Fixed focus
Also known as: focus-free, hyperfocal focus
A lens set permanently at one focus distance, as on most action cameras. Thanks to the wide lens, everything from close range to infinity looks sharp.
Updated
What it means
Most action cameras have no focusing motor at all. The lens is fixed at a distance chosen so that, combined with the wide angle and small sensor, the depth of field covers almost everything from roughly half a meter to the horizon. This is sometimes called hyperfocal focusing.
The benefit is huge for action. There is no focus hunting, no blurry frames while a motor catches up, and nothing to break in a crash. The camera is ready the moment it starts recording, whether you are on a helmet, a board or underwater.
The limit is close range: very near subjects fall in front of the sharp zone.
How it works in practice
Keep important subjects beyond the minimum sharp distance, which varies by model but is often around 30 to 50 centimeters. A handlebar-mounted camera filming the rider, a selfie at arm length or a board mount pointing back at the surfer usually works fine.
For close-up details, such as a watch, a fish or the label on a ski, an action camera is not the right tool. A phone with macro mode or a camera with autofocus handles these shots, and they make good insert shots in the edit.
Some newer action cameras and pocket gimbals add autofocus for vlogging, but the classic action camera stays fixed.
What to watch out for
Water drops, fog and smudges on the lens cover are always in front of the sharp zone, so they appear as soft blobs rather than sharp detail. Keep the lens clean, since no focus setting can fix that.
Digital zoom or a narrow lens mode does not change focus, but it magnifies any softness. A close subject that looked acceptable in wide mode may look soft when you punch in or reframe.
Lens mods and add-on filters must be clean and properly seated, otherwise they shift the focus plane slightly and make the whole image soft. If footage suddenly looks blurry after fitting a cover or filter, refit it.
How RawClip handles it
Fixed-focus action footage is ideal for RawClip, since nearly every frame is sharp from start to finish. Upload the clips from your ride, and the AI picks the strongest moments for your highlight.