Slowproofed

Slowproofed is a term used in the context of photography, particularly with digital cameras, to describe a situation where the camera's autofocus system struggles to lock onto a subject quickly and accurately. This can manifest as the camera "hunting" back and forth, taking multiple attempts to achieve focus, or failing to focus altogether. The term "slowproofed" is a colloquialism and not an official technical specification.

Several factors can contribute to slowproofing. Low light conditions are a common culprit, as the autofocus system relies on sufficient light to analyze the scene and determine the point of focus. Subjects with low contrast, such as a plain wall or a uniformly colored object, can also be challenging for autofocus. Fast-moving subjects can also lead to slowproofing if the camera's autofocus tracking capabilities are not advanced enough to keep up with the motion.

The type of autofocus system employed by the camera plays a significant role. Phase-detection autofocus systems are generally faster than contrast-detection systems, especially in good lighting. However, in very low light, contrast-detection can sometimes be more reliable, albeit slower. The lens used can also impact autofocus speed; lenses with wider maximum apertures tend to perform better in low light.

Photographers often try to mitigate slowproofing by using techniques such as pre-focusing on a subject at a similar distance, using manual focus when autofocus is unreliable, or ensuring adequate lighting for the scene. Newer camera models and high-end lenses often feature improved autofocus algorithms and hardware designed to minimize slowproofing.