You can switch between automatic and manual focus, fine-tune the focus position with a dial or keyboard shortcuts, trigger a one-time autofocus, and configure advanced autofocus behaviors like face detection and subject tracking.
The exact controls available depend on your camera model. Some cameras offer a simple Auto/Manual toggle, while others expose a full suite of advanced options.
What You'll Need
A camera added to your room that's connected and online.
The camera must support focus control (most PTZ cameras do). Iris automatically detects your camera's focus capabilities.
Control permissions — You need an Admin or Producer role. Viewers can't access focus controls.
Focus Modes
In the Controls panel on the right side of the room view, find the Focus section. Look for the Focus Mode dropdown. Most cameras offer at least:
Auto — The camera continuously adjusts focus on its own. This is the default for most cameras.
Manual — You take full control of the focus position using the Focus Value dial or keyboard shortcuts.
Some cameras also offer:
One Push — The camera stays at a fixed focus until you manually trigger an autofocus action.
Select the mode you want. The other controls in the Focus section update to show only what's relevant to your chosen mode.
Manual Focus Controls
When Focus Mode is set to Manual, additional controls appear:
Focus Value — A dial that lets you adjust the focus position. Turn it to move focus nearer or farther.
AF Trigger — A button that performs a one-time autofocus. The camera focuses once on whatever is in the focus area, then holds that position. This is useful for quickly locking focus on a subject before fine-tuning manually.
Focus Speed / MF Speed — Controls how fast the focus motor moves when you adjust manually. Options vary by camera (e.g., Low / Normal / High, or a slider).
Keyboard Shortcuts for Focus
You can adjust focus entirely from the keyboard:
Action | Default Shortcut |
Focus Near | [ (left bracket) |
Focus Far | ] (right bracket) |
One-Push Focus | Ctrl + F / Cmd + F |
Toggle Focus Mode | Alt + F / Option + F |
Hold the Focus Near or Far key to continuously move focus in that direction. The camera keeps adjusting as long as you hold the key — release to stop.
All shortcuts are customizable in Settings > Hot Keys under the "Camera Controls" category.
A couple of safety behaviors worth knowing:
If you press both Focus Near and Focus Far at the same time, they cancel each other out and focus movement stops.
If you switch away from the Iris window (Alt-Tab, switch tabs, etc.) while holding a focus key, focus movement automatically stops. This prevents the camera from drifting uncontrolled when you're not watching.
If you navigate away from the room, all focus operations stop automatically.
Auto Focus Settings
When Focus Mode is set to Auto, you may see additional settings depending on your camera model:
AF Speed — How quickly the autofocus responds (e.g., Normal / Fast).
AF Sensitivity — How sensitive the autofocus is to changes in the scene (e.g., High / Mid / Low).
AF Zone — Which area of the frame the camera prioritizes for focus (e.g., Top / Center / Back / Front).
AF Face Detection — Detects and focuses on faces. Options may include Off, Face Only, or Face Catch.
AF Eye Detection — Focuses at eye level for sharper portraits.
AF Face Detection AE — Adjusts exposure automatically when a face is detected, keeping faces well-lit.
Tracking — Enables subject tracking so the camera follows a moving subject's focus.
AF Mode — Selects between Continuous and Boosted autofocus behavior (on supported cameras).
Not all cameras support all of these. Iris shows only what your specific model offers.
Advanced Focus Settings
Some cameras expose additional focus options:
Focus Limit — Restricts the focus range to prevent the camera from focusing on objects too close or too far. On some cameras this is a simple on/off toggle; on others you can set specific nearest and furthest distances (e.g., 1 meter to Infinite).
Lock Focus — Locks the current focus position so it can't change, even in autofocus mode.
AF PTZ Assist — In Manual mode, the camera briefly engages autofocus during pan/tilt/zoom movements, then returns to manual focus when movement stops. Keeps things sharp during repositioning without giving up manual control.
Preset AF — Automatically adjusts focus when recalling a saved Position Preset.
Smart AF — An intelligent autofocus mode that adapts to the scene.
Continuous AF — Keeps autofocus continuously active.
Next Subject / Previous Subject — Buttons that cycle focus between detected subjects in the frame (available on some Canon cameras).
Tips and Best Practices
Select the correct camera driver. The right brand and model ensures all of your camera's focus features are available. A generic or incorrect driver may hide supported settings.
Use One Push Focus for quick lock-on. In Manual mode, hit the AF Trigger button (or Ctrl/Cmd+F) to quickly autofocus on your subject, then fine-tune manually from there.
Auto for dynamic scenes, Manual for controlled environments. Autofocus is great when subjects are moving unpredictably. Manual is better when you want precise, intentional focus control.
Use AF PTZ Assist if your camera supports it — it gives you the best of both worlds by auto-focusing during camera movements but staying in manual control otherwise.
Customize your keyboard shortcuts. If you're adjusting focus frequently during production, set up shortcuts that are comfortable to reach. Settings > Hot Keys.
What Happens If…
…you switch away from the Iris window while holding a focus key? Focus movement stops automatically. Iris detects when the window loses focus and sends a stop command.
…you press both Focus Near and Focus Far at the same time? They cancel each other out and movement stops.
…your camera doesn't support focus control? The Focus section won't appear in the Controls panel.
…you don't have control permissions? The entire Controls panel (including Focus) is hidden.
…the camera disconnects while you're adjusting focus? Commands fail silently. Reconnect and try again.
…you change Focus Mode while the camera is moving? The camera switches modes. If you go from Manual to Auto, the camera begins autofocusing immediately and overrides any in-progress manual movement.
Troubleshooting
What's happening | Likely cause | What to do |
Focus controls don't appear | Camera doesn't support focus control, or it's not connected | Verify the camera is online and supports focus |
Focus Near/Far shortcuts don't work | Keyboard focus is in a text input field | Click on the video area first, then try the shortcut |
Focus adjustments feel laggy | Network latency between Iris and the camera | Check your connection. Use wired if possible. |
Some focus settings are grayed out or missing | Setting isn't available in the current mode, or camera doesn't support it | Try switching focus modes — some settings only appear in Auto, others only in Manual |
Focus Value dial doesn't appear | Focus Mode is set to Auto | Switch to Manual mode |
AF Trigger button doesn't appear | Focus Mode is set to Auto | Switch to Manual or One Push mode |
FAQs
What's the difference between Auto and Manual focus? Auto = the camera adjusts focus on its own continuously. Manual = you control it yourself with the dial or keyboard.
What does One-Push Focus do? It triggers a single autofocus action — the camera focuses once and then holds that position. Great for quickly locking focus without staying in continuous autofocus.
Can I customize the focus keyboard shortcuts? Yes. Go to Settings > Hot Keys and look for the focus shortcuts under "Camera Controls."
Why do some settings only appear in certain modes? Many focus settings are mode-dependent. AF Sensitivity and AF Zone are only relevant in Auto mode. Focus Value and MF Speed only apply in Manual mode. Iris shows and hides controls based on your current mode.
Does focus work with a gamepad? Yes — focus can be mapped to gamepad controls through Settings > Controllers.
What cameras support focus control? Most PTZ cameras supported by Iris include focus control — Sony, Canon, PTZOptics, Marshall, Lumens, Telycam, BZBGEAR, and others. The specific features depend on the model.
Will focus stop if I close my laptop or the app crashes? If you close the app or switch away, Iris sends a stop command. If the app crashes unexpectedly, the last focus command may continue briefly until the camera's own timeout kicks in.
Can multiple users control focus on the same camera? Technically yes, but it's not recommended. Commands from different users may conflict and cause erratic focus behavior.
Use Cases
Live events — Use Auto focus to keep up with fast-paced action and moving subjects.
Interview setups — Switch to Manual focus and lock onto your subject's position so the camera doesn't hunt during conversation.
Worship services — Use One Push Focus to quickly lock focus when the speaker moves to a new position, then hold steady.
Remote production — Use keyboard shortcuts to adjust focus without needing to interact with the on-screen controls.
Multi-subject panels — On supported Canon cameras, use Next/Previous Subject to cycle focus between detected people in the frame.