Why use single-point focus in AF-C mode?

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insomniac

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Apols in advance if this is a silly question (and for the use of Nikon nomenclature).

I don't shoot sports or (much) wildlife so I'm invariably using AF-S (single servo) mode with single-point (area) focus. However, if I'm shooting a moving target in AF-C (continuous) mode, then wouldn't I always want to shoot with the dynamic area focus? Or are there any distinct advantages to single-point focus?

Thank you.
 
The centre focus point is usually the fastest and most accurate.
 
The advantage is in framing the shot how you want it in order to utilise as much of the resolution of your sensor as possible.
 
with wildlife your close to you want to focus on the eye ,with sport usually the head area ,if you use dynamic area it will choose the point nearest to you to focus on .sometimes its needed though i.e fast birds in flight where you might miss entirely on single point or high speed burst modes to give the a/f a sporting chance.
best bet is learn to use all aspects then the choice is yours not the cameras
 
Thanks for the replies. Not sure I understand why single-point would utilise more resolution than dynamic area?
 
insomniac said:
Thanks for the replies. Not sure I understand why single-point would utilise more resolution than dynamic area?
Click to expand...

You misunderstand me. I am saying that using a single point on one of the thirds or where you might want to place the bird in the frame will lessen the need to crop thus utilising as much of your resolution as possible. :)
 
Ahh, I see. I did indeed misunderstand you. The reason I ask is that I almost always use AF-S with single-point focus. However, I spent a couple of weeks in Africa recently, where I was using AF-C also with single-point.

I am very happy with the results, but I was just wondering aloud whether I'd have been better coupling AF-C with dynamic area AF. Most of my subjects were large animals and not many birds-in-flight situations.

Thanks.
 
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