1Ds which is the best way to use the 45 points??

[Shekinah]

I was just wondering if someone with a Canon 1Ds can please tell me, is it better to use the one centre focus light or is this camera better to be used in a different setting using more focusing points??? Can some one please tell me what the difference is??? All help would be much appreciated.

[Lord_Malone]

Even with the 45 AF points, I use the centre point for 90% of my shots. 45 AF points works best for me during extreme fast action shots.

[Shekinah]

Even with the 45 AF points, I use the centre point for 90% of my shots. 45 AF points works best for me during extreme fast action shots.

Thanks for that, I was not sure if you should be using the other 45 points, I only use the centre one all the time.

[BigBlueDodge]

Exactly why is that? Doesn't it seem to be a waste not to use the 45 AF point? I thought the 1D would allow you to use the center cluster as well. Why not use those? The 45 AF is one of the main sellers of the 1D cameras, and I'm curious why people don't use them. (Lord this is not directed to you, because I've read of alot of 1D owners make your same comment)

[subtle_spectre]

The darn camera has so many points and sensors and dials and widgets and settings and functions it's silly. You can have 45 points, 11 points, nine points, expanded points, etc.

It does have some deal, I forget what it's called, where you use the centre point but it "expands" and compares to acheive focus. That's what I use.

[jmagic]

i think the 45AF is meant for like press. you just stick the camera up, and hit the button and get 8fps (or whatever it is), and hope to get a good shot. with time to compose, i think it is best to focus on exactly what you want with the center focus, and recompose.

[Shekinah]

Exactly why is that? Doesn't it seem to be a waste not to use the 45 AF point? I thought the 1D would allow you to use the center cluster as well. Why not use those? The 45 AF is one of the main sellers of the 1D cameras, and I'm curious why people don't use them. (Lord this is not directed to you, because I've read of alot of 1D owners make your same comment)

Don't shoot me down, I am truly only an amerture and don't have a clue how to use them.

[Dans_D60]

Hello Sharon:

It’s a personal thing. The more focus points does make it easier and faster to capture subjects in motion that the Canon system is famous and respected by many sports photographer professionals. Our studio specializes in weddings and classic portraiture and again, I use both methods. During weddings I will let all 45 points do their thing if I’m capturing general images and the subjects are in motion. I’ll use one (or maybe two) focus point if we have the subjects posed or I’m looking for an effect such as very short depth of field and want to focus on a single point like the eye of the bride. Same technique in the studio. Posed I typically use one point and with kids that roam I’ll go back to 45 and let the camera find the best. As far as center vs. other in single point mode … I found very little difference in accuracy with the 1D series and will select the best point to frame the image without having to move the camera to find the spot. We have both 1Ds MK IIs and ID MK IIs and offer the same technique for both camera bodies.

Dan

[Lord_Malone]

(Lord this is not directed to you, because I've read of alot of 1D owners make your same comment)

No problem. ;)

[Dante King]

well, when I am shooting people, I load my settings for 11AF points with the spot metering to be using the active FP not the center point and the expansion of the points around the selected AFP to assist. I am not in front of my camera, think it is custom functions 14 and 17. I prefer spot metering on model shoots. these settings make focus and metering real accurate.

when I want to shoot and select from 45 FPs I upload the setting from that CF. I love the save and load settings ability of these models.

[Double Negative]

Depends wholly on what you're shooting.

For tracking birds, I prefer to use the center point with the 7 surrounding points enabled in AI Servo mode. When shooting still scenes I sometimes enable all 45 points but often use just the center point so I can be totally sure about what's getting focus.

The more focus points you use, the more likely the camera can pick up your subject. This works best for subjects against a quiet background - sports for example.

It's a personal thing, and like I said - depends on what you're shooting. You can do a lot of other things like enabling spot metering based on focus point, enable more focus points around your selected one as a "movement buffer" or if it's in low light, etc. You can also select a single point and not have to recompose your shot... Good for portraits and avoiding FLR. Using the home button, you can quickly switch between different points.

Having that many focus points allows for a great deal of flexibility.

[lakiluno]

Don't shoot me down, I am truly only an amerture and don't have a clue how to use them.

an amateur with a lot of money it seems....

1Ds MkII - Canon's most expensive camera

200 f/1.8 - Canon's sharpest and fastest long range telephoto lens

you don't happen to have some spare cash for a poor 15 year old with only 1 AF lens and no money until July? (the AF lens I have is the kit lens :()

I wish I had a walkaround lens with AF :( (hint hint Sigma 17-70 I'll PM you my address hint hint)


:D

[Shekinah]

Depends wholly on what you're shooting.

For tracking birds, I prefer to use the center point with the 7 surrounding points enabled in AI Servo mode. When shooting still scenes I sometimes enable all 45 points but often use just the center point so I can be totally sure about what's getting focus.

The more focus points you use, the more likely the camera can pick up your subject. This works best for subjects against a quiet background - sports for example.

It's a personal thing, and like I said - depends on what you're shooting. You can do a lot of other things like enabling spot metering based on focus point, enable more focus points around your selected one as a "movement buffer" or if it's in low light, etc. You can also select a single point and not have to recompose your shot... Good for portraits and avoiding FLR. Using the home button, you can quickly switch between different points.

Having that many focus points allows for a great deal of flexibility.

I am mainly shooting my cats, my kittens, my sons soccer and my kids of which I have 5, so all can be moving objects, at the moment I use the centre point but maybe I should experiment more trying the different points.

[Lord_Malone]

Exactly why is that? Doesn't it seem to be a waste not to use the 45 AF point? I thought the 1D would allow you to use the center cluster as well. Why not use those? The 45 AF is one of the main sellers of the 1D cameras, and I'm curious why people don't use them. (Lord this is not directed to you, because I've read of alot of 1D owners make your same comment)

I wouldn't consider it a "waste" perse, I was used to shooting with the centre AF point when I had the 20D and 5D and I do it more out of habit than anything else. Don't get me wrong, the 45 point AF is a real treat and one of the reasons why I moved up to the 1D in the first place. Keep in mind that I've only had the camera for a few weeks and haven't had ample opportunity to go out and really exploit all of its capabilities and limitations. But for the majority of the shots that I have been taking, the centre AF point proved more than adequate. So far, I have used or experimented using off centre focus points, the center point with the surrounding points enabled, centre cluster and even enabled all 45 points to become active when shooting kids moving at hyper-sonic-kid-speed when photographing a birthday party recently. I do plan to take full advantage of this capability the more I use the camera. But time and opportunity must be afforded to me before I can do that. Until then, I stand by my statement and say that the majority of my shots, which aren't very many considering the amount of time I've had this camera, have been taken using the centre AF point. ;)

[chrishunt]

I always use a single focus point, but not always the center. I'm trying more and more to use off-center focus points to get my composition the way I want it in-camera. 45 AF points is not the reason I bought the 1d anyway, I did it primarily for the faster AF, weather sealing, and 8fps.

[GyRob]

You would think that having 45 points working would be great however i have found it almost useless as you never know what point is being used in A1 servo so say for birds in flight it may pick a wing tip making the head oof i would rather pick the point i want mostly centre with exspantion to 7.
Rob.

[Jon]

I usually use a single focus point (of 9 with the 20D or 5D), but not always the center one. I'll shift the point to the one most appropriate for my subject. For dog portraits this is frequently the left or right mid-point on the upper sides of the diamond.

[KennyG]

The 45 AF is one of the main sellers of the 1D cameras, and I'm curious why people don't use them.

Two reasons - In situations where there is a moving subject and a busy backround it is the most innacurate AF mode. It is also the slowest AF mode.