5DII Center AF Point Shooters Only

This is for only those that EXCLUSIVELY use the center AF point with their 5D Mark II’s.

I’ve spent a lot of time reading the threads debating how good/bad the AF is on the 5DII’s. During the debates there are inevitably those that say they ONLY use the center AF point. I am not interested continuing the debate on the quality of the outside AF points on the 5DII as I have used them to mostly successful results. I do think I get quicker and more accurate lock using the center AF point and that is why I thought I would try to shoot with only using this AF point – plus if I can keep it on just one point I can spend less time toggling between points (yes I know I can custom this with the multi controller).

So, my question for those that only use the center AF point is - how do you compose your shots? I spent some time photographing my kids over the weekend and tried to just use the center AF point and just couldn’t get my composition the way I’ve always done. I am accustomed to switching the AF point that made my composition make sense to me. I feel that only using the center AF point limited my creativity.

For example, I compose my daughter so that her body takes up the entire frame - head is top of frame, feet are at the bottom. If I only use the center AF point, it will lock somewhere in the middle of her body when of course I would want it to be on her face. Normally I would have switched to the another AF point (probably the top most point) and then taken the shot. So my question is how do you center AF point only photographers handle a situation like this?

The only thing I could think of was moving back (or zooming out) so that the center AF point was on her face. I am guessing then I would be zooming and cropping the heck out of a lot of my photos. With a 21mp camera I certainly have the quality to zoon but why would I want to spend so much time in PP. I would love to hear how you center AF point loyalist use the center point only to compose your shots.

Eh. You realize you can point you camera anywhere you want right? Hint: You don't have to AF and frame at the same time.

Ok I'll reveal the secret! People point the camera to aim the AF point where they want to focus. Activate the AF system get a lock and then compose the picture for a shot. Ta da!

Okay, so you are saying I should just lock my AF and then recompose? Of course this will change my plane of focus and thus change the distance (albeit small change based on my angle shift) to my subject. What is the affect on DOF in this situation, especially since I usually shoot with a very shallow DOF?

Also, how does that work for moving targets like my kids? Is it reasonable to think you have the time to lock the AF and then recompose for subjects that are not stationary?

It will affect what's in focus of course. However for a lot of people the use of center AF point and the focus and recompose method is for speed over absolute accuracy of focus. And very shallow DOF isn't always desirable. There's more to photos than just bokeh and very shallow DOF is sometimes just not needed.

OOF isn't a black and white deal. It depends on how big the image is going to be shown to the audience as well.

asking people that only use the center point on the 5d2 is like asking everyone that uses a 5d2...

the 5d2 has 1 AF point... the center

booja wrote in post #14543098
asking people that only use the center point on the 5d2 is like asking everyone that uses a 5d2...

the 5d2 has 1 AF point... the center

Very insightful, thanks for such a thoughtful response.

I lock focus and recompose without any problem. Just make sure not to move the camera forward or backwards. Seems to work just fine.

booja wrote in post #14543098
the 5d2 has 1 AF point... the center

Mine have 9

You can always compose the shot the way you like and then manually focus the lens..

if you use the back button focus method it works very easily.
(I use a 60d but I pretty much only use center focus point)

you put the center point on the eyes of the person (or your subject) get focus, let go of the AF button then compose the shot.
snap the pic and youre done.

it works brilliantly.
if you are shooting with a 1" DOF then you may have issues with this method, but otherwise you shoudnt have any problems.

I would have to imagine most of the Center Point Only Shooters (CPOS) don't shoot a lot of moving subjects using Center AF / Recompose - it's just not very practical.

A few options - shoot with enough DOF that focusing on something like the chest will get the face, shoot back and crop (PITA I know, but possible), or use an outer point.

I know many people claim to be CPOS, but I find it hard to believe they never try the outer points. It's not like they're 100% useless.