Which Autofocus Point on XT?

[Jwreich]

Currently I have my XT set to only use the center AF point. My question for those who use AF, what point do you use? I don't want the camera finding something in the center when I want something on the side.

I can always find my focus and then reframe the shot, but for the time being I have found it better to just force the center AF point. Can you all please pass along your thoughts?

I'm asking these questions because I feel I may be having some focus problems, I get TACK sharp images from my Tamron, however I also get some soft ones. I know they are soft because I don't have focus.

All help and suggestions are appreciated.

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[robertwgross]

I use the center point most of the time. Once in a while, I will manually select one of the other points if the subject is static. Rarely do I let the camera auto-select a focus point because often it selects some suboptimal point for what I had in mind.

---Bob Gross---

[Jwreich]

Bob,

That's what I thought and my reasoning why I now use only the middle AF point. I guess I'm going to need to take some focus test shots to see if my camera either forward or back focuses. Thanks for the comments. I welcome any other user experiences.

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[rmpcanon]

I just moved from an EOS Elan film camera to a DigiRebel XT, and was immediately flumoxed by the multiple focus points. Rather than wonder what the camera is focussing on, I prefer to pre-focus using the center focus point, then recompose and shoot. From the above, I gather that the XT can be set to use just the center focus point, but I haven't figured out how to do it. How is this done (and have the setting "stick" when the camera is turned on and off)? Does it work under all settings, or do the "Basic" settings over-ride like they do w/ISO, etc.?


Dick P.

[ddelallata]

what I miss most about my film Elan 7e is the EyeControl. Once programmed, the camera focuses to the AF point your eye turns to.....even with sunglasses.

[Ron Wilson]

I think to set the AF to the middle focus point is the best choice to avoid the AF from randomly choosing other less desirable points. You can't do it in any of the basic modes so I set the camera to P and the top right button(looks like dots in a square box) serves to switch between automatic focus point selection using one of 7 AF points, or manual AF point selection, using the Main Dial. I havn't used it enough to know if it toggles on and off or if it stays as selected when the camera is turned off or the mode has been changed. Let me know how your focus tests work out. My XT is giving me problems as well.

[Jwreich]

Once you set your AF point, it sticks after being turned off and back on. I don't use the basic modes so I don't know how they work.

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[Tdragone]

Not to be a smartass; but I typed in 'canon 20d manual' into google and got this:
http://alpha03.c-wss.com/inc/ApplServlet?SV=WWUCA900

click on the link for the manual (a pdf file)
and refer to pages 67 and 68 for the info on how to choose which point to use (Press the little joystick down to get the middle one).

-Tom D

[KurtKuhn]

what I miss most about my film Elan 7e is the EyeControl. Once programmed, the camera focuses to the AF point your eye turns to.....even with sunglasses.

That sounds like a very cool feature.

-KK

[KurtKuhn]

I found that I only move the focus point when I have the camera situated on a tripod, especially at shallow depth of field. Otherwise, I use the center point and just recompose to shoot.

-KK

[Titus213]

Does flash exposure follow the focus point on the XT? It does on the 300D.

[Titus213]

Not to be a smartass; but I typed in 'canon 20d manual' into google and got this:
http://alpha03.c-wss.com/inc/ApplServlet?SV=WWUCA900

click on the link for the manual (a pdf file)
and refer to pages 67 and 68 for the info on how to choose which point to use (Press the little joystick down to get the middle one).

-Tom D

Why a 20D?

[Lucky Forward]

what I miss most about my film Elan 7e is the EyeControl. Once programmed, the camera focuses to the AF point your eye turns to.....even with sunglasses.

My prior SLR was an Elan IIe, and the eye-control focus really worked well. Does anyone know why it wasn't incorporated into the 20D?

[zacker]

I only use the center focus point and recompose, its just easier to to for me. I know what i wanna shoot and what i wanna focus on... No Stinkin camera's gonna tell ME what i need to focus on... I got a wife for that!
lol
-zacker-

[Anteros]

I also use the center focus point and recompose method.