I often wonder why for still life, landscape or any subject that does not move it is deemed necessary to use autofocus.

Manual focus on the subject, use the DoF preview to ensure all the subject is in focus and voila. No need to keep the shutter button depressed or ensuring the correct focus point is covering the part of the subject that is required to be sharp.

Quite often technology can complicate things

Steve

Do you mean manual focus on the lens itself? I've tried that, total blur.

So if that's what you mean, can you help me along?

I'm not so strong in all the technical terms, which is why I ask, as I do

If you don't ask you don't learn.

If you turn to manual focus, on Canon the switch for this is on the lens, Nikon I don't know if it is on the body or lens.

Whichever, switch it to manual and then using the focus ring on the lens, turning it left or right, whilst looking through the viewfinder and you will see the image going in and out of focus.

The DoF button is used, if you wish to, when you have focused on the subject. When depressing it will cause the viewfinder to darken to a degree because the aperture closes down to the set aperture (when focusing the aperture is wide open and closes when the shutter button is pressed). If happy, release the DoF button and take the photo.

Steve

Its also on the lens itself on Nikon lenses. I will give it a try, thanks