Self Timer and AF

[lightwisps]

This is kind of a silly question, but I honestly don't know the answer. I want to do a series of self portraits using the self timer on the camera. All of my cameras have AF. The question is will the AF kick in when the self timer sets off the shutter or before, or not at all? I feel really silly asking this but it will be an important part of planning the shots I choose to take. Lord knows I am ugly enough without being ugly and out of focus at the same time. Thanks in advance for any tips, ideas or even smart alex remarks. Don

 

[polyglot]

Depends on the camera and how you configure it. You can turn the AF off and prefocus if you like. Or use a radio remote with separate focus and release stages to the button.

 

[lightwisps]

The cameras in question are my F5s. Don't have a radio remote and don't really want to go to that expense for this silly project. Thanks for the solution though. Don

 

[MattKing]

For my last self-portrait I used a handy trick.

I focussed manually on a prop (in this case, a Mamiya TLR).

I then set off the self-timer, walked over to the prop, and positioned myself carefully.

The result is attached.

 

[Chan Tran]

The cameras in question are my F5s. Don't have a radio remote and don't really want to go to that expense for this silly project. Thanks for the solution though. Don

If you set it for single servo AF then it would auto focus then lock focus before the self timer starts. For continuous servo AF it's not much different. The AF continues to focus for as long as you have the shutter release slightly depressed. If you just push the button and go then either is pretty much the same. That is it focus at the time you push the shutter release so for self portrait it's no good.