Is it just me that only ever uses center point focus?!

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Matt.

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I only ever use center point focus. Is it just me that does this, or are others the same? :D I hear a lot about 19 point focus, or 45 point focus, etc... but it all seems irrelevant to me and what i do!
 
If i'm shooting military aircraft and want some space infront of the plane then i will lock the focus point to the left in frame if it's coming from the left.
Otherwise allowing me on 'S' i can recompose so yes mainly centre.
 
Initially I thought I was probably in the middle point club but a quick check in ViewNX2 shows that I use a spread of focus points. A little over 50% of the shots I've taken so far this year have used the top centre spot (focussed on the subjects head) and 30% using either the left or right spots for moving subjects (bikes/cars/etc).
 
i always use centre point too. Always. And yet when i was flicking through the custom settings the other day i have extended focus points enabled :bonk: Like i really need it :D
 
Centre Point for me too and manual rather than AF :thumbs:


Les :cool:
 
Back button focus and centre point most of the time. I do change the focus point occasionally, but rarely, if ever, activate all the points.

I've heard that there can be some advantages to this in certain circumstances, but my 30D only has nine and I've never used a camera with 19, 45 or more. I grew up with manual SLRs and MF and I'm still comfortable with it on my F2 and FM, but my eyes are struggling with it in a crop VF now.
 
I generally use centre point. Less bother to focus and recompose than it is to fiddle about moving the focus point.

I often find it easier (if sometimes less accurate) to use MF when I want to be more creative with focussing effects.
 
Normal stuff for me is centre point. I use lower point for track shots as it puts the car on the lower third.
Once you get past the standard 9 or so focus points and start getting more then more can be used to assist, i.e they are grouped, so instead of hitting the one point you have a larger selection to get critical focus.
 
mostly for me too, especially if I'm just pottering about with the camera
 
I use selected focus point all the time for macro, landscapes, portraits, and expanded centre point only for birds/wildlife/moving subjects,
 
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I only ever use a single focus point but, if I have time to, I move it to where I want the focus. If I don't have time I'll focus and recompose with the centre point but I find moving the focus point works better for me when using large aperture lenses.
 
Expanded assist focus points around centre focus point for birds.

Landscapes I tend to select depending on the composition when locked on a tripod.
 
I always focus using the centre point on my SLRs as the split prism doesn't work otherwise ;)
 
Centre for me - and I'm eagerly awaiting a split prism screen from Canon for the 5DMkII. The auto focus just don't do it for me:thumbsdown:
 
no i think i actually use the top right most on my 5d, I would say centre might even be one of the least common points i use, but i'm usually shooting at 1.4 and focus recompose can be deadly at that dof
 
Centre point for me to. Focus on face then recompose shot :)
 
Almost always centre point for me then tweak it if the lens allows me to and I feel it necessary.
 
I only use the centre point on my DSLR camera mainly because it only has the one point.
 
joescrivens said:
no i think i actually use the top right most on my 5d, I would say centre might even be one of the least common points i use, but i'm usually shooting at 1.4 and focus recompose can be deadly at that dof
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Your right there Joe :thumbs:

Surely centre point focus for everything is wrong really, thats why we have other points so wonder why people aren't using them :thinking: strange

say shooting a landscape the focus point should be either a 1/3rd or 2/3rds in not centre and left or right

shooting a portrait you want the focus on the nearest eye, wont centre say just be on a nose or somewhere, unless your using recompose which Joe has mentioned above is deadly at wide open apertures, maybe people are cropping a lot
 
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i used to, but now i find mysef using selectable more, i dont like it when the camera picks its own - im looking at you, gf2 - as it doesnt pick what i want
 
I suppose it is what you are used to and pre-AF film SLRs had a split image right in the centre of the screen so you focussed and recomposed.

I often smile when people talk about micro DOF at wide apertures and how focus and recompose can't work. What do you think we all did before multi point AF became available, or do you all think that large aperture lenses are only a recent thing?
 
Just Dave said:
Your right there Joe :thumbs:

Surely centre point focus for everything is wrong really, thats why we have other points so wonder why people aren't using them :thinking: strange

say shooting a landscape the focus point should be either a 1/3rd or 2/3rds in not centre and left or right

shooting a portrait you want the focus on the nearest eye, wont centre say just be on a nose or somewhere, unless your using recompose which Joe has mentioned above is deadly at wide open apertures, maybe people are cropping a lot
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I suppose the obvious thing to say is that it depends on what you are doing. There's no set rules.
Generally I use centre point and recompose if if a static shot, but as mentioned before I'm perfectly willing to move the points around as required. I'm also very happy to use manual focus at time, sometimes with live view and 10X zoom for critical focus.
 
Whilst I am not bemoaning the use of outer points (if you've got it, flaunt it), it is not such as big an issue as many people make out.

Good pictures were made/taken long before multi AF became the norm and many will be made using focus and recompose in the future.

There are advantages to using multi points for particular types of photography such as sports and wildlife but do not see that many advantages for normal portraiture, wedding, still life, landscape styles, but that is just my opinion and that will be completely different for others.
 
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Usually centre point and back button AF for me too.
 
EdBray said:
Whilst I am not bemoaning the use of outer points (if you've got it, flaunt it), it is not such as big an issue as many people make out.

Good pictures were made/taken long before multi AF became the norm and many will be made using focus and recompose in the future.
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Yeah i agree but the OP was asking about AF points

Byker28i said:
I'm also very happy to use manual focus at time, sometimes with live view and 10X zoom for critical focus.
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I also use manual focus quite a lot
 
EdBray said:
I suppose it is what you are used to and pre-AF film SLRs had a split image right in the centre of the screen so you focussed and recomposed.

I often smile when people talk about micro DOF at wide apertures and how focus and recompose can't work. What do you think we all did before multi point AF became available, or do you all think that large aperture lenses are only a recent thing?
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That's all well and good if you've grown up with cameras that only had one af point and have had lots or practice at the technique but when you are me and have known nothing but outer points and using av servo, I find it impossible to use back button focus on servo using centre focus and recompose at 1.4 when I am tracking my rapidly moving 2 year old daughter

I'm a product of the features :thumbs:
 
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Mine's been on centre point focus since I bought the camera 5 years ago.

Like Ed stated, that is all we have on film SLR's which I still use.


John:)
 
Just Dave said:
I use back button all the time with no problems

I know this maybe teach gran to suck eggs Manual AF Point Selection http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/galleries/galleries/tutorials/eos_7d_tutorials.shtml combined with back button AI servo
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Yup, but last time I checked, you and me were different people :lol:

I find I have to have the focus point always on my daughters eyes on servo constantly tracking, as soon as I let go and recompose, she's moved and since the centre focus point is never on her eye compositionally it rarely ever gets used
 
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