In what situations I should use manual focus instead of autofocus?

Question

My camera (Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W30) has focus setting such as 0.5m,1.0m,3.0m,7.0m and infinity symbol.What are these settings for?

Answer 1

manual focus is best used where there is low ligth or there are striped pattern that can drive autofocus crazy. the setting on your camera are for fixed focus lengths , . 5 is for closeup or macro. 1.0,3.0,7.0m are for portraits or close quarter photography , infinity is for outside panoramic shots where everithing will be in focus

Answer 2

HI again Zach,

Most all of your shooting situations are best shot using auto-focus,  but there are times when I have to switch to manual focus.    Sometimes I camera will refuse to focus at the distance I am from my subject.  I see that it goes in and out of focus, so I know it can focus clearly.  I have to switch to manual and then refocus...  then shoot.    Also,  when the setting is to dark for the lens to latch onto a focus point,  or if shooting clouds where there is no focus point,  I have to turn to my manual focus setting...  then I do get the shot.

Hope that helped you out.  You need to just go out and practice / experiment with different situations.  You will soon learn your camera like the back of your hand..    :))

RJS1211