Center Focus Point/Recompose or Outer Focus Points?

I've been doing more portrait shooting lately, and I'm still trying to determine if it is better to use the center focus point and recompose (which has always been my traditional way of shooting), or to use the outer focus points and hold focus directly on the eye instead of recomposing. It seems that the outer focus point method would be better, particularly when shooting at wider apertures, but I'm not sure if it makes that much difference. Thoughts/advice?

I typically use the centre point and recompose but I've used the outer points as well. I don't think there is a wrong choice as long as you're getting good results. The centre point may be more sensitive than the outer points so it might make sense to use the centre point in difficult conditions, especially if you are having trouble focusing with the outer ones. Hope that helps.

When shooting critters with my 100-400mm, it is important to be quick. That means I almost always use the center point and recompose if I can. Often there is not even an opportunity to recompose.

But for more static situations, especially with wider lenses used with a large aperture, it is best to use the off-center AF point.

when using the center point focusing method, do you focus on the subjects eyes then recompose the subject in the frame?

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I typically focus on the subject's eye and then recompose.

It depends. My experience suggests that focus and recompose with fast lenses will most likely be a failure. With f/4 and above it is generally ok.

The problem with recomposing is that what you had focused on will be in a different focal plane and unless the DOF is great enough then your subjects eyes in your example will thrown out of focus.

Shorter focal lengths do not lend themselves to focus/recompose. To much focal plane angle change.