prefocused

Prefocused is a term used in photography to describe the practice of pre-setting the camera's focus to a chosen distance before taking a shot. When a lens is prefocused, the camera can produce a sharp image of any subject that lies at or near that distance without waiting for autofocus to adjust, enabling rapid shutter release in fast-moving or uncertain situations.

How it is done: Set the lens to manual focus or use autofocus with a focus lock. Determine the target distance using a distance scale, rangefinder, or live-view magnification, then adjust the focus to that distance and lock it in. Reframe if necessary, but keep the focus fixed. In practice, photographers may pre-focus at a distance they expect subjects to reach and shoot when the moment occurs.

Applications and considerations: Prefocusing is common in street photography, event shooting, sports from fixed positions, or wildlife at a known range. It helps avoid missed shots caused by autofocus hunting or poor lighting. Depth of field influences effectiveness: a longer depth of field increases tolerance for small distance errors, while a shallow depth of field requires more precise focus. The technique is less suitable for subjects that move unpredictably toward or away from the camera beyond the preselected distance.

Related concepts: Prefocusing is often discussed alongside focus lock, hyperfocal distance, and depth-of-field management as methods to control sharpness and response time in photography.