detected in AF-S focus mode, the camera will give priority to portrait subjects.

Auto-area AF
The camera automatically detects the subject and selects the focus point; if a face is detected, the camera will give priority to the portrait subject. The active focus points are highlighted briefly after the camera focuses; in AF-C mode, the main focus point is displayed after the other focus points have turned off.

Group-area AF

Auto-area AF