I tried the star button focus :(

Well haveing read how many think its better to have the focus taken away from the shutter button and set A1 SERVO, hold the star in for A1 Servo and let it out for one shot or to fix the focus at one point .
iv tried it now for just over to weeks and this is my oppinon on it.
A1 Servo works just the same as it does with the shutter button that is to say if the subject moves a1 servo takes that into account and ajust's the focus

But releasing the star does not work as well as one shot set the normal way In My humble oppinon it misses focus more than it get's it not by much i will say that
This may be ok if your at f11 on a normal or wideangle lens as dof might take care of it but wide open on a tele with next to no dof i find it lacking.
so im going back to the other way on my 1dmk2.

This is not a have a go at anyone as i know settings are things we prefer to use in our own right, its more just a bit of info for thoes that are missing shots. If it locked on the way 1shot does i would stay with it.
This isn't about exsposure btw.
Rob.

well I'm a little confused.. releasing the star????...

I shoot alot fast action like sport and using custom function to separate AE/AF is great...push * to focus and folow the object and when u ready just push shutter release and it memter exposure and take the pic (u still need to hold *
(but u need to set custom function for this, by default * to a different function

IMHO

Don't feel bad.... I can walk and chew bubblegum at the same time. I can even pat my head and rub my tummy at the same time..... But... I just can't get comfortable with separate focus/exposure buttons.

It boils down to personal preference... Do what works best.

Wow, you are talented.

That is why there are so many custom functions and they are called just that. There are many diverging opinions on how to use the custom functions and it really is a matter of personal preference. There is no right or wrong answer on this subject.

Jim_T wrote:
Don't feel bad.... I can walk and chew bubblegum at the same time. I can even pat my head and rub my tummy at the same time..... But... I just can't get comfortable with separate focus/exposure buttons.

It boils down to personal preference... Do what works best.

oh yeah, i can wiggle my ears and nose at the same time! nanner nanner nanner!

I agree with the more misses with the AI servo, slight but more than with single shot. But I still use the * for focus lock and depending on the situation I will go back and forth from AI servo to single shot.

I treid it last nite, just playig around. I think I like the cf4-3 where you (as I understand it and PLEASE correct me if I am wrong) hold the * button down and it follws the subject in focus (assuming you are in ai servo) and at the same time you hold the shutter button half down and it DOESNT lock AE so as the subject moves in and out of light the camera automatically adjusts to focus via the * button and AE via half down on the shutter button...

Do I understand that correctly?

I know a lot of people prefer using the * button, but I'm not one of them. After shooting in the conventional manner for so many years, I think I'll just stick with what works best for me.

Using the * button for focusing (CF 4-1 or 4-3) doesn't have to involve AI Servo. I shoot in One Shot mode all the time focusing with the * button and it works great for me. If I'm shooting sports or other action I'll switch to AI Servo. Have you considered AI Focus mode?

The old "conventional" way is cranking on the ring out on the lens to focus - manual focussing.

I am in the group that has tried the "*" focus, and didn't like it. I much prefer to keep exposure lock on the "*" button. Losing that capability just to get a dedicated focus button wasn't an advantage for me.

Oh, and I often manual focus as well.

Interesting thread - I've read others on CF4 and just set the star function to try it out not too long ago. I can see how it would be useful for either Aperture or shutter priority modes, as those have the camera making exposure corrections as you move the camera around following a subject. In manual mode, which is where I usually keep things, it seems to add another button push without any upside - if something moves, I've got to adjust my exposure with either the shutter or apeture wheel anyway, so it's easier just to use the shutter release button for AF. Am I missing an upside to using setting 1 of CF4 (focus with *) in manual?

If you focus on a subject at fixed distance, and then play around with the composition, you don't want the focus to change each time you press the button. Focus once, shoot many.

When using the * button for focusing will offer much more accurate exposure as the * button is not setting the exposure, only the AF using CF4-1.

When I shoot sports I have the * button pushed down the entire sequence I am shooting. That sets the focus on the subject as it moves to and fro. When you're ready to shoot and press the shutter button that is when the exposure is set.

I have found using the partially-pressed shutter button for focus and then pressing further to take the shot resulted in a significant number of shots where the exposure was not correct.

Using the * button and shooting consecutive shots (not motor-drive), every time you press the shutter button the exposure is updated.

It does take a bit of getting used to, but once you do, it's the ONLY way to shoot sporting events, especially with fast AF glass.

In AI servo, continuous shooting hold the "star" button down, follow the action, let the camera track and shoot when you need to. Also, the camera is constantly metering the scene as you track.

In one shot, single shooting you can focus with the "star" button to "get in the ball park" then take your thumb off the button and fine tune manually. This is very helpful when using a lens with a very narrow DOF. Camera may lock on the nose in AF and you really want the eye. So you tweak manually.

It does take some getting used to. On the other hand, I was using a POS P&S the other day and I kept mashing something on the back of the camera with my thumb that would make some "menu" pop up. Really confusing.

Dosen't matter as long as you can take good photos.