Do you need to refocus after changing aperture on a DSLR?
Asked 11/8/2013
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If I focus on a subject and then change the aperture before taking the shot, do I need to refocus? For example, if I focus at a wide aperture and then stop down, or if I focus at a small aperture and then open up again, will the focus point stay the same?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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Theoretically, camera always autofocuses at the largest possible aperture, and then right before shutter being released, it closes it down. Therefore, no need to do it, since DOF can only increase.
Originally by user23118. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user23118
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Usually, no. On most DSLRs, autofocus is done with the lens wide open, and the camera stops the lens down only at the moment of exposure. Because of that, changing to a smaller aperture normally does not require refocusing, and depth of field will increase, making focus less critical.
If you change from a smaller aperture to a wider one, the shallower depth of field can make focus errors more noticeable, so checking focus again can be helpful.
There is one caveat: some lenses can show focus shift, where the actual plane of focus moves slightly as the lens is stopped down. This was more commonly discussed with some older manual-focus lenses, but it can occasionally happen with modern lenses too. In normal use, modern autofocus lenses are designed to minimize this.
So the practical answer is: usually you do not need to refocus after changing aperture, but if you are shooting wide open or using a lens known for focus shift, it is worth checking carefully.
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