Most compact digital camera has only automatic focus mode, this feature do all the focus work for you. On the other hand most digital SLR camera offer you three different focus mode

1. Manual focus
2. Single auto focus
3. Continuous auto focus

All three focus modes above will be address here

Manual focus: in this mode the camera does not automatically focus on object but you make all the decision by manually set the focus as desired. This is done by rotating a focus ring on the lens clockwise or counterclockwise as you needed or pushing some button on your camera if this feature is embedded. Then you will look on your camera when you happy with the focus press shutter button to take a photo. For those who like to complete control on focus. Manual focus mode is the best choice.

Single auto focus: in this mode the camera automatically focus on object when you press shutter button only half not all the way down. Single auto focus process is carried out only once as soon as you press the button. Once you use this focus mode it is locked and it is not changed until you press the shutter button focus with another object. It shows that single auto focus mode is useful when shooting static objects.

Continuous auto focus: in this mode the cameras automatically and continuously focus on object. As the single auto focus by press shutter only half not all the way down but you must held on the button and continuously move the camera to follow the object. Continuous auto focus mode will continuously corrects the focus as the objects distance change from the camera changes. It shows that continuous auto focus mode is useful when shooting moving object.

In additional pre-focus is the interest focus mode sometime you know as fixed-focus it useful when you want to contrast between objects in the picture.

For your professional in photography, leaning to use them to your advantage will bring you to know how they work and what designed for. After that leaning to use different focus modes and different objects types will bring you see the camera behaves. For the experiment above can make you ready to effectively use the best focus mode for each even.