■ Every camera brand has its own autofocus sensor technology: Canon has Dual Pixel CMOS AF; OM System has Quad Pixel AF; and Sony has Hybrid Phase Detect AF. Not every model has the latest tech, but it’s fair to say that in general situations, most cameras can achieve sharp focus more quickly than most of us can manage manually. Fast-moving subjects and telephoto lenses are another challenge, though, and it’s here that any performance shortcomings are likely to manifest themselves.
Whichever system you own, get to know it – especially where it can let you down and how to deal with issues that arise – and spend time setting it up. Make notes of settings or, if the camera has the option, save them to a memory card for reference.