Whenever I need to search in Safari, I have to focus on the search bar with the mouse and then type, which I find inconvenient.
What is the shortcut for Mac OS X (Lion) Safari to focus on the search input?
The shortcut to access the search box is ⌘ + ⌥ + F.
You can also focus the address bar with ⌘ + L and press Tab.
Cmd-F
is different functionality.
If you're not satisfied with a three-button shortcut and prefer something else, open System Preferences, select Keyboard, select Keyboard Shortcuts tab and in Application Shortcuts create a new shortcut:
Close the preferences and enjoy your new shortcut.