Camera operators should consistently check that their shot is in Focus. When a camera is focused, it shows the sharpest image possible. When a camera is out of focus, the image will be blurry. If a shot is out of focus, there isn’t a way to fix it during the editing process. And a blurry shot can distract your viewers from what the subject is saying.

How to focus your camera will be dependent on the type of camera you are using for your production. Some professional broadcast cameras require zooming in on a person’s face, focusing the image, and zooming back out. Newer digital cameras, like the DSLR, have focus boxes that allow you to punch into your subject to check focus while keeping your frame in the same spot.

Most cameras, nowadays, have an autofocus feature that does a pretty good job keeping everything in focus. Still, one small move by your subject and your camera might consider something else in the distance, the focal point in the frame. So it is still important to consistently check that your shot is in focus manually.