How do you focus?

jryans10

jryans10

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John
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Hi all,

I'm just wondering: what method do you use when focusing?

I've noticed that a lot of the times the camera guesses wrong and focuses on the wrong thing, so I was considering if maybe using the centre point as the focus lock would work then recompose after locking focus? Or is there a better way?

Thanks
John.
 
I use the single AF points in the VF - over time it becomes second nature to switch them as you shoot without taking your eye from the VF
 
Hi guys,

Thanks for your replies -> I just left it as default where it just selects the focus point/s itself without me having to put anything in.

It normally works but I found that as I'm now trying to use the rule of thirds, it often doesn't focus on the subject some times.

Thanks.
 
jryans10 said:
I just left it as default where it just selects the focus point/s itself without me having to put anything in.
Click to expand...

That's where you are going wrong. Manually choose the focus point you want and things will go more smoothly.
 
jryans10 said:
I just left it as default where it just selects the focus point/s itself without me having to put anything in.
Click to expand...

That'll be the problem! A better way would be to either have manual control of the focus points and select the one nearest what you want to focus on or just use the centre spot and recompose. Both methods should work much, much better than leaving the camera to guess. :)
 
Thanks guys - will manually select 1 focus point from now on.
 
Back button focus, and usually the centre point.
 
nickjohnwatson said:
I always use centre point and recompose, although apparently for planes at air shows its best to use all focus points and let camera decide as there's nothing else that it can focus on in the sky if that makes sense
Click to expand...

This doesn't work at low f-numbers.
 
Whatever is most appropriate

jryans10 said:
... I just left it as default where it just selects the focus point/s itself without me having to put anything in.
Click to expand...

But that ^ is never appropriate.

Generally, Back button focus single AF point which I select. Sometimes one shot, sometimes continuous.

For motorsport on the 7d I use the groups of focus points.

For critical jobs I might use live view manual focus zoomed in.
 
Centre point focus and recompose, unless I'm shooting on a tripod in which case I just manually select an AF point.
 
It all depends what I'm shooting.

Landscapes or still life I will focus manually with live view.

Portraits I use AF with a single point, but will move the point to the correct place to avoid parallax error.

Anything moving, AF, multi point continuous.

There is no one way.
 
The only time I really MF is for macro [or the occasional HD video]. It's always better for it, once you get the hang of it. I think the AF is bang on enough on most modern dslrs nowadays for most other types of shooting.
 
All those using centre and recompose - I'm assuming you notice a difference between that and just using one of the outer AF points?
 
centre point for birdies and stuff, switch to multi point for mixed scenes and and some film shots.
with film also hold and recompose.
 
jryans10 said:
...I'm just wondering: what method do you use when focusing?

I've noticed that a lot of the times the camera guesses wrong and focuses on the wrong thing..
Click to expand...

jryans10 said:
...I just left it as default where it just selects the focus point/s itself without me having to put anything in...
Click to expand...
Your camera is working fine.
It's doing exactly what you told it to do - and that is to focus on whatever it wants to.
This is usually the area with the most contrast, or whatever is closest to the camera.
By leaving it to select it's own focus point, you have basically said to the camera "Well, you're smarter than I am. Focus on whatever you like and I'll be happy with that."

If you want it to focus on something specific, you need to tell the camera where you want it to focus.
 
Centre point, focus and recompose 90% of the time.
10% of the time when shooting large aperture I will move the focus point.


Number45 said:
All those using centre and recompose - I'm assuming you notice a difference between that and just using one of the outer AF points?
Click to expand...

The difference is that a slight flick of camera is much faster than selecting the focus point.
 
wuyanxu said:
The difference is that a slight flick of camera is much faster than selecting the focus point.
Click to expand...

I think that if you use the centre point and recompose either with a wide angle at most apertures, or a standardish lens at wide apertures, your subject will not be in the same plane of focus and your image may not be as sharp as you expect.

It will be fine at f11+, but try an experiment - set your lens at 70mm, f2.8. subject fairly close at the edge of the frame, and use the centre focus point to focus, then recompose and take the shot.

Then move the focus point so that is sits over the subject with the picture already composed, focus again and take the second shot.

Now look at them together and you should see a big difference. It is even more pronounced if you use an f1.8 or F 1.2 lens wide open.

hth.
 
70mm f2.8 is quite extreme, f2.8 is quite a large aperture.

I'm thinking more along lines of <50mm f4, 50mm-100mm f5.6, and up to 200mm f8 or smaller aperture.

I understand what you are saying, hence the 10% other times in the 2nd line of my post :)
 
Romany said:
I switch to differgent focussing depending on what Im doing, I use 3D tracking a lot of the time now, once you get used to it its great
Click to expand...

I had always used single point with back button, but tried 3D tracking a couple of weeks ago and have not changed back yet. Rather impressed with it.
 
wuyanxu said:
Centre point, focus and recompose 90% of the time.
10% of the time when shooting large aperture I will move the focus point. The difference is that a slight flick of camera is much faster than selecting the focus point.
Click to expand...

Exactly the same for me.
 
Centre focus point (it's generally the fastest and most accurate) and recompose or manual when doing Macro (actually, I tend to set the ratio rather than focus point then move the camera back and forth. Trying to get in the habit of using zoomed in live view now it's so easy to get there with the D800.
 
Interesting thread!

I generally tend to switch the AF point and use that for most shots.

For wildlife I tend to use the centre-point with continuous AF - but having read this thread I may switch!

I've never thought of using the back-button for focusing - what would be the benefit of doing so?
 
I use centre point and back-button focusing. Focus and recompose. For aircraft stuff I keep my finger on the back focus button so that it is continuously focusing on the centre point (usually the cockpit on top side shots).
 
Been using the Canon 10D since it first came out and just now treated myself to the 7D first time I ever come across the term BBF was on this forum. Up until now its been a case of Focus, recompose, refocus expletives rinse and repeat. Who said you cant teach an old dog new tricks. :)
 
Mr_Kitten said:
Interesting thread!

I generally tend to switch the AF point and use that for most shots.

For wildlife I tend to use the centre-point with continuous AF - but having read this thread I may switch!

I've never thought of using the back-button for focusing - what would be the benefit of doing so?
Click to expand...

It means you can tap the back button to bring something into focus, hold it for continuous focus or ignore it and focus manually without messing around with switches/settings and without having to stop taking photos. Very handy for wildlife when you can never know if they're going to hold still or move around and there's often undergrowth in the way that can confuse the autofocus.

I use back button focusing all the time. Usually on the centre point where I'll focus and recompose for still subjects or try and keep faster moving subjects in the centre of the frame so I can crop to the composition I want later. Slower moving subjects I'll move the focus point to try and get the composition I want in camera.
 
Back button controlled centre point continuous AF or Manually depending on lens.
 
With my DSLR it's centre point the vast majority of the time.

With my G1 it's manually the vast majority of the time.
 
DaveNewcastle said:
It means you can tap the back button to bring something into focus, hold it for continuous focus or ignore it and focus manually without messing around with switches/settings and without having to stop taking photos. <snip>
Click to expand...

Thanks Dave - I hadn't really considered all of that.

I'll have to find some time to play around with this... This working marlarkey really gets in the way of my photography!
 
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