There are two ways to control focus settings of a camera. First, it can be done in the Capture Properties dialog. However, for some cameras more options (specifically manual focus) may be available in the Advanced Settings dialog.

Camera focus can be set one camera at a time, for the camera whose window is currently active. To open the dialog, select “Camera|Advanced Settings...” or click the toolbar button. Then select tab Focus Adjustment.

Not all cameras support this. Specifically, Canon cameras cannot use manual focus. However, many of them have Focus Lock feature that can be used from Capture Properties dialog.

The best thing you can do is use auto focus or macro mode. This works very well, even when copying slides. If you really want to set the focus manually, select Manual Focus and move the slider to the desired position. Focus range depends on the type of camera. These are arbitrary units that have no special meaning, except that 1-120 corresponds to the macro focus and 121-240 to the normal focus. Watch the LCD or Preview window to select the best focus.

Unfortunately, the image on the LCD or the Preview is not magnified when adjusting focus from the computer, the way it is when using manual focus controls on the camera. However, you can use the Digital Zoom control at the bottom of the dialog to enlarge the picture on the LCD and achieve almost the same result. This digital zoom is reset when the Advanced Settings dialog is closed. The preview image cannot be magnified in this way.

When you think the slider is in the right position, you can take a test picture by pressing the Take Picture(s) button. Two pictures will appear in the Cam2Com view area: the whole picture shown with zoom ¼, and a 100x100 pixels thumbnail shown in full size. You may change focus and take another test picture. Then another 100x100 sample will appear, and so on. After taking enough samples, press the OK button to close the dialog. 

If you wish, you can specify a number of test pictures to take automatically and step in the focus units between them, then press the Take Picture(s) button. After all pictures are taken, the dialog closes automatically.

Now you can drag the rectangle in the center of the big picture to the desired area (normally one with many fine details) and compare samples above it. Double-click on the best sample to take a picture with that focus setting. In the  normal JPEG mode the picture may not actually be taken: the focus sample is reused instead.

If you wish to save all focusing pictures, right-click within that camera window while the focusing pictures are displayed. In the popup menu select Save All Focusing Images, then choose a folder (you may also create one). The images are saved with the file names consisting of a counter and the actual focus setting for that picture, like 001_Auto.JPG or 002_F25.JPG, etc.

NOTE: All focusing images are always JPEG's of the resolution normal for the camera used.

Auto Focus Sets Auto Focus mode

Auto Focus Macro Mode Sets Auto Focus Macro Mode

Manual Focus Sets Manual focus mode. Use slider below to set the actual focus.

Focus Slider Only available in Manual mode. Sets the actual focus position in the camera. 1-120 is Macro focus, 121-240 is normal focus. Super Macro is not supported, but if the camera is set to it before connecting to the computer, Super Macro can be used.

Number of samples to take Number of focusing samples to take.

Step between samples Number of focus units that the focus position in the camera is changed when taking multiple focus samples.

Digital zoom You can use digital zoom to enlarge the picture on the camera LCD to make manual focusing easier.

OK Click to keep the current focus mode and position (for Manual Focus)

Cancel Click to cancel the dialog and restore previous settings on the camera

Take Picture(s) Click to take test picture. If Manual Focus selected, Cam2Com takes number of pictures selected in the Number of samples, incrementing focus position by Step between samples for every new picture.