<p>It looks like by default, that camera fine-tunes the focus (even in manual focus).</p>

<p>From the <a href="http://support-asia.canon-asia.com/contents/ASIA/EN/8202125600.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Canon support page</a>: To deactivate automatic focus fine-tuning when the shutter button is pressed halfway, choose  -> [ <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/wTfaW.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/wTfaW.png" alt="Camera icon"></a> ] tab -> [Safety MF] ->[Off].</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-13T03:12:20.557Z
I had previously set it that way...yet the auto-focusing happens...
deostroll
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-13T03:25:20.473Z
I see. It's really tough to say, and while a few reviews on the internet also indicate the problem you're having, the specs do claim control over manual focus. This shouldn't matter, but have you tried the non-automatic shooting modes (aperture-priority, shutter-priority, and manual)? Perhaps the camera is taking too many liberties on its own if you're in auto or P mode.
Geoff Ball
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-12T22:28:03.973Z
2017-01-12T22:28:03.973Z
Geoff Ball
<p>The workaround I used with a camera that had similar "functionality" was to use a sheet of paper with a grid on it (that I could easily remove in post) and this gave the camera enough to focus on.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-07T10:02:56.763Z
2018-07-07T10:02:56.763Z
Dr Mayhem
<p>I am trying to take video for a time lapse of stuff I write on white paper. Issue is that when the paper is blank, it looses its focus automatically. Unitl something or some writing/drawing/object is put on the paper the focus will wander off. </p>

<p>All this happens even when my camera is in manual mode.</p>

<p>Here is a sample:</p>

<p><div class="youtube-embed"><div>
                <iframe width="640px" height="395px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QqyjdMVa7g4?start=0"></iframe>
            </div></div></p>

<p>First I want to understand why it happens, and, how to avoid it. I own a <a href="http://www.amazon.in/Canon-Powershot-SX520-Optical-Powerbank/dp/B00M0QVTOS" rel="nofollow noreferrer">canon powershot sx 520 hs</a></p>

<video><canon><focus>
why is the camera auto-focusing inspite of being in manual mode?
deostroll
# why is the camera auto-focusing inspite of being in manual mode?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-01-12)

I am trying to take video for a time lapse of stuff I write on white paper. Issue is that when the paper is blank, it looses its focus automatically. Unitl something or some writing/drawing/object is put on the paper the focus will wander off.

All this happens even when my camera is in manual mode.

Here is a sample:

First I want to understand why it happens, and, how to avoid it. I own a [canon powershot sx 520 hs](http://www.amazon.in/Canon-Powershot-SX520-Optical-Powerbank/dp/B00M0QVTOS)

**Tags:** video, canon, focus


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-01-12. Score: 1

It looks like by default, that camera fine-tunes the focus (even in manual focus).

From the [Canon support page](http://support-asia.canon-asia.com/contents/ASIA/EN/8202125600.html): To deactivate automatic focus fine-tuning when the shutter button is pressed halfway, choose -> [ [![Camera icon](https://i.sstatic.net/wTfaW.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/wTfaW.png) ] tab -> [Safety MF] ->[Off].

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I had previously set it that way...yet the auto-focusing happens...  
> **username_1**: I see. It's really tough to say, and while a few reviews on the internet also indicate the problem you're having, the specs do claim control over manual focus. This shouldn't matter, but have you tried the non-automatic shooting modes (aperture-priority, shutter-priority, and manual)? Perhaps the camera is taking too many liberties on its own if you're in auto or P mode.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2018-07-07. Score: 0

The workaround I used with a camera that had similar "functionality" was to use a sheet of paper with a grid on it (that I could easily remove in post) and this gave the camera enough to focus on.


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