AF Point on 20D

[johnlo]

I was wondering do you guys have your AF Point set on Automatic selection or mainly on the Center focus Point?

[aam1234]

Mainly Center focus Point.

[Roach711]

Center point also. It just makes focusing more predictable.

Da Roach

[Leorooster]

Mainly center focus point

[leesc_1998]

Mainly the center focus point after noticing that letting the camera choose usually led to a spot I didn't want to focus on.

[canon2od]

Center point for me too

[jgutierr57]

:cool: Always Center Point and then recompose the image.

[Medic1]

Usually center focus....

[LadyHawk]

Center point only; otherwise the camera is making your focusing decisions.

[GTogs]

Center point only

[johnlo]

thanks for everyone's reply. ya, I have my set on center point as well. What about when you have a photograph groups. Say like a group of 20 people. (like PreSchool kids) or even a huge family?

[Rob612]

Mainly the center focus point after noticing that letting the camera choose usually led to a spot I didn't want to focus on.

Ditto on that, even on the XT, unfortunately I do not have a 20D (yet!)

[xiii]

Usually centre, but I have customised my * button to be the focus button leaving the shutter button for exposure and shooting (C.Fn-04) .

STEVE

[tim]

Never all points. Usually centre point, but if I have the camera sideways taking photos of a person i'll choose the focus point that covers their head, eyes in particular. When you use a narrow DOF focus/recompose throws your focus out.

[Jon, The Elder]

Tim brought up a subtle but important point about re-composing. That is the primary cause for some to complain that "something is wrong with my camera/lens" it is simple, but not always considered in hurried situations.

[tim]

The downside of using non-centre focus points is they're not as sensitive, as only the centre point is a cross type sensor. The 1D Mk 2 has 5 cross type sensors from memory, maybe more. That's the main thing steering me towards the 1 series.

[markubig]

On my 20D, I actually use CFn13-1, which allows you to quickly choose the AF point with the little "joystick". i am always changing my AF points to accommodate my subject's composition. I've been using it so much that's becoming second-nature to me now. It is, however, tough to use this feature when you're using your 20D in the vertical position with the battery grip attached. When I'm holding my camera+grip in the vertical position, my thumb just isn't long enough to reach the "joystick" comfortably. Nonetheless, it's a great feature!

[tim]

Thanks for the tip Mark, I didn't know about CF 13 :) It has bought up something though - the up-right direction on my multi-controller doesn't work properly :( The rest work fine. If it ever goes back to Canon it can be repaired, i'm not sending it off for something so trivial though.

[robertwgross]

What about when you have a photograph groups. Say like a group of 20 people. (like PreSchool kids) or even a huge family?

First of all, I put all of the focus points active and half-press to see which ones the camera likes. Let's say that it likes three and lights those up. I will choose one of those three and make it the sole active focus point, and the choice is made on the basis of which one is most likely to be toward the middle of the depth of field.

In other words, I let the automation give me clues and warnings, and then I pick what I want and use that.

---Bob Gross---

[lancea]

That's what I've found myself doing lately too. Just seems to be something that evolved as I've become more familiar with the camera. I use the wheel to pick the point I want. I find that quicker and more convenient than the joystick.

[markubig]

Thanks for the tip Mark, I didn't know about CF 13 :) It has bought up something though - the up-right direction on my multi-controller doesn't work properly :( The rest work fine. If it ever goes back to Canon it can be repaired, i'm not sending it off for something so trivial though. How is your up-left, bottom-left, and bottom-right? In the beginning, I had difficulty getting those in-betweens, but i've gotten used to the feel of the joystick that I'm getting them very easily now

[BobbyC]

as only the centre point is a cross type sensor.

Just a small note:

You must be using a lense with a maximum aperatue of 2.8 or faster for the center point to work as a cross type sensor.

[Simon Spiers]

99.9% of the time centre.

[tim]

Just a small note:

You must be using a lense with a maximum aperatue of 2.8 or faster for the center point to work as a cross type sensor.

Thanks, good to point that out, I don't buy lenses slower than F2.8 any more :)

[Bob_A]

Thanks for the tip Mark, I didn't know about CF 13 :) It has bought up something though - the up-right direction on my multi-controller doesn't work properly :( The rest work fine. If it ever goes back to Canon it can be repaired, i'm not sending it off for something so trivial though.

I have a similar problem Tim. I can pick up, down and side to side easily ... but it is really inconsistent when targetting any of the AF points in between.


Bob

[Bob_A]

Just a small note:

You must be using a lense with a maximum aperatue of 2.8 or faster for the center point to work as a cross type sensor.

I believe that the center focus point is cross type with all lenses having a maximum aperature larger than f5.6 and is "high precision" cross type for lenses having a maximum aperature of f2.8 or larger. The high precision cross type AF has 3 times the precision of the standard cross-type AF.

For all lenses the other 8 AF points are horizontal-line sensitive or vertical-line sensitive.


Regards,

Bob

[ghocking]

Like most of the replies to this thread, I usually use the centre point as the joystick is a bit fiddly.

Why then when asked what they want on the next camera upgrade do people ask for more AF points.