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How can you lock the auto-focus lock?

17 points · submitted Jan 2023 by u/Ark42 · Pixel 7 · archived

I put my phone on a tripod, zoomed into Fuji for the sunset, picked 30x time-lapse video, and long-press the screen to lock the focus in place. After 10 seconds or so of recording, the phone decides something super near by is more important, and totally blurs out the recording for the rest of the time. I've tried over and over again and every time, it inevitably refocuses despite that yellow square with the lock icon being on the screen, which I'm pretty sure is supposed to mean the focus was locked.

8 comments · 95% upvoted · other discussions

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nwnsad 5 points · Jan 2023

I just tested this: 30x time-lapse, recorded for 1min, focus stayed locked on where I long pressed. I even waved my hand in front of the camera. Only difference is I did it handheld and not on a tripod, not sure if that matters.

Sorry, not sure what to suggest here, except the usual: reboot, update camera app, clear cache/data for camera app, factory reset.

Hopefully someone else will have some better suggestions.

Delongpredannon 1 points · Aug 2023

The internet appreciated this post.

expatMichael 3 points · Jan 2023 · Pixel 7 Pro :pixel7prohazel: Pixel 3a

I haven't tested this feature out, but I will check if I can take a time lapse video on Mt. Fuji this weekend.

[deleted] 1 points · Jan 2023

isn't it the same as astro mode where you set the focus to infinite?

brek07 1 points · Oct 2023

You're lucky you even got the lock focus. I can't figure it out. I did a comparison of mine and my mom's phone, both got the latest updates, same settings, absolutely 100% the same.... and hers has the yellow lock when you long press the screen. I've already done the clear storage on the camera app, restarted my phone, and uninstalled the update already 2 times this morning trying to figure this out.

gianlucab81 1 points · Nov 2023

Did you solve the issue? I don't have the option in p8p.. https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/s/rDtHao9G8k

davidmarks 1 points · Oct 2023

If you hold an area on the image/timelapse preview it will add a yellow padlock to that area with AF lock. Click it again to turn if back off.
(At least this is the case on Pixel 7 pro with android 14)

Ark42 [OP] 1 points · Oct 2023 · All the odd-numbered ones

Yes, the UI does appear like that, as I said in the original post "long-press the screen to lock the focus", but it does not actually work, despite the padlock icon appearing. It may keep it locked for a minute or two, but during a long time-lapse it will eventually decide to unlock itself for no reason.